Frank van Baeten By Frank van Baeten 2 years ago

My Porsche story: the family affair

In the latest instalment of a new series where 9WERKS members share their Porsche journey, Frank van Baeten explains how Porsche runs through three generations of his family

This is not just my Porsche story, but the Porsche story of three different generations of my family, all from Belgium. The story begins with two wheels, culminating with a switch to four wheels and a flat engine courtesy of Porsche’s famous sports cars. 

My grandfather rode a motorcycle before the First World War, then my dad (born in 1924) “found” a DKW bike from the German army at the end of the Second World War, though the family’s petrolhead persuasion really began at the beginning of the Fifties.

At that time the British motorcycle industry dominated the market, and dad started with a Triumph Tiger 100 without rear suspension, and won the Liège-Monaco-Liège endurance race in 1952. At the same time he drove a Jaguar XK120 as a daily car and decided, in 1953, to participate in that endurance race for a second time.

He ordered a factory BMW in Munich and went regularly to Germany with his Jag to follow the tuning and preparation of his BMW. On the highway to the BMW factory, my dad was comprehensively overtaken by a Porsche 356 registered as “versüchswagen” (factory testcar) and could not believe his own eyes: being overtaken by a 1,600cc car? To him it was simply unbelievable.

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    Competing in Porsche RSK chassis 0028 at 'The Flying Kilometer', Antwerp, July 1959
    Excited by the prospect of a 356, he decided to sell his XK120, but not before winning the Liège-Monaco-Liège race for a second time.

    My dad ordered his first 356 from D’Ieteren Brussels, a Porsche and VW importer. At that time two 356 were imported to Belgium: one for HM King Baudouin and the second for my dad. 17 other new Porsches followed over the years for my dad, all in Silver metallic with a black leather interior to be a little discreet.

    My dad’s affection for racing continued and a highlight was when he raced a Porsche RSK (chassis 0028) with his good friend. In July 1959 he became the record holder of “The Flying Kilometer” on the future Antwerp-Liège highway with a speed of 243.902 km/hour, a record that has never been broken.

      My strictly factory 1990 964 C4, with Design 90 wheels and flag mirrors
      My dad’s last Porsche was a four-speed 930 Turbo 3.0. During all those years his cars were always serviced at the factory in Zuffenhausen. His Turbo still exists today and is driven by a friend of mine.

      I, too, started on two wheels in 1967 and rode until 2014 (18 BMWs and a dozen Japanese). Becoming older and wiser I decided, in 2014, to switch to four wheels: after a year with an immaculate MGB Westminster I replaced it with a 964 Carrera 4 Coupé. It’s a January 1990 model in Guards Red (because I could not find a silver metallic example like my dad’s cars) and is completely original. The 964 was purchased new from Porsche Antwerp by a Dutch citizen and I became the second owner in 2015. It is thrilling to follow in the footsteps of my dad, first with the bikes, and then with Porsche. 

      The way this car runs and drives is simply unbelievable. My wife and I have completed many trips to the Black Forest, Goodwood, Austria and South Tirol. My wife offered me a special personalised number plate ‘ELFILVIT’ (it’s French), this is an abbreviation of ‘Elle file vite’, which means ‘She is flying fast’. 

        My son Anthony's 991 GT2 RS Weissach, which has now been sold to make way for a 992 GT3 Touring
        As mentioned, Porsche has found its way into the third generation of my family: my son Anthony had a GT2RS with Weissach pack, in Miami blue, and sold it to be replaced by a GT3 Touring expected in March 2023. Of course, it is finished in Silver metallic, in homage to his grandfather.

        I decided to share my Porsche story with the 9WERKS audience because I feel in the UK particularly there are more enthusiasts and Porsche fans than over here in Belgium. Most UK cars are always in an immaculate condition, polished, and driven by passionate fans.

        Although I visit Goodwood every year for the Revival, I continue to live along the Belgian seaside, only 15km from Bruges. If you’re ever in the area and would like to get in touch and talk Porsche, please do not hesitate to contact me via the 9WERKS team.

          Touring the south Tirol Dolomites with my wife, June 2021

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