A Canon Event
Author: ALFIE MUNKENBECKPhotographer: TREVOR DALTON
Omar Martinez' journey to building the perfect Porsche for Rennsport
“It started out like any other Guards Red 911 on Fuchs alloys” says Omar Martinez, though evidently the car was never going to stay that way for very long. Omar’s car collection is vast, if you count the ones he can’t actually fit into. Though he bought his first full sized Porsche in 2020, it was preceded by some 200 scale models accumulated throughout his life, mostly representing race cars from Porsche’s diverse history on the track. With influences like that, it’s hard to imagine how the 911 was ever going to remain a standard road car.
A Canon Event
Author: ALFIE MUNKENBECKPhotographer: TREVOR DALTON
Omar Martinez' journey to building the perfect Porsche for Rennsport
“It started out like any other Guards Red 911 on Fuchs alloys” says Omar Martinez, though evidently the car was never going to stay that way for very long. Omar’s car collection is vast, if you count the ones he can’t actually fit into. Though he bought his first full sized Porsche in 2020, it was preceded by some 200 scale models accumulated throughout his life, mostly representing race cars from Porsche’s diverse history on the track. With influences like that, it’s hard to imagine how the 911 was ever going to remain a standard road car.
“After a while I started to add personal touches here and there. I always wanted to keep the car somewhat period looking so I started with some BBS RS wheels along with some gold mesh turbofan covers. It’s a look that screams 1980s and I always loved the look on Porsche race cars. They helped a bit to make the car my own, but not enough. A dream of mine was always to drive the car to Rennsport Reunion regardless of where it was being held and I had to go all out.
I was on a mission to get the car wrapped in a unique look in time for the drive. It had to be something from the 80s and there was no greater race car in that period than the 956/962. I went with the Canon privateer car, driven by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason at Le Mans in 1984. I have a couple of diecast models of it in my collection, I’ve always loved the way that car looks and I’ve never seen the livery replicated on a street car. Adding white turbofan covers would just be the perfect finishing touch.
Months prior to the event, I reached out to various shops that could help me with the idea and Jun from Klassewerks made it happen. Coincidentally they were doing the same livery on a 996 cup car, also bound for Rennsport. After a few weeks we finally settled on a design that would fit the lines of the 911 and the rest is history. They delivered the car in time for my 800 mile round trip and the car never skipped a beat.”
“After a while I started to add personal touches here and there. I always wanted to keep the car somewhat period looking so I started with some BBS RS wheels along with some gold mesh turbofan covers. It’s a look that screams 1980s and I always loved the look on Porsche race cars. They helped a bit to make the car my own, but not enough. A dream of mine was always to drive the car to Rennsport Reunion regardless of where it was being held and I had to go all out.
I was on a mission to get the car wrapped in a unique look in time for the drive. It had to be something from the 80s and there was no greater race car in that period than the 956/962. I went with the Canon privateer car, driven by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason at Le Mans in 1984. I have a couple of diecast models of it in my collection, I’ve always loved the way that car looks and I’ve never seen the livery replicated on a street car. Adding white turbofan covers would just be the perfect finishing touch.
Months prior to the event, I reached out to various shops that could help me with the idea and Jun from Klassewerks made it happen. Coincidentally they were doing the same livery on a 996 cup car, also bound for Rennsport. After a few weeks we finally settled on a design that would fit the lines of the 911 and the rest is history. They delivered the car in time for my 800 mile round trip and the car never skipped a beat.”
For people like Omar, the Porsche bug starts young. It begins as a visual affair, to which the brand’s rich history of race cars amply caters for. Omar knows that history well and the choice of livery for his 911SC should make that clear enough, but it wasn’t until he took ownership of that car that he developed a more intimate understanding of the machine.
“I always wanted a Porsche growing up but it wasn’t until adulthood that I truly understood the magic of these air cooled cars. I’d attend cars and coffee and Porsche specific events, engrossing myself in the community and solidifying my journey towards having one myself. I bought my ’83 911SC in 2020 and couldn’t have been happier with it. The sound, the smell, the feeling of community. The brand also really stands by its owners too, I can still walk into a Porsche dealership now and get parts for my 40+ year old car.
For people like Omar, the Porsche bug starts young. It begins as a visual affair, to which the brand’s rich history of race cars amply caters for. Omar knows that history well and the choice of livery for his 911SC should make that clear enough, but it wasn’t until he took ownership of that car that he developed a more intimate understanding of the machine.
“I always wanted a Porsche growing up but it wasn’t until adulthood that I truly understood the magic of these air cooled cars. I’d attend cars and coffee and Porsche specific events, engrossing myself in the community and solidifying my journey towards having one myself. I bought my ’83 911SC in 2020 and couldn’t have been happier with it. The sound, the smell, the feeling of community. The brand also really stands by its owners too, I can still walk into a Porsche dealership now and get parts for my 40+ year old car.
“It started out like any other Guards Red 911 on Fuchs alloys”
Besides the livery I went with a few small touches to make the car my own. I installed some yellow lenses on the headlamps and fog lamps because I always loved that look. The tires are more of a performance oriented set than what it had originally and the aluminium pedals/footrest set from Rennline help to add that race car feel to the interior. It has a custom wooden shift knob, a suede momo wheel and a centre exit exhaust that really brings out the raw sound of the flat 6.
“It started out like any other Guards Red 911 on Fuchs alloys”
Besides the livery I went with a few small touches to make the car my own. I installed some yellow lenses on the headlamps and fog lamps because I always loved that look. The tires are more of a performance oriented set than what it had originally and the aluminium pedals/footrest set from Rennline help to add that race car feel to the interior. It has a custom wooden shift knob, a suede momo wheel and a centre exit exhaust that really brings out the raw sound of the flat 6.
Where do we take it from here? I thought long and hard about the livery because it had to be something that would last a long time. The Canon design is perfect for that. I might change small things here and there like running with the all white turbofans and I’ll probably go with some RS door cards and a roll cage, but the Canon livery will remain beautiful regardless of how I chose to set up the details.”
Where do we take it from here? I thought long and hard about the livery because it had to be something that would last a long time. The Canon design is perfect for that. I might change small things here and there like running with the all white turbofans and I’ll probably go with some RS door cards and a roll cage, but the Canon livery will remain beautiful regardless of how I chose to set up the details.”
