Racers Den: Inside 924S944.com

By Kevin DuffyOn December 15, 2022December 8, 20232 Comments

“Well, you’re retired now. So why don’t we build your shop in the back yard?” – Barbara Duffy, wife of 47+ years…

When I retired in 2017 after a 40+ year varied career in public safety, it was obvious that my Porsche 924/924S/944 hobby would now take up a big part of my life. I had been driving, racing, autocrossing, and enjoying these cars for several decades, but now it was time to get serious. We have 2 ½ acres in sunny, warm Florida, and putting a building on the property was a no-brainer, especially since it was her idea.

Listen to Kevin’s story on this Break/Fix episode!

Check out the follow-along notes, transcript and more details for this episode at GTM

I was already renting shop space but having a place 100-feet from the back door would be perfect. So, in August of 2019, plans were approved, contractors hired, and the 40×60 slab was poured.

“Does it need to be this big?” she asked.

“Believe me, it will never be big enough,” I said.

Construction went smoothly, and by September I was able to start setting up my new building. With slab, metal building and three inches of spray-in foam insulation, it was ready.

We put 4×8 OSB on the inside walls, all the way up to the top of the 12′ walls. Then painted with KILZ white paint, the next step was to electrify the place, run water, and also bring in the all-important internet. Electricians ran the power from the house to our indoor panel; we tapped a water line to the corner of the building and laid in a hardwire internet line from the house. Outlets, LED lights, a feed for the compressor, a feed for a water heater – all run in conduit up to plastic rain gutter run along the top of the wall. Why? Servicing, changing and adding electrical service is easy when needed. Genius, I must say.

Water was next, with a couple of outdoor hose spigots and water run for the sink and washer…yea, a washer, dryer, refrigerator with ice maker, and a double utility sink. “Rescued” kitchen cabinets and granite countertops finished it out. Why not?

An office with overhead storage was next, since she kicked me out of my “spare bedroom office” in the house. So 14×14 was plenty big for my desk, shelves, books and electronics…and don’t forget the simulator for iRacing and my collection of small Porsches, plaques, and such. Oh, and an air conditioner.

So fast forward to the dawn of 2023.

We have two Rotary lifts in two large bays. There is an area with four rows of 10’ tall shelves with sorted-through Porsche 924S and 944 parts including engine parts, transmission parts, interior bits, trim pieces, and other miscellaneous things. There are several toolboxes, since I basically consolidated three shop locations into one – lots of duplicates, but I can still struggle to find a 10mm wrench! There are roller carts for projects, a huge white board, drop-down lights, storage cabinets with fluids and supplies, tire-changing and balancing machines, an air conditioning machine, and various signs and posters throughout. The office has two large windows with a great view of the shop.

Outside is a portable 6,000-pound lift for pressure washing nasty parts cars and a 1972 Gravely Tractor for pushing things around.