Swissvax

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https://swissvax.us?sca_ref=4829395.1rJbU11JCn.

SWISSVAX INTERVIEW

Swissvax: “Stefania, thank you for letting us know more about you and your passion for
design and cars. What kind of car are you currently driving and why exactly that one?”

Stefania: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion for vintage cars. We drive a white 1978 Porsche 911 SC we bought from my father-in-law in 2010 before he passed away. It has sentimental and historical significance for us. This 911 was the first year production of the SC series and is powered with the original 3.0 liter flat engine, 180hp. We added the MOMO steering wheel and Carrera side stripe, which I think accentuates its classic character. We also recently purchased a Guards Red 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo. It was one of the first production 930s to be reintroduced into the United States with an emission-controlled engine. It has a 3.3 liter turbo motor, 282 hp, black sport seats and 65,000 miles. The entire car is 100 percent original . We bought it from Denny Aker, a renowned Porsche collector. He had bought it from the original owner and kept it in mint condition.

Swissvax: “What do you personally associate with Care for your Dream?”

Stefania: I live for summers in the Pacific Northwest so I associate “Care for my Dream†with weekend escapes with my husband in our cinnamon-colored 1984 CJ7 Jeep, top off and doors out. As we leave the city for the mountains, we take in the whole scene. Our Golden Retriever, Moe, sits between us with his tongue dangling from the side of his mouth as the fresh air blows in our faces, and the sun gleams down upon us. We cruise along, appreciating the quiet of the vast open space. There is truly no better place to be.

Swissvax: “What is your relationship with your cars?”

Stefania: I’ve had a passion for vintage cars with manual transmissions for as long as I can remember. At 16, only a few months after getting my driver’s license, I convinced my parents to buy me a red 1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500 convertible. I have fond memories of zipping across the Golden Gate Bridge with my best friends, hair flying everywhere, and all of us singing “Tears for Fears” songs at the top of our lungs. After college one of my first jobs was working in the sales department pioneering specialty coffee in all restaurants, hotels, airlines and universities for Starbucks Coffee Company ( I wasone of the first 100 employees). I bought my first car and again got a red convertible, this time a Mazda Miata. Driving to my appointments from one town to another with my convertible top down made my workday so much more enjoyable. Now, when I slip into my vintage Porsche and hear the old door clamping shut and smell the classic cabin aroma or feel the engine growl as I shift into gear, I am overcome with nostalgia. I have great respect for my cars. I honor them, and enjoy the responsibility of preserving the engineering and the design of a time gone by. In turn, my cars bring me a lot of satisfaction and a feeling of freedom. There is something enormously evocative for me when I drive my vintage cars.

Swissvax: “You grew up partly in Italy – how should we imagine your childhood?”

Stefania: I was born in Italy and lived there until I was 10 years old. Speaking Italian and English in the same sentence was common in my family. I remember during the summers, my mom would take us on long drives to the coast in her white Fiat Cinquecento. Though it was a tiny, three-door hatchback, all four of us kids managed to squeeze inside. It was tight, but I kinda liked it. For the entire ride my older sister would have us sing repetitive, rhyming children’s songs, no doubt driving our mamma pazza. We would stay at the beach all day and swim in the beautiful blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. I have fond memories of building sand castles, getting a gelato al limone, and sitting under our big beach umbrella eating the best homemade panini for lunch. Occasionally I would sneak away from the family, put a paper plate on the ground and sing and dance until I earned enough money for the second gelato my mother wouldn’t buy.

Swissvax: “Are you a driver or a collector?”

Stefania: I am definitely a driver. So many collectors never take their cars for a spin, but the cars are meant to be driven, they need to let their kinetic energy loose. They aren’t just beautiful sculptures. I enjoy driving my cars. I take in their beauty, I like the feel of the steering wheel and the aesthetics of the dash. I like all the sounds they make, especially the revving engine. It’s a total driving experience, which I appreciate.

Swissvax: “How do men in the classic car scene react to you?”

Stefania: My experience has been positive. The reaction I usually get is a mixture of shock and awe. I suspect most men aren’t accustomed to seeing women drive vintage cars with manual transmissions, especially in the United States. Even so, my interactions have been upbeat as most men who approach me just want to learn more information about our cars, which I love sharing. I can understand how this male-dominated sector can be intimidating, but my hope is to inspire more women to join the community, to feel comfortable in this space and be open to learning about the wonderful world of classic cars. I have found it to be so much fun and I consider it a special place that I share with my husband and my community.

Swissvax: “How much time do you spend with your cars?”

Stefania: As much as I can.

Swissvax: “What is your favorite car from the collection?“

Stefania: I love all my cars! It depends on the mood I am in that day. Lately, I have been gravitating towards the 930. I have never experienced a vintage car quite like it. At first, I was intimidated by the power of the turbo and the difference in gearing compared to the 911, so it took some time getting used to. But now I’m hooked.

Swissvax: “What car would you still like to drive and why?”

Stefania: I’m interested in learning about all of the Porsche generations: the early 911s, the
912, and of course, the 356.

Swissvax: “How do you decide which car to buy next?“

Stefania: I plan on exploring the Porsche track experience, developing my driving skills and piloting the latest models to determine which car is appropriate for me on the track as well as
on the road.

Swissvax: “Do you occasionally argue with your husband about who gets to drive which car?“

Stefania: Our vintage cars collection is an area in which we are in total agreement. We share a passion for old Porsches and our bond surrounding them is magical. Before we go to our community car gatherings, events or drives, my husband always asks me which car I would like to drive and whichever one I chose, he happily takes the other. Sometimes, during the week, we sneak in an evening drive with no particular destination in mind, each in our own car. It’s such a blast sharing the road together in sync, side-by-side.

Swissvax: “What is your best moment or experience with your car so far?”

Stefania: My daughter inspired me to launch @pnwporschegal, a website and instagram account featuring our Porsches, and it has been so much fun creating content together. She is an artist/illustrator and enjoys photography. We look forward to our shoots, exploring new locations in the Pacific Northwest to film scenes with our fun old sporty cars. In the quiet moments in between, we share our life dreams and our day-to-day stories. I cherish this connection we have and I love working with her. Our collaboration has led to another venture designing vintage clothes, which I can’t wait to debut.

Swissvax: “What do you do for a living?”

Stefania: I am the Vice President of Sales and Partner of a successful beverage company called San Juan Seltzer that we launched five years ago.