Some Porsche enthusiasts can tell you the exact moment they fell in love with the brand.
For Jeff Wing, it wasn't a single moment—it was a lifetime in motion.
Long before there was a Guards Red 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet in his garage, there was a little red motorcycle. At just nine years old, Jeff learned to ride on that bike. Decades later, he tracked it down, restored it, and gave it a second life.
That story says everything you need to know about Jeff.
He's not simply someone who owns vehicles—he preserves history.
"My background really goes back to motorcycles," Jeff says. "Everything pivots off my love of motorcycles."
That passion led him through British motorcycles, Harleys, vintage Indians, and eventually classic BMWs. Along the way he restored countless machines, became an expert in originality judging, and developed an appreciation for craftsmanship that values authenticity over perfection.
For Jeff, the right finish on a bolt matters just as much as the paint.
It's a philosophy that eventually led him to Porsche.
Finding the Right Car
When Jeff began searching for his first 911, he wasn't looking for the flashiest car.
He wanted an honest one.
Numbers matching. Original paint. Low mileage. Unrestored. Untouched.
His search eventually led him to Indiana, where one particular 1988 Guards Red Carrera Cabriolet kept appearing in his searches.
"I wanted something that had lived a good life—not something that had been modified."
Buying from an independent dealer required plenty of homework, including a professional pre-purchase inspection that confirmed exactly what Jeff hoped to hear: the car was remarkably original and simply needed a few minor items.
That inspection reinforced one of Jeff's biggest pieces of advice for prospective Porsche buyers:
"Buy the best car you can afford. You'll either pay now or pay later."
It's wisdom born from decades of restoring vintage machines.
Why a Cabriolet?
Jeff laughs knowing cabriolets sometimes receive less attention than coupes.
That never bothered him.
"This is my weekend car," he says. "Why wouldn't I want the top down?"
Besides, choosing a cabriolet allowed him to buy an exceptionally original example that might have been financially out of reach as a coupe.
Same legendary driving experience.
Much friendlier price tag.
For Jeff, it was the perfect fit.
Turning Wrenches
Many Porsche owners enjoy driving their cars.
Jeff enjoys understanding them.
Last winter he completely rebuilt the suspension in his own workshop.
New shocks. New struts. New springs.
Every suspension bushing replaced.
It became a months-long project involving cutting away decades-old rubber, cleaning every component, and carefully reassembling everything by hand.
"It kept me busy all winter," Jeff laughs.
The reward came at the West Michigan PCA Track Experience.
His instructor drove the freshly rebuilt Carrera first and immediately complimented how composed the suspension felt.
Then Jeff climbed behind the wheel.
Learning when to brake, where to look through corners, and how early to apply throttle transformed his understanding of what the classic 911 was capable of.
"It was incredible how much grip the car had once you trusted it."
More Than Cars
Jeff joined PCA six years ago because a friend encouraged him.
Today, he's become one of West Michigan PCA's most active volunteers.
If you've attended the Spring Drive through Leelanau Peninsula or the Fall Color Tour, chances are you've experienced Jeff's work.
Together with fellow volunteers Steve Scales and Evan Sykes, Jeff helps organize one of the chapter's most popular annual events.
The roads through northern Michigan never disappoint.
Rolling hills. Twisting back roads. Views of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay.
Exceptional restaurants. Outstanding wineries.
And, perhaps most importantly, great people.
"The community is what makes it special," Jeff says. "You create friendships that last a lifetime."
Building Something Bigger
Jeff isn't content simply organizing events.
He's helping grow Porsche enthusiasm throughout northern Michigan.
Working alongside local enthusiasts and businesses, Jeff has become a bridge between Grand Rapids and Traverse City, helping develop more local drives, Cars & Coffee gatherings, and new opportunities for members who live farther north.
It's a natural progression that could become even more meaningful as Porsche Parade heads to Traverse City in 2028.
Jeff hopes to volunteer. Not because he has to.
Because he genuinely wants to help create unforgettable experiences for others.
Looking Ahead
Ask Jeff about his dream Porsche and he smiles.
A GT3. Track ready. Purpose built.
The kind of machine that rewards precision.
Yet even with dreams of modern performance, his heart still belongs to the classics—the machines that tell stories through every scratch, bolt, and mile traveled.
His advice for new PCA members is refreshingly simple.
Don't overthink it. Pick a drive. Show up.
Your Porsche will do the introductions.
Because while the cars may bring people together...
It's the people who keep them coming back.
Behind the Crest reminds us that every Porsche has a story—but it's the people behind the wheel who make those stories worth telling.