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To better understand Porsche cars, look to the mountains as Ferdinand Porsche did. Old Ferdinand, the inventor of Porsche, missed his son Ferry's birth in 1909 while contesting the Simmerring hill climb in the mountains south of Vienna, winning his class in an Austro-Daimler of his own design.

Years later, in 1947, father and son set out for Goldeck mountain from Gmund, Austria for the initial trial run of the original Porsche 356, the first car to bear the family name. The car broke down. Thereafter, they made the chassis stronger.

These days, Porsche burnishes its brand with tours. Drive Cayennes in Namibia this September. Visit Dracula's castle in Romania, late July into September (for eternity, if he's biting). Touring B.C.'s remarkable interior seems more to the point: that is, Porsche sports cars remain genetically engineered for alpine athletics.

Sixteen drivers sharing eight cars set out on Highway 99 coiling north and east of Whistler, B.C., through the Lillooet Ranges, one overcast morning in June. Some had paid $3,995, others were guests of dealerships, for three days feasting from a menu that included Boxster GTS, Cayman S and GTS, 911 Carrera 4 S and GTS, covering almost 1,000 kilometres.

Instructor Jonathan Urlin's calm voice came over the two-way radio from his lead car. "Remember, no pressure to go any faster than you find comfortable – but it's in the corners you'll feel the rewards of dynamic driving. … Before entering the turn tap on the left paddle to downshift, look well ahead … Light grip on the steering wheel … Accelerating through the turn to load the outside rear wheel. Remember the dominant hand is the inside hand (relative to the turn), use the inside hand to turn the wheel and the other for balance ..."

Too much to take in the first time. On third or fourth repetition, my inside hand began responding, smoothing the Cayman GTS's progress. Instructor Kees Nierop won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a Porsche 934 in 1983. Urlin raced one step below Indy Car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before finances cut short his racing career. Their role now was to improve the participants' ability to enjoy Porsches, not turn us into racers.

Over lunch, Michael Silver, CEO of Winnipeg-based Silver Jeans, probably the most experienced Porsche owner in the group, pronounced the roads tumbling along Cayoosh Creek the finest he's driven, anywhere in the world. Silver's favourite car: the Cayman GTS, with its mid-engine affording perfect balance and easy turn-in for the tightest corners. Mine, the Carrera 4 GTS, has its engine behind the rear wheels, so it's quieter than the Cayman and provides more interior space, while profiting from artful suspension design.

As well, the 4 GTS eases fast-paced perspiration with optional ventilated seats. Options? Even the least expensive model, the $72,900 Cayman S, totals $95,235 as-equipped. Topping the list, the $137,900 Carrera 4 GTS reaches $169,565. All cars have PDK automatics, $3,660 in the Boxster/Caymans, $4,520 in the Carrera 4's. Carmine red paint adds $3,590.

As camaraderie develops within the group, the option prices are the subject of considerable merriment. We're all in on the joke, even if the joke's on us. "I once ordered a 996 C4 with everything I wanted, the $14,000 wide body, every detail perfect, a $120,000 car," Silver said. "On the way home from picking it up, I went to play a CD – and there was no slot. I hadn't thought to order a disc player. Who'd have thought?"

Several of the participants own Cayennes. Vancouver businessman James Ho currently has a new Cayman GT4 on order specifically because of its manual transmission. "The PDK in these cars are excellent, but for me, shifting is central to the driving experience."

The tour served up different highlights daily. Off-roading in Cayennes capped the initial run from Vancouver airport to Whistler – who knew you could descend a 30-degree incline in cruise control set at seven km/h, with no braking necessary? Nierop talked us through it. "I didn't know how to drive my Cayenne before this," Winnipeg investment banker Sean McCoshen laughed in the postrun Q&A, Nierop having demystified the details of the owner's manual.

As a finale, two hours of lapping Mission Raceway assured memories for the flights home. Top speed on the tight road circuit: 178 km/h in the Carrera 4S. The Boxster GTS, more agile if not as powerful, granted my single-most satisfying lap. The brick-wall braking power from top speeds on track confirmed a hunch from the wondrous Lillooet drive. Whatever their excellence in every other dynamic, Porsches are at their best stopping. Could it be that Ferdinand and Ferry, father and son, proceeded on the safe assumption that power may get you up a mountain road, but brakes keep you on it? To this day.

The writer was a guest of the auto maker. Content was not subject to approval.

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