THE PORSCHE EFFECT

Is there a car brand on the internet more popular than Porsche? There are a myriad of extraordinary automobiles on the market, but few dominate the timeline they way Porsche does. The 93 year-old German sportscar brand is a symbol of success and sophistication. If you own a Porsche, you don’t just have money, you have good taste. You know what an interior decorator is and would never buy a suit off the rack. For a photographer, the brand's allure feels similar to Leica's, and after walking through Luftgekulht I believe the Venn diagram of Leica owners and Porsche enthusiasts is a circle. The communities that have spawned around these air-cooled track stars are staggering. They gather to celebrate the lore of Porsche, reminisce over the glory days of sphincter-shrinking hairpin turns in rear-engine coupes, and muse about the future of automotive. These gatherings are massive, none more massive than Luftgekulht, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this past Saturday on the Universal Studios backlot.

Hundreds of Porsches swarmed the sets of Hollywood's biggest hits. The famed 1971 917K roared back to life in a hangar just outside the Universal Monsters mural wall. Pristine Spyders and Speedsters, some as much as 70 years old, shimmered under the valley sun. There was a Porsche for everyone, and enough photographers on site to make sure every car got its time in the spotlight. Congratulations to Jeff Zwart, Porsche, Martini Racing, Race Service, and the myriad of collectors and sponsors who made the event a success. I’ve put together a full event page of my captures from the event here: Luft 10.

Until next time!