Party Time at Rennsport Reunion 7

BY CHRIS THOMSON AND KARLA THOMSON PHOTOS BY WINNIE MILLER

Who remembers the first time you saw a Porsche? I was around eight years old or so, living in San Diego and saw a beautiful orange 911 coupe with black “Carrera” script on the lower doors. Not only was this a gorgeous car, but the sound was an equally captivating with the purr-like whirl of a mechanical symphony, harmony of life, infinite spirit, and soul. I was hooked right then and there like so many others, and remember it like it was yesterday. This experience started a life-long love affair for sure.

Flash forward to my high school years in the mid-80s, I was lucky to work at Larry Meyers/Sunset Porsche Audi in Beaverton as a lot boy for over five years. I literally drove hundreds of Porsches, ripping them up and down I-5 doing dealer trades, often with my then high school sweetheart and future wife Karla. I never got a speeding ticket and may have outrun a state trooper or two…

Knowing that someday I would work hard enough to eventually buy a Porsche, I never thought this ownership experience would be so much fun. No question that these are the best cars ever made and as a great big thank you to us all from Porsche. Hello, Rennsport Reunion.

The first of these was in 2001 and was conceived by British former racing driver Brian Redman and former Porsche Cars North America’s press spokesperson Bob Carlson to celebrate all things Porsche. For those of us who appreciate, worship or simply utilize vehicles from this manufacturer, PCA members were once again treated to a thrilling weekend of pure Porsche heaven.

Spanning California’s legendary race track at Laguna Seca in beautiful Monterey, this four-day event was bigger than ever and provided a weekend of pure ecstasy. Can anyone find one word to accurately describe this heaven on earth? Wow? Amazing? Incredible? Awesome? Beautiful? Marvelous? Spectacular? Inspiring? Best? Delicious?

Outstanding? Highest? Greatest? Perfect? Leading?

Primo? Boss? Historical? Wonderful? Supreme?

Astonished? Enjoyable? Infinite? Breathtaking? Distinguished? Dominant? Preeminent? Significant?

Everything? Special? Luxurious? Emotional?

Matchless? Ultimate? Beyond? Paramount? Foremost?

Excellence? Abundant? Gleaming? Uber?...

Over the years, Rennsport has evolved into the greatest automobile celebration the world has ever seen, marking the seventh time cars, drivers, fans, customers, celebrities, gamers, industry suppliers, Hollywood, Porsche royalty and even the Doobie Brothers came together as one big family. This was not only a Diamond 75th Porsche anniversary and the 60th birthday of the 911 celebrating some of the greatest racing and high-end performance vehicles ever built, but also about the people that also made this so special.

Steve and Winnie Miller invited Oregon Region members in attendance to swing by their RV camping spot overlooking the track for an afternoon picnic and social. We mingled with those we knew and also met some really great people. It was so much fun! Thank you, Steve and Winnie and our great Oregon Region friends. Karla and I now live in Bend and have joined the High Desert Region PCA, but will do our best to meet again when we can.

If you have never participated in a Rennsport Reunion, do it. For those who have, do it again at your next opportunity. I know I am not alone in counting the days until the next Rennsport, but at least we can join each other and talk the one thing we all love, Porsche. n