AIR COOL
THE PORSCHE COLLECTION OF ANGEL MARTINEZ Story and photos by Dennis Power
M
embers of the Santa Barbara Region of PCA are fortunate to associate with people who have interesting life histories and superb cars. I want to occasionally feature in these pages some of those stories. This seemed especially timely given the impact on getting together last year owing to the pandemic. One member who came to mind is someone I know: Angel Martinez, a member continuously since 1993. Here is what I found.
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This is one of those success stories we have come to respect. Angel was born in Cuba, moved to the Bronx at the age of three, and grew up with his grandmother’s sister and her husband. They relocated to California when he was a boy. He still remembers the impact of seeing a Volkswagen in the Bronx when age 10. A fascination with Porsches came later. It originated at the age of 12 in California with a 1957 maroon 356. Taken with the look, he asked, “What is that?” “A Porsche,” came the reply. “What’s a Porsche?” he asked. “Well, it’s a sports car?” he was told. “What’s a sports car?” came the next question. And with that Angel was offered a ride: “I was mesmerized; it was so fast, it was the coolest experience I ever had!” Later, in high school, and not afraid to get his hands dirty and see how things work, Angel earned credits for rebuilding VW motors at his high school’s auto shop.
AUSPUFF
January/February 2021
The aspiration to own the best of Porsche’s air-cooled cars was set. What allowed Angel to acquire the cars he’s owned over the years, and that are in his collection now, was helped by his hard work and wise decisions in business. As a high school runner he developed an interest in the sport. After graduating as an All American in Cross Country and Track from UC Davis he opened a running shoe store. Opportunity knocked as he met two entrepreneurs who were trying to launch an unknown running brand in the U.S. named Reebok. Angel became the third employee and one of the founders. Over two decades later, after retiring from Reebok and moving to Santa Barbara with his family, Angel launched Keen Footwear, followed by an offer to become CEO of Deckers Outdoor, known today as Deckers Brands.
