Porsche: Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence

Story by Dennis Power

Porsche is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023, and there are many reasons to cheer. The company has a long and storied history of producing some of the most iconic and sought-after sports cars in the world. From the early 356 to the modern 911, Porsche has consistently set the standard for performance, design, and engineering. It’s a time to look back on the company’s accomplishments. Porsche has a bright future, and it is sure to continue to produce some of the most desirable cars in the world for many years to come. On Saturday, June 10, the Santa Barbara Region of PCA and the Porsche dealers in our region took the time to celebrate. That morning, Porsche Santa Barbara welcomed members of the Santa Barbara Region with a continental breakfast in their showroom. We were fortunate to view a number of high-end models, such as a stunning 718 GT4 RS and others for sale, and a 918 on display. After time to socialize, we were welcomed by SBR President Rod Hersberger who reviewed the drive we were about to take and the rest of the morning’s activities. Sales Manager Rene Verbrugge was thanked for his always excellent hospitality.

SBR member and motorsports writer Matt Stone gave Rene a copy of his latest book, Porsche Special Editions. Promptly at 0900 we were in our cars and on the way for a scenic drive through the Santa Ynez Valley, north on Highway 246 to Lompoc, and down highways 1 and 101 to the beautiful, seaside Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta. After the 100-mile excursion, Porsche Santa Barbara’s hospitality hadn’t ended yet as we enjoyed a catered lunch on the green.

Down the road, Rusnak Porsche Westlake held a celebratory open house. Attendees (not just SBR members), could inspect excellent examples of the marque in the dealer’s recently remodeled showroom. We were treated to pizzas baked on site, along with salads and beverages. Again, being able to socialize with other Porsche owners was a high point.

We are grateful to the two Porsche dealers in our region for their friendliness and generosity on this special occasion for the Porsche company. We also greatly value their support of this publication through their advertising. Reward yourself from time to time with a visit to see the latest of what comes out of Zuffenhausen these days.

With such a storied history of producing highperformance, unmistakable machines, there’s no denying Porsche’s significant impact on the automotive world. Cheers to 75 years of Porsche!

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