Page 38 - KCRPCA NovDec 2021

PORSCHE TOGETHER FEST
AIR-COOLED AND MORE
BACK FROM A 6,300 MILE ROAD TRIP, LYNN AND JIM HEAD TO INDY
FEATURE CONTRIBUTOR JIM RAND
Lynn Wiggins and I survived and recovered from our 6,300 mile June journey that took us along Route 66 and parts of the Pacific Northwest. Recently, with my trusted and fearless road navigator, Lynn, we sought out a new adventure.
For the past six years, Porsche pro race driver, Patrick Long, has convened on the west coast an event that spotlights Porsche’s air-cooled years. As word spread after each year’s gathering, the number of Porsches for viewing, and the viewers, grew.
This year’s mustering of the
air cooled faithful commenced
in Indianapolis, Indiana. Not only did Porsche commandeer the entire International Motor Speedway complex, but also a charming post industrial area just south of downtown Indianapolis, known as the Bottleworks.
From near and far, air-cooled Porsches were driven or trailered in. The Bottleworks site was once Coca-Cola’s second largest U.S. bottling site. One hundred year old red brick structures
fill several blocks. Many are vacant, yet others now serve as bars, restaurants, a hotel and a manufacturing location for pipe organs.
To find some of the most interesting Porsches on display,
it took a little digging. Hidden down one alley we spied a one time rally Porsche and a 917 Le Mans contestant. Snuggled in
a once upon a time garage was
a tribute Porsche 550 of James Dean fame. Beyond the more famous cars was a parking lot full of regular customer air-cooled specimens. It was air-cooled overload.
But wait, there was more, lots
14
YEARS
38
Der Sportwagen