{"id":499397,"date":"2021-08-29T22:15:05","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T02:15:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportscardigest.com\/?p=361225"},"modified":"2024-12-08T03:51:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-08T03:51:12","slug":"2021-porsche-werks-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.supercars.net\/blog\/2021-porsche-werks-reunion\/","title":{"rendered":"Porsche Werks Reunion (2021) – Recap & Photo Gallery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Matt Stone \/ <\/b>Photography by Kristina Cilia<\/b><\/h2>\n

Big single marque events and shows are growing ever more popular, especially when it comes to Porsche. Huge all-Porsche celebrations really began in earnest two decades back when Porsche Cars North America, Porsche Motorsport and the mother ship in Stuttgart, teamed up to present the original Rennsport Reunion at Lime Rock Raceway in 2001, dedicated primarily to Porsche Racing, teams, drivers, and cars. Since then, the Luftgekuhlt (Air Cooled) all-Porsche events have earned worldwide attendance and reputations.<\/p>\n

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Then an all-German event called Legends of the Autobahn began brewing for the big annual Monterey\/California Car Week, and considering the hundreds of Porsches that wanted to participate, plus many more hundreds of Mercedes-Benz<\/a> and BMW cars<\/a> and enthusiasts who wanted in, it was clear that the crowds would be somewhat overwhelming. Porsche Club of America (PCA) stepped in to take over the Porsche aspect of this notion, creating the all-Porsche Werks (pronounced Verks) Reunion. This made perfect sense, and the initial events were smashes.<\/p>\n

Of course, like most good things involving large gatherings of otherwise happy people, CO-19 smashed Werks into the ether for 2020. Ever since its beginning in 2014, the event had been held at a lovely Salinas area country club that had poor access and marginal parking; as the club and Werks management group considered its plans for a 2021 return, the decision was made to move to a larger, easier to access location, which was found at the Bayonet Blackhorse country club in nearby Seaside.<\/p>\n

This spacious, rambling property was already home to another major Monterey Car Week event called Concorso Italiano<\/a>, focused obviously on only Italian cars, bikes<\/a>, and style. In as much as the infrastructure for large automotive events at Blackhorse was already established, Werks announced a move there for \u201921. And it was a great decision.<\/p>\n

The property exhibits rolling elevation changes that make it visually interesting, without being an arduous climb or overly hilly. Plus, the access was infinitely better and easier, with plenty of great parking extant.<\/p>\n

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1954 Mistral bodied Porsche parked next to a Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia in the corral at Werks Reunion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 700 or so vehicle entrant spots sold out upon announcement, although spectator attendance wasn\u2019t in any way limited, and admission was free, so best of all worlds there. Monterey County\u2019s Covid mandates allowed for no mask wearing required for outdoor events, although a personal option if desired, something everyone seemed happy with. Michelin signed on as the title sponsor, a bound-to-be-lucky Friday the 13th date was established, and it was all systems go.<\/p>\n

There was no profiling here: any Porsches, of all year, model, and stripe were welcome, from the oldest Pre-A 356s<\/a>, to brand new Taycans<\/a> and SUV models<\/a>. All for in, and in for all.<\/p>\n

And in an equally egalitarian move, there were PCA Concours judged classes and categories for all of the above, including \u201cSport Purpose\u201d categories for hot rods, race car tributes, tuners, Bajas, et al.<\/p>\n

Star cars? Too many to name. You\u2019d of course expect every 911 variant<\/a>, and you\u2019d be right. Ditto 356s. 914s<\/a>? Plenty. 924s<\/a> and 928s<\/a> too. Turbos, new and old? Got \u2018em. The only thing we didn\u2019t see was a Porsche tractor.<\/p>\n

One particular Porsche that always had a crowd around it, and likely appeared on Instagram a million times that day, was an uber barnfind that drew spectator flies like a mountain of honey: the epicenter of all the interest was a 1957 Porsche 356A Carrera Coupe<\/a>. Its silver paint was faded and chalky; rust spots blossomed on many panels. The interior was worn and aged, yet somehow tidy. In spite of all the age spots, it was a whole and complete running, driving car. It had spent decades in a New York lockup, and at one point was separated from its original engine. It was successfully exhumed just a few years ago, reunited with its fully overhauled numbers-matching 4-cam Carrera engine, and mechanically recommissioned so as to be road worthy.<\/p>\n

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Original 1957 Carrera GT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Would this car have attracted as much attention had it been a standard 1500cc pushrod powered model? Perhaps, but not likely \u2013 the real buzzword here is Carrera, as in the massively complex, high-winding, powerful double overhead cam, roller-bearing crankshafted flat four, that made its reputation on the world\u2019s racetrack, and gave us a model name \u2013 Carrera\u2014that carries on today in the current production lineup. Everyone stopped and paid attention to this most amazing car, but once they discovered it was a Carrera, the interest was turned up to 11. Or 12. Or perhaps 27.<\/p>\n

It should not surprise anyone that the same dusty, rusty little 356 went on to win first place in the Postwar Preservation Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d\u2019Elegance two days later. The car\u2019s provenance is growing by the minute. And Southern California\u2019s Chuck House was hero of the day for bringing and sharing it.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, the show was somewhat of a Catalogue Raissonne<\/i> of Porsche, particularly 911 and 912 models<\/a>, from very early \u201965 and \u201966 two-liter six-cylinder examples, to the latest available 992s, in nearly every color you could name. Great pack of 914s too, now that the little mid-engined, VW joint-venture machine has finally caught the eye and value of car collectors (Porsche and otherwise) more are being rescued and restored, especially as the replacement parts supply continues to grow.<\/p>\n

In spite of full class judging for cars wishing to participate, the event\u2019s schedule only allowed for 1st in class winners to drive up and collect their trophies. Here\u2019s the list:<\/p>\n

First-Place Award Winners \u2014 Judged Car<\/i><\/p>\n

(Class \/ Car \/ Owner)<\/p>\n