Luftgekühlt 11 Porsche Gathering Attracts 9,000-Plus Guests to Durham
Rare racing & collectible cars were artfully scattered throughout the grounds, ensuring hidden gems were found around every turn…
The East Coast showed up in force at the American Tobacco Campus (ATC) in Durham, North Carolina, for Luftgekühlt 11, a gathering of air-cooled Porsches. More than 9,200 guests strolled among some 400 vehicles strategically placed throughout the campus, displayed by enthusiasts from 30 states.
The two streets marking the borders of ATC were closed to traffic as visitors were invited to explore the historic Lucky Strike factory, which the Luft team had filled with Porsche history, creating an enjoyable walking tour. Rare racing and collectible cars were artfully scattered throughout the grounds and inside buildings, allowing visitors to discover hidden gems around every turn.
From racing legends to colorful road-going models, officials report there was something to captivate everyone, juxtaposed against the historic red brick buildings.
Several featured vehicles had unique connections to special guests, with host Tommy Kendall being reunited with the 993 Porsche 911 GT2 Evo he piloted at Le Mans, while Bobby Rahal brought his personal 904 Carrera GTS, which was showcased in the 1948 Lounge. Todd Holbert fired up the 1976 Porsche 934 originally driven by his father, Al, and Andial’s Dieter Inzenhofer was reacquainted with a Copenhagen-sponsored Porsche 962 endurance racer.
The grounds were also packed with rare models, including those celebrating the 30th anniversary of the U.S. launch of the Type-993 Porsche 911. There was also an area devoted to “Safari” conversions, and visitors could wander through a diverse collection of cars, from rally machines to daily drivers, tuner vehicles, patina classics and money-no-object restorations.
PORSCHE HISTORY THROUGH THE DECADES
People new to Luftgekühlt had the chance to experience something from every era of air-cooled Porsches, and receive a subtle education on Porsche’s American history, which began on the East Coast with imports by Max Hoffman and John von Neumann—a connection highlighted by rare 1952 America Roadsters.
Built exclusively for the U.S. market, three of the 17 original aluminum-bodied machines were on display. The lightweight America Roadster models would inspire the 356 Speedster, which then sparked a Porsche boom captured in the 356 Alley at Luft 11.
The late 1950s and early ’60s were represented by rarely seen models courtesy of The Ingram Collection and clients of Road Scholars. Headliners included a 1955 Porsche 550, 1958 718 RSK, 1961 Carrera Abarth and lightweight 1968 911 R.
The 1970s stories were similarly memorable, led by Durham-based Ligget & Myer’s Tobacco Company, which sponsored George Follmer’s 1972 Porsche 917/10 racer. And while it was an undoubted star of the show, its younger and even meaner brother—the 1973 Porsche 917/30—was taunting it from outside the Campus on Blackwell Street. And, for the first time since the 1970s, the latter was reunited with its freshly restored Penske International Fleetstar transporter, creating an iconic scene that captured the days of Mark Donohue and Roger Penske’s Can-Am dominance.
To celebrate the 1980s, the iconic G-body Carrera was in full force, while headlines were grabbed by the 1985 Brumos Porsche 962. The Copenhagen-liveried example was piloted by a lineup of Hurley Haywood, AJ Foyt, Al Unser Jr. and Elliot Forbes-Robinson.
The 962 was surrounded by period-correct brethren, including the 1978 911 SC Heigo rally car, developed by Walter Röhrl and Dieter Röscheisen. The centerpiece of the Bilstein display, the Heigo story capped off a rally gathering that incorporated the Keen Safaris, Peking-to-Paris 356 and the Type 7 914 Safari from Gunnar Racing.
Visitors also viewed the world’s only 966—a unique vehicle built by Gunnar Racing and derived from the 962. With its open cockpit, it made a noteworthy addition to the Durham event.
Luft 11 ended with a bang when Kendall fired up his 993 GT2, crowning a collection of significant Type-993 race cars displayed to pay honor to the final decade of air-cooled Porsches.
Participating partners included Porsche Classic, Pirelli, Mobil 1, Hagerty, Broad Arrow, Tag Heuer, Ingram Experience, Bilstein, Meguiar’s, Gunther Werks, Singer Vehicle Design, Graham Rahal Performance and Intercity Lines.
LUFT COMMUNITY AWARD PRESENTED BY HAGERTY
Luft 11 saw the inauguration of the Luftgekühlt Community Award presented by Hagerty. All visitors were invited to vote for their favorite car on Bramo.co, utilizing the QR code affixed to the majority of display vehicles.
The winner was Christopher Moore’s Cashmere Beige 1978 Porsche 911 SC. The numbers-matching example retained its original tartan interior, cork leather and black headlight trim rings. Modifications included a balanced engine rebuilt with Euro pistons and cylinders plus custom heads. It also sported aftermarket bumpers and a custom decklid to reduce weight.
Since its completion in 2015, the car has been driven extensively, racking up 104,560 miles.
