16th Annual Porsche Timeline Exhibit – Lake Arrowhead Village, California
They say its Autumn, but for those of us needing a reprieve from the Southern California heat, a quick run up the mountain to Lake Arrowhead is never a bad idea. A stroll down the waterfront, some light shopping, and a stop by the Belgian Waffle Works, which you can literally smell for miles, can usually remind one that California does actually participate in the global phenomenon known as “Seasons.” This weekend was something very special though-the 16th Annual Porsche Timeline Exhibit put on by the Porsche Club of America Riverside Region. With nearly 75 Porsches in participation, the weekend getaway crowd was treated to a chronological display of vintage, through current Porsches-starting with the glossiest black 1963 Super 90 you’ve ever seen, all the way to electronic-assisted, carbon-fiber laden examples of the finest German engineering currently available.
The event was a cleverly disguised Porsche car show, strung out through the spectacularly situated area known as Lake Arrowhead Village, complete with panoramic views of the San Bernardino forest and the deep-blue waters of Lake Arrowhead. The earliest Porsches started near the Oktoberfest stage, which was blaring some solid “oompah” music, then wrapped around past the mini go-kart track (yes, we rode the go karts), and then down the waterfront road, giving car enthusiasts a completely different environment to appreciate the excruciatingly beautiful German automobiles. Porsche owner pride was on full display as owners young and old donned micro fiber towels, and dusters fighting the reining pollen from the nearby forests of pine trees. Other than a cocky boyfriend telling his girl that they were looking at a 1962 Corvette while staring at a 1979 Porsche 911 Turbo, the crowds were enthusiastic and genuinely seemed to appreciate the obvious dedication and expenditure that often comes along with long term Porsche ownership.
Like any Porsche gathering we’ve ever been too, we did not meet one Porsche owner that was not completely approachable and more than willing to explain the unique details of their car. Popped hoods, unlatched trunks, and even a few motors being started up for amused onlookers created a fun change of pace and starkly contrasted from your typical concourse where owners are expected to park their cars and leave them untouched until judged. Instead of stern looks and clipboards, most of the people cruising around had huge smiles and a beer or pretzel (often both) in hand. We were completely enamored by the event, and will be writing in “Porsche Timeline-Lake Arrowhead” into our Google calendars for next fall.
Thank you to the Porsche Club of America Riverside Region for putting on this fantastic event. The Riverside PCA hosts monthly breakfast socials, fun rides, as well as charity events and tech sessions. If you live in Southern California and own a Porsche, you’ve got a large group of like-minded new friends you just haven’t met yet-check them out.
(Words and Photography: Gabriel Trench)