The Art of Drive – A Night with Creative Culture
Monterey, California – August 19th, 2022
Written by: Ryan Bula
As part of the Dream in Color/Porsche Zentrum popup during Monterey Car Week, Porsche invited a select number of people and their guests to attend a Friday night soiree held at The Barns at Cooper Molera to pore over Porsche's greatest hits, both past and present, as well as indulge themselves in new offerings both from Porsche Design and Porsche AG.
The center of attraction was the highly coveted, though equally divisive, 992 GT3RS. Revealed earlier in the week, it was vaunted by motorsports enthusiasts but lambasted by Porsche purists alike. Whatever the case and no matter which side of the fence the car community was on, it was clear that eyeballs were going to look over every inch of Zuffenhausen's newest and greatest product.
Poised to take on the rest of the sporting world, Porsche's newest offering certainly did not hold back with its new DRS (Drag Reduction System), overhauled front suspension, a plethora of new aero bits, a meaner 4.0L engine in the back, lightweight materials purpose-built for the GT3RS, as well as the ability to adjust suspension characteristics on the fly within the cockpit of the car. One hopes allocations see a number of these on the track or any other HPDE (High Performance Driving Event) around the globe and not just the local Cars and Coffee-type meet.
Another centerpiece and item, or rather, items of discussion was a one-off restored 1972 911 S 2.4 Targa from Porsche Design along with a matching Chronograph 1 timepiece. As a tribute to 50 Years of Porsche Design, the Chronograph's details match that of the 911 Targa. Both the timepiece and Targa will go on the auction block during Sotheby's New York Car Week at an estimated value of $275,000 to $325,000. For more about the 50 Years of Porsche Design, click here.
In a blend of past and present, the 1970 Porche 908/3 Gulf #12 (chassis #008) Targa Florio winner driven by the formidable pairing of Jo Siffert and Brian Redman was on stage with a custom 718 Spyder both owned by comedian and Porschefile Jerry Seinfeld. The 718 itself was commissioned by Seinfeld in collaboration with Porsche's Special Projects division and they truly delivered!
Finally, with the focus on the actual art itself, artist Stefan Kunz and his team worked tirelessly on a Taycan, providing what he calls Creative Lettering and essentially drawing out messages about our collective inner motivations in life. Watching a true artist pouring this heart and soul into the work under the lights amidst the hustle and bustle of a nighttime gathering is a sight to behold. This was truly the heart of the Porsche Zentrum!
Porsche certainly knows how to deliver on their events, and while this was a rather relaxed affair mixed with Porschephiles, gearheads, PTS (paint-to-sample) owners, Porsche executives, VIPs, and other enthusiasts, it was a wonderful gathering to celebrate the Stuttgart brand and the culture that surrounds it.