FP COMMUNIQUE 001
Why we rallye: Embracing the Porsche Lifestyle
In a world where human exploration has left no stone unturned, new frontiers come from new endeavors. Faced with the challenge of the unfamiliar, our brains activate the body’s natural stress response system, known as “fight-or-flight”. These physiological changes are as thrilling as they are terrifying.
When you embrace your fears and choose to “fight”, your body prepares for action, optimizes systems for enhanced performance, and beckons you to forge ahead. Once you overcome the uncertainty of novelty, the anxiety of anticipation turns into the euphoria of accomplishment. Naturally, you repeat the process in order to replicate the thrill. But, repetition breeds dominion, dominion brings comfort, and comfort becomes boredom. So you move on to the next thing.
And yet, there are those few instances that surprise us. They tend to come when we least expect them. They destroy our expectations, rip through the stasis of our lives and change us forever.
For us, one such moment came in September 2003. It was our first Porsche rallye in Europe. But, it wasn’t a Porsche rallye. It was a RUF Rallye, organized by esteemed automotive royalty, Alois and Estonia Ruf. Although our family has a long history with Porsche, this would be the 3rd generation’s first foray into the world of high performance driving.
Back then, these rallyes were a family affair. It was mostly couples that would join the Rufs, but true to our Latin roots, we expanded upon precedent to include fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, and family friends. The result is an unforgettable journey of touring Porsches in Europe with the people we love. And the long journey that continues to this day. This is why we invoke family in the company name and why nurturing a familial atmosphere among our guests is at the core of what we do.
We arrived in Munich a few days early, picked up the cars at Ruf Automobile in Pfaffenhausen–including a yellow RUF RT Turbo, a RUF 3600, a couple of rented 996 Cabrios, and a red RUF CTR. For a rookie on his first trip, the lineup was a baptism of fire. Like a merry band of young sailors on their maiden voyage, we set out eastward to Vienna. When you go on a trip like this, there are certain things you only learn by being there. Like the fact that you need a permit to use sticker, locally known as a “vignette”, to drive on the autobahns of Austria. So, yes, fines abounded.
After a couple days in the City of Dreams, we began the Ruf Rallye in Fuschl, a sleepy lakeside town of 1,500 people. We followed up the customary welcome cocktails and dinner with a track day at the Salzburgring–all firsts. At the time, I’d never been anywhere near a racetrack, much less driving on one. The frigid autumn downpour all but guaranteed an incident amongst the uninitiated. It wasn’t long before my older brother understeered his Porsche Cabrio rental straight toward the barrier. I was on the passenger side holding on tighter than a bull rider at the bucking chute. We missed it by mere inches. They may still be able to pull my palm print off of the passenger side interior door handle on that car–wherever it is.
The journey was chalk full of firsts. Every moment felt new. Learning how to be the lead car, or bringing up the rear; how to read a map while driving (not recommended), or ask for directions in a foreign language; how to communicate clear instructions to a dozen other people through two-way radios, especially during passes on sinuous mountain roads. It was all new and mysterious and exhilarating.
20 years on, the intrigue of a new adventure has become routine, but never boring. With over 30,000 kilometers under our belt, people often ask us if we get tired of driving the same ol’ roads again and again. To that we can only say, the novelty of every rallye comes from the people with whom we share the adventure.
Looking back at those early days, many details are murky but the feeling is as clear as the Southern California sky. We remember the thrill of flooring it down the straight at the Salzburgring in the driving rain. But we can’t remember the name of the hotel we stayed at that night. I remember cruising into Vienna alone, after getting lost, and how it felt to find my way and pull into the exquisite Hotel Imperial. I may not remember how many days we were there, or what I had for dinner, but the smell of fresh apfel strüdel sticks with me to this day.
Every time reality rears its ugly head, those are the moments you hold on to. The moments when you feel a camaraderie built on shared values and singular experiences. You learn more about yourself on the road than sitting on any couch, or in any classroom. And you finally understand how to fight back against the tyranny of indistinguishable days.
“One’s duty is to feel what is great, cherish the beautiful, and not accept all the conventions of society with the ignominy that it imposes upon us.”
-G. Flaubert
