2005 P2O Success Story

On Saturday July 30, 2005, Mid-Ohio Region PCA hosted their first annual Porsches 2 Oxford (Ohio) event.  Marketed as a ‘casual Porsche party’, P-cars of all ages and models began arriving days before the event -- from as far away as Ontario and Maine.  Before it was all over, 14 different PCA regions and eight states were epresented at a Porsche event that went from idea to reality in just eight months.

With 140 Porsches adorning the brick streets of quaint, uptown, Oxford, it was obvious that MORPCA picked the perfect site for a Porsche event.  Traffic was prohibited in the downtown area from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  – giving attendees a great location to display their cars and enjoy the day.  With an adjacent bandstand serving as our event headquarters, this was a unique site that was just perfect for 'a casual Porsche party' unlike any other.  Attendees were able to enjoy a variety of shops, restaurants and watering holes – all within easy walking distance of their cars and their friends.

As a first-year even in Oxford, the weather Gods could not have been kinder. Mild termperatures in the upper 70s and clear blue skys combined with a gentle breeze to make a fantastic opening statement organizers wished for.

For those staying overnight, the new Elms Hotel was literally just a few steps off Main Street and offered an adjacent, secure, covered parking garage.  The beautiful Miami University campus was also within easy walking distance and offered many in attendance the opportunity to ‘see what a college campus was meant to look like.’

On Saturday morning, cars started rolling into town well before 8:00 a.m. and were free to park wherever they wanted in the closed uptown streets.  Before it was all over, P-cars stretching for blocks and turned the small, quaint college town into a bustling nerve center catering to automotive aficionados of Stuttgart's finest.

During the day, participants had the opportunity to vote for their favorite three cars in each of eight classes.  Plaques were presented at 4:00 p.m. to the winners.  Additionally, those in attendance were automatically entered in the drawing for over $1,000 worth of great door prizes that were awarded throughout the day.

At 4:30 p.m. over 100 P- cars lined up for a lap through Hueston Woods State Park.  It was an amazing sight to watch that long row of colorful Porsches winding their way out of town.  By the time the event was over, attendees were already talking about next year. The all important first impression had been made and organizers uncorked the proverbial home run. But the bar was also officially set and in the coming years nothing less than 2005's outstanding debut would suffice.

Porsches 2 Oxford began in 2003 as the brainchild or MORPCA members Bill and Marylynn Roe.  However, in 2003 and 2004, it was knows as Porsches to Pinckney (Michigan).  After the only restaurant in Pickney closed, we began looking for a new location for our 2005 event.

After much searching, we met with Diana Durr and the fine folks at the Oxford Vistitors Bureau…and the rest is history.