Hosted by the Mid-Ohio Region PCA, Porsches 2 Oxford has set a new attendance record in all six years of the event, a remarkable achievement considering the economic climate and unfavorable weather forecasts of the past several years.

“Attendees once again outdid themselves,” said P2O Media and Publicity Director Chris Rieman.  “Every year organizers fear the plateau, but this event has become larger than life.  Time and again attendees remarked about never seeing so many Porsches in one place at one time.  We had guests from as far away as Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York, and Kansas choosing to make the drive to Oxford. There’s no better compliment given for the hard work organizers and volunteers dedicate to make this weekend happen.”

Central to P2O’s mission statement is doing for others and the American Cancer Society once again took center stage. Sales from preferred parking, general registrations, and afternoon raffles totaled $10,000 for the charity. MaryLynn Roe, event founder and inspiration, lost her courageous battle to cancer in 2006, making the ACS a perfect choice. Organizers have raised $20,000 in the last two years.

“Preferred parking in ‘MaryLynns Row’, as well as general registrations and a passing of the collection plate indicates just how generous and compassionate the attendees are,” Rieman said.  “P2O started out as a grassroots event at the local club level but has grown into a nationally-recognized automotive event – not just inside the PCA, but to the national sports car community.”

“We enjoy supporting this event every year and look forward to the drive to Oxford,” said Art Zasadny from Wyandotte, Michigan. “We’ve attended every P2O and it’s for a great cause. One year we were unable to bring our Porsche, but drove down in the family car to enjoy the afternoon. We would not miss this event for any other.”

Weekend activities included a Friday afternoon tour of the Taj Ma Garaj in nearby Dayton, a Friday evening outdoor beer and wine garden for arriving guests, Saturday’s signature car show with Top-50 brick trophies representing Oxford’s uptown brick streets, and a Sunday road rally through the Ohio-Indiana countryside.  National and local sponsors help underwrite costs, while the Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau takes a prominent lead in working with Oxford businesses, police, city council, and other interests to get P2O off the ground.

“Porsches 2 Oxford is great for our city,” OVCB Executive Director Diana Durr said. “The national attention and economic gain is a shot in the arm to our community, but the attendees themselves are the crown jewel. They are respectful, appreciative, and a privilege to call guests to the city of Oxford.” As for planning for 2011, those talks are already underway.

“It’s a never-ending process,” Rieman said. “As the event grows, so too the work and responsibility.  It’s a magic carpet ride that flies in the face of other events that don’t have the ‘it’ factor.  It’s hard to say what our secret is, but listening to attendees and being open to constructive criticism is something we take seriously.  We have built up incredible good will and trust with our guests, and organizers work hard to reciprocate that respect in a personal and profound way.”

Porsches 2 Oxford began as Porsches 2 Pinckney (MI) in 2003 as 85 cars took part in the first-year event. The event moved to Oxford in 2005 and entertained a modest 140 cars. The attendees increased to 225 cars in 2006 and 255 cars in 2007. A then-record 396 Porsches made their way to Oxford on July 26, 2008 for the fourth annual event. Last year, the record was broken again with 409 Porsches from 21 states and three Canadian provinces.

For more information, please visit www.porsches2oxford.com.

###

Christopher M. Rieman
Webmaster/Media & Publicity
Porsches 2 Oxford
crieman@porsches2oxford.com
cell: 937.361.4630

“Last year was incredible on many levels,” said P2O Media and Publicity Director Chris Rieman. “We set a new attendance record for our fifth anniversary event in spite of weather conditions that were nearly apocalyptic.  But that didn’t stop attendees or dampen their spirits even when the wind and rain were dampening the Oxford streets. That’s a testament to just how important this event is to the national Porsche landscape.”

Dubbed “a casual Porsche party”, P2O organizers host attendees in the rural college town of uptown Oxford, Ohio. Located 30 miles north of Cincinnati along the Ohio-Indiana border, event activities expand this year to include an outdoor food and beer garden from 6-9PM Friday July 30^th to welcome and engage arriving guests, while the signature car show takes place all day Saturday with an awards ceremony to follow around 4pm. A Sunday road rally along the countryside wraps up the weekend.

“Our offseason goal was to add more activities so guests can make a long weekend out of their travels,” Rieman said. “More opportunities to interact with guests, bring in exciting new vendors, and incorporate the uptown Oxford businesses seemed like a natural response on our part that benefits the entire community.”

Although the casual fun alongside expensive German sports cars headlines the event, P2O brings Porsche enthusiasts together to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. The event’s underlying charity for the past three years, the ACS has a special connection that organizers draw inspiration from.

“MaryLynn Roe co-founded the event in Michigan in 2003 and saw the move to Oxford in 2005, but her courageous battle with cancer was her greatest legacy,” Rieman said. “She passed away from cancer in 2006 but her spirit and vision remain a central rallying point for this event. The ACS is a perfect fit for us.”

Organizers started a new tradition in 2009 to do just that, selling prime parking spots for $100 each to benefit the local chapter of the ACS. All 40 spaces were sold in the first three days of registration. Five dollars from general registrations also benefit the charity while 50/50 drawings throughout the afternoon complete the fundraising. Organizers have expanded MaryLynn’s Row parking to 75 spaces in 2010 to accommodate the demand.

“We raised $10,000 last year and every penny came directly from the attendees,” Rieman said. “This is not an event where organizers ask sponsors to write large checks from an out-of-state office.  The giving is personal and profound and done in a way that highlights the very best of intentions by our guests. We plan to raise even more money for ACS in 2010.”

Porsches 2 Oxford began as Porsches 2 Pinckney (MI) in 2003 as 85 cars took part in the first-year event. The event moved to Oxford in 2005 and entertained a modest 140 cars. The attendees increased to 225 cars in 2006 and 255 cars in 2007. A then-record 396 Porsches made their way to Oxford on July 26, 2008 for the fourth annual event. Last year, the record was broken again with 409 Porsches from 21 states and three Canadian provinces.

For more information on 2010’s sixth annual event, please visit www.porsches2oxford.com.

###

Christopher M. Rieman
Webmaster/Media & Publicity
Porsches 2 Oxford
crieman@porsches2oxford.com
(937) 361-4630

Fastest-growing Porsche event in the country expected to shatter attendance records for fifth anniversary

Anticipating nearly 500 cars, Porsches 2 Oxford opened registration for the fifth anniversary event on March 28, 2009 as fun seekers flocked to the event’s web site to secure their German sports car in one of the nation’s premier cruise-ins.  In just 72 hours, 60 Porsche owners did just that despite months of waiting ahead for the July 25^th show.  Such enthusiasm has become an event hallmark and explains why Porsches 2 Oxford sits at the top of the summer car show calendar, but organizers are no less impressed by the early response.

“Every time we raise the bar for attendees, they exceed the highest expectations organizers anticipate and plan for,” said P2O Media and Publicity Director Chris Rieman.  “It’s a wonderful event to plan and organize because past attendees provide the sales job to other Porsche enthusiasts sitting on the fence.  Part of that is treating every attendee like a VIP with the hope that a positive experience encourages word-of-mouth advertising. 

“We also make it a point to ensure the event is the best bargain of the summer,” Rieman said.  “The fewer excuses we leave on the table to stay home, the more incentive Porsche owners have to grab their keys and make the drive to Oxford.”

Dubbed “a casual Porsche party”, P2O organizers host attendees in the rural college town of uptown Oxford, Ohio. Located 30 miles north of Cincinnati along the Ohio-Indiana border, the event kicks off on Friday July 24^th with friendly gatherings at local watering holes and concludes on Sunday with a road rally.

Although the casual fun alongside expensive German sports cars headlines the event, P2O brings Porsche enthusiasts together to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society. The event’s underlying charity for the past two years, the ACS has a special connection that organizers draw inspiration from.

“Marylynn Roe co-founded the event in Michigan in 2003 and saw the move to Oxford in 2005, but her courageous battle with cancer was her greatest legacy,” Rieman said. “She passed away from cancer in 2006 but her spirit and vision remain a central rallying point for this event.  The ACS is our way of paying it forward.”

Organizers started a new tradition in 2009 to do just that, selling prime parking spots for $100 each to benefit the local chapter of the ACS.  All 40 spaces were sold in the first three days of registration.  Five dollars from general registrations also benefit the charity while 50/50 drawings throughout the afternoon complete the fundraising.

“We’re hoping to raise $8,000-10,000 when it’s all said and done,” Rieman said.

Porsches 2 Oxford began as Porsches 2 Pinckney (MI) in 2003 as 85 cars took part in the first-year event. The event moved to Oxford in 2005 and entertained a modest 140 cars. The attendees increased to 225 cars in 2006 and 255 cars in 2007.  A record 396 Porsches made their way to Oxford on July 26, 2008 for the fourth annual event. The college town with brick-lined streets and quaint storefronts hosted attendees from 17 states and three Canadian provinces.

For more information on 2009’s fifth anniversary event, please visit www.porsches2oxford.com.

###

Event Contact

Brice L. Kadel

Co-Chairperson

Porsches 2 Oxford

937-215-0156

bkadel@porsches2oxford.com

Oxford hosted the deluge of pricey sports cars for the first time in 2005 and attendance has grown from 140 cars to well over 300 expected this year. With the beautiful Uptown cityscape, quaint shops and eateries, comfortable green space, and first-class band shell to serve as the event nerve center, choosing the small college town near the Ohio-Indiana border has proven to be a signature piece of the P2O success story.

“This event has blossomed into one of the best Porsche cruise-ins anywhere in the country in just four years,” said P2O Event Co-Chairperson Brice Kadel. “Once we visited Oxford, everyone involved felt we uncovered the proverbial gold mine.” Additional publicity hasn’t hurt either. “Our feature story in the March 2008 edition of Porsche Panorama magazine gave a flattering account of the event by Porsche Club of America national president Prescott Kelly. In it he called P2O, ‘one of the premier Porsche events in the country’ and those kind words have not only legitimized our efforts but also spearheaded record numbers of pre-registrations despite the rising cost of gas.”

“We continue to be amazed at the progress,” Oxford Visitors & Convention Bureau Director Diana Durr said. “Watching the success of P2O surpass even our own high expectations over the last four years has been most gratifying. What started out as a city event has turned national in the Porsche community, and among Porsche aficionados has a reputation that gives our town terrific exposure and recognition.”

This year’s featured event sponsors are Tacoma, WA-based Griot’s Garage car care products, Rocky River, OH-based Autobahn Extremist, and locally by Beechmont Porsche of Cincinnati.

“Griot’s Garage is a major sponsor for a third consecutive year and we’re excited to know they believe in this event to return once again,” Kadel said. “Autobahn Extremist is one of the most respected Porsche service and tuning garages in the Midwest and having Beechmont Porsche providing local support for the second year in a row is the perfect compliment. Combined with almost 15 supporting sponsors, P2O’s reputation as a first-class event is the reason we’re attracting first-class sponsorship.”

Over $3,000 in door prizes will be given away on Saturday along with Top-35 People’s Choice and Special Category trophies. A 50/50 raffle will benefit the local chapter of the American Cancer Society in honor of Marylynn Roe, co-founder of the event who lost her battle with cancer in 2006.

About Porsches 2 Oxford
Started in 2003 as Porsches 2 Pinckney, the event moved to Oxford, OH, in 2005 and changed names to reflect the new location. Celebrated as a casual get-together of car owners and the community, P2O attracted 140 cars from eight states and Canada in the first year. In 2006, attendance jumped more than 50% to 225 Porsches, 12 states, and 22 PCA regions. Last year, a record 254 cars participated in spite of unfavorable weather forecasts. While the event routinely brings several regional and national concours-winning vehicles, Porsches of all conditions and mileage are encouraged to participate. For information, visit http://www.porsches2oxford.com.

###

Media Inquiries:
Christopher Rieman
Media & Publicity/Webmaster
Porsches 2 Oxford
937-361-4630
crieman@porsches2oxford.com

Event Contact:
Brice L. Kadel
P2O Co-Chairperson
Porsches 2 Oxford
937-215-0156
bkadel@porsches2oxford.com

Gates open at 8 AM on May 23 & May 24, the auction begins at 10 AM on Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults and children under 5 years free. For more information, please contact Kruse International at (800) 968-4444 and ask for a full color brochure.

Reasons to come and consign to the Kruse International Paso Robles Classic:

· Customer focused and market driven – You set the price without being turned away

· Biggest Bang for your Buck – Most competitive fees in the industry

· Kruse holds more auction records than any other auction company

· Benefit from international marketing from the industry’s largest customer base

· Our website takes in 250,000 hits per day!

More than 150 cars are expected. We will be offering true collector cars from all over the country and some selling to the highest bidder, regardless of price! We invite you to be a part of this auction. Kruse International is accepting entire collections. Cash advance, guarantees, or buyouts are available. Many cars bring more than the Reserve price.

Kruse International provides vendors that handle all of your needs:

· 100% financing for every car available through Bank of America (866) 277-5365

· Transportation through JMN Transportation (877) JMN-HAUL and Blue Highways (800) 622-6601

· Registered to bid today or sell today! We are accepting consignments at this time

Bidders Reception:
Friday Evening, May 23, 2008
At River Oaks Hot Springs Spa
Appetizers and beverages will be served!

First 50 Bidders that pre-register will receive a complimentary gift from an exclusive winery to be received on site!

Reprinted with permission. Kruse International. http://www.kruse.com

Automobiles from all corners of the world filled the Dublin Metro Center business park, occupying pavement, green space, and everywhere in between.  Friday’s festival parking gave way to Saturday’s grouping by make or model. Ford Mustangs and Buicks were represented with nearly 100 cars each, while Porsche, Corvette, PT-Cruiser, and many others had closer to 50 vehicles on display in their designated locations. Vintage carriages from the early years shared the stage with high-powered muscle cars, Cold War sedans, exotic sports cars, and modified street rods to give fans of all tastes something to wet their automotive appetite. Unlike other events as large as this however, the quality on display is a signature attraction as much as the numbers themselves.  Even more impressive is the regional support because the show is primarily a central Ohio phenomenon.  It’s hard to imagine so many cars of such preservation inside state lines, but long-distance travelers are surprisingly few for an event this large.

To help bring in the cars, organizers give away 125 six-foot trophies on Friday to the best rolling stock in attendance, along with class awards on Saturday within the 45 designations. Local car club chapters organize their own ‘show within a show’ and divvy out their own hardware as well. Midway-style food vendors, games for the kids, and live evening music ensure something for everyone.

The homegrown feel helps make it a home run weekend for the local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Net proceeds to the charity are expected to top $165,000 when the last pennies are counted – a new record – making it the foundation’s largest area fundraiser.  Over 100 types of arthritis affect 850,000 people in central Ohio, including more than 5,000 children. Second only to heart disease resulting in work disability, arthritis costs the national economy $128 billion annually. The disease inflames joints and deteriorates cartilage, slowing down 46 million Americans each year.

“Everybody knows someone who has arthritis,” said Jim Baker, a 20-year member of the show’s Board of Directors and Concours Chairman for the Jaguar Association of Central Ohio. “It’s a very common cause.  People are thrilled to be able to donate to it and enjoy the car show at the same time. Virtually every car you ever owned or wanted to own are all represented here and they are prime examples of them. They are all beautiful cars.”  His 32 years of active participation in local Jaguar clubs helped bring nearly 50 Jaguars to the show.

Over 200 volunteers and 60 active committee members are necessary to orchestrate an event of this kind. It’s a year-round effort with a big payoff at the end. “For the most part, the money stays here in central Ohio,” said event Co-Chairperson Andy Trux.  “The money goes to programs and services which include education, swimming pool therapy programs such as PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise), and home assessment programs to help facilitate those continuing to live at home on their own. The Arthritis Foundation Gala used to be our biggest fundraiser, but this event surpassed it in 2006.”

The event began in 1982 when Central Ohio AF President Bob Lincoln teamed up with Buick dealer Leonard Immke to create a classic car show benefiting a local charity. Over $50,000 was raised that year, laying the groundwork for unprecedented car show spirit and generosity over the next two decades.

Other activities during the week included a trip to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, a cruise-in at Quaker Steak & Lube in Columbus, driving tours through Hocking Hills State Park, and a day trip to the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton.

Saturday morning was the main event when replica and original Cobras made the drive into town, parking four abreast along the downtown streets for the enjoyment of onlookers. Local police and fire departments blocked off a section of Main Street so owners could offer ‘demonstration’ rides down a 1/8th stretch of asphalt in exchange for $10 donations. Despite the short runway, it was more than long enough for passengers to experience the legendary acceleration that made the Cobra famous. Combined with attendee entry fees and other charitable contributions, the Ohio Cobra Club anticipates at least $35,000 will go directly to the Central Ohio CFF to assist hundreds of children and adults stricken with the disease. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease of the lungs and digestive system that affects over 30,000 people in the United States and 70,000 worldwide.

“All of the money goes to fund additional medicine and research for our patients,” said Bruce Kerr, parent volunteer and lead promoter of CFF’s involvement in the event. “It’s been a great event for the community. We get support from the town, fire department, and local police. There are not many other cities that would allow us to do this kind of event.”

Last year enough money was raised to enable the Ohio Cobra Club to donate thermal imaging equipment and a motorcycle to the London fire and police departments. Similar-sized gifts are expected once again. Money was also raised through proceeds generated from ticket sales that gave attendees a chance to win a fully-built Cobra replica.

“The Ohio Cobra Club took over the event about four years ago when it was called the Double Venom Spring Fling. A few of those members left and our club decided to pick up the event, run with it and see if we could keep it going,” said Rich Bailey, OCC President. “Last year we had two families that flew in from Chile and Belgium. This year we have families from as far away as Washington and Oregon.”

Beyond the hallmark Cobra silhouette, no two cars are exactly alike. Carroll Shelby’s original creation was as much about automotive independence as it was quarter mile times and bone-jarring torque. Built primarily to tackle the Corvette on the track, Cobras combined an English chassis with Ford V8 power. While original AC Cobras are rare, including the coveted 427 SC, current demand for these street rods requires a long list of manufacturers willing to build replicas for the buying public. Customers wanting an exact replica based on original specifications or a custom Cobra with tailored options is limited only by imagination and checkbook. Roush Performance, Factory Five Racing, and Superformance are all household names in the Cobra world and representatives were on hand to showcase their engines, chassis, and fully-built cars for sale.

“We’ll sell at least two or three cars out of this show,” said Shane Miller of Dynamic Motorsports of Ross, OH, a company responsible for importing Superformance vehicles from Port Elizabeth, South Africa. “Last year we sold three new chassis’ so it’s a great show.”

Oxford, OH (PRWEB) May 31, 2007 — Uptown Oxford, Ohio plays host to 300 Porsches in a day of relaxing fun along the brick-lined city streets. The July 28, 2007 event titled ‘Porsches 2 Oxford’ awakens local residents and Miami University students with Porsches from every era as the city closes Uptown streets for the entire day. Appropriately dubbed ‘A Casual Porsche Party’, the event starts on Saturday at 8:00am and is free to the public. Streets re-open at 6pm. A Sunday driving rally through Hueston Woods State Park is also planned. Members of Mid-Ohio Region’s Porsche Club of America serve as hosts for this event.

Oxford hosted the deluge of pricey sports cars for the first time in 2005 and last year saw a 50% increase in attendance. With the beautiful Uptown cityscape, quaint shops and eateries, comfortable green space, and first-class band shell to serve as the event nerve center, choosing the small college town near the Ohio-Indiana border has proven to be a signature piece of the P2O success story.

“This event has blossomed into one of the best Porsche cruise-ins anywhere in the country in just three years,” said P2O Event Co-Chairperson Brice Kadel. “Once we visited Oxford, everyone involved felt we uncovered the proverbial gold mine. From a photogenic viewpoint, nothing even comes close. However, it was everything else that sealed the deal: proximity to metro areas within the tri-state, access to diverse food and lodging at show center, and the remaining tools every event needs such as PA systems, willing sponsors, and most importantly the enthusiasm and cooperation of the local Visitors and Convention Bureau. Nearby hotels are selling out months in advance as people from a dozen states and Canada plan their weekend in Oxford.”

“In the fall of 2004, the Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau was approached about the idea of a Porsche event coming to Oxford,” OVCB Director Diana Durr said. “We were thrilled. With a great team effort, the OVCB witnessed a wonderful array of beautiful vehicles situated in the historic district of Uptown Oxford. Things have only gotten better since. It’s now a signature event for the city and the region and we’re excited once again to play host.”

This year’s featured event sponsors are Tacoma, Washington based Griot’s Garage car care products; Denver, Colorado based Auto Aficionado Magazine, and locally by Beechmont Porsche of Cincinnati.

“Griot’s Garage is a major sponsor for a second year in a row and we’re excited that they are returning once again,” Kadel said. “Auto Aficionado is quite simply the best automotive bi-monthly in the country and having Beechmont Porsche providing local support is the perfect compliment. Combined with almost 20 supporting sponsors, P2O’s reputation as a first-class event is the reason we’re attracting first-class sponsorship.”

Over $3,000 in door prizes will be given away on Saturday along with Top-35 People’s Choice and Special Category trophies. A 50/50 raffle will benefit the Blue Star Mother’s of America, a local non-profit group that lends support to those with children serving in the armed forces.

About Porsches 2 Oxford

Started in 2003 as Porsches 2 Pinckney, the event moved to Oxford, OH, in 2005 and changed names to reflect the new location. Celebrated as a casual get-together of car owners and the community, P2O attracted 140 cars from eight states and Canada in the first year. In 2006, attendance jumped more than 50% to 220 Porsches, 12 states and Canada, and 22 PCA regions. While the event routinely brings several regional and national concours-winning vehicles, Porsches of all conditions and mileage are encouraged to participate. For information, visit http://www.porsches2oxford.com.

# # #

MEDIA INQUIRIES:

Christopher Rieman

Media & Publicity/Webmaster

Porsches 2 Oxford

937-361-4630

crieman@porsches2oxford.com

EVENT CONTACT

Brice L. Kadel

P2O Co-Chairperson

Porsches 2 Oxford

937-215-0156

bkadel@porsches2oxford.com