Porsche enthusiasts defied the rains recently when they converged on Porsche Centre, Lagos to celebrate the brand’s 70th Aniversary to mark the day the first Porsche 356 was registered as an automobile.
Tagged Sportscar together day, the event attracted the crème de la crème of the society and some Porsche drivers who participated in the drive activity as part of the commemoration.
The Porsche obsessives later drove in a convoy on the 88-kilometre Lagos-Epe road and ended the journey at the Resort & SPA – a tourist suburb on the outskirt of Lagos, where the brand enthusiasts were hosted to a sumptuous breakfast.
Seventy years ago, Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche turned his dream of a sports car into a reality with the birth of the 356. The car later inspired icons, including the Porsche 550 and Porsche 911, and Mission E, the automaker’s latest leap into the future.
This is the first time Porsche iconic sports’ car owners are meeting to share experiences and be feted in union with the six-year-old Porsche dealership.
A majority of the drivers are also from indication, for the first time, putting to the test, the potency of their iconic cars at a seeming racing encounter that reaffirmed Porsche’s supremacy on the road.
A driver, who preferred anonymity, said: “This is the first time ever I will be putting to the test the agility of my Porsche 911,” which had barely gone past 3,000 kilometres in four years.
The celebration continued in the afternoon at the Porsche Centre showroom after the drivers returned from the exhilarating drive.
Patrick Mgbenwelu, a Porsche fanatic and proud owner of a 911 Carrera, cut the anniversary cake. Congratulating the brand, he praised the Porsche Centre Lagos for taking the marque to a deserving height in Nigeria.
Porsche has for 70 years revolved around fascination sports car – a rare attraction of discerning drivers.
Porsche Centre, Lagos Head of Sales and Marketing Anurag Shah said: “This special anniversary exhibition was held to commemorate the June 8, 1948 birthday of the brand, when the first Porsche prototype with chassis number 356-001 received its general operating permit.”
He said the event was unique to both the dealership and Porsche drivers, who were meeting for the first time to share rare experiences and discuss salient values and versatility of their cars.
“The cars drove effortlessly in flooded roads, which ordinarily, wouldn’t have inspired the drivers – but thanks to the anniversary exhibition, which allowed the dealership to also instruct the drivers of the various capabilities of their Porsche vehicles.
“In other words, we didn’t only celebrate the birth of this iconic sports car, but also reassured the owners that their vehicles can be in everyday situations,” Shah said.