Porsche enthusiasts will get to rub shoulders with German legends Christian and Ortrun Hartinger later this month at the California Festival of Speed.
The pair became household names in the Porsche fraternity when they completed an epic 25,000km run from Germany to the United States that ended in Miami earlier this year.
Since then, they have taken their cars on a coast-to-coast US odyssey that will culminate with the festival which is being held at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California from October 30-31.
They will be bringing their two German-plated GT3 RS cars and will participate as drivers during Saturday’s ‘Fastest Hour on Track’ — to raise funds for non-profit Foundation Drive Toward a Cure and to benefit Parkinson’s Disease.
The pair of 2010 Porsche 997 GT3 RS, from Porsche City Leipzig, are powered by the GT3’s legendary ‘Mezger block.’
They have no PDK, no air suspension, no full leather, no panoramic glass room and no electric power – just emotion and pure driving pleasure.
The Hartingers and their cars achieved further notoriety this past year, achieving dual first place wins in the GT3/GT2 class at the Amelia Island WERKS reunion — the highest honour bestowed by Porsche Club of America.
California Festival of Speed celebrates two decades as a dream weekend for Porsche enthusiasts, club racers, owners, and vendors, with a festival setting that includes all things Porsche.
Hosted by the Porsche Club of America’s PCA-Zone 8 in the Southern California region, the festival has become an annual tradition that allows attendees to get close to incredible vehicles, watch races on track, experience educational/technology forums and this year — participate in passenger laps on track in the fastest road-going Porsches to raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease.
Vehicles ranging from the “Twin” GT3RS cars to GT3s and GT4s will be available for passenger participation via donation to Drive Toward a Cure on Saturday October 30 from 5pm – 6pm at the track area.
Organiser Suesan Way Carter said the program is always a highlight of the year for fans of the Porsche marque and this year, with the ability to bring out the fastest and best known models on track for visitors to enjoy adding further excitement.
“There’s nothing more thrilling than a track experience in a Porsche,” Carter said.
“And when we can utilise that experience to raise funds for those that can’t share in that experience, it’s even more special.”
For 2021, the festival joined forces with national Foundation Drive Toward a Cure, a non-profit organisation that has supported research and patient care for Parkinson’s Disease through the involvement of the entire automotive community – a culture of passion that includes both enthusiast and professional groups.
Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has hosted multi-day driving events, all-inclusive ‘Adventure’ rallies and ‘Getaway’ weekends that have inspired a grassroots movement with local ‘Drive Toward a Cure Day’ events run by regional enthusiasts nationwide and instilling the Foundation’s own mantra of Cars and Camaraderie.
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