Porsche-Palooza: How did it start, and Why?
What began as a emphatic “no” evolved into one of Artomobilia’s fastest-growing and most thoughtfully curated Porsche experiences.
When Steve Tarr, founder of Cruise Zionsville, retired and moved to Florida, he called John Leonard with a straightforward question. Would Artomobilia take over the event? John’s answer was immediate and emphatic. “Uhhh. No.”
But… the conversation sparked a thought that might solve Steve’s challenge… and a growing challenge of the Artomobilia participants were encountering.
At Artomobilia, Porsche owners were already showing up in force. Year after year, the European Sports Car classes were dominated by Porsches, making judging increasingly difficult. It raised a fair question. Was this still a European Sports Car class, or had it quietly become a Porsche class?
That realization led to a clear decision. The Porsches, and their owners, deserved its own spotlight.
Porsche-Palooza was created to give the brand proper separation, smarter judging, and a more enjoyable experience for owners and spectators alike. Cars were divided into thoughtful, like-for-like groups that allowed the Porsche Club to judge similar cars while keeping the experience fun and fair.
What made the format work was intentional structure.
Try not to take it too seriously and organize Porsches by era and model for fair and fun competition
High-performance models like the GTS and GT3 compete in their own dedicated classes
Club members do the judging as they know the cars (and owners) best
The response was immediate and obvious. This is a great way to feature an icon sports car brand, and highlight the clubs that support it to tens of thousands of Artomobilia guests. And, as a result, Porsche-Palooza has nearly tripled in size since its introduction.
Momentum continues to build with the addition of cars from the Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge, supported by Porsche North America. These factory-backed restorations bring craftsmanship, history, and credibility that elevate the entire field.
Thank you to the Central Indiana Region Porsche Club, Indianapolis Porsche Club, John Moses, George Wright of Tom Wood Porsche, and Yana Perros and the entire team at Porsche North America for helping make Porsche-Palooza what it is today.
Registration opens in March. If you own a Porsche and want to be part of one of the most thoughtfully curated Porsche gatherings in the Midwest, this is a great opportunity to display your car and connect with other like-minded individuals.
