Porsche's Air|Water Festival Thrives in California

Porsche Blog
May 3
2 min read

The third annual Air|Water event took place over the weekend in Costa Mesa, California, attracting over 1,000 cars and thousands of enthusiasts. This festival, driven by Mobil 1, aims to celebrate the diverse world of Porsche, making it a must-attend event for fans across the globe.

Key Takeaways

Over 1,000 cars showcased, including rare models and owner-driven vehicles.
New attractions included the ‘Carrera Carnival’ thrill ride and themed displays.
The event aims to be an inclusive gathering for all Porsche enthusiasts, not just owners.
Plans for an international Air|Water event in Poland announced for June 2025.

A Celebration of Porsche

Air|Water, co-founded by Patrick Long and Jeff Zwart, is designed to be a broader celebration of the Porsche brand, unlike its counterpart Luftgekühlt, which focuses solely on air-cooled models. This year, the event returned to the OC Fair & Event Center, establishing a permanent venue for future gatherings.

The festival featured a wide array of attractions, including:

Hero Cars: Specially curated vehicles with unique stories and lighting.
Themed Displays: Six areas dedicated to various Porsche models, including mid-engined cars and the iconic 944.
Off-Road Concepts: An ‘Actions Sports Arena’ showcasing rally cars and overlanders.

Notable Vehicles on Display

Among the standout cars at Air|Water 2025 were:

McLaren MP4/2B: Driven by Alain Prost in the 1985 Formula 1 season, featuring a Porsche-designed turbocharged V6 engine.
Rothmans-Porsche 911 SC/RS: A rare model that won the Middle East Rally Championship in the mid-80s.
Schuppan 962 CR: One of only six road-legal cars derived from Group C racing.
Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 GT3-RSR: Driven by Long in the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Engaging Experiences for All

A significant focus of Air|Water is to engage non-Porsche owners and enthusiasts. The introduction of the ‘Carrera Carnival’ allowed visitors to experience the thrill of driving Porsche’s latest models on a specially designed circuit with professional drivers.

Long emphasized the importance of inclusivity, stating, "More than 50 percent of our focus is around the non-Porsche owner who is curious about the brand and who wants to learn about the past and present."

A Marketplace of Passion

The event also featured a diverse range of exhibitors, showcasing everything from artwork to aftermarket performance parts. This marketplace aspect was designed to foster connections among fans, brands, and collectors, creating a vibrant community atmosphere.

Auction Highlights

Another highlight was the second staging of Broad Arrow’s Porsche-specific auction, which featured a variety of collector cars, including rare air-cooled models and sought-after modern classics like the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. Long described the auction as "the party within the party," emphasizing its energetic atmosphere.

Looking Ahead

The success of Air|Water in California has set the stage for its expansion, with plans for an inaugural event in Poland scheduled for June 13-14, 2025. This new chapter aims to bring the same spirit of celebration and community to European Porsche enthusiasts.

As Long puts it, "This is the next chapter in the Luftgekühlt story. We’re super-excited to see that come to fruition."