Porsche meets Lech Zürs – Take 2!

The mountains are lightly dusted with snow, the sky is cloudy: the wintery temperatures almost seem like a stroke of destiny to make the participating teams at the second international Pre-A Porsche Meeting Arlberg, which took place at the end of September 2023, think back to that very special time when Ski World Champion Egon Zimmermann performed his famous stunt: During the first meeting in winter of 1958, he jumped over a ruby-red Porsche 356 that was parked between two-metre walls of snow and the whole scene was captured by famous photographer Hans Truöl.

“A legendary event at the cradle of alpine sports that we now want to pay tribute to with this new edition of the event”, the two organisers, host Andreas Kainer and former race driver Hans Joachim Stuck, told us before the two-day event highlight that welcomed racing legends like Rudi Lins, Christian Geistdörfer, and five-times Le-Mans winner Derek Bell.

Arrive. Drive off. Enjoy.

A total of 45 Porsche-aficionados from all over Europe could not pass up on the chance to witness this comeback and drive along the dreamlike route around the Arlberg in their historic pre A Porsche models themselves. On the two event days the teams and their handsome four-cylinder rides went from Zürs to Hahntennjoch and Silvretta to St. Gallenkirch, and from Zürs to Lech, Warth and the Bregenz forest to Allgäu. “A breathtaking route that really has everything”, Hans Joachim Stuck said. “Beautiful scenery, great road conditions, and, of course, plenty of curves. Perfect for an agile car like the Porsche.” The mood was and is one of relaxed familiarity, what counts is the passion for this exclusive sports car: “Incredible how much fun you can have with 70-year-old cars in the mountains” one participant said afterwards, and Andreas Kainer adds with a laugh: “After these drives we know what the old Porsche can do.”

Aside from the fun on the road, pit stops that featured the one or the other culinary treat were also part of the programme. These stops took place at Gasthof Adler and Mechatzer Stüble, among others, and there was free beer from Meckatzer outside Hotel Enzian in Zürs. The well-known hotel was both, the starting point and the finish area, and it did not just host the participants but is also the place-to-be for all fans of the very first Zürs Pre-A Porsche Meeting.

Throughout the entire winter season, Hand Truöl’s pictures from that first time can be admired and purchased during a photo sales exhibition. At the end of this thoroughly successful event, Andreas Kainer divulged that in the coming year he will invite people to participate in yet another international Pre-A Porsche Meeting in Zürs where they will once again be able to enjoy tradition and passion for these legendary vehicles in front of a breathtaking scenery.