Luftgekühlt 12 brought more than 300 air-cooled Porsches and 8,000 attendees to Trilith near Atlanta, Georgia, on October 10, 2026, marking the event’s first appearance in the region. The gathering attracted enthusiasts from 23 countries and 45 U.S. states, with rare Porsche competition cars and historic racing exhibitions among its principal attractions.

Severe weather threatened the event, prompting organizers to adjust the start time following emergency alerts for flash flooding and high winds. The revised schedule allowed the twelfth Luftgekühlt gathering to proceed under clear skies, with founder and former Porsche factory driver Patrick Long emphasizing that attendee and staff safety drove the decision.

Porsche 935 Exhibition Celebrates 50 Years of Racing History

One of the principal attractions commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 935, introduced in 1976. The exhibition featured three yellow Porsche 935 race cars formerly owned and raced by brothers Don and Bill Whittington, reunited for the first time since their competition era. The display highlighted the connection between Porsche’s international racing achievements and Georgia’s motorsport history, particularly Road Atlanta. The 935 collection formed one of three major exhibitions celebrating the manufacturer’s competition heritage.

Historic Porsche Race Cars Honor the Targa Florio

A second exhibition marked 120 years of the Targa Florio, bringing together four significant Porsche competition cars. The collection included the 1959 Porsche 718 RSK, which set the fastest lap in that year’s race before suffering a final-lap suspension failure, and the overall-winning 1960 RS 60 and 1964 904 Carrera GTS.

 

 

Also displayed was the 1971 Porsche 908/3, developed for the Targa Florio and Nürburgring. The exhibition explored the Sicilian race’s influence on the Porsche 911 Targa and its distinctive open-roof configuration.

 

 

Steve McQueen’s Porsche 917K Headlines Luft Cinema

Inside Trilith Live, the Brumos Collection presented a Gulf-liveried 1970 Porsche 917K associated with Steve McQueen’s 1971 film Le Mans. Previously owned by racing driver Jo Siffert, the car was leased to McQueen for the film’s production.

 

The event also introduced Luft Cinema to the public, including a screening of Mobil 1‘s feature-length documentary following creative director Jeff Zwart racing an air-cooled Porsche 911 in the East African Safari Rally. Additional screenings came from Type 7 and Hagerty, while four-time Trans-Am champion Tommy Kendall hosted the gathering.

That’s a wrap!

Luftgekühlt 12 demonstrated the breadth of interest in air-cooled Porsche history, bringing collectors, racing veterans and first-time visitors together around historically significant cars. The Atlanta debut also connected Porsche’s endurance-racing legacy with Georgia’s motorsport heritage, extending the event’s reach beyond its established audience.

Facts

Event	Luftgekühlt 12
Date	October 10, 2026
Location	Trilith near Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance	8,000
Vehicles	More than 300 air-cooled Porsches
Geographic reach	23 countries and 45 U.S. states
Featured anniversary	50 years of the Porsche 935 (1976)
Porsche 935 display	Three yellow cars raced by Don and Bill Whittington
Targa Florio anniversary	120 years
Targa Florio cars	1959 718 RSK; 1960 RS 60; 1964 904 Carrera GTS; 1971 908/3
Film exhibit	Gulf-liveried 1970 Porsche 917K associated with Le Mans (1971)
Event host	Tommy Kendall

 

Above contents © 2026 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG reviewed and edited by Rex McAfee , @rexmcafee  🏁