Petersen Automotive Museum
Luft 10 Pre-Party & Rally

The pre-party opened in Santa Paula at a private venue set up more like a picnic than a preview. Two 356 Speedsters anchored the space, with picnic tables arranged on one side of the cars—between the Speedsters and the hosted buffet line (BBQ, tri-tip, the works). The flow felt intentional: grab a plate, slide past the tables, and end up at the cars. I spent time circling the pair—stance, interior textures, small period tells—then stepped back to watch how people naturally moved from lunch to sheet metal and back again.

After plates were cleared, we headed out on the backroads toward Los Angeles. The route threaded farm lanes and canyon connectors before tipping onto iconic Mulholland Drive—rhythm over speed, the group strung out just enough to see taillights arc along the ridge. Early air-cooled cars mixed with later 911s, each settling into that steady cadence that makes the miles feel short.

We finished at the Petersen Automotive Museum, where rally participants had a reserved section atop the parking garage—a Porsche meet-and-greet over Wilshire. Petersen staged a beautiful 993 Turbo, as the projected turbo logo washed the museum wall, marking the 50th anniversary. In one of my shots, the nose of my own 993 Turbo (Turbo Florio 1) peeks from the left edge—an accidental cameo that fits the day. A portion of the museum was open to explore, then VIP elevator access took us to the rooftop terrace for a bar and light, finger-food dinner. Several vintage 911s were displayed up top—including an early 930-generation 911 Turbo—so you could talk by the cars, then step to the railing for the city view. The whole arc read like a three-act setup for Luft 10: a quiet start, good roads, and a finale under Petersen lights with the Turbo story front and center.