Published: September 05, 2009 03:23 pm      

Porsche owners show their cars in downtown Goshen

Forty-six sports car enthusiasts brought their 30 Porsche cars to the First Friday show on West Washington Street, the third annual show for members of the Michiana Porsche Club.

Organizer John Wieand said there were 18 pre-registered, but 12 others joined in the show on a perfect summer evening.

Dwight Tyndall, Flossmoor, Ill., received the prize for driving the longest distance to the show. It was his first time to the Goshen gathering.

Tyndall said he bought his 1970 911-S 14 years ago in California where he studied at Stanford. He said he is the fourth owner of the car, buying it before other people discovered the mark and Porsche prices went up.

After awards were presented, Tyndall said he was going a block east on Washington to hear the band that played there all evening.

Those attending the car show voted the green 1971 911-S owned by Dr. Brian Fryar, LaPorte, as the People’s Choice, while club members also picked Fryar’s car as the Member’s Choice.

Winners won gift certificates from Goshen downtown merchants.

Fryar said he has had his car for about a year. It is the sixth Porsche that he has owned and he owns one other now, a 1973 model.

Fryar explained that he and his friend Tyndall twice drove their cars to California and then shipped them back home.

He explained he enjoys driving the cars to shows and events such as the Friday gathering in Goshen.

Goshen native Marc Ruhling is current president of the Michiana Porsche Club.

“I’m an engineer and have always been a Porsche nut,” said Ruhling.

He brought his two cars to the show on Washington Street and use to race a Mustang on road courses before he got into Porsches.

Ruhling owns a 1988 944 turbo that is heavily modified for racing, plus a rare 1994 968 that features a four-cylinder front engine.

“It’s just a hobby,” said Ruhling who works for DePue orthopedics in Warsaw and lives in Jefferson Township. He thanked Wieand for organizing the show.

Dean Bender, Goshen, explained he has owned his 1979 911 SC Targa since 1991, but only recently got the car out of storage, where it sat the past 21 months.

“I just got it out of storage and an electrical problem fixed,” Bender said. “I got it out for this event. I’m ready for a vacation.”

Susan Broadbent, Edwardsburg, Mich., explained she is married to a “car guy” and they have five cars at their house. She and her husband came to Goshen in their 1987 911.

Don Huss, Elkhart, brought a 1973 914 mid-engined roadster to the Goshen show that he purchased this spring. He said he also owns a 911 Targa and a 1962 Studebaker Lark.

Kevin Replogle, Ligonier, drove his red 2001 Boxter S to Goshen Friday for the show.

“It’s nice to mingle out here,” Replogle said. “I think I’ll go get something to eat.”

He said he drives his car nearly every day in the summer, but is able to walk to work.

For the first time the car event also spotlighted the Interfaith Hospitality Network and raised funds for that local non-profit agency, Wieand said.