If you’re a local to the Bicester area, it’s not uncommon to see classic Porsches at any time of the week, day or night. It’s a corner of the UK that seems to house a disproportionate number of specialists and enthusiasts, but this weekend the roads were truly swarming with Stuttgart’s finest sports cars– all heading to the Megaphonics event at Boxengasse.
More than 5500 visitors actually visited in the end, making this one of the largest independent Porsche events in Europe, and although there were a few grumbles about the extended queue to get into the show, once inside all was soon forgiven. The one-day gathering brought together an out-of-this-world display of Porsche motorsport legends.
Arranged inside Boxengasse’s two main barns (or ‘boxes’ as they’re known) and surrounding paddocks, the central display offered a wondrous display of motorsport Porsches – with the highlight certainly being the selection of nine Group C 956s and 962s. Elsewhere were examples of the 904, 906 and 908, each representing a significant stage in Porsche’s early prototype efforts, as well as the magnificent Gulf-liveried 917K used in the filming of Le Mans. And yes, that is a 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.1 turbo…
Road car fans had plenty to feast on too, with the 993 ‘Last Waltz’ being a particularly special – a car that marked the end of air-cooled 911 production. Private owners brought cars ranging from 356 Speedsters to Carrera GTs, with air and water-cooled models divided into separate paddocks. The privately entered vehicles covered a wide cross-section of the Porsche spectrum, including rally-modified Cayennes, 964s with period roof racks and several examples of the 959. In fact, I don’t think there was a 911 variant I didn’t see at least one example of.
Megaphonics was launched by Boxengasse founder Frank Cassidy and has grown steadily since its inception. The venue, designed specifically with Porsche-related activities in mind, combines workshops, display areas and hospitality facilities. As a visitor, it is a real joy to walk around – with ample space and visibility given to all of the cars.
Over 60 exhibitors took part this year, including Porsche specialists, restoration firms, and suppliers of period accessories and parts. Music and catering were present but kept deliberately in the background, allowing the focus to remain on the cars.
For more info, see boxengasse.com
