About the Book
Founded around 20 years ago in California—and strictly limited to a maximum of 300 members ever since—the R Gruppe is something like the heart of Porsche life in the USA. From firefighters to incredibly wealthy architects, the members of R Gruppe aren’t united only by their passion for historic Porsches. The club stands for friendship, freedom and solidarity; for the joy of being on the road; and for a life where the journey is always the destination.
With this high-quality book, Frank Kayser offers a glimpse into this very special automotive world. He reveals the extraordinary characters that shape the club. He presents their cars and their stories. For a year-and-a-half he accompanied them, took part in their outings and documented the R Gruppe lifestyle. The result is 580 pages for Porsche fans, vintage-car aficionados and anyone who views a car as more than just a means of transportation.
Most of the vehicles shown in the book are also more than 50 years old. Each one is unique and has been modified with loving attention to detail. No two cars are alike. More powerful engines and personalized vehicle details are instead the unofficial hallmark of the R Gruppe. They like things faster, more uncommon, more individualized. So that a 911 becomes your own 911.
The members of R Gruppe have given Kayser unique insights into the ways of their club and their way of thinking. The majority of them have worked hard for their success. Many are wealthy. Others have long saved for their dream of owning a highly customized 911 and built their Porsches themselves over years of work. From collections with more than 50 expensive classic cars to individual Porsches that their owners have longed for their entire lives, in the R Gruppe anything is possible, anyone is welcome, everything is represented.
Ultimately, what matters here isn’t where you come from and what you have, but who you are and how you get involved. The club celebrates the „California attitude“—a particular approach to life that embraces individual freedom and authenticity—in its purest form. This is also one of the reasons why the group has since become popular far beyond the borders of California and, with just 300 members, is perhaps the most sought-after membership in the Porsche world: unwillingly elite, you might say. Sure, they could easily and happily have 5,000 members, but that’s not what they want. That’s why some have been waiting years to be admitted. Because it’s worth it.
For them and for anyone who lacks that much patience, as well as for those who might want to start by seeing what it’s like to be part of the R Gruppe, there is now this unique book project.
MMXIX © FRANK KAYSER
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