Porsche enthusiasts from across North America gather in Halifax for a good cause

Porsche enthusiasts from all over North America cruise into Halifax for a special Show & Shine.

Hundreds of car enthusiasts brought their favourite ride to Halifax Thursday in support of a great cause.

The John Timbrell Memorial Show & Shine Car Show was hosted by the PCA Acadia Region Porsche Club.

“This show, we basically brought it back into being again last year in honour of our past president John Timbrell. What’s interesting about that is that today we will actually have his granddaughter Shannon Caven here to present the trophies for the car awards,” says Rick Grant, president of the PCA Acadia Region Porsche Club.

Porsche enthusiasts travelled far and wide to be in Halifax for the event, including 1,000 Porche Club of America members off the Enchanted Princess Cruise ship.

“We’ve established this car display with over 50 cars and we are having a driving tour within the city where we are taking about 25 of our cars and we are going to take some of the passengers from the cruise around the city,” said Grant.

Tom Thalmann owns a 2003 Porsche 996 Turbo that he named ‘Hugo’ and he drove it all the way from Rhode Island.

He arrived in Halifax for two reasons – to tour the Cabot Trail and to participate in the John Timbrell Memorial Show & Shine Car Show.

“It’s the love of the people and the love of the cars. I know some of the people that are on the cruise, so they know I am going to be here and they know my car. Quite honestly my whole experience with the car has been one big giant journey and this is just a piece of that puzzle that fits in for me,” said Thalmann.

Dozens of Porsches were on display from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Pavillion 23 in Halifax.

“This is the first time we have ever seen a tour of this kind leaving the Halifax seaport. I mean a number of cruise ships come in and passengers will often go on tours and take a look at the city in different ways but this view from one of these vehicles is going to be absolutely incredible,” says Jill Matthews, communications manager for the Halifax Port Authority.

Over 200 people from the ship signed up to take part in the tours and 25 of the Porsche owners volunteered to provide free 45-minute tours around the city, showing off its highlights.

“We wanted to show the people from the PCA of America coming in from the cruise ship a good time and what we can do and what we represent,” says Marshall Lewis, one of the PCA organizers for the event.

Last year the Acadia Region Porche club raised enough money for Make-A-Wish that they were able to grant two children’s wishes.

“The Porsche club has been raising funds for us for two years and last year they raised $21,000 which was incredible and I know this year they are hoping to surpass their goal,” says Jessica Feader, Make-A-Wish Nova Scotia chapter director.

Feader says the need for their work is growing every day and events like the car show truly make all the difference.

“In Nova Scotia we have granted just over 50 wishes so far this year and we still have 80 kids waiting for their wish to be granted,” says Feader.

“We would like to do more than 20,000 and and we are hoping to do a lot of that here,” adds Grant.

The event had quite the turnout, turning Porsche pride into compassion with the hope of raising even more money for Make-A-Wish this year.

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