WINONA LAKE — Cool cars lined the hot street at Village at Winona Saturday, July 23, for the second annual Porsche Festival.

Hosted by Porsche clubs from the South Bend and Elkhart area and from the Fort Wayne area, the festival featured close to 20 of the stylish German sports cars.

Spectators admired the line of Porsches as they came in and out of the air-conditioned shops at the Village. Owners were more than happy to share about their Porsches. Paul and Ann Easley, Auburn, have enjoyed Porsches for many years. Their first was a 1961 356 Series, which they owned for several years before it met an unfortunate end in a wreck.

Years later, they bought a 911 Targa with a removable top. Their third Porsche purchase came about a year and a half ago. They pulled into a dealer’s lot one day to simply admire the cars.

“We weren’t looking for a car, we were just killing time,” Paul said.

When one caught their eye, however, they knew it was the right car for them. “We were hooked,” Ann said.

Frank and Nita Berg of Hanna, near Valparaiso, shared a favorite story from earlier this year, when they participated in a Porsche parade in French Lick. Present at the event was a Mr. Porsche, a member of the company’s founding family, along with his son, Felix.

The Bergs’ Porsche was a “barn find.” It had been sitting out in a woman’s field with weeds growing around it since her husband had died, Frank said. He purchased it and was able to drive it home, where it underwent a lot of work to get it running well.

Local enthusiasts were present, as well. Bob Sanders, Warsaw, recalled his first Porsche was a 1957 Carrera, which he bought for $1,800. In 1966, he bought a 911 from Europe that had the steering wheel and pedals on the right-hand side. He said he, “drove it until somebody wanted it,” then he sold it.

He was the first and third owner of a 1985 Porsche, which he sold to a friend, then bought back later. He has acquired and sold several other Porsches over the years.

“Ever since I was old enough to say, ‘car,’ I’ve enjoyed these cars,” he said. “It took me a while to learn to say, ‘Porsche,'” he said humorously.