The Panamericana 100 Project

When I think of a bucket-list road trip, I picture scenic routes, good company, meeting great people along the way, and an all-around capable car to enjoy it in. On top of all that, if I can raise awareness for a serious disease while collecting funds for research, it sounds like an absolute win! This was the blueprint for the Panamericana 100 Project, undertaken by friends Rainer Behrendt and Jan Bongers. Their vision was to travel from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, sharing that they nearly traveled 42,000 kilometers in 100 days. When Rainer and Jan arrived at Porsche Centre Calgary, I sat down with them to better understand their motives and the "why" behind such a legendary journey.

Upon meeting the duo, I got a look at their 2016 Cayenne, which had already logged 145,000 kilometers before the trip even began. The vehicle sported a custom orange and black wrap, displaying their geographical route from start to finish on one side, alongside various sponsors and messaging on the other. Among the most prominent decals were "Panamericana 100 Project" and "Race Against ALS."

"We just want to have it cool, I have to admit, it reflects the Netherlands because the oranje (orange in Dutch) is a little bit Netherlands and we are Germany, we are so much bigger than the Netherlands, lets give them some more space in the Netherlands. We like the colours, the orange and black it is a nice combination," said Rainer.

Once the Cayenne was pulled into the shop, the sheer scale of their journey was obvious. From front to back, it was packed with luggage, containers, clothes, boots, and food; almost everything you can think of was onboard. This naturally led to my next question: why choose the Cayenne?

"It’s been comfortable, reliable and helped us through all sorts of tough roads. Basically, we could go anywhere with the car," said Jan.

As a testament to the off-road capabilities of the Cayenne, Rainer shared a particularly impressive triumph over local trucks in Peru.

"It was a massive landslide, it piled up I think one and a half or two metres, maybe even higher. The trucks, everything’s stuck, and there was a certain moment we decided, ‘Hey, we have the car, lets just drive over it!’ It was a piece of cake, it was even fun, I liked doing that," Rainer expressed.

Of course, the car, the luggage, and the stories wouldn't exist without the reason behind the trip itself. After understanding the "why" behind their Porsche, it was time to uncover the cause driving the journey.

"When we decided to do this trip, we came to the conclusion that we had the same dream and we said we might as well do it."

The two friends shared a common dream, but it was also their way of giving back to a cause close to their hearts.

"I had an ALS story in my family. My mother-in-law got this disease. Then it was a very easy and very quick decision for us to say, ‘Okay, let’s go for ALS,’ because it is still something that definitely needs more attention," Rainer said.

Because ALS impacts so many families across the globe, the pair shared the warm reception their cause received along the route.

"When we parked our car at a gas station, people would come up to us and say, ‘Tell us about the project.’ Especially referring to the race against ALS. We got into some quite heartbreaking stories as well, it seems to raise something in people when they see it."

Throughout their travels, Jan and Rainer connected deeply with locals who shared a genuine passion for their home countries.

"I think one of the key highlights for both of us has been the people that we met. Going to a country is one thing, but meeting local people and then telling you about the country, about the good places to go, but also hearing about the history of the country," Jan said. "Especially South and Central America, we know the countries from the news and from the things we read. But in the real background, on what’s going on in these countries, which to some extent had, in the last 50 to 100 years, spectacular development which has been great."

One of my favourite sayings within the brand is "The Porsche Family." Being part of the Porsche brand carries a unique, special feeling unmatched by any other automotive manufacturer. To own a Porsche means being part of something revolutionary, iconic, and legendary, much like the Panamericana trip itself.

"Especially for me, it was proof of the slogan Porsche Family, because that’s used very often, we could really experience what it means. You are coming into a city and people are waiting for you already, people you’ve never met before. Then two days later, you’re leaving with new friends."

When Jan and Rainer visited our dealership, they shared an instant connection with our General Manager, Miles McEwing, proving that the "Porsche Family" feeling is alive and well right here in our Centre. On the "About Us" section of the Porsche Centre Calgary website, Miles’ photo features him and his wife, Tracey, riding a sidecar while tackling the Panamericana themselves. Captured while finding the best route to Machu Picchu in Southern Peru, it mirrors the same spirit of Jan and Rainer’s adventure. Miles mentioned how great it was to swap stories and relate to their shared experiences along the route. Photos like that, alongside the incredible stories shared around our Centre, make it clear that the people who work here don't just promote the Porsche passion, they truly live it. More than that, it highlights how automobiles serve as incredible tools and companions, creating lasting memories along our most inspiring and exciting journeys!

Before letting Jan and Rainer go, being the proud Canadian I am, I had to ask about their experience driving through Canada.

"First of all, the roads are very good, we enjoyed it a lot of times. You’re driving along the Rocky Mountains and you see a good part of Canada, that’s just fantastic."

They also shared their surprise at the vast scale of the country.

"Realizing what a really big country Canada is, we just ride forever, we said yesterday, we were driving at least eight to ten thousand kilometers just in Canada," Rainer shared.

Reflecting on the duo's trek, I have the utmost admiration and respect for what they set out to accomplish. I am truly grateful for the time spent learning about their experiences, their cause, and the inspiration behind such an extraordinary feat.

"What I tend to say many times is we never had a boring day. It was good fun from beginning to end."

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This article was written by:

Ace Jakeman