LA Lit Weekend
Sierra Madre Collection – Kicking Off LA Lit Weekend
Thursday February 26th - PMB Performance joined the awesome Porsche community for the Sierra Madre Collection Autofest Open House, Not only the kick-off but a highlight of Porsche weekend in LA. We rose early for the trek from Anaheim Hills to the Eagle Rock venue, arriving in time to set up our booth and prepare for an unforgettable day surrounded by hundreds of stunning classic Porsches lining the streets. At precisely 9:14 AM (naturally) we unveiled our latest masterpiece: a breathtaking Alaska Blue Metallic 1973 914-4 2.3 Liter RestoMod, fully transformed with PMB's signature performance upgrades and timeless style.
Our video crew captured the magic, cruising Mt. Royal Avenue where row after row of iconic Porsches created an amazing sight to behold. The event buzzed with energy, fueled by In-N-Out burgers, cold beer and wine courtesy of Sierra Madre Collection, and the warm camaraderie of old friends, fellow vendors, and plenty of new faces in the Porsche world. It was a perfect celebration of passion, craftsmanship, and the enduring spirit of these legendary cars—thank you to everyone who stopped by!
PMO Open House – Porsche Induction Jewelry
Thursday February 26th - Thursday afternoon, a few of us wrapped up early at the Sierra Madre Collection Autofest Open House and headed over to the PMO Open House at EMPI headquarters in Anaheim, bringing our Alaska Blue Metallic 914-4 RestoMod along for the ride. EMPI graciously opened their doors to a crowd of passionate, air-cooled Porsche enthusiasts, giving everyone an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at PMO's world-class operations. The highlight was the impressive rows of Haas CNC machines in action, meticulously crafting the precision components that make PMO induction systems the gold standard—true jewelry in the Porsche industry that everyone admires and relies on.
Our friends from Dansk and TRW joined the festivities, alongside a fantastic mix of other vendors and dedicated end-users, creating an electric atmosphere of shared enthusiasm. And of course, no PMO Open House would be complete without the legendary cookies from Dani's Dough—Rob at EMPI brings her in every year, and she delivered once again with treats that had everyone raving and reaching for seconds (maybe even thirds). It was the perfect cap to a thrilling Thursday, blending craftsmanship, community, and a few sweet indulgences!
LA Lit Show – 43 Years Deep
Saturday February 28th - PMB Performance kicked off bright and early for the legendary LA Lit & Toy Show at the LAX Hilton—the undisputed kingpin of Porsche weekend activities that's been drawing the community for over four decades. We arrived before dawn to set up our booth in the sprawling ballrooms, where more than 300 tables fill the space with an incredible array of vintage Porsche and VW literature, rare memorabilia, tools, parts, toys, and so much more. What started as a swap meet for literature and collectibles has evolved into the premier trade show for the who's who of Porsche vendors, and we're incredibly proud to have been a major exhibitor for nearly 20 years.
This year's event felt as big—if not bigger—than ever, with the rooms packed wall-to-wall by serious collectors and enthusiasts from the core Porsche world. By 10–11 AM, the aisles were shoulder-to-shoulder, making it tough to navigate the sea of treasures. Many of our valued partners were on hand, including Restoration Design showcasing their wiring harnesses and body panels, Sierra Madre Collection with fresh merch and parts, and James from JWest displaying his renowned Rennshifters (a staple in every one of our builds). At the PMB booth, we highlighted our factory steel caliper restorations with a platter of gleaming examples, alongside our expanding painted caliper program and the full lineup of our growing PMB Performance products. It was another fantastic gathering of passion and expertise—thanks to everyone who stopped by and made the day unforgettable!
Pelican Parts Open House
Saturday February 28th - Next, Crew 2 headed out to the Pelican Parts Open House, with another booth and the 914-4 restomod for yet another reveal. This is always a signature stop during Lit Weekend that's been delighting the community for 29 incredible years. Pelican throws open the doors to their legendary “Pelican Garage” (affectionately known as Wayne’s Man Cave) just once a year, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access that's always worth the trip. Stepping inside is nothing short of astonishing: icons like the Brumos 935, a two-time Sebring-winning 962 (joined by three more 962s), a pristine Porsche 959, a GT1-powered Lola LMP prototype, and a stunning blue 914-6 wide-body all gathered in one space—true, tangible pieces of Porsche racing and engineering history.
The event perfectly blended that rare machinery with a laid-back, welcoming vibe: vendors scattered across the property, project cars tucked into every corner, and enthusiasts filling the place with lively conversations about builds, restorations, and performance upgrades. Fresh street tacos, coffee, and drinks kept the energy high, while the limited-edition Open House poster and raffles added extra excitement. By the time we headed out, it was crystal clear—Pelican’s Open House isn’t merely another event on the Lit Weekend calendar. It’s a true gathering point for the Porsche family, a rare chance to see extraordinary cars up close, connect face-to-face with industry folks, and celebrate the passion that keeps us all coming back year after year. Thanks to the Pelican team for another unforgettable afternoon! Check out the video here
EMPI Hosted 356 Club Swap Meet & Car Show
Sunday, March 1st, marked the grand finale of another unforgettable LA Lit Weekend as we wrapped up at the 356 Club All-Porsche Swap Meet, now in its second year of being hosted at EMPI’s expansive headquarters in Anaheim—and it delivered in spectacular fashion. From the early morning hours, the property came alive with vendors stretching over half a mile around the grounds, their tables overflowing with early Porsche parts, rare 356 components, vintage memorabilia, restoration pieces, and a treasure trove of everything in between. It was more than a swap meet; it felt like a living timeline of Porsche history, with a strong lineup of 911s, a healthy showing of classic 356s, and plenty of other cool Porsches scattered throughout—though the real stars were the parts and the passionate people hunting them down.
This event leans heavily into the swap side rather than the show side, giving it that authentic, no-frills character we love. Inside the warehouse, EMPI opened up additional indoor space for select vendors, and that’s where PMB Performance set up shop alongside our partners, displaying our builds and highlighting our brake restoration services plus the ever-expanding PMB product lineup. The indoor setup created a more intimate vibe—folks weren’t just passing by; they were stopping, examining details up close, diving into questions about processes, finishes, correct caliper options, product specs, and restoration paths. Conversations flowed steadily all day, from seasoned Porsche owners to builders to newer enthusiasts eager to learn.
For only its second year at this location, the swap meet already felt polished, well-organized, and impressively attended, drawing well over a thousand enthusiasts throughout the day and clearly on the rise as a cornerstone of Lit Weekend. As we started packing up around noon and hit the road back to Salt Lake City at exactly 1:00 PM for the long, uneventful (but tiring) 9-hour drive home, it was the perfect, satisfying close to a packed, passion-fueled weekend. Huge thanks to the 356 Club, EMPI, and everyone who made it special—we’re already looking forward to next year!
Wait, There’s More! - Lit Week Keeps Growing
One thing about LA Lit Week it doesn’t stop. While we hit the major stops on “our” schedule, there were dozens of other open houses and gatherings happening all over Southern California. Magnus Walker opened his doors, Redline Weber were hosting shop tours, Benton Performance and Scott’s Independent had their yards full of Porsche’s and parts, and shops like Emory Motorsports, European Collectibles, Callas Rennsport, Scientific Automotive, and so many others were welcoming the Porsche crowd all week long. Everywhere you turned, there was another parking lot full of air-cooled cars and another shop with the doors rolled up.
Logistically, there’s just no way to make it to everything, even if we tried. That’s part of what makes Lit Week special. It’s not one event. It’s a full-blown Porsche takeover of Southern California. Builders, collectors, racers, restorers, vendors, everyone shows up. And even if we couldn’t physically be at every stop, you could feel the momentum everywhere. All in all, another great LA Lit week in the books.