POCATELLO — Dozens of vintage Porsches rolled through the Gate City on Wednesday afternoon, their flat-six engines announcing their arrival before they ever came into view.

The cars were participants in the Ramshorn Rally, a five-day, 1,500-mile tour through the Rocky Mountain West limited exclusively to air-cooled 911 Porsches from 1988 or older — the last generation before Porsche switched to water-cooled engines in 1997.

From its debut in 1963 through its G series run that ended in 1989, the air-cooled 911 became one of the most celebrated sports cars in history, known for its rear-engine layout, distinctive exhaust note and decades of racing success.

Today, that legacy has made surviving examples highly collectible.

The Ramshorn Rally celebrated its 10th year in 2026, operating under the umbrella of the nonprofit Going to the Sun Rally, which was founded in 2005. Entries are limited to 30 cars, and rally director Will Brewster says demand far exceeds availability.

“Ten years ago, I saw the interest in Porsches going up, so I started this rally,” Brewster said. “We accept 30 to 35 cars and we have 75 to 80 people try to get on every year, so there’s a long wait list. One reason it’s the twisted sister of the other rally is because we do a little funkier stuff, rougher roads — because we all drive the same cars, so I have fewer mechanics on it.”

Like many classic cars, many of the Porsches on this year’s rally were unique and customized, dazzling onlookers with a variety of colors and builds. Brewster says prices and collectibility have changed dramatically and continue to rise. Fifteen years ago, many of the cars were valued at around $250,000, but today, some fetch as much as $1.5 million. Brewster said the 959 Porsche, a lighter, track-focused version of the 91, fetches no less than around $2 million. One of the Porsches in Pocatello, painted a sleek green, was likely worth around $4 million, Brewster added.

“There’s just a lot of nice 911s and since really all these people are great drivers, they’re all set up for dependability and for touring like this,” Brewster said. “Sometimes they put bigger motors in them, change the (transmissions), do suspension work or drop them to Euro spec, so that they’re better to drive and more dependable.”

This year’s route began May 24 in Big Sky, Montana, where participants gathered for an opening banquet before setting out the following morning for Jackson, Wyoming. After a full loop day in Jackson Hole, drivers headed west to Sun Valley, Idaho, completed a day loop there and then returned to Big Sky for closing ceremonies. The Pocatello pit stop fell along the route as the rally crossed into Idaho.

The organization deploys three trailers with teams of mechanics on a 24-foot race trailer, hauling all participants’ luggage and delivering it to their rooms. Brewster plans everything one to two years in advance, and every driver pays a participation fee that covers costs. Once the cars are shipped in, everything is paid for except gas — rooms, lodging, food, drinks and activities.

“It’s not a race, it’s just a high-end tour, so people can drive at their own speed,” Brewster said.

Through high mountain passes, long stretches of blacktop and the epic roadways of their featured cities, these road warriors embark on their journey not only to feel the wind in their hair, but to experience the splendor and beauty of the Intermountain West and its unique towns.

As a nonprofit, the organization is required by law to give away 30 percent of proceeds.

“Last year I gave away $120,000 to local charities — Warriors and Quiet Waters, Fallen Highway Patrolmen, Wildland Forest Fighters, and then little communities,” Brewster said. “We go through towns and there’ll be a little museum, or there’s a community center. I’ll drop $500 or $2,000 and we love to do that. It’s really fun to include other little communities.”

For drivers like Karl Eisleben, who grew up around cars and appreciated an era when owners took the time and dedication to care for them, the event has been terrific — taking in everything from open highways to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park.

“I’ve never been to Pocatello before, so this is so much fun to have worked our way over here,” Eisleben said. “I’m really looking forward to everything and happy to be here underneath the shadows of the Yellowstone Hotel.”