One man. One woman. Two dogs. One classic Porsche. And 47,000km around Europe
To Maciek Skrzyński, driving a classic Porsche is about freedom and non-stop adventure. One that has seen him, his girlfriend and dogs cruise across 12 European countries in their beloved Porsche 944
A car photographer and content creator from Poland, Maciek Skrzyński’s work takes him all over Europe. Alongside his girlfriend and two dogs, his travelling companion is often his classic Porsche 944. Together they’ve embarked on many an epic road trip, covering nearly 47,000km in the four years since Maciek bought his car. Inspired by movies like Gone in 60 Seconds and TV show Californication, Maciek says his classic Porsche is a ticket to freedom, adventure and unforgettable memories on the open road – one that has inspired he and his partner to live life to the full and enjoy every moment. How did your Porsche passion start, Maciek? “It was thanks to my brother. He’s 10 years older than me and has always been into cars. That passion definitely rubbed off on me. One of my earliest memories is walking home from kindergarten and stopping by a small shop to pick out a Hot Wheels or Matchbox toy car. Even at that age, I already knew the different brands and models. From his base in Poland, car photographer and content creator, Maciek Skrzyński, has set out on a series of epic European road trips in his 35-year-old classic Porsche 944 Photo: @skrzynski.jpg“There’s a picture of my brother with a brand new silver Porsche 996 at the Geneva Motor Show. He was 15 or 16 when my father took him there for his birthday and, to me, that photo meant everything. It hung in his room for years, and I used to stare at it, thinking ‘That’s the best car in the world!’. “We even watched Gone in 60 Seconds together [the thrilling heist movie from 2000 starring Nicolas Cage and lots of incredible cars] and played Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed after that. It wasn’t until the TV series Californication that Porsche really came to mean something more to me. Although it sounds like a cliché, it wasn’t about the rockstar lifestyle or anything like that, just [David Duchovny’s character] Hank Moody cruising in an old 911, wearing scuffed shoes and listening to The Rolling Stones. That, to me, felt like freedom. It felt real and authentic and – above all – not for the sake of showing off. So Porsche became a symbol of freedom for me, and has stayed that way ever since.” Why is the Porsche 944 special? For Maciek, the answer is simple – classic design, simple controls and enough space for him, his girlfriend and their dogs Photo: @skrzynski.jpgWhat is it about road tripping in a Porsche 944 that excites you? “It’s that feeling you get when driving, listening to your favourite music and watching the world fly by. Before I owned a Porsche, I would wear my headphones on the way to school or university, or just before I went to sleep. And in those moments, I would imagine myself driving a Porsche in a beautiful landscape, as if a music video with a Porsche as its star was playing in my head. “That image is still with me today, but now I can live it. I get goose bumps every time and it’s always the best moment of any trip.” Maciek has always been captivated by cars, but it was Porsche that stole his heart – and has continued to cast a spell on him ever since Photo: @skrzynski.jpgWhat has been your favourite Porsche road trip? “The trip I’ll never forget was the first one we took in the 944. It was to Tuscany, just a month after we bought the car. I was nervous because it was an old car and I wasn’t sure it would hold up on a long trip, but we went anyway. I was scared but excited to drive a 35-year-old Porsche around Europe with my girlfriend and our dogs. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. But it truly was a childhood dream come true. “So far we’ve driven through 12 countries in total in the 944 and covered 47,000km – but I’m far from finished. Our aim is to drive through every country in Europe and eventually head over to Morocco.”Maciek’s fascination with Porsche isn’t about the glamour of owning one and instead the feeling of freedom that it gives you. Driving his 944 stirs something deep inside him Photo: @skrzynski.jpgHow did the idea of road trips come about and what was the longest one? “I’ve had a passion for travelling for as long as I can remember. But the main reason we started doing so many road trips was because of the dogs. Once we had them, it was hard for us to leave them for more than 24 hours. So, flying for holidays was out of the question. Honestly, it was a great decision. Travelling by road is so much more satisfying. It’s slower. More enriching. And we always try to stop at some classic car events along the way to meet some new people. “The longest trip we’ve ever done in our Porsche 944 in one go is the most recent one, where we drove almost 7,000km across Europe. We started in Poland, headed through to Stuttgart where I had two photo shoots, then on to the Alps, the Dolomites, Lake Como, Switzerland and then back home.” Whether its cruising up mountains, trips to its birthplace in Stuttgart or just eating up roads all over Europe, Maciek’s Porsche 944 continues to be the perfect companion Photo: @skrzynski.jpgWhich Porsche cars did you own before your 944? “My first Porsche was a 986 Boxster. It was the base model, but it was fantastic. I really loved driving it, although it was too modern for me. I prefer older cars without any ‘check the engine’ lights – without any sort of frills or modern technology. I’d go as far as saying that I’m not a fan of air conditioning in a car. That’s the main reason I switched to a Porsche 944. As well as the fact that we travel with two dogs. In a Boxster, there wasn’t much room for them, so this story could never have been written!”
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