The outer Philadelphia suburbs of Pottstown, Pennsylvania isn’t the first place you’d expect to see one of the world’s most eclectic gatherings of Audi, Volkswagen, and Porsche culture. But thanks to Jamie Orr—the globetrotting enthusiast, builder, and connector of communities—it’s become exactly that. The L’OE Show, held over Labor Day weekend, once again transformed a quiet downtown into a buzzing festival of Volkswagen Group passion, and for Audi owners in particular, it marked considerable growth in participation.
What sets L’OE apart isn’t just the cars—though there were plenty of those, from pristine vintage examples to modern RS models wearing – most wearing customization or aftermarket touches. It’s the vibe. The show manages to blend the intimate feel of a local meet with the international flair you’d expect from Orr, an individual who’s been everywhere from Wörthersee to Cape Town in the name of Volkswagen Group car culture.
Streets were lined with vendors, food trucks, and families. You’d see Audi models of all types, then walk 20 feet and find a vendor selling vintage Audi Sport rally posters. Of course, modified and built cars are a big part of this scene, but even here L’OE is beginning to become a world unto itself – once the bragging rights of Wörthersee or Waterfest. Here, you could walk down the usual Audi block and pass two or three A4 allroads swapped to S4 3.0 TFSI spec, only to find several more swapped to 4.2 high-rev RS 5 spec. It was remarkable… and that was just one clustering of cars who no doubt parked together. For those of us who live and breathe this brand’s performance community, it felt like stepping inside the best version of our own project car garage.
2025 marked the first time Volkswagen nor Audi didn’t take part in the event. Given where the auto industry is at the moment, that’s probably telling. There’s a disconnect in the air that’s part of the wake of the EV shift, while the brands back in Germany endeavor to rediscover that je ne sai quoi, that special sauce that elicits passion. Here’s hoping they find it, though it seems that the community is doing just fine despite their official absence.
Flourishing was definitely the theme over on Audi block where Audi Club Eastern Pennsylvania and NERS6T took charge of organizing the presence. The four rings presence stretched over its now regular placement on the 100 block of Pottstown’s East High Street, though squeezed more cars into that space than ever before. That was in addition to another generations of A4 display west of Pottstown’s main square. Overall, Jamie shares that Audi registrations were up 30-40% – a clear win.
Pottstown’s center square cross street is where most of the vendors gathered. Others took spaces artfully within the existing elements of downtown – FCP Euro in a downtown park plus some shops in vacant storefronts. With less empty stores, there were fewer of these though it speaks to the growth Pottstown is experiencing, in some part attributable to the commitment of events like L’OE Show.
And speaking of L’OE Show, the event itself changed things up by taking over an old High Street car dealership building with multiple levels and car capable freight elevator. Peppering vendors like Rotiform, Milltek, Liqui Moly and others throughout the building, Jamie Orr populated the second floor with a museum of highlights shipped over from Volkswagen Germany or select enthusiast vehicles… not to mention several of Jamie’s personal cars. The building mimicked the Pace Museum created by Germany’s own JP Performance. Could it become more of a permanent fixture? Who knows, but there’s no question fans would love to see that.
Outside, there’s no question that L’OE Show draws a crowd. Sure, the exhibiting cars and the visitors traveling long haul are likely hardcore enthusiasts. Even still, the event has become a festival to celebrate Volkswagen Group automobiles, large enough to be a mainstream spectacle and great way to spend the weekend. L’OE appeals to more than just the hardcore, which is definitely part of the appeal. Further, Audi fans—from those who bought their first 4000 in the ‘80s to young TikTok-era enthusiasts falling hard for the brand getting welcomed into the fold—mingling in a way that proves just how broad and welcoming this community can be.
Given that, it’s worth giving honorable mention to New Jersey’s AMS Autowerks. Owning a small collection of incredible cars, no doubt owner Diogo Acevedo was wondering which car to bring. Likely he eventually thought, why not bring them all? To that end, he had them loaded onto a custom car carrier, rolled it into the show area and parked it for all to admire. What a statement?
In a world where some car events and auto shows have been a bit on the wain, L’OE is refreshingly authentic. It’s grassroots, it’s stylish, and it’s built around passion rather than profit. For the community of Audi owners looking to celebrate their passion, that’s about as good as it gets.
