Miami: where the smell of gasoline is felt on every corner

Miami smells like gasoline (and freedom)

I don't know if you've ever smelled a freshly opened race car. I have. And believe me: it's a smell you won't forget. That's what happened to me at Champion Porsche, the largest dealership in the United States, where I stood in front of one of the 77 Porsche GT3 R Rennsport units . Open it, smell it, feel it. Pure magic. Something unthinkable in Spain, where cars seem to be reserved only for photo shoots with models who don't even know how to start them.

Curated: John Temerian's Living Museum

The journey began with John Temerian and his world of We Are Curated . If you're a true petrolhead, Curated is Disneyland. Unique, historic, iconic cars... museum pieces that move, roar, and tell stories. There you understand that in Miami, respect for cars translates into opening its doors and sharing culture, no matter where you come from.

Champion Porsche: where Porsche beats strongest

Champion Porsche deserves a separate chapter. Not only because it's the largest Porsche dealer in the US, but because it's the dealership that assembles the most Manthey Racing kits outside of Germany. There, everything revolves around squeezing the most out of every 911, every GT3 RS. And yes, they also opened the doors to us without looking at the number of subscribers: in the US, passion matters, not posturing.

The Miami vibe

In Los Angeles, I sensed racing culture. In Miami, what I found was showcar culture . Lots of supercars, hypercars, and private collections that, while also present in Europe and at a very similar level, are more exposed and open to the public there. On every corner, a roar: Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, Porsche. From the hotel, editing videos, I heard V12s, V10s, and boxer cars like someone listening to seagulls on the beach. Miami is noise, color, and excess. And you enjoy it.

The contrast with Spain

Here comes the hater part: in Spain, it's almost impossible to get them to let you record at a dealership. They look at you strangely, give you objections, or just ignore you. In the US, without even knowing you, they're already thinking about how to help you. It doesn't matter if you have a million subscribers or a thousand: if you breathe cars, they'll open their doors for you. And that, folks, makes all the difference.

A journey to return

I was left wanting to see Daytona, Sebring, Homestead... I also wanted to visit The Group B or Zweck , which had just held a massive event five days before Monterey Car Week in California. The Miami F1 circuit, next to the Dolphins stadium, looked half-dismantled, but it already makes it clear that the city lives by and for motorsports.

For all these reasons, Miami wasn't just another trip. It was the beginning of something that begs to return.