quattro Magazine Feature: Running of the Rings

Words by Eric Climer

“There’s something exhilarating about being part of a group of over 60 Audis driving around town together.” That was a quote by Pauline Stutsman; an Audi Club Oklahoma member based in Arkansas who made her second trip to Running of the Rings (ROTR), this year driving her new-to-her 2021 SQ8. While she lives around some amazing driving roads in Arkansas, ROTR offers participants more than just an Audi gathering and creates an environment that keeps people coming back as she states here: “I always think I go to ROTR to have a good time with my friends, but it’s a lot more than just that… I’ve also met some amazing new people along the way…The camaraderie is really 10/10, no matter how old or new you are to the group.”

On most weekends in the summer, there are car shows, meets, the occasional track event, or driving clinics. However, there are very few places where an Audi owner can drive alongside so many other Audis over the course of a few hours on over 100 miles of public roads. It’s honestly an experience that every Audi driver should have, and all it takes is a trip to Wichita, Kansas the Sunday after Father’s Day weekend.

Bac Ta, general manager of Audi Wichita, which hosts ROTR, explains how such a big event came to the middle of the country. “Running of the Rings started back in 2017 as a way to build brand awareness for Audi in the Wichita market…Because the brand was still fairly new to Wichita…we wanted to find a way to not only showcase our new building but also the brand as a whole. We wanted to give attendees a completely different experience than a typical car meet. The goal was to offer something engaging on the open road that would build camaraderie, memories, and lifelong friendships.” Ask anyone who has attended ROTR, and they will agree. Like Jason Smith, President of Audi Club Des Moines who came out this year for his fourth time driving his 2014 V10 R8 Spyder. He mentions, “It’s one of those events that reminds you the people are just as important as the cars. The combination of the scenic drives, the camaraderie, and seeing so many incredible Audis in one place makes Running of the Rings a truly world-class event.”

Locals Stacia Jensen and her husband Geoff, with their 2022 S3, make a weekend of it every year and will continue to come back for years to come. As Stacia says: “The people at Audi Wichita put so much love and time and effort into making ROTR the MUST DO Audi event in the Midwest, possibly even the country, and their efforts have made a lasting positive impact on the Audi community.” Mix that with first timers like Reese Wilson from Tulsa who came up with his 2019 A4; Reese continues the theme of camaraderie in the Audi community when he describes his experience: “Meeting new people and making memories in a new place while being around our favorite cars. The atmosphere at Audi events is unparalleled to any other automotive group I have been a part of…Bac and his team did an incredible job, making this a free event and making everybody feel so welcome is impressive, and I highly anticipate returning next year.”

So, what exactly is Running of the Rings? Bac Ta, explains: “At its core, the event is a Poker Run with five mystery stops throughout Wichita.” For those who don’t know, a Poker Run is an event where participants travel along a given route with five to seven stops along the way. At each stop, they pick a card and at the end of the route, the cards are handed in. Just with Poker, the best hand “wins”. It may not be a race, nor is it timed, but it’s a way for people to travel around an area, see new sights, and potentially win something at the end of the day while having a good time with like-minded enthusiasts. This year, the grand prize was a voucher for a SpeedVegas experience and a flight where the winner can drive an exotic car like an Audi R8 around a track in Las Vegas. Second place was an entry to Audi Club Oklahoma’s Midcon Mountain Rally, and third place was a trip to Wichita’s Imagination Station.

Alongside the route, stops, and prizes the Audi Wichita team creates a unique theme every year with logos, shirts, swag bags, stickers and more. With unique items every year, the swag has become something participants like to collect. Even the volunteers enjoy the unique bags every year like Jeff Wallace, Area Sales Manager for Audi of America in the region notes: “The swag bag each year is highly coveted among the Audi of America team.” Of course, that’s not the only reason that brings in attendance and assistance from Audi of America, Jeff further explains: “It’s inspiring to see the different colors, performance kits, wheels, and variety of vehicles from over the model years. I love how individual each car is, while still having the common thread of being an Audi… When you have a great team that is also fun to work with, it’s easy for us to support by simply showing up.”

To see this story and more, click here to access the Q1_2027 digital issue of quattro Magazine.