Slipstream - September 2017

PCA Raffle: A Winner in Our Maverick Region
By Joe Ferraro
Photo courtesy of Wendy Shoffit
t started like any other morning: drive to
I
DFW, hit the Starbucks, meet the other pilot,
then off to wherever it is we’re heading
that day. Later that afternoon, like thousands
of times before, I turned my phone on after getting
to the gate and listened to my voicemail.
“Hi Joe. This is David Robertson, the President of the Maverick
Region of PCA. I, uh, I’ve got a bit of good news for you,
so give me a call as soon as you can.”
Weird. I heard Mavs & Mochas was going to be featuring
968s soon, maybe he wanted to make sure mine
would be there. I returned the call. Geez, was I wrong.
Before I knew it, my hands started shaking, and after
the standard “Are you kidding me?” I told him I’d
have to call him back when I got to the hotel. I needed
to collect my thoughts. When I did, David re-iterated
that I was, in fact, a winner of the Spring Member Only
Raffle, and the new owner of a 2018 911 GTS. A first for
the Maverick Region!
How do I even begin to describe the feelings and
emotions? Shocked. Stunned. Flabbergasted. Speechless.
Giddy. Excited. LUCKY! That’s the only word that
really fits. I tend to throw in $50 or $100 each raffle, but
who really thinks they will actually win? I know many
of you have bought many, many more chances than
that over the years. Me? I’ve been a PCA member for
only three years. So lucky, extremely lucky, is the only
proper description.
A few days later, National provided me with a “Grand
Prize” build sheet describing the car they envisioned
the winner would receive. A RWD PDK Coupe. The
corresponding retail price was attached. I was free to
modify the car at will, go with AWD, move into a Cab or
Targa; and of course, pick my preferred colors. Truly a
“build my own” scenario. The only caveat: any changes
above and beyond this “Prize Spec” I’d be paying for.
Conversely, removing things from the prize car specification
would ultimately lower
my out-of-pocket costs. Yes, there
are out-of-pocket costs -- I’ll get
to that in a bit.
Thus began a week of very
little sleep and five hours a day
playing with the configurator,
struggling up a very steep 911
learning curve. I’m not a track
guy—more “GT” than “S”. I’ll
freely admit I purposely and
deliberately detuned some of
the handling aspects of my GTS
for a more comfortable ride.
14 September
Joe and Sue Ferraro along with David Robertson
No PDCC, swapped the SPASM for a straight PASM,
removed the Rear Axle Steering option. This cut some
cost, which I then turned around and added back in,
and then some. Front Axle Lift, Sunroof, Leather. Basically,
sliding more towards a Carrera S than a GT3 . . .
but I’ll keep the 450 horses, thank you very much!
Now, I’m smart enough to realize I’m going to get
very little sympathy from those reading this, but I think
it’s fair to explain what winning this raffle costs. I wish
I could say “$50.”
I won’t bore you with specific numbers; everyone
knows what one of these cars lists for. I just want to
make the point that a prize of this value does have
Federal income tax implications that will require some
consideration. PCA withholds part of the prize value
for this purpose. The cash portion of the prize also
helps mitigate this, but it won’t cover everything. It will
be different for everybody depending on a given tax
situation going in. Add to that the cost of the options/
configuration changes above the Grand Prize spec’d
car. And then upon delivery, the full TT&L just like
any other car that’s purchased. Regardless, it’s still one
heck of a deal!
Honestly, though, none of that matters. I’ve won a
car that I never, in my wildest dreams, ever thought I’d
own. One built to order straight from Stuttgart! Inconceivable!
I’m lucky enough, and honored, to join a very
small club-within-a-club comprised of Member Only
Raffle winners. I’m planning to enjoy every second of
911 ownership that I’ve somehow stumbled into.
I must take a minute to thank fellow Maverick and
friend, Bob Marois, for quickly and expertly decoding
the 911 for me. He explained, reviewed, critiqued and
validated many of my decisions concerning my build.
The same can be said for John Hamilton; who invited
my wife Sue and I to his showroom for option show and
tell, let me crawl around his own GTS, and gave freely
of his time and expertise. I owe
both of you!
By the time you read this, I’ll
have an order on the books and
a delivery estimate for near the
New Year. Just a very, very lucky
guy, who bought a couple tickets
to a raffle. I’d do it all again, and
encourage everyone to keep trying.
It only takes one, and
SOMEBODY will win next time.
Let’s get a Maverick winning
streak started!