Slipstream - May 2019

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Coffee, Cars & Conversation by Bill Kruder photos provided by author So about a year and half ago, to kick off Founders’ Day, we began the morning with Mavs & Mochas at Highland Park Village in Dallas, followed by our first Toy Drive. Once the nearly 100 cars had emptied their toys, everyone was free to go do their own thing. A bunch of us decided to grab a quick bite, so we headed over to the Fish Shack in downtown Plano. Debi and I were seated waiting on our food, when this young woman walked up to our table and we invited her to join us at the table. Little did I know this was the same person I had been hearing about that had recently bought a Boxster and was tearing up the Autocross course. So here is the next in my series of “conversations” I would like to share with you: Carolle Liu, member since 2017, owner, 2005 Boxster Bill Kruder: So I know you are not originally from here, where again? Carolle Liu: Oh no. I was born and raised in Guangzhou, China. It’s in the south about 80 miles northwest of Hong Kong. BK: So what brought you here? CL: I came here in 2007; I was 21 and just wanted a change. Funny thing was, I didn’t speak any English at all; I mean none (laughing). BK: So what about school? Did you wait and attend here? CL: I went to Sun Yat-Sen University in China and received by undergraduate and MBA in Supply Chain/Logistics. Upon graduating, I worked for UPS for about six months, then decided I needed more. BK: So that’s when you made the move, but why Texas? CL: Yes. I have an uncle that lives in Richardson, so when we first got here, we lived with him. BK: You say WE? CL: Well yes. In order to get my Immigration Visa, it had to include my parents, so my parents came here for about three months. I’m actually an only child. Carrolle with the goods, 1st place P1 Autocross BK: Once you were here, what was your plan? CL: Like I said, I didn’t speak any English at all, so I enrolled at Richland College to take ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. I ended up getting an Associate Degree. BK: I understand though you were not finished with school? CL: I knew I didn’t like Supply Chain, so I thought I might like to do something at the college level, research or something. So I earned a Mathematics Degree from Baylor -- Sic’ em, Bears! But once I was ready to graduate, I realized I still had two to five years more of school, and that was not what I was willing to do. BK: Then what? CL: I decided it was time to get out of Waco, so I moved back up to DFW, moved to Allen, and started looking for a job. I like people and stuff, so I thought retail might be a good place. I actually interviewed with JCPenney to be an Allocator -- the person who determines what store gets how many -- but I couldn’t see myself stuck in a cubicle eight to ten hours a day. So I interviewed with Kohl’s and they offered me a position in the stores as an Assistant Store Manager. I ended up having several positions over the last eight years, and I’m now the Store Manager of the Wylie store. BK: Wait a second -- I don’t think most people know this; I thought you were into fitness? CL: I know right (laughing)? I am a part time fitness instructor at 24 Hour and Fitness Connection which is why people think that’s my profession. BK: So let’s talk cars. What was your first car? CL: That was a 2004 VW Jetta; well, it was actually my dad’s car. BK: So I forgot you learned to drive in China; how was that compared to here? CL: Oh, it’s very different from here. It starts out with a very intense three to four months of driving instruction. We learned on what is basically a pickup truck with a stick and no power steering, so when you made a turn, it took like three turns of the wheel, and I’m not that big (laughing). Then once you do your driving, you take a 100-question exam and you have to get 90 correct. After that the fun part starts! You and three or four others, with the instructor, take a 16-hour drive; eight hours out, stay the night, then next day, eight hours back. 20 <strong>May</strong>
BK: Wow! Let’s get back to cars. So what was your first car here? CL: That was a 2006 Toyota Camry. I know, kind of boring, but I just wanted something reliable to get me from point A to B. Carrolle and her Boxster on the course BK: How did your interest change then from a Camry to a Porsche? CL: Well I didn’t make that giant of a leap, as I was driving a 2012 Jag XKR coupe. What I really wanted was a convertible, and I always admired Porsches on the road, so one day I was reading an article about cars you think you can’t afford. So then I looked in AutoTrader, and there was this Boxster that was in The Colony. This gentleman who was selling it said had been his wife’s car for the last 11 or 12 years. It had a great history, including the IMS being replaced, so I said, “what the heck I want it!” I bought the Boxster in 2017. BK: I hear from people you are pretty quick around the cones -- how did that happen? CL: After I bought the Boxster, one of the Wong brothers (Ronald & Hubert, who are fast autocrossers), Ronald Wong, told me that I had the perfect Autocross car, so I read in <strong>Slipstream</strong> that there was an Autocross coming and up, and went to check it out. I entered, and once I understood all it took, I fell in love with it. I think last year I went to eight or so events and even won a trophy for my class. BK: Last question: what is your dream car? CL: That’s easy! It would be a Carrera GT. Every month as I write the interview, I think the same thing, what if . . . . What if I had not sat down for lunch after the Founders’ Day Toy Parade, what if I had not had the chance to strike up that conversation with someone I really didn’t know? So if and when you meet someone new, don’t miss out on “Driving Friendships!” 21
Page 1 and 2: PUBLISHED BY MAVERICK REGION PORSCH
Page 3 and 4: VOLUME 58 ISSUE 5 MAY 2019 MAV.PCA.
Page 5 and 6: The Independent Porsche Specialist
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Page 11 and 12: Patriot Paws Tour and Lunch Recap b
Page 13 and 14: Welcome Our New Mavericks! by Jim H
Page 15 and 16: We Buy, Sell & Tradethe World’s F
Page 17 and 18: Autocross Series Event 2: March Mir
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Page 21: Maverick Marktpreis is proudly spon
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Page 40: Hiram Saunders, Slipstream 155 Jell

Slipstream - May 2019

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