Founders Day People’s Choice Car Show

by Bill Kruder, Region President photos provided by Kurt Scaggs

What a year 2020 was! It’s nice to be able to say 2021 is here at last. To start the New Year I wanted to share with you what may be the busiest club volunteer we have. You all know his work as our Editor, but a lot of you don’t know before that he was our club ad designer. Not only did he do that, but he is also credited with taking our crazy idea of making a “brand” out of our coffee meets. We gave him the name Mavericks and Mochas and a few days later he said “I have an idea: do you like ‘Mavs & Mochas?’” Well of course we did, and with that you see this brand image on coffee mugs, tee shirts, window stickers, our tent, and more; in my marketing days we called this “synergy.”

Not only is he busy creating our award-winning magazine - you will often catch him out at many events. I’m proud to call this guy my friend and a great “partner in crime” as we say.

So here is the next in my series of “conversations” I would like to share with you . . .

Kurt Scaggs, Member since 2013 1986 944 Turbo and 1987 Carrera

Bill Kruder: Let’s start off with the usual. Where are you from? Kurt Scaggs: Well I was born in Houston, but we moved when I was two to Slidell, Louisiana, which is off the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain, or about 45 minutes northeast of New Orleans. I graduated from North Shore High School in 1991.

BK: What about college - did you stay in-state? KS: Nope, I didn’t, for a couple reasons. One, it seemed everyone from high school was going to LSU and I really didn’t want to just spend another four years with the same group of people. And secondly, my dad took me to a Texas Tech game and we sat with the band, and I guess that sold me. Well there is actually a bit more to it. My dad and mom both are Tech grads; matter of fact my grandmother is too, so maybe that had some influence on my decision (smiling).

Kurt and Melissa Scaggs with son Wilson

BK: Wait a second - most people visit a college but they don’t go to a game and sit with the band? KS: I know right? Sounds kind of geeky (laughing) but the story behind that is that I was in my high school band, and then on top of it, the band instructor at Tech was best friends with my dad and insisted we sit with them.

BK: So you played in the marching band? KS: Yes I did. I was a trombone player. I started in middle school, played in high school, and in my dad’s footsteps played for the 450 member “Goin’ Band from Raiderland”. KS: Oh no! I was a Fine Arts major getting my degree in Design Communication and Packaging Design.

BK: So that’s what you do now? KS: It is. I’m one of very few people I know that do precisely what they studied in undergrad. I started out designing product packaging for H-E-B Grocery when we lived in San Antonio and have remained in that business every since. I now run my own design business specializing in retail food packaging.

BK: So how did you and Melissa meet? KS: We were both in the same church youth group. We knew each other but we did not start dating until I was a senior in high school (she was a junior).

BK: Wow! So a year later you go off to Tech, which is some 16 hours away? KS: I know, right? Then, when she did graduate, she went off to UT in Austin for her first year before transferring to Tech. Once graduating, we moved to San Antonio so that she could attend UT Dental School.

BK: So how did you two end up in Dallas? KS: Once she finished in San Antonio

BK: So did you get a music degree? she did a one-year residency at Baylor College of Dentistry of Dallas before setting up practice in the area. And with my work I could more or less work anywhere.

BK: So how long have you been married? KS: We dated for 6 years, got married in 1997, and had Wilson in 2012. BK: What was your first Porsche? KS: That would be the Guards Red ‘87. We bought that in 2013 shortly after Wilson was born.

BK: Ahhh yes, Wilson, love the name. Where did it come from? KS: That was Melissa’s grandfather’s middle name and we thought it would cool to keep the name in the family. An added benefit is that he rarely gets confused with anyone else.

BK: Now let’s switch subjects to cars. What was your first? KS: My first car my dad brought home for me was an ‘85 Honda Accord hatchback. I think it had less than 100 horsepower, and when I was given the keys, I was encouraged to keep in under 3,000 RPM’s for the sake of the engine. Not a chance. Then I had an equally high performance ‘89 Accord, white with burgundy. It had those cool pop-up headlights.

Although Wilson currently prefers Mustangs, he never turns down a ride

BK: So why Porsche? KS: Like so many boys when I was growing up I’d built model cars - matter of fact at the time my favorite was the 993. Hours of pouring through my Dad’s car magazines helped drive the dream.

BK: So what made you finally buy one? KS: I was at a Classic BMW Cars & Coffee and I saw a 1969 Tangerine 911 and I started talking to this guy - he had this long hair, a beard, sounds kind of tough (smiling) and he told me everything I wanted to know about the cars down to the best model to get into. After some time in E EA AT T the club I met Bob Aines again for the first time. Bob is D DR RI IN NK K a local legend for those who don’t know him and I R RE EP PE EA AT T credit him with passing on the Porsche passion.

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BK: Where did you find the car? KS: I started looking online and found this one in Stow, Massachusetts which is right outside of Boston. I bought it sight unseen after a PPI and a subsequent conversation with the fine folks at Mayo Performance. The car rolled out of the transporter and found its way to Bedford for some maintenance shortly thereafter and it’s been love ever since.

BK: Now I know a bit about the 944, as you bought that from our mutual friend?

KS: Yes I did. In high school the 944 Turbo was the car in my daydreams. I started poking around, and Jim Hirsch mentioned he was looking to sell his. Anyone who knows Jim knows how particular he is, so I knew I was getting a great car. I purchased the car in late summer of 2018 and proceeded to drive it out to Rennsport VI at Laguna Seca a few weeks later. Not only did I caravan out with some fellow Mavs, I was able to do parade laps on the legendary track. Another childhood dream checked off the list.

BK: Lastly, how did you, or why did you, get so involved in the club? KS: As soon as we had bought the ‘87 we joined the club and started to attend some events. We also started getting Slipstream. I saw an ad asking for volunteers and decided why not jump in. I met with Jim, then editor, he sold me and the rest as they say is history. Looking back, it’s the best thing I could have done, though I will say I never thought I would be Editor of the club magazine.

BK: Interesting! That darn Jim Hirsch did the same to me (laughing).

Well there you have it: as of this writing, Kurt Douglas Scaggs not only is the best Editor, but he is the recent recipient of the James Shoffit Maverick of the Year Award for his continued volunteer work for our club. See page 14 for more on this award.