10 minute read
Member Profiles
from Die Porsche Kassette
by Pcagcr
Mark Johnson, staff writer
Ooch, Not Ouch!
He’s been married to his sweetheart, Lee Ann, for 17 years. They have three dogs, of which two are Golden Retrievers and the third is a Golden “wannabe”; all are rescues.
They live in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and he owns a rare 1987 911 Turbo (930) in Venetian Blue. His name is Patrick Ucci, or Ooch (not Ouch). Oh, and he’s originally from Buffalo, NY.
The 930 Turbo (L) during a visit to Schnebly Winery earlier this year. The car is a stunner!
Ooch is in automotive software and marketing. His father was an automotive dealer in upstate New York and Patrick was introduced to all things automotive at an early age since he lived in a neighborhood with three car dealers (not including his father, who became one later in life). From lot boy to F&I Office, sales, management, and then consulting, he has been influenced by his environment and chose the profession.
His father was always a car nut, but quite unsettled, never keeping many personal vehicles that long. One special vehicle his dad owned for an extended length of time was an ’87 G-Body Targa. Patrick’s father would let him drive it in reverse about 12 to 15 feet back, and then forward 12 to 15 feet, to wash the car. Of the more than 100 cars his father owned as an enthusiast and then dealer, the G-Body Targa was the only one that felt like an extension of Patrick’s personality and seemed to fit “just right.”
On one day his dad was out of town, and he took the Targa for a spin (out for beer and cigarettes, a very long time ago). Driving through his hometown, Patrick
was clocked on radar doing about 85 in a 35-mph zone by the local sheriff. The sheriff, who knew his dad, let him go, as the officer of the law thought it was Ucci the father. His dad came home sometime later and had the occasion to enjoy a cup of coffee with his sheriff buddy. Patrick had not told his dad of the incident.
They had a “talk” when dad got home. Punishment was apparently not too severe, as it is suspected that father and son shared some of the same passion for speed. (We should note that neither PCA nor GCR would ever condone such disregard for traffic laws. Plus, it was a different time and place.)
Today, Patrick senses his father with him while enjoying his 930 Turbo in local PCA or other friendly PCar drives. Dad is always with him on these events in spirit when he remembers some of the great advice provided young Ooch: “That gas pedal can both get you in trouble, or out of it. It’s up to you to decide which.”
No longer in the retail end of the automotive space, Patrick is currently involved with dealer computer software and marketing to the top 150 automotive dealership groups in the US. Examples of customers would include the likes of Lithia, Sonic Automotive, Rick Hendrick Automotive, Penske, Larry H. Miller, and the Ed Morse Group.
While he’s selling to many makes, as most of the dealer groups hold multiple manufacturer franchises, he is a Porsche guy through-and-through.
Patrick can be found driving his Turbo 911 to a myriad of events. He will participate in local car/coffee meets in south Florida, travel to Werks Reunion and Amelia Concours, and enjoy a weekly “Thursday Night Options” with his Porsche car aficionados and buddies. Ooch can also be seen out with Vintage Vices (an air-cooled group from Miami) or doing a local run with our other friend Ruben Fuentes in a Ruben’s Run or two. He’s living the Porsche lifestyle and wanting more.
The 911 Turbo was acquired a few short months ago, 20 months to be exact, after a long and exhaustive search. Patrick was specifically looking for a 930-vintage turbo, but in a non-standard color. The turbo in the non-standard color option was the challenge. He was fortunate to find his car in a highly desirable color, and equally fortunate to have found this Porsche before the values exploded. Once the turbo was acquired, Ooch joined Gold Coast Region PCA. So, he has been with us for 20 months to match the length of ownership.
Recognizing the joy of Porsche ownership for both the pleasure of driving and for the people Porsche seems to attract (sound familiar?) and Patrick is on another hunt for his second PCar. This time he’s interested in researching a 356 Coupe, perhaps an “outlaw” –
especially an Emory. It figures as Ooch’s favorite Porsche models are the 959, the 917, and anything that Emory puts on the road. Ooch appreciates “seeing the cars kept as original while taking advantage of the new technologies that are available today.
Patrick suggests, “it’s amazing to see what and how the cars respond to things like this. The cars are literally timeless and will continue to be.” Patrick has certainly touched a strength of Porsche, as being timeless originals, and few could argue with that point. Visiting with Patrick on a recent Thursday evening event, we find out that while he’s still hunting for the Emory Outlaw, he is expanding his Porsche collection. The newest acquisition is a ’97 Carrera Coupe, a 993 in Artic Silver. He was fortunate to learn of this car through his friend in Palm Beach, who also connected him to the 930 Turbo. Ooch will be the third owner of a “still-in-thewrapper” 911, which is virtually pristine and has only 30K miles on the odometer. He claims that there is one small oil leak to be addressed.
His second Porsche acquisition, a low mile 993 Carrera Coupe
Good luck with that oil leak.
No doubt this newest 993 will be treated with care. Ooch is a car guy with outstanding detailer skills. Once in the garage, Patrick will work on the color correction and ceramic coating for the 993, as he did on the 930.
Patrick’s biggest challenge will be car storage. This is a common lament among those lucky few with multiple PCar collections. At home there is a two-car garage, but LeeAnn’s steed will not be spending any time outdoors. So, it sounds like there may be a four-post vehicle lift added in the not-too-distant future, LeeAnn permitting!
The second Porsche in the garage wasn’t the Emory, but he didn’t want to miss a great opportunity on the 993 while looking. The next question might be, where is he going to put the 356 Emory when he finds it? We guess that will be a bridge to build/cross when the right Porsche comes into view. Acquiring another Porsche, as Patrick explains, “is definitely a disease I don’t want a cure for . . . .”
The Ooch Turbo on the road, goin’somewhere.
Patrick Ucci cruising in Amelia Island during WERKS ‘21
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1. 2022 Porsche Cayenne
This is the car that saved Porsche from going bankrupt. It is a very polarizing model. Whether you belong to the love or hate camp, you have to agree that the Cayenne commands a special place in the Porsche collection. It proved once and for all that sportiness can be combined with practicality. I’ve seen the recent trend of moving away from diesel powertrains affect this segment. Now the base Cayenne is only available in the twin turbo V6 gasoline variant. Looking more closely I’d be inclined to think that the long-term plan with this model is to go fully hybrid, with a view to becoming electric.
2. 2022 Porsche Panamera
Barely ten years old, this model line is again demonstrative of Porsche’s acute understanding of the dynamic auto market. Can you combine sportiness with luxury? Absolutely. If there was one model that proves that in a Porsche you can have your cake and eat it, too, it would be the Panamera. I love the sumptuous interior and the fact that you no longer need to think twice before taking your partner and kids. My personal favorite in this range is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which practically oozes class and performance in equal amounts.
3. 2022 Porsche 911
Just like an parfum, the 911 is the essence of Porsche. It doesn’t make concessions for practicality, luxury, or economy. This is about performance. This is about driving experience. What we love about the 911 range is how Porsche has made the experience accessible to all owners by offering such a wide range of variants. In my mind no top 10 list would be complete without a 911 or two lurking around. I am of course completely biased and absolutely love and drive a 911.
4. 2022 Porsche Taycan
For 2022 I had to save the best for last. The Taycan is proof that Porsche continues to innovate. I believe that the future of personal transportation is rapidly moving beyond the internal combustion engine. In order to stay relevant, you must adapt and overcome. Porsche did more than that with the Taycan and their revolutionary partnership with Electrify America. There may be relief in sight for those of us who
WEB
are yet unable to afford the Taycan, as Porsche may be introducing a cheaper EV.
Honorable Mention – 2022 Porsche 718
Making the top 10 list of Car and Driver’s best automobiles is no mean feat, but Porsche managed to pull it off with the 718. This is also the only Porsche available in a 4-pot version, which is rumored to appear stateside this year. If you are looking to get into the Porsche experience, but don’t have the financial clout to box in the 911 ring, this may well be the ticket to ride.
All Porsche, All the Time
If all this has left you wondering which Porsche is right for you, I don’t blame you. Over the last ten years Porsche has been relentless in their innovation and reinvention of their definition for the auto. To diversify so much while remaining true to their roots requires the skill we have come to expect from the Stuttgart brand. Right now, not too much about 2022 is certain, but we are sure Porsche will surprise us. Until next time, friends . . . Drive safe, Ian Gerada, Membership Chair | Social Media Chair | Webmaster
