Slipstream - January 2019

Coffee, Cars & Conversation
by Bill Kruder
photos provided by Raj Gill and Michael Durovick
So this month’s member took
a little longer to get to know; as
a matter of fact, it almost didn’t
happen. He had just bought his car
and heard that on the third Saturday
of every month a group would meet
at Mayo Performance, but he wasn’t
sure what time, so he assumed,
knowing how car gatherings go, they
start early. So he takes off for Mayo
and arrives there about 8 am to find
not a soul there, the place is locked
up tight. He introduces himself to
the first person who shows up, not
realizing it is Ed Mayo himself.
Well since then, his 993 has
appeared at many of our different
coffee meets around DFW and I
got to know a very interesting and
ambitious young man.
So here is the next in my series
of “conversations” I would like to
share with you:
Raj Gill, Member since 2017,
Owner 1996 Polar Silver 993 Turbo
Bill Kruder: So I know you are not
originally from here. Where again
are you from?
Raj Gill: I was born and raised in
Leicester, England, famous for
winning the Premier League title in
2016 with 5000:1 odds.
BK: What brought you here?
RG: Well, I was in the alcohol
beverage business selling and
delivering to pubs. It was physically
tough, but I enjoyed it for the most
part. Then in 2010, Nindi and I
got married and we went on our
honeymoon to Fiji, which included a
six-day stop in Southern California.
Nindi planned the whole trip, which
included our first NFL game and a
NASCAR race, along with anything
else that would be the American
experience. It was a packed six
days. Once we returned we were
back to our daily grind. Then in
2011, Nindi said, “what if we work
together in childcare?” I was all in!
I didn’t even have to think about it.
Still on our honeymoon period, we
thought of the amazing time we had
in the US!
BK: So how did you and Nindi meet?
RG: It’s funny. We both grew up in
Leicester, same age, and went to the
same University, but never knew
each other. As it turned out, I had
met her brother at University but he
never told me he had a sister until
after he got married, when he said
he had someone I should meet. I was
unable to attend his wedding, as my
sister’s wedding was the same day.
BK: Well how did you end up in
Texas of all places?
RG: We did our homework; we had
three or four things we wanted.
First, we wanted warmth and
sunshine - remember where we are
from (laughing). Then it was a good
quality of life, good cost of living,
and lastly business-friendly. All
things pointed to Houston, Texas.
BK: Why DFW then?
RG: I had been to Florida
and the humidly was crazy
and Houston is known for
theirs, so it was Dallas.
It took us the better part
of a year to decide. After
a couple visits here, we
moved in 2012. We moved
a lot over the next five
years. We went from
Lewisville to Midlothian,
where our childcare is, to
Frisco, then Euless, finally
settling in Grapevine in
2016.
BK: Wow, Frisco, that’s a
long commute!
RG: That it was, trust me!
After the commute and
working together all day, Nindi and
I had nothing else to say once we
got home (laughing). Grapevine is
perfect, as it’s central, which has
helped us grow our business into
other areas.
20 December