Shelby CSX 1000 winner gets his keys!

Story by Sam Haymart

The Shelby CSX 1000 Carroll Shelby Children's Fund raffle car now has a new owner.

02-26-06: Gary Goudie from Knoxville, Illinois has a new car in his garage. He won the raffle drawing for Carroll Shelby's aluminum body CSX1000 427 Cobra. Benefiting the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation the drawing campaigned the bright red Shelby Cobra at shows around the country as well as through their website www.winashelby.com , Mr. Goudie's name was drawn and announced at the 2006 Barrett-Jackson auto auction in Scottsdale, AZ, last January.

In Las Vegas this month, Carroll Shelby presented both the keys and title to Gary before a crowd of excited Shelby fans at the Shelby American Auto Club "SAAC Does Vegas X" opening dinner event. During the presentation, Carroll told that he asked Gary if he could buy it back from him. Goudie replied, "You cant afford it".

Shortly after getting the keys Gary stepped out of the banquet hall to the Cobra parked in the courtyard and sat in it for the first time. Keys in hand he started the aluminum 427. With a few pops it roared to life while a crowd on onlookers snapped photos and cheered. After a few minutes of revving the motor and grinning ear-to-ear, he pulled out a round SAAC sticker from his satchel bag and began to find the right place for it on the windshield.

Gary is a long time Mustang enthusiast who first owned a 1965 Mustang when in high school. After he returned from Vietnam that car was stolen from him. He has continued his love for Mustangs and Shelbys over the years. An active member of SAAC, today he owns two '66 Shelby Mustang GT350 H models and a couple other Mustangs.

At several events around the country, he purchased 14 raffle tickets to win the Shelby Cobra as well as several tickets for other family members and friends as gifts. In the end, it was the first ticket he bought that won the car. "I guess it really only takes one", Goudie said.

When asked about what he has in store for the Shelby CSX1000, he said that he plans to find ways to use the car to continue raising awareness of the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation.

Carroll Shelby presenting the keys and title for the CSX 1000 Shelby 427 Cobra.