Winnipeg Suzuki customer wins $50,000

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FROM LEFT: Walt Morris, Brendan Morris, Brian Lischka, Darcy McLean.

Winnipeg Suzuki has a winner!

Customer Brian Lischka pulled into the dealership last Friday to pick up his cheque for $50,000 after winning the dealership's most recent Pluck-A-Duck event.

Throughout the month of July and August, anyone who bought a new or used vehicle at Winnipeg Suzuki could pick out a duck with a special number. A draw was held on on September 12 and Lischka's number was pulled.

"I didn't expect to win," said Lischka, a 33-year veteran Manitoba Hydro worker who raced motocross events in his younger days and purchased a 2011 Street Legal dirt bike from the dealership in mid-summer. "Winning was a nice bonus."

The Pluck-A-Duck event is one of several ongoing promotions that Walt Morris introduced when he formed Winnipeg Dodge Chrysler from the merger of two pre-existing Chrysler dealerships about eight years ago. Other such events throughout the year include "Score to Win", "Drive for Show, Putt for Dough", "Let it Roll", "Let It Snow", "Crack Walt's Vault" and "Armchair Quarterback".

"We had given away over $250,000 in prizes up to last summer," said Morris, president of Winnipeg Chrysler and co-owner with Darcy McLean of Winnipeg Suzuki. Morris also owns Winnipeg Collision Centre and the Red River Speedway.

"We did have a customer win $10,000 in the "Crack Walt's Vault" event, but this is the first time that we've had a $50,000 winner. It's incredible and well-deserved."

With his winnings, Lischka is planning on a holiday at a five-star resort. "My son just bought a new house," he adds. "I'll help him out with the payments, too."

Next up for Winnipeg Suzuki customers is the "Pokermania" event. Everyone who purchases a vehicle from the dealership in October and November will win a prize ranging from a surround-sound system to a laptop computer or 51-inch TV.

In other Winnipeg Suzuki/ Winnipeg Chrysler news, Brendan Morris, the sales rep who sold Brian Lischka his bike, moved to the Chrsyler store at the beginning of this week. Morris, Walt Morris' son, has been at Winnipeg Suzuki in the Powersports area since his father acquired the Suzuki dealership in September, 2010.

Winnipeg Mercedes-Benz dealer a triple threat

Brian Lowes, president of Mercedes-Benz Winnipeg, recently competed in his third triathlon of the summer/fall season.

Lowes' latest competition was Sept. 30 in California. In a race consisting of running, cycling and swimming, he finished 176th out of a field of about 2,000 men and women, and 26th in his age group (early 30s).

"We started at Venice Beach and finished at the Staples Centre in downtown L.A.," he said. "It took me an hour and 47 minutes to complete the race. Part of it involved swimming in the Pacific Ocean.

"It was a fabulous experience and a lot of fun. You learn a lot about self-discipline."

Lowes previously competed in triathlons in Kenora in July and Pinawa in August after training for seven months, 10 to 11 hours a week. He's preparing for his next triathlon competition in Hawaii in March and hopes to compete in perhaps two a year.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 12, 2012 E5