[James Matthew Najera]

General Discussion Thread 05.04.2025​

Hey GrayViners!

Let’s kick off this Sunday with a feel-good question: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever won?

I’m talking raffles, office bingo, radio call-ins, fairground games—whatever made you stop and say, “Well, that was unexpected!”

Was it a weekend getaway? A year’s supply of soup? A toaster signed by someone sort of famous in the ‘90s? We want the weird, the wonderful, and the “you’ll never believe this” stories.

Here's one I’ll never forget—I once won a brand new TV from a Christmas raffle. Didn’t even realize my name had been tossed in the hat! One minute I was sipping cocoa and pretending not to care, and the next thing I know, I’m walking out with a flat-screen I had zero shelf space for. Best surprise gift I never wrapped.

Now it’s your turn—what’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever won?

Whether it was quirky, lucky, or just plain odd, share it below! Let’s see who takes the crown for the wildest win.

Cheers!
Blue

 

[Pattycake]

We won an overnight stay at a Buffalo ranch, slept in a Yurt

 

[tabuck07]

I won a lawn mower from Target years ago

 

[godwin1850]

Im pretty sure I'm the unluckiest person on Earth...I have never won anything of value. Husbands won scratch offs but me nope

 

[LillMcD]

It was 1999, and I won a Chevrolet S10 pickup truck in my mother's church raffle. I was notified of the win the day I mailed the first payment on the Toyota RAV4 I had bought. As a 5'1" woman working in hospital administration, I had absolutely no use for a pickup truck.

 

[techgrandma]

My husband and I are big NASCAr fans. Imagine our surprise when we won "A Fling with the King" from Nabisco. We were 1 of 6 winning couples at the end of the weekend they would announce a Grand Prize winner. What we won was plenty for us. It was a weekend at Charlotte racetrack with Richard Petty. They flew us there, we were at a very nice motel. On Saturday we went the Richard Petty's Condo overlooking the track. His wife was there making and serving food and drinks. We also took a tour of the pits that day and met many drivers. Back in the condo we watch the then Busch race. Kyle and Adam Petty joined us for that. That itself was special to me because Kyle was my favorite driver. They sat and talked to us like we were old friends. We returned to the motel after the race and had dinner, then we could explore. The next day was the NASCAR race. We had wonderful seats in the 2nd turn and got to watch the race. We stayed in the motel a final night and flew home the next days with lots of wonderful items from them. My husband will next part with his leather Lance Racing jacket. For me the picture of Richard with my husband and I was very special. I also have pictures of us with Kyle and Adam. The day Adam died I was so thankful that we had taken those pictures and spent time with that wonderful young man.

 

[Arkie98]

I won a 25# turkey being a single Mom we enjoyed it but got tiresome eating it so alot went to freezer.

 

[miscrap]

The year was 2007. I came home from work and had a message to call the Chicago Bears. They had a contest to pick a fan to represent the 4th Phase -the fans- at the NFC Championship game. Out of 86,000 entries I won! My son and I spent 2 hours on the field before the game while the players warmed up, then HOFer Richard Dent and I went out to the middle of the field for the coin toss, and I got to shake hands with all the team captains! Brian Urlacher looked at me and laughed - I think he thought some crazy fan had run out on the field! I brought them good luck, as the Bears beat the New Orleans Saints 39-17 at snowy Soldier Field!

 

[kgsivley]

I started running at age 40. I met my husband through the running club. We enjoyed going to runs around our state. We went to a small town in southwestern Wisconsin to camp and run in the Father's Day Chicken Run.. It was quite warm and the course was hilly. I was amazed to find that I was the overall female winner at age 44! My trophy had a large rooster on it. We also got a chicken dinner. There were no sports for girls when I was in school. It was fun to enter running events and collect a respectable number of awards.