| Once again, the outing was a huge
success. FFROGs from all over the northeastern states came out to join us, as well as
others, who made special plans for the event. None is a better story that John Phillips
(FFR xxxx). Known in Jupiter, FL as The Judge, John is, like Ralph Button of Maine (see Texas Triathlon story)
is the exemplary Roadster nut that we all wish we could be. On a recent free weekend, he made a
detour from the sunny streets of southern Florida to head out to compete in the Pike’s Peak race. Similarly, as the calendar
flipped to September, he decided it was time to take another siesta. He mounted up his
hard top, and headed North. On the way to Massachusetts, he took a detour through Vermont,
Maine and New Hampshire, making sure to meet up with all the friends and family he could
find in the chilly north. Warm and dry in his little cocoon, he reached the Factory Five
compound early Friday to finally see the plant from which he purchased his beloved beast.
Still beaming ear to ear, he was the first in line Saturday morning, raring to go.His
tires were warm and ready as most of us were still waking up. It didn’t take long, however, for the rest of the field to catch up to his state of awareness, and after a slow practice session, all of the cars went out to challenge for FFROG Gold. When the dust cleared, Jack Rosen, the local ringer, took the field. Wife Sandy chipped in, providing him with split times, apex efficiency calculations, chicane optimization grids and algorithms that left us all scratching our heads in disbelief. Jack’s been accused of taking things too seriously, his drive to win too competitive, but in the end even he had to laugh at the level of preparation he had established. Jim Schenck, our resident Pro, kept him honest, returning the second fastest run, albeit with the most bone stock snake in the den. Jim was getting his first test of the new Spec Racer, the racing (FFR Challenge) series based around our Roadster. This car is set up with a stock 302 5.0L Mustang engine (225 hp) and the stock gearing as well. This is a powerful, driveable and fun racecar that will come to dominate grassroots racing in the near future, yet it is anemic compared to the horsepower that thumped its collective chests at the starting line at this event. A collective sigh of relief was gasped as Jack Siegal spun
out after turning from the high speed section, heel toeing his way into the trees. The FFR
came through again, collapsing where it should, and leaving the rest alone. In all, a good
amout of damage was assessed at the scene, and replacement parts are being whisked his way
at the time of writing. |
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