| 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. Perhaps it was the cockroaches in
the FFR-recommended (oops !) fleabag hotel that got him up at the crack of dawn, or maybe
the drone of the pipes drawing him in for another adventure, like the sirens calling the
sailors into shore. Regardless, his tires were warm and ready as most of us were still
picking sleep-boogers out of our eyes. 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 vie 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 weakest 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 5.0 Mustang engine (225 hp) and the stock gearing as well. This is a powerful, derivable 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 $500 in damage was assessed at the scene, and replacement parts are being whisked his way at the time of writing. FFROGs in Attendance John Bachhuber FFR 1689 Honey Bee Yellow and Black (are a QueenBee and PrincessBee 427s far behind ?) Alison/Nate Hine FFR2163 Gelcoat – Battleship Grey (will Allison become the NE FFROG to beat ?) Michael Langan FFR 1375 Primer White (can anyone shoehorn a 4.6L into a Mark Reynolds FFR 1762 kit build is a Breeze Jack Rosen FFR 1393 Shiny Silver with Maroon Jack Siegal FFR 1245 Moonlight Blue #88 John Bryant appeared with his award winning (recently IRS) car Ralph Button Ralph would step down from the longest distance traveled award Bill Carsten FFR Marc Cigal FFR Mike Everson FFR Bruno Frustaci His Yellow and Black FFR ran its first race on the Otis 1/4 mile Steve Gogolinski FFR (he has assured us that his expected twins will not be named Carol and/or Shelby) Joe Gouveia FFR John Hannaford FFR Steve Knowles FFR (how come Cathy is bringing home all the trophies ?) Don LaJuenesse FFR John Marello FFR Mike Motherway FFR Mark Nangeroni FFR Jack Palczynski FFR John Phillips FFR John Volpe FFR Peter Walton FFR |
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