| " | Id be safe and warm, if I was in L.A " | April, 2000 |
California Dreaming - The Mamas and the Papas |
| 2000 Knotts Berry Farm Buena Park, CA - Many easterners, as well as many others around the country, wonder why people live in southern California - its overcrowded, overly superficial, and if the mud slides dont get you, the earthquakes certainly will. Our perceptions are, that the potential for large scale disaster far outweigh the fun in the sun. It just becomes unattractive. Its a great place to visit, but who would want to live there. All it takes to start turning that mindset around, however, is to head out on a cold and rainy spring day in New England, and arrive in the sunshine of the pacific coast state that evening. In springtime, southern California has the same blue sky that is so characteristic of New England summers. This is |
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the kind of sky
which seems to stretch forever upwards, not so much enveloping the day, but creating a
high, blue canopy over the earth below. On Saturday April 22nd, underneath this blanket of blue, assembled 30 West Coast FFROG owners and their significant others (the four wheel kind) for the annual Knotts Berry Farm hand-built and replica show. Representing all makes, models and creations of hand-built vehicles, the Knotts show is one of |
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| dont need an
excuse to get up and go. If theres a show on the schedule, any time, any where,
theyll be there. Come rain or shine, theyll be there. If their snakes have to
be push started, theyll still make it to the event. After the show closed on Saturday, we all formed a caravan and headed over to the Newport Beach Marriott for a customer appreciation banquet and benefit to support the California Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Both were a tremendous success. |
| For the Foundation, we raised close to $4000., and all attendees enjoyed the
raffled prizes and presentations by Dave and Mark Smith, among others. Dick Smith
told some great stories about the glory days of racing, and with former car owner Roy
Wiley and crew chief George Harm, chiming in, the crowd was riveted to their seats. An
impromptu auction for memorabilia out of the Jerry Nanson private collection added to the
fun. Awards were presented to the best in the |
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| FFROG field,
including Best in Show to Richard Leyva for his custom modified beauty. He narrowly edged
Russ Thompson for the award, only because he had repaired the body himself, after a fender
bender took out a section of fiberglass. Russs radio flyer, with more custom
modifications than the Apollo 13 mission, took a close runner-up, but could have easily
swept all of the awards. Mary Borden was presented with a Legacy |
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| Award, for best representing and spreading the spirit, enthusiasm and excitement
which distinguishes FFR customers and carries on the legacy of the pioneer owners
and drivers of the 60's. Roger Stine and Gordon Levy were presented with Dick Smith Legacy awards as the people who most carried the ideals of racing and adventure of the original racers. All in all, everyone had a blast over the two |
solid days of fun, sun. Plans are already in process to top this event next year, possibly even creating a combination race and show event outside of the Knotts Show. Make sure to reserve some vacation time now ! |
| This years team of enthusiastic FFROG owners able to show up with their roadsters included: |
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| David Smith (FFR Owner) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Smith (FFR Owner) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry Cornish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1843 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| James Creasy Dark Blue FFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry Davi FFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Glenn DiOrio Rolling Chassis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1812 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocky Holton Toner Red | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1411 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presston Lannom Patriot Red Pearl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1263 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Larry Lessie Bright Red | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1170 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Leyva Metallic Royal Blue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1399 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richard Malzahn Royal Blue Metallic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim McCabe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1174 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kent McRae FFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Mengelkoch Dark Green Met. FFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris Moakley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1467 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Mott Radical Red | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1340 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wiley Preston Ferrari Red FFR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al Solomko Stine FIA Blue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1224 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| John Suarez Moonlight Blue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1076 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jonah Tollefson Rolling Chassis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1953 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hans Van Noord British Racing Green | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FFR 1227 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A whole posse of owners attended without their ponies as well. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||