Knotts Berry Farm '00

2000 Knotts Berry Farm

Buena Park, CA - Many easterners, as well as many others around the country, wonder why people live in southern California - it’s overcrowded, overly superficial, and if the mud slides don’t 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. It’s 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

FFROG's love the California sun !

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

the more interesting west coast replica shows. Flexing their muscles for the rest of the industry, the Factory Five contingent (which included almost 10 more builder/distributor roadsters) outnumbered all comers, totaling almost 40 of the 50, roadsters in the show.

Among the FFROGs in attendance were California stalwarts Roger Stine, Wayne Presley, Dave Borden, Russ Thompson, Mike Senior, Joe Nowak and from the deserts of Arizona, Jerry Nanson. These are the guys who



		There's no better show on the west coast to see competitive vehicles than the Knott's show

don’t need an excuse to get up and go. If there’s a show on the schedule, any time, any where, they’ll be there. Come rain or shine, they’ll be there. If their snakes have to be push started, they’ll 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

Dave Borden and Mark Smith



Chris Moakley shows off his FFR ready to wear it's new colors, while Gordon Levy comes rumbling through.

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. Russ’s 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

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



		Racing Adventures driving school cars displayed proudly as did many of the customers whom lined up to receive recognition.

This years team of enthusiastic FFROG owners able to show up with their roadsters included:

Jerry Nanson leads the auction of a Dick Smith autographed wall hanging.

Special Note*


*Roger Stine - Carbon Weave*
	*FFR 1225*
*Wayne Presley Vintage Purple*
	*FFR 1431*
*Dave Borden Lucky #98*
	*Viper Blue*
*Russ Thompson - Radio Flyer Red*
	*FFR 1268*
*Mike Senior - Viper Red*
	*FFR 1158*
*Joe Nowak FFR 1348*

*Jerry Nanson*
	*FFR 1609*

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.