Fluge Global Adventures

The Lead Adventurer of FGA, Nick Fluge, turned a bumpy spring and early summer filled with mechanical failures into a 45 plus second victory in the August Sports Car Club of America Championships. Starting from the pole alongside one of the best Porsche drivers and cars in North America, Dave Cormier, Fluge could only wonder if the car would withstand the high temperatures and humidity to finally win one for the Fluge team.

With team-mate and Rose Cup Champion Matt Crandall off on vacation, Fluge realized the race was his to lose with arguably the best Car Management Team and Crew – Steve Gatrell and Pro Fab of North America. Friend and race mentor, Todd Harris, (owner of Pro Drive and one of the world’s best professional drivers) also added his advice to Fluge to further encourage the win which was so commonplace in 2007-2009 but has been illusive this year. Other strong competitors filled out the field and were chomping at their bits to jump over team FGA with the slightest of whines from an injured car – as they’ve seen all year long. But it was not to happen.

FLUGE and FGA / Pro Fab Team on Pre Grid

Fluge jumped into the lead immediately at the green flag and never relinquished it – adding several seconds to his victory with each passing lap. Lapping car after car, the blue #7 took an easy victory from the summer weekend. The win was welcome after a challenging mid-summer that included a brief stay in the (now closed) but infamous Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia followed a week later by a Fluge performance at “Gallery Night” featuring his play on a 5 string guitar, harmonica styling and singling…accompanied by his buddies, Marianna, Reece, Craig, Kevin, the Vamps and the rest of the band known to many as “Band FGA.” Other summer events have featured FGA standouts, from Troy, Yelena, Tony and Allen competing in ‘off-road, mountain and stream runs where they gained strong finishes. The “Face” of FGA, Tiffany has been playing extremely well in top regional softball action. In recent Soap Box Derby action, Leo proved his engineer skills, Mimi her driving talent, and Patrick his strength and running ability as push off man as excellent as expected. Finally, Spence Gatrell, returned to motorsports in the Canadian / American ICSCC Challenge race along with the Pro Fab crew (now featuring Fluge as the ‘tire pressure/umbrella man). Quite a mid-summer for the cast of characters who one often sees at FGA events indeed.

Fluge, Marianna, Reece, Craig and the Band

The remainder of the summer and upcoming fall remains uncertain. However, for those of you planning on attending the “Warrior Dash” in mid-September, Fluge, Carter, King, Rudolph and others are already entered in the “Craziest Freakin Day of Your Life.” (Fluge privately hopes he’ll be painting in France by then – so as to avoid the flames, mud, and beer contests of the Warrior Dash but without any set reservations – he remains a ‘possible’ along with the great FGA team).

Fluge Lapping Top Contender

The 50th running of the oldest sports car race west of the Mississippi, the famed Rose Cups, was exciting to say the least. Matt Crandall, driving his #3 “Speed Sports / FGA” Ford Mustang looked good all weekend and qualified first for the pole. Nick Fluge, driving a similar #7 “FGA / Speed Sports” Ford Mustang, experienced some mechanical challenges over the weekend but still qualified 2nd due to many hours of hard and talented work by the Pro-Fab team of Steve Gatrell, Spence Gatrell, Leo Matthews, Troy Gilbertson, Patrick Hinkle, Jeff Hinkle, Dom Cicero and Wes Clark.

Crandall and Fluge in front row

With both cars sporting the teams’ bright orange ”www.flugeglobaladventures” window decals, they made up the front row for the start of the race.

When the green flag dropped, Fluge pulled Crandall on the front straight but Matt was able to take the lead going into and out of turn one. The cars were locked close together for a number of laps pulling away from the rest of the good field of entrants who were doing well in their own right. Todd Harris, Pro Drive, and long time driving coach of Nick Fluge, had strategized with Nick to hold his 2nd place until he saw the right opening to pass. That came less than 10 minutes into the race. Fluge passed Crandall on a tight corner and was just barely able to control the car out of the turn. The race was on.

Once again the cars were locked in a close dual, only this time with Nick in the lead, and Matt knocking on his door. Several more laps saw the pair continue to pull out a larger lead on the rest of the field while challenging each other at every turn. Then, in an instant, a large cloud of smoke signaled the end for the front runner. Fluge’s power steering hose had ruptured and he had to pull into the pits.

From that point Matt made a great run to the finish for a victory and proved the outstanding driver of the weekend. Brian Richards finished with a great 2nd place podium and good FGA Friend Rob Holden also made the podium and finished 3rd in strong fashion in his Corvette. All in all it was a great weekend, complete with BBQ and great entertainment coordinated by Aimee Crandall of Fly Me to the Moon Productions. There were even umbrella laden security girls guarding Nick and Matt from the sun who were assisted by Tiffany, whose likeness was the focus on the now famous “Queen of Hearts” painting that Nick completed as a send off to him, Mixologist and cousin, Bill Lowblad, and Jon Sandstrom (who are competing in the World Series of Poker on June 28). Also instrumental in the Speed Speeds / FGA event were Eric Bjonskaas, the great crew members of the Crandall team and Brian Lafavor who worked tirelessly keeping the Fluge girls in Chocolate and Champagne.

Fluge, Gatrell, Tiffany ‘Queen of Hearts’ and Security Team

pictures from Pre Grid

pictures from Pre Grid

pictures from Pre Grid