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

Nick Fluge Dominates Improved Touring E Class Series / Matt Crandall Grabs GT2 Championship At 13th Hour

For Team FGA, 2008 began with many question marks. Would the discipline that carried FGA members to the World Series of Poker, the Summit of Kilimanjaro, and Basecamp of Everest in 2007 prevail in a new year of uncertainty? Times were changing as early as January when Lead Adventurer, Nick Fluge questioned if a similar run of adventures was in the cards. Some said Fluge was preparing for a year of tanning next to a swimming pool replete with mai tai’s for other FGA poolside loungers.

Ten months into 2008 finds some questions answered and others yet to be determined. A series of resounding victories in sports car racing culminated in Fluge and Crandall dominating their respective classes and winning 2008 championships in ITE and GT2 respectively.

Fluge and Crandall race leaders once again.

Fluge qualified for the first sprint race of October behind the Canada’s Cormier (Porsche 996) and Pearson (GT1). Fluge took second place on the first lap and then claimed first after Pearson was given a stop and go penalty. Nick led the rest of the way pulling out to a 5 second victory when the checkered flag was waved. Fluge’s win secured his second straight ITE championship in the Corvette Z06.

Crandall was deviled by transmission and engine problems during the sprint race and his lock on the GT2 championship seemed tenuous at best. A ‘loaner’ car was provided for Crandall who had to reach deep into his many years of high level racing experience to take the new ride and hold off hard charging Andrew Foley to win the GT2 series in the Panoz GTS.

Spence Gatrell drove to a second place ITE finish in the sprint race and now returns to college to find academic success of similar fashion.

Fluge on Pre-Grid

The SCCA championship series seemed to be the glue that held Team FGA together in 2008. From March until October, the frequent tour stops enabled staff and entourage members to get together and discuss ‘what might be’. Spence Gatrell came on board as the rising star of the race team in the spring and gave the team much needed energy after FGA Spiritual Advisor departed for what was rumored to be higher career ambitions. Fluge and FGA Vigneron, Bill Lowblad played well in the World Series of Poker kickoff in June – teaming up for the first time since their 8th place Cannonball Run New York to Los Angeles road rally/race in summer of 2007. Nick Fluge’s digital magical mystery biking event complemented Core Specialist, Yelena King’s Triathlon challenge and VO2 Max Specialist, Troy Carter’s STP Biking Classic during the summer. Besides managing sister Ashley’s triathlon success this summer, FGA Event Stylist, Aimee Perlinger capped off the October races by coordinating a gourmet BBQ for SCCA racers and spectators alike.

Many people have been disappointed that the “Duel at Death Valley” event with Fluge and Carter has yet to come to fruition. Don’t despair, the two combatants have been preparing all year and continue to debate the specifics (like bringing in defanged rattle snakes to add non-lethal drama to the event). Keep your eyes open for new FGA apparel that heralds the exact date for “D.A.DV.”

The 2008 sports car championship series began in March with many people questioning whether Team FGA could repeat as champions given the very competitive nature of the Sports Car Club of America Championship Series. But with one event remaining FGA fortunes are looking strong. 2007 champion Nick Fluge leads the Improved Touring “E” class by a commanding 18 points, poised to take another title in his Corvette Z06. FGA rising star, Spence Gatrell, moved into the top five with recent wins at PIR, also in a Corvette. Matt Crandall, Speed Sports Racing, leads the formidable GT2 class in a Panoz Esperante GTS. ProDrive’s own Todd Harris has put forth brilliant drives at different venues this year in FGA’s DerHaag Corvette.

Interspersed with other FGA adventures including the World Series of Poker, Biking and Triathlon Championships, and preparation for the TBD “Duel at Death Valley”, the race team has had to overcome a number of hurdles to reach sports car success.

Nick Fluge on Pre-Grid, mulling over Red Bull sponsorship

At the first race of the year in March, Fluge found himself setting the pole and leading the first 18 laps before running out of gas with 3 minutes left. Crandall, was likewise performing at peak speed when an errant mechanical issue sidelined him. Gatrell was still overachieving at college. Finally, Harris was in the early stages of prepping to defend his 07 Rose Cup title. The year began slow for the Fluge Team but quickly took shape.

Even with skipping the Rose Cup races (for a shot at the World Series of Poker title), Fluge ran off a string of sports car victories that put him in the point lead in both the Improved Touring “E” and Super Touring classes. Crandall overcame adversity (and disqualification at one event) to masterfully re-take the lead in the GT2 class and finds himself headed to the National Runoffs in October. Gatrell is challenging the Porsche status quo by improving with every lap he completes. Todd Harris, jet sets to Ferrari challenge events, and leads what many consider the best race driving school in the United States: ProDrive.

With many eyes focused on the yet to be determined Death Valley event between Fluge and Carter, the racing public can rest assured that FGA will represent at 2008’s last race.

FGA SPEEDS TO MORE RACING VICTORIES IN SPORTS CARS WHILE ALSO PREPARING FOR BIKE TOUR/RACE CLASSICS

NICK FLUGE DRIVES TO DOUBLE WEEKEND WINS IN IMPROVED TOURING, MATT CRANDALL ALSO FINDS THE WINNERS CIRCLE IN GT2

On the eve of what promises to be one of the biggest cycling weeks of the year, Nick Fluge, took time to spend the July 4^th weekend at the Independence Day SCCA road racing Championships. His Saturday and Sunday joint wins solidified his leadership in both the Improved Touring (E) and the Super Touring classes of Sports Car Club of America road racing championship series.

Fluge’s Z06 wasted little time taking a commanding class lead in each race and moved on quickly to victory. Matt Crandall also drove to record lap times in the GT2 class in the Panoz GTS. With only 3 championship events remaining on the calendar in August, September, and October, team FGA looks to be well on its way to another successful season. Todd Harris, coming off a top finish at Road America in the Derhaag Fluge Team car underscores the strength of the team. A new 4^th member, Spence Gatrell, top junior driver has also successfully moved into ranks of national favorites by finishing 2^nd behind Fluge in his black ‘top gun’ FGA Corvette.

BIKING CLASSICS – TWO GREAT EVENTS FOR FGA

Fluge begins the magical mystery stationary bike tour on Monday and Tuesday planning to outlast various training professionals in a 200 mile, 2 day endeavor. Troy Carter, FGA VO2 Max Specialist spent the holiday weekend on the Oregon coast practicing open road biking for the week ending 200 mile Seattle to Portland Super Bike Classic. Check back in a week to see how our two member bike team fairs.