Fluge Global Adventures

In 2007, Nick Fluge and Bill Lowblad drove one of 25 limited production “Bad Boy Saleen’s” across the United States in the Great American Run (aka Cannonball Run). Leaving Central Park in New York they battled with other exotic cars over many states and thousands of miles finishing several days later in Los Angeles. Their 8th place finish was relished given the international and oddball group that took part in the event. The event was featured in National Lampoon’s “Great American Run” documentary. Little did they know then that a short two years later their 160 mph plus driving on public highways would turn into 5 mph creeping on a dirt speedway in farm country. In 2008, Fluge and Lowblad played in the World Series of Poker while plotting their next great battle of machines. In 2009, their planning took the form of participation in the Great “Combine Demolition Derby”. That’s right…Farm Equipment…Big Farm Equipment!

The first task was to find two John Deere combines – ready to be tortured by other agricultural behemoths. That occurred earlier this summer. The next job was to secure Steve Gatrell and the ProFab team to craft roll cages and other magic demolition ‘tricks of the trade’. The final effort would occur in late August when Fluge and Lowblad arrived at the Sunset Speedway, armed with nothing more than Red Bull and a pile of bravado. The pit crew of Spence Gatrell, Patrick Hinkle and James Marlow was lead by Steve Gatrell – whose job it was to keep the combines on the track through as many heats as possible.

The FGA team quickly found that the other competitors were farmers, welders, and people who didn’t find the poker playing, race car driving, mountain climbing FGA, triathlon, and bike riding squad all that threatening. In the first heat Lowblad was able to keep his machine in play (although his small rear tires were quickly trashed by the more experienced farmers). Fluge’s first run was shaping up to be a good one. (Fluge had the turbo John Deere with the huge front tires – weighing in at just over 32,000 pounds). With that said, at the ‘starting horn’ the local farm contingent immediately swooped in for the kill and dismantled Fluge’s rear (turning) wheels and suspension. He was left flailing being forced to take full on smashes from the other demons of the farms.

Lowblad kept the FGA spirts up however with cagey driving that put him in the final events’ top five. The wise and experienced combine veterans finally took out Bill as well leaving him and Nick with little more than a cold beer and 65,000 pounds or so of scrap metal. Our thanks do go to the many FGA fans who came out in significant numbers and who were sporting rather outstanding FGA “Sieve of Destruction” TShirts - (Good job Randy and Instant Imprints!)!

The future, as usual, remains unclear – but with the growing contingent of FGA supporters we’re sure we’ll have another adventure in the works soon.

By Bill Lowblad

After spending the winter emphasizing the “global” in Fluge Global Adventures, Nick was ready to put the brushes and canvas away for awhile and trade them in for cards, chips and the felt of gaming tables.

The World Poker Challenge at the Grand Sierra resort was just the answer. We tried to get the whole FGA poker team together but other members were prepping for their own upcoming Costa Rica adventures so that left Fluge and Lowblad alone to take on the action.

The WPC is one of the top preludes for the pros to warm up for this summer’s World Series of Poker. The dealers had just flown in from a WSOP satellite and the likes of Jennifer Harmon, Howard “The Professor” Lederer and many other pros were on their way.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon in preparation for the Friday event starting off the WPC. We checked in, tossed our bags into our rooms and headed to the tables. Fluge to test his skills at Black Jack and me to hit the cash games in the Poker room. After four hours of cleaning up at poker it was time to find Fluge and make our dinner reservation at the Charlie Palmer Steak House. It wasn’t hard to find the Fluge (I just looked for the largest and loudest peanut gallery he always seems to attract). Fluge colored up his chips to all pink, accepted the heartfelt thanks for his generosity in tipping from the dealer and we were off to dinner. Not only was the Fluge way up but his big time play in just those few short hours had earned us a fully comped dinner at Charlie Palmer’s.

Dinner was incredible – commanding VIP table in back which had a view of the entire dining room, steak, lobster, so many sides they filled the table and an incredible bottle of wine. Being in the wine business there aren’t too many people I’d defer to choosing the wine, but Fluge is one of them and he selected a big time winner. Now that evening was a great example of rollin “Fluge style” and all on the house.

Friday was day one of the WPC. We had a few hours to kill before the noon start and we both headed to the Black Jack tables. Immediately after Fluge sits down the table gets red hot and we are winning right and left. Fluge is playing multiple big bets and each one has a side bet for the dealer. Me, I’m just playing normal stakes but we’re both winning along with Carlito our dealer who is giving us knuckle bumps after pocketing his tips from each hand. Finally time to head to poker and once again time for Fluge to ‘color up’.

Time to get serious – Poker time. After making the final table in January at the Venetian tourney in Vegas I’m feeling good and Fluge looks to be in the Zone. Luck of the draw puts me at seat 7 and Fluge at seat 4 of the same table. Also at our table is professional player and author Lou Krieger who is autographing some of his books. ‘Eskimo’ Clark is two tables behind us and there are other familiar faces throughout the room. Things start off slow for me – I’m “card dead” – 7/4 off suit or the like hand after hand. Meanwhile Fluge is rolling along taking down his share of pots with consistency. He really is in the Zone. After the dealer change I’ve still yet to see a good pair of down cards or win a hand. We’re on dealer #3 now and I’m frustrated by lack of cards - I’ve still yet to win a hand. Fluge is playing what I call ‘quirky- serious’ and other players can’t put a read on him. Their stacks are going over to his. First break at 2 hours of play. I haven’t won a hand and I’m getting short stacked and Fluge is table chip leader after knocking out a couple of players already. Back from the break – our 4th dealer now. Finally I get a hand, THE hand, Ace Ace down. No one wants to play and I end up winning the lowly blinds. Bad sign. Three hands later I get another hand JJ down. I’m low on chips and go all in. My opponent flips KK and I’m felted seconds later when no J shows up. Fluge gives me a pat on the back as I walk out feeling like a survivor just voted off.

I head to the cash games to get my respect back but I get on the rail every hour or so to check on the Fluge. Hour 3 I watch him bluff an opponent into laying his hand down. Hour 4 – second break – he is the table chip leader. Hour 5 his chips are going 3 stacks deep. After 6 hours of play it’s the dinner break. Fluge probably has one of the largest stacks of chips in the room. He has been a commanding presence in the tourney so far.

Passing by my cash game on the way back to the tournament after the dinner break Fluge has brought me a burger and fries from Johnny Rockets – after downing a quick ‘burger from hell’ for himself on the way back to the tourney. Oh, and by the way, he hit the Blackjack tables for a few minutes on his way back and took them for a quick 6 bills. I check on him again at hour 7 – he’s sitting back and playing smart with a big stack, letting the desperate fight it out and coming in with the right hands. Hour 8 more of the same and only 6 tables left. I’m beat. I have redeemed myself with a big win at the cash games and head up to my room to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for Saturday’s event. Eventually I get “the phone call.” unfortunately it’s not morning which means that Fluge is out a bit too early. He finished in 33rd place. Awesomely respectable. His play was strong and was but a few bad beats from really making the final table.

Saturday it’s just me as Fluge has to get back early for his next adventure – The new GT-1 Derhagg Corvette and this year’s SCCA and Professional Trans Am series of sports car racing. Before leaving Fluge has one more shot at the Blackjack tables and is on fire as usual. Not only is he killing them again but sizable chips are flying through the air in my direction for my next entry fee.

Alas, I did not make the final table. I did better than the day before, top 30 but no final table. Maybe it will happen at this year’s WSOP?