Fluge Global Adventures

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.