Fluge Global Adventures

By Yelena

According to the Random House Dictionary, the term warrior has two meanings: the first literal use refers to “someone engaged or experienced in warfare.” The second refers to “a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics.”

I don’t know much about politics, so when I discovered Red Frog Events was holding their annual 3.5mile obstacle course race – known as the Warrior Dash – for the first time in the Northwest, I had to seize the opportunity to earn the title myself.

I rallied two of my best friends, Caitlin and Jennifer, to ensure my success. All three of us approached the starting line cool, poised, calm. Unprepared.

Shortly after the starting gun went off, I realized why this race is described as “the craziest freaking day of your life.” The bottleneck of race participants quickly fanned out as we were faced with a ½-mile, lung-busting vertical hill-climb that made Mount Hood look like a leisurely stroll. I took this opportunity to channel my inner Fluge and pass the slower competitors on the inside of the trail as they attempted to switch gears to the insanity of the obstacle course.

Barrel rolls through waist-deep frigid water were followed by cargo nets, rope-repelling down the side of a mountain, a Dukes-of-Hazard-like jump over a few junk-yard cars, all while dodging ankle-twisting mud holes and maneuvering up slick inclines that made my heart explode and my legs pump battery acid. All around me I heard the grunts and moans of fellow competitors as they attempted to pass me on the uphills; but I kept a firm pace, remembering Nick’s heroic Kilamanjaro summit, determined to make the FGA nation proud.

Three miles later, my confidence was at an all-time high as I set my sights on the finish line. But first, I had to hurl myself over not one, but TWO walls of fire. Only moments earlier, another participant had tripped and landed face-first only inches from the inferno; so needless to say I was planning my attack carefully. I quietly thanked Fluge for the hours of footwork we had practiced with BOSU balls at Ballys as I leapt over the blaze and into the mud pit that followed.

Crawling boot-camp-style under countless strands of barbed wire, swimming through the final portion, I emerged from my mud bath and crossed the finish line victoriously with my friends beside me. I had shown great vigor and courage, and had earned the label I had worked so hard to attain. I had proven that I was a warrior. But more importantly, I had proven that to live the FGA lifestyle, you can’t be afraid to get a little dirty.

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).

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