2015 Open House

[R. Button]

Plans are being made for a road trip. Cleaned the bugs off the windscreen! Packing my old soft top in the trunk! May even change the oil & filter.
Got the luggage rack out and the leather suitcase cleaned up and ready.
You never think about how BIG Texas is till you have to drive from the farthest tiny corner of west Texas.
Oh well ... I'll be back on the road again heading for the Open House in a few days.
Some time ago we use to meet up at the Burger King for the last part of the drive to FFR - do you all still do that?



-will travel for free food!!

[RM1SepEx]

Hello Ralph, can't wait to touch base. I remember when you first built your cobra and autocrossed with is in Maine!

[David]

Ralph Button... you sir are one amazing dude! You are an inspiration to us all. Have safe travels friend and please post picture of your journey!

All the best,

David and Mary

[Cobra Ray]

Ralph Button,
Yes, there are still folks who meet up at the Burger King for the last portion of the drive to Factory Five.
Safe travels.
Ray Elie

[R. Button]

Let's see if I can get there in time to drive on down with you'All!

[R. Button]

Head to Tow Road, someplace in Mass … be there early Saturday AM… then after the FREE food and fun… head up to Downeast Maine. Pickup 10 yr old granddaughter and bring her back to the high desert of El Paso, in – or so she has explained to me – in HER car!


Check list….


Clean out trunk
Oil and Filter change – going to be about 5,400 miles in total
RainX the windscreen – BOTH inside and outside
this weekend full under car check over
Pack sun lotion!
Pack old soft … the one that keeps some of the rain out … top


15 days and I’m on the road again…
(oh and Turn on GPS on my cell phone!)

[johngeorge]

You should put on there use WAZE app on your cell phone, it not only takes you around traffic but also alerts you to the police.

[R. Button]

If I used WAZE I might miss out on all the "stops" I've had when really what the officer wanted to do was talk about the car! :)
But I might take a look at it. For years I have used CoPilot.

ok here's one for ya'All... doing the oil change - 5.0L block with the double hump "style" oil pan. I garbed one of my 9/16 wrenches - the new ones that ratchet. Started ratcheting off the front oil drain bolt. Jammed the ratcheting wrench up against the frame tube and the drain plug was not out yet. Oh well went to flip the lever on the wrench to ratchet the bolt back in... OH ... OH... this is the only wrench that I have where you have to take the wrench off and flip it to ratchet it the other way! Humm... it's jammed against the frame, I can't get the wrench off, I'm mumbling at myself for picking up the wrong wrench, and now how to get the bolt back into the pan so I can use the RIGHT wrench. Finally my solution was the dremel tool... with the cutting blade and I cut the BRAND NEW SHINNY tool off the bolt! I cut it all apart and tossed what was left in the junk pile! Sigh... that will teach me...

Now...
check off Oil & filter changed!!!

[The Stig]

Good afternoon Mr. Button.

In 2007, I saw a complete line of Factory Five cars, and I fell in love with the GTM. I spoke to the guys from Whitby Motorcars at the show trailer, and was given the FFR product DVD. I pretty much wore that thing out until I finally received my GTM kit. One of the coolest parts of the DVD for me, was a quick story about a man called "The Traveler". To this day, I still get a kick out of watching that short story with you and some other factory five enthusiasts heading out to Vegas. I knew right then, that was what these cars are really all about. Sure they're cool, and fun to drive, and they get a ton of attention... But more than that, they open doors to friendships and "journeys" that I would have otherwise never had. I have been very fortunate to meet some of these guys, and am now able to count them as great friends.

There are various "things" that truly epitomize what it means to build a Factory Five Racing car. And somewhere in the back of my head, I think that "The Traveler" was in there pushing me forward so I could finish my project. Because, as I am slowly learning, the completion of the project is really just the first step of the journey.

I truly wish that I could make it to the Open House, and be able to meet you. I think that would be really cool.

Enjoy your run from Texas to Massachusetts (and back) Mr FFR.

If you happen to make it back through Charlotte, there is a place to stay, good food, and cold beer (if you want it) waiting for you.

Mike

[R. Button]

I actually do drive often back to the NC area - specifically the Mooresville area so will get in touch the next trip back.

[The Stig]

Excellent!

[R. Button]

Route has been plotted - will be joining most of the over the road truckers along the I10/I20/I30/I40/I81 route. Then cut over the TZ Bridge and up I95 with all the other crazy's coming out of NY!
I'm ready to be back on the road again!
Wonder if FFR will have any coffee early in the morning or will it be a BYOC - Bring Your Own Coffee Open House! :D