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2003
Bay Bottom Crawl – Roadster Rampage in the Florida Keys!
What’s so compelling
about FFR roadsters and hot weather? Is there just something about
screaming along in the soft, humid air that keeps us coming back to events
that have you sweating before you
light the fire under the hood?
The 44th
edition of the Bay Bottom Crawl in Key West was staged by the host, Ecurie
Vitesse Sports Car Club, over another brace of sun drenched and steamy
days on Sugarloaf Key, just up US 1 from Key West. A record seven FFRs
turned out to be shared amongst nine drivers on the weekend of October 11th and 12th, 2003.
By Saturday morning the Loop Road had been closed by the good
citizens of Monroe County, the volunteers from the Monroe County Fire
Department and Police were on hand to help control and feed us. The usual
suspects has gathered, some with up to 38 years
of individual attendance, and along with a bunch of newcomers, were
primed and ready to experience the unique combination of high speed, hard
acceleration and devilish handling problems that are the Bay Bottom Crawl.
 The
event is staged on an abandoned loop road through the mangroves. It’s
normally unused, and is the venue for nature hikes and dog walking by the
locals. Twice a year it’s closed for time trialing that is a blend of
Solo 2 and Solo 1. Top speeds reach 130+ at the finish and there are nine
handling problems set along the course to keep speeds down for safety,
and to make it more than just a power event. The combination is a
dream challenge for all around performers like the FFR Roadster. The
mangroves come right up to the edge of the course and at over a hundred
miles an hour become a green tunnel flashing past your head. Long slaloms
demand rhythm and control and braking zones take you from well into fourth
to the bottom of second to make the gates. Two sweeping right turns on
bumpy sections demand courage and control. It’s simply one of the great
events in North America, and you’re not a complete Solo racer until
you’ve tested yourself against the BBC course.
 The FFR contingent was assembled from near and far. I
came down for my fourth year from Toronto, despite leaving an ailing 1415
at home. David Borden was heavily recruited from Sacramento. (Were they
nuts? Why not just pencil yourself in one place further down the finishing
charts?) , and he flew in to Miami on Friday through a monstrous tropical
thunderstorm. Neither of us could resist the relentless enthusiasm of John
Phillips, famous Floridian legal mind, FFR arm twister extrordinaire, and
the pilot of a gorgeous replacement for his famous 1152. The thought of
spending a weekend racing with the cream of Florida’s FFR contingent
clinched the deal. The local drivers responded in force to the outside
challenge. Inman Lanier
battled daunting job conflicts to show up at an event where his racing
skill is legendary. Dave McIlvaney brought his “sea foam green” AP
rocket, fresh from driving it to the SCCA Nationals, Road America and all
the fast pavement in between. Richard Bailey was there again with his
gorgeous yellow roadster, along with Doug Huey and his astonishing Torch
Red creation. (Cars that beautiful shouldn’t be that fast, it’s just
not fair.) Chris Evans brought his silver AP screamer down from Orlando
after a season of steady improvement that included some FTD days. Raul
Iglesias had his twin turbo E Mod howler ready to scare the Porsches into
permanent hiding.
 The first day is given over to practice runs, and when
the smoke cleared Dave McIlvaney had ripped off a 2:20. The previous
fastest time ever by a car with fenders was 2:23, only open wheeled
Formula cars had ever gone faster. People were astonished, and you started
hearing some silly talk about how we were all running 600+ hp engines!
Inman was running faster than ever in pursuit of Dave, hitting 2:25
despite running a very early Mk I sporting a four link configuration, and
no slicks. Not quite stock, but pretty close! The FFR drivers could only
shake their heads in amazement. How can he make that setup go so fast? I
proved that mere mortals can’t do the same by rotating his generously
loaned car into the mangroves while trying to keep up. FFRs are tough, as
we all know and she came out scratched, but ready to race. Raul was
battling fuel and air problems on his turbo setup, but managed to get
ready for Sunday. Chris sorted out his setup and brought his times down in
his careful, engineered way. Richard was aiming for improvement on last
year’s time and was in position to do it. Doug cracked 3:00 on his first
try with some borrowed and severely worn street tires, showing that his
karting experience was going to make him competitive in a hurry. David
Borden was co-driving John Phillips car and having a bit of trouble
getting used to the difference between his AP racer and John’s well
tuned, but stock IRS setup with DOT R tires. Caution was playing a factor
too, as going off here is much more serious than on a normal Solo 2
course, or even a normal track. They both settled into the mid 2:30’s, a
bit behind John’s times of last year.
After the
practice runs we soaked in the pool at the world famous Sugarloaf Lodge to
bring body temperatures down to near normal. The FFR guys then went to the
event banquet, and got to see the slightly off center combination of
humour and tradition that makes attendance a must every year. Corny songs,
roasting of old and new drivers, reminders of the history of the event and
a great Cuban meal were all well received. Many door prizes, including a
considerable haul from Factory Five (thanks guys!) made it even more
interesting, and the t-shirts and hats were in high demand. Everyone
wanted to associate with those “beautiful, fast cars”. Some of the
guys who were in the middle of a poker run in the Keys, as part of a
separately organized roadster event, made an appearance and we had a
chance to briefly compare our days.
 Race day was even hotter and more humid. Drivers
sweated over their last minute adjustments, and then the first group was
launched one by one into the mangroves. Times started out a little slower
than practice day, nerves and caution taking their toll. I took one “get
back on the horse run”, but was too concerned about the differences in
our setups and trashing Inman’s car to try to push the edge, despite his
incredible and genuine desire to see me continue. I’d already had enough
fun and was content to lead the cheering. By the end of the second runs
the battle between Dave McIlvaney and Inman was as tight as could be with
both hovering in the mid ‘20’s and having some trouble with the little
orange folks. David Borden was dropping his times as he familiarized
himself with John Phillips car and they looked to go down to the wire for
the last trophy. Chris Evans ran consistent, clean 2:33s. That’s a time
that few drivers ever reach on this course. His AP setup was coming into
it’s own and he was starting to trust the incredible grip it gave.
Richard continually chipped away at his time and hit his target of
improving on last year’s effort. With the same setup and same tires,
this gave a good measure of his increasing experience with the tough
course. Doug was dropping his times, having switched back to his BFG
Radial T/As to try to get some grip (imagine!) and was targeting the low
40’s. On those tires, this is a remarkable feat. I can’t recall anyone
ever getting out of the 2:50’s on T/As!
Raul got his turbo EM car moving and we saw his time dropping back
where he belonged – trouble was on it’s way for Dave and Inman if he
got it sorted out in time.
At the
end the results for the trophies were as tight as they could be. Dave
ripped off a jaw
 dropping 2:19 and we all went nuts. He was only 3
seconds off the Formula car FTD leader! He rolled into the pit lane and
promptly told us that he thought he had taken some cones in section 2.
Checking with the officials, they assured us he hadn’t, but Dave was
certain he had. Inman then posted an equally mind blowing, for a car on
DOT rubber, 2:24. This set up a remarkable situation. If Dave had taken 2
cones, he would still have won, three gave it to Inman. In the end,
without any further movement from the officials we all agreed (not that
the officials asked) that Dave was a deserving winner and Inman graciously
bowed to the new closed wheel course record holder. David Borden pulled
out a one-tenth win over John Phillips for third, and no one was happier
than John, despite being beaten in his own car.
BBC is
something special and we left with plans for next year already forming.
FFRs were ten percent of the entry list -
wouldn’t it be great if we out numbered any other marque next
year? To quote the spiritual guide for this event, long time racer and BBC
devotee, the late John Kendrick: “Eat your dessert first, you never know
what’s coming next.” Kendrick would have been a natural Roadster
owner. See you at the BBC in 2004.
In memory of Barry Hebrank, who
rode in spirit with us all that weekend,
John Hannaford
FFR1415
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