Real Post:
Guys, I can't adequately express in any words, verbal or written, the grattitude I owe to everyone who makes FOTB possible, and everyone who comes, and keeps coming back. There is NO WAY that any one individual can put together an event like this, and keep it growing year after year after year, and I have to credit everyone who helps out with that.
First I need to thank Ron and Randy. These guys are the guy behind the guy, behind the guy. The ideas, the inspiration, the creativity, all flow when the three of us are on a call together. I can honestly say that this year, there'd be no FOTB without them. From the bottom of my heart, thank you guys.
Next, but not by much, I gotta give it up to the wife. Stacy is the one that you all encounter as you register. But she does so much more than that. Most of it is just putting up with my frantic fits at random intervals that get more and more frequent as the day approaches. She's an inspiration, and a source of energy, and I cannot thank her enough.
FocusSport gets a special nod here, because they've stuck by us since my beginning with FOTB. FOTB would not be what it is today without Randy and Raffi agreeing to meet with me in May of 2003 with this crazy idea that they should fork over some cash so we can make t-shirts and stickers and have a permit for a site so we don't get kicked out of the random parking lot. Raffi, Randy, Vik, Ivan, Dan, Clint and Steve (especially Steve, who helped with the website design this year), you're all awesome. Thank you so very VERY much for coming out. And to Rachel, the pseudo-FS employee, you're awesome in every way. You're the Yin to Randy's Yang, and you really come together as a package deal.... hell if you weren't there, I don't think Stacy would let me do this anymore, so thank you for being such an amazing person.
All of our sponsors are FAN FREAKING TASTIC. And they really make it happen. This year, I knew that FOTB couldn't be expensive for you guys. And it couldn't be expensive for our sponsors either. So the team worked hard to recruit sponsors and bring them to the event, so you guys didn't have to dig deeper than you already had to for gas and hotels (man, SB hotels are EXPENSIVE!). Thanks to Roland and the crew at H&R for their support for all these years. Along with FocusSport, they've been with us since the beginning, and their support can not be more generous. Thanks to the great guys at Exedy, and Garrett Turbo for being among the first to hop on board. Thanks to Karl at Massive Speed System for bringing the Midwest love to FOTB, and for all the great prizes!
I need to make special recognition for the sponsors who took time out of their schedules, and spent money out of their pockets, to be a part of the event this year. Not only am I grateful for their support of the event, but I really had the pleasure of spending time talking with them all this weekend, and appreciate all their time, their knowledge, and their insight. Tom and Elvia from Saleen and the Racecraft Mustang, and Saleen F150; Ernie from 3dCarbon and the sweet body kit on the 2008 Focus that so many people have (I saw 3 there!!!); Declan and Randy from Microsoft Auto and XBox.... wow did you guys step it up! By far the most unique and innovative booth ever at a car show with a couple XBoxes running, and the stickers... nobody but Microsoft would make special stickers for a show that they're attending. You guys are awesome!
Also, I wanna thank Arlyn Timmes and the Ford Warriors in Pink program for coming out and being part of the show. I hope that together we were able to raise some awareness and make a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Thank you Arlyn for bringing the guys from Perry Ford of Santa Barbara and the Fusion and the Flex. I honestly can say that every time I looked over at the Flex, there was quite a crowd gathered. Definately a head turner!
I don't wanna put these guys last but they're not at all last. Carl and Joe, you guys are so awesome. Year after year, you fly your butts across the country and come hang out with me for the weekend. Awesome. Just freaking awesome. And whats more is that you bust your butts when you do come out here, making sure that anything I need, is tended to. Also to my best friends in the world David, Michael and Joy, you guys are by far the most talented pizza hander outters ever! I love you guys, and I thank you tremedously for everything you did this weekend.... from tabulating the votes, to handing out shirts, to just making sure I was eating and drinking enough. Thank you.
Kris. Awesome shirts, as usual. You make magic with a wacom tablet. Somehow, you and I are always on the same wavelenth when it comes to how the shirt should look. You're amazing, and I cannot thank you enough.
Rob, you bald-headed freak. Thanks for the printing love. Those nametags you all love so much, are Rob's doing. Thanks bud for a nother great year!
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended. One thing that stands out every year is when the sponsors say to me "What a great show... everyone here is so laid back and cool." You guys are the best. You bring your A-Game and show us your best. You brave monsoons, and typhoons, and hot air baloons to get here. You drive from 3 time zones away over two days, just to get here, and only to turn around and head home again, and maybe mix in a trip to Taco Bell for some late night snackage. Cars break, and you fix them. People get sunburned, and you offer them aloe. Someone gets lost, and you show them the way. I would not do this every year if you guys were any different. Seriously cool, and I'd hang with you any day of the week. Thank you, everyone, for coming out to the beach again.
I think I've written enough. If I've left anyone out that I should have, I am truly sorry. But know I'm indebted to you, and I thank you as much as I have everyone else above. Thank you all once again. You all









but I think I'll be all set for the rest of the week.

