Bummer! 33 Ford Coupe Goes Down at Optima Invitational Race
One of the first things I saw Saturday morning as I arrived at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch was this Factory Five built, black 1933 Ford Coupe. I was worried it would be all about Camaro’s and other muscle cars during the Optima Invitational Ultimate Street Car Challenge – but seeing this smooth coupe roll across the pit assured me I’d have someone to cheer for this race day.
I can’t tell ya all about the long list of goodies it had – but let me assure you it was long. And being built by Factory Five means its some serious business. After the few laps around the Road Course that all of the cars took, Lucky #13 was just the second car for its chance to prove its stuff in this segment of the race.
To the dismay of everyone watching, as it began its second lap of the track, pulling past the first curve we saw a big cloud of dust. What we’re all asking now is what came first, the break or the accident? I guess Lucky #13 was not so lucky, it’s front suspension snapped right in half. (edit 11/30/09 – Check below. Hot Rod’s editor Rob Kinnan’s setting the record straight)
We were all disappointed to see this baby sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine get put on the sidelines…but here’s hoping it’ll be back next year!
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Dang! I bet that coupe had a chance to take the win. Those FFR 33’s are racecars draped in hot rod stealth.
The suspension didn’t fail, it was pure driver (me) error. Went into turn one way too hot and slid it off into the very rough dirt. That’s what broke the suspension, which is a good thing since it took the abuse and didn’t bend the frame. It looks way worse than it actually is.
RK
Rob-
Thanks for clearing that up! I made a similar mistake on that track the day before in an attempt to get going as fast as possible…except I only ended spinning the Lotus 180 and all was good. I’m so glad to hear the coupe will be back to new soon – hope to see ya out on the track next year!
-Kristin (aka ‘GreaseGirl’)
I can’t get the picture showing the suspension to zoom – it looks like it was the upper control arm mounts that broke? Also any word on this thing getting back up on the road, Rob? Definitely one of my favorite styled FFR 33’s to date…