Surrounded by powerful vintage race cars, Brian Roberts speaks openly and rapidly about the treasured machines.

His voice brims with passion as he extols some of racing’s nostalgic yesterdays.

He glances at a sleek, black race car that quietly occupies one corner of his showroom floor, then speaks fervently about it in his high-RPM fashion.

“This one sat in a German museum for 25 years,” Roberts said. “Amazing car.”

The car, a 1972 twin-turbocharged Shadow-Chevrolet DN2 CanAmSports Racing Spider, now graces Roberts’ new client-oriented shop of show-and-tell.

The legendary Shadow, which George Follmer drove in the unlimited

CanAm series of yore, packed a flame-belching 1,200 horsepower aluminum big block V8 engine into a lightweight chassis. The barely controllable beast frightened even the driver and intimidated rivals.

Today the Shadow’s owner has stored it inside Roberts’ growing garage of collectibles – just as imposing, just as inviting and just as race-ready for a weekend spin.

Roberts makes sure such race cars – notably open-wheel creations – are primed for the occasion. He and his staff help preserve a significant era of racing history – a time before it became homogenized into the corporate, promotional sport of today.

His business, JFC Racing – the acronym stands for “Just Fast Cars” – maintains, restores, fabricates and even transports historic, purpose-built race cars for a wide range of clientele, from lawyers to doctors, business professionals to sports car aficionados.

Some customers are serious and competitively driven, others just like to tinker.

Roberts works with all types.

“It’s arrive and drive,” said Roberts, 43, a Seattle native who grew up in Marysville and quickly turned to fast cars as his hobby and ultimately, his living. “You can have the worst day of your life, then you can strap yourself into a car and drive one of these, and it’s gone.

“Driving these cars is therapeutic,” he said. “There’s nothing like it. It’s euphoric.”

Miles Jackson, a vintage race car collector, construction businessman and property owner, planted the seed for JFC. Roberts, a longtime successful driver, mechanic, track manager and race school instructor, came along for the ride.

Roberts, who has been a part of vintage racing for the past 10 years, previously worked at J&L Fabricating in Puyallup, one of the major prep-and-restoration race car shops in the area.

Now, he and Jackson are partners, hoping that JFC Racing’s spacious spot along Auburn’s West Valley Highway will be a go-to outlet for big boys who want to play with their big, fast toys. The shop is conveniently located close to Pacific Raceways.

Given the opportunity, JFC Racing will ship cars to selected vintage races throughout the Western states. The driver, in most cases, only needs to arrive at the track on time. JFC provides track-side support and services.

JFC Racing, still in the formative stages, employs five. The large complex is replete with a machine shop, layout and fabrication areas, massive storage, even a clientele lounge. Plans are to include a state-of-the-art, full-size driving cockpit simulator. Added storage parking for specialty cars also is in the works.

As of now, the developing showroom includes a lineup

of Formula series cars, including Stefan Johansson’s 1980 F-1 Shadow.

The challenge for Roberts is keeping the machines authentic and reliable. Over time, parts are prone to wear out, and it is up to the crew to test, identify and replace them.

“We’re keeping the vintage spirit (of a car) while making sure it is safe to drive,” Roberts said. “The main thing is to keep them safe.”

While some owners prefer to stow away their classic cars discretely, JFC provides a more open, show-and-tell approach.

“With this stuff, why not?” Robert said. “To me, it’s

important to know the history about the car and who drove it.”

The work is long but rewarding. The JFC garage currently is reproducing a Lola car that Al Unser Jr. drove to road-course prominence. The car is nothing more than a “tub” cockpit presently, but a refabricated chassis and body – close to its original – are on the way.

“The biggest challenge is making sure you’re producing something people are happy with,” Roberts said.

While some days are all business, an undaunted and determined Roberts moves ahead. The former competitive driver says he’s fortunate to be doing what he passionately enjoys – even if it means watching from the sideline, wrench in hand with some quick advice in mind.

“When you get racing in your blood, you do whatever it takes to stay in the sport,” he said. “And racing always has been a part of my life.”

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JFC Racing

• Location: 1602 W. Valley Highway, Auburn

• Specialty: Maintaining, storing, fabricating historic race cars, notably formula-style machines. Provide track-side support and transportation; pre-race preparation and maintenance; complete restoration and rebuilding; repair and fabrication; alignment and chassis setup; engine rebuilding and maintenance programs

• Phone: 253-333-9600

• Web site: www.jfcracing.com

Contact Auburn Reporter Editor Mark Klaas at mklaas@auburn-reporter.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5050.

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