The Crew

Live fast...Play Hard!!

Driver - Elaine Larsen

Crew Chief - Chris Larsen, Everett Lowe

Crew Members - Andrew Larsen, Mike Mathes, Chuck Foster, Chris Foster

Mascot - Nitro

Dr. Torch - John Frazer
 
Elaine Larsen - Driver

Born: St. Johns, MI


Elaine Larsen, driver of the Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster and the Miss Ta Fire Jet Dragster, has over a decade of drag racing experience. Elaine grew up in Middleton, Michigan the youngest of six children. She met and married her high school sweetheart Chris. They have been married for 22 years. They have one son, Andrew, that is 11 years old.  

Elaine has always had a love of racing and a need for speed. She attended her first drag race at Mid Michigan Motorplex and saw a jet funny car, the Lava Machine, never thinking that 20 years later it would be her on the track. Elaine worked as a dental assistant for 4 years before moving to Florida with her husband. She then started a day care.

After attending many races, they decided that it was time for them be part of the action. It never was a hard decision for Elaine to drive.  Her husband, Chris, wanted her to be a major part of the race team, and how better to do that than to put her in the drivers seat. The first time she went down the track in her Big Block Chevy powered Super Gas car, she was hooked. After racing 6 years in NHRA Division 2 Elaine knew that it was time to step it up. She then licensed in Super Comp. which she raced for 2 years.  

Because of her need of speed, and her husband's love of aviation, they made the natural choice to make her next car jet powered.  

The Miss Ta Fire rolled into action in January of 2004. Elaine loved the feel of the car. With 6000 horsepower, Elaine has for the moment, fulfilled her need for speed.

Chris Larsen - Crew Chief and Director of Race Operations

Born: Naperville, IL

Where I Went To School: St. Johns High School, MI

E-mail: Chris@LMSJETS.com

Type of Training: Associates degree in Aeronautical Science, Aviation Maintenance and Applied Science.

Type of Certification: FAA Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Complex High Performance Single Engine Land

Experience: Over two decades in the Aerospace Industry, 26 years of high performance automotive including SCTA Land Speed Record, Hydroplane, USAC Sprint, Dirt & Asphalt Late Model, Indy Racing League, Busch Series Stock Car, SOD Sprint Car, Exhibition Jet Dragster, Top Alcohol Dragster, Competition Eliminator, Super Gas, Super Pro, and extensive professional competition engine machining and building.

How does it feel to be a part of the team: Great to be an owner of a successful professional race team, even better to be affiliated with a world leader of an industry I love, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Likes: Seafood, Cruise Vacations, Aviation & Racing History, making something worthwhile out of something others wouldn't touch, helping others succeed.

Dislikes: Busy Malls, Hurricanes, and Peas. Definitely peas.

Future plans: Introduce new jet racing teams, continue research and development with the Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster. Continued expansion of Larsen Motorsports.

Andrew Larsen - Crew

Born: Haines City, FL

E-Mail: Andrew@LMSJETS.com

Andrew Larsen is 11 years old and in the 6th grade. He has never known anything other than drag racing. He went to his first race at 6 weeks old and has never missed one of his mom's races since.  His job at the track is to help set everything up and clean the car. Then he gets to go and play with his friends that he always meets. When it is time to race, Andrew always gives his mom a lucky penny which she carries with her down the quarter mile.  When the race is over, his job is to gather the safety equipment and hook the tow straps up. At the end of the event, he helps put everything away, and when we get home he helps with keeping the car, truck, and trailer clean.  

His hobbies are playing with his dog Nitro, playing Wii, working on his computer, fishing, and playing baseball. His favorite race car driver (other than his mom) is Tony Schumacher. He is starting to think about getting a Jr. Dragster to keep the racing tradition in the family.  

Andrew wants to thank his teachers for making sure he has all of his school work done so he can go to the races!!!!

Nitro - Mascot

Born: Wildwood, FL

E-Mail: Nitro@LMSJETS.com

HOBBIES: Playing with squeaky toys, eating bones, and chewing everything in sight, always chewing.

My name is Nitro Larsen. I am the Larsen Motorsports team Mascot. I go to all of the races and root the team on. I love to play outside and bury bones.  

FUTURE GOALS: To grow big enough to chase the neighbors cat up the tree. Make sure to stop by to say Hi at the races. Don't forget to bring me a bone!!!!

Everett Lowe - Crew Chief

Nickname: E. Lowe

Born: Cedar Bluff, VA

E-Mail: everett.lowe@aa.com

Everett Lowe, Crew Chief of the Miss Ta Fire Jet Dragster and crew on the Embry-Riddle Jet Dragster has been with Larsen Motorsports for 8 years. Everett has always had a love of drag racing. He was born in Cedar Bluff, Virginia. He is the oldest of 3 children. Everett was a combat engineer in the Vietnam War.  

He went to work for American Airlines in 1974. Everett heads ground service equipment and facility maintenance at the Orlando International Airport. He has been married to his wife Linda since 1969 and has two sons, Rob and Mike who also share his love of racing.  

Everett moved his family to Florida in 1990. He joined the Larsen Motorsports team shortly after he purchased Elaines first Super Gas car which he still owns and occasionally gets a chance to race.  

Everett's hobbies are drag racing and thinking about drag racing. He has one grand dog named Tonka.

Everett's nick name is E. Lowe and can always be counted to get the job done.

Mike Mathes - Director of Public Relations and Marketing

Nickname:  Depends on who you ask!  

Born:  Tucson, AZ

Resides:  Byron, GA

E-Mail: Mike@LMSJETS.com

Where I went to School: Warner Robins High School, Warner Robins, GA - Class of 1990.  BBA - Mercer University, Macon, GA, 1994.

Type of Training: Business, Six Sigma Quality

Experience: 36 years as a drag racing nut.

How does it feel to be part of the team: Incredible! There is such a wealth of knowledge, experience and passion with this team. Before latching on with Larsen Motorsports, I didn't think there was anyone who could have a love for jet cars like I do. I was so wrong! While I love my "real job" and my "normal life", it is a special treat for me to escape the real-world for jet car getaways (whether at the shop or at the track). I enjoy spending time with every one of these jet car nuts!

Likes: Spending time with my daughter, my job, racing (either the real, or the bench variety) and working on cars with friends, hockey (go Leafs!) and bowling. I guess in the off-chance there might be any that have actually read up to this point, I should also list that I like smart Brunettes with pretty smiles ;-).

Dislikes: I'm usually too busy pursuing goals and chasing dreams to focus on dislikes. Though people who run below the speed limit and stay in the passing lane do get my blood pressure up sometimes. Get out of the way people!

Future plans for 2008: Continue learning as much as possible about what it takes to be safe and successful running jet cars.  Help Larsen Motorsports in whatever capacity I can. Hopefully repay them in just a small way for the tremendous knowledge and help they have given and continue to give to me. Maybe even get my bracket car up and running again at some point!

Chuck Foster - Crew
Born: Fort Lauderdale, FL
School: Nova High School married to Ellen 23 years, thank god she likes racing too, daughter Gina sons Chris & Eric and our beagle Snoopy aka pain in the asprine.
Experience: Grew up around & owned many muscle cars and has been a part of drag racing all his life. Chuck and his son, Chris built their first race car together in 1998. He has built many of cars before that but this was his first dragrace car. He is a 2-Cycle technician in the City of Plantation Florida. Chuck has been a part if Larsen Motorsports for over a year and has future plans of being a Crew Chief for his son when he starts racing again.
Likes: Photography, Grilling (he is the team Chef) if you can cook it, Chuck can grill it. We don't even use the oven at home, says Chuck.   
Dislikes: Oil downs at the track. Rain on race day. I can not sit idle, I have to keep busy all the time, because if I am idle nothing is getting accomplished.
What I like about being on the Larsen Motorsports team is watching my son and myself learning the ins and outs of jet car racing and the mechanics of jet engines which is awesome to me. Being able to have hands on experience with the whole operation from helping at the shop to helping to make sure everything is ready and safe to run these monsters down the race track. The teams number one goal is put on the safest and best show possible. It's fun to watch the fans reaction when Elaine pumps them up. Elaine stays in the pits taking pictures, talking to the fans and signing autographs until the very last fan gets everything they have asked for. Well almost everything since shes already happily married. I want to say a big thank you to Elaine, Chris and Andrew  for letting my son and myself be part of the Larsen Motorsports Family.

Chris Foster - Crew
Nickname: Bones
Born: Plantation, FL
School: Student at Nova High School
Experience: My dad and I built my first race car from the ground up when I was 7 years old. Mom, Eric and Gina bared with us for a year as we made the bucket of sticks, as mom called it, into a Jr.Dragster. I raced that 6 years until I outgrew the car. I have been crewing with Larsen Motorsports for over a year now, and I have future plans on driving one of their beautiful cars.
Likes: Drag racing, jets, muscle cars, loud cars, the smell of jet fuel and nitro, hanging out with my friends, baseball (I play for the Nova Titans), fishing, building things, auto painting and drawing. Going to the shop on weekends and working on the next project.
Dislikes: Rain on race day, being told that I can't do something.
What I like most about being part of Larsen Motorsports is the experience and the knowledge I get every time I work with them. They have taught me more in the past year that anyone could have taught me. They teach me every aspect of jet engines, jet racing and how important it is to do certain things in order to be one of the safest teams out there. They mean a lot to me and I really appreciate everything they have done for me and taught me, Thanks Guys!

John M. Frazer - Dr. Torch
Nickname: Doctor Torch
Born: Erie, PA
Where I went to School:  Technical Memorial High School, Erie, Pa. Class of 1980 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Campus. Class of 1993.
Type of Training: Auto and Diesel Mechanics, Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics.
Type of Certification:  FAA Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization, Commercial Multi Engine Instrument and Single Engine Sea ratings.
Experience: 25 years in the Aerospace industry beginning with 8 years as a member of the United States Air Force. Aircraft Maintenance experience includes the Lockheed U-2/TR-1, C141B Starlifter, Boeing 707, 727, McDonnell Douglas DC9, DC10, Beechcraft 1900D, BE 200, Embraer EMB120, Cessna Citation I, II, III, VII, Bravo, Ultra, Encore, Excel, CJ1,2,3, X, and Sovereign, Cessna Piston Aircraft 150/152, 172, 340, 402 and Lake Amphibious Aircraft as well as several other makes and models of single and light twins. Other experience includes machine work, welding, and fabrication.
How does it feel to be part of the team: In one word, Amazing. In the beginning, there wasn't even a place to build these cars so that had to be built first. Then the fixtures and frame table and Chromoly tubing, lots of it. That's when I came in to the picture helping to stick all the tubes together, hence the name Doctor Torch. Everything is built by hand; you can't just go out and buy Jet Car parts at the local AutoZone. This team was built from the ground up based on professionalism and showmanship. A lot of hard work and thousands of hours, by many people have gone into this endeavor and I am proud to be a part of it.
Likes: Fast Cars, Fly Fishing, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Flying and anything having to do with Aviation or Space Exploration, Antique Aircraft, Military Aviation, and all things Cool, Watching my Daughter play fast pitch softball, Oh, I almost forgot, fine Cigars and Cognac.
Dislikes: I-4 at rush hour, Negative people, Being told I can't do something, and the fact that there are only 24 hours in a day, that's just not enough time to do all the things I like to do.
Future plans: Start my Masters Degree at Embry-Riddle, add a Certified Flight Instructor rating, and finish Chris and Elaine's next car.