Patriots notebook

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – He isn’t a veteran and he’s not advocating armed conflict, but Michael Chace is downright militant when it comes to supporting his favorite football team.

Almost seven years ago, the 51-year-old Westwood, Mass., native decided to “trick out” the family van and turn it into the ultimate tailgating vehicle. Thus was born the Patriots Nation War Van.

“It was a family car in 1990, but then we got another one, so I decided to get this all customized,” said Chace. “A the son of a friend of my buddy [Dick Cocivera] opened up a detailing business and he did this all up for me, and he did it for nothing in about a week.”

There isn’t much free space on the white Dodge Caravan, as it is covered with Patriots logos, lettering and full-color photos of Pats players and officials as well as Chace and his family [posing with Patriots].

It doesn’t end there; a green football field with marked yard lines takes up the top of the vehicle with three-foot yellow goalposts standing on each end. The posts are made from PVC pipe and even include foam cushioning around the bases.

Chace even prints up programs each game which include the menu, the day’s schedule, a list of “honored war van members,” the team schedule, and a predicted final score.

“All the photos and pictures on here were originally 8-by-11 sheets and they just put it on the windows and panels like a laminating thing. You can even still see out the windows, but not as clearly,” said Chace, who has been a regular Patriots tailgater for 20 years. “We’ve been tailgating with it for six years now.”

Chace, who saw the Patriots play at Boston University’s Nickerson Field once, goes back a long way with the team. After being diagnosed recently with lung cancer, which is moving toward his brain, he’s not sure how many more seasons he’ll be able to enjoy. His prognosis isn’t good, but you wouldn’t know it from talking to him.

“This is a fun thing to do with people I love being around,” he said. “What’s to complain about? I’m having a good time.”