Von, the plane spent most of it's life at a 5500 foot high grass strip in Utah, that's why there is a STOL kit on it. It's comprised of drooped wing tips, drooped leading edge, and "fences" on the top of the wing, to keep stalled air off of the ailerons. It also handles much better in slow flight.
The takeoff roll seems to be about 200 feet shorter than the 172 I'm used to flying (It also has an 0360, so the STOL kit definitely helps)