FLU Officers FLU Board John Montgomery Kevin Barnett [email protected] [email protected] (864) 304-1337 President Mike Bouse [email protected] Jon Logan [email protected] Denise Burchette Vice President [email protected] Tim Beeble David Corder [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Chris Fumagalli Scott Hill [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Sam Germana [email protected] Volunteers Brett Melancon Chris Layton [email protected] [email protected] Editor/Publisher Brett Melancon Jon Prisbe [email protected] Website Coordinator Lee Putman Mike Bouse [email protected] [email protected] Membership Coordinator Bobb Rayner Marc Matzer [email protected] [email protected] Richard Ridge Check out the NEW www.flu.org Advertising Chair [email protected] Visit the web for the latest in what’s happening in YOUR club. Shaun H. Folkerts [email protected] FLU Ambassador We need your submissions! (516) 983- RICAMBI needs submissions from YOU! Anything from a simple photo and description of your car to a nice article telling about your car or interesting tech knowledge. Send photos and articles to [email protected] or call 865-604-3271 for instructions on how to submit your articles. FLU thanks you! For a list of FLU friendly clubs and vendors, visit Helpful Sources http://www.fiatlanciaunlimited.com/links.asp Bayless Fiat Lancia World 1111 Via Bayless, Marietta, GA 30066-2770 Editorial submissions can be sent in for consideration to: fax 770-928-1342 [email protected] Freeman Melancon Bryant Advertising Bruce’s Parts Bin Attn: Brett Melancon 6 B Enterprise Court, Sewell, NJ 08080 145 South Gay Street 856-582-7770 [email protected] Knoxville TN 37902 C. Obert & Co., formerly Fiat Plus All submitted material will be considered and is subject to edit- 2131-D Delaware Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-0218 www.fiatplus.com (Check out NEW website!) ing to fit the format of RICAMBI. Material will not be returned unless arranged before submission. Questions regarding Fun Imported Auto and Toys submissions should be directed to Brett Melancon by emailing at 143 Tunnel Road, Vernon, CT 06066 860-871-1990 [email protected] [email protected] or calling 865-604-3271. International Auto Parts Editorial and photos may be submitted electronically via disk/ P.O. Box 9036, Charlottesville, VA 22906 CD or e-mail. All ads must be sufficient quality and format 800-953-0813 http://www.international-auto.com/ suitable for printing. I can accept material created in most soft- ware, contact Brett for details. Please do not send low resolution Midwest X1/9 graphics from web sites unless you check and discuss it 1115 Hudson St. Columbus OH 43211 614-784-8870 www.midwestx19.com beforehand. Midwest 124 Please send all checks for classifieds to Scott Hill, Club 3258 Scioto Farms Drive, Hilliard, Ohio, 43026 Treasurer, 3258 Scioto Farms Drive, Hillard, OH 43026 midwest124.com Veloce Publishing http://www.veloce.co.uk 10% discount to your members Vick Auto Sports 5200 Vesta Farley Road, Fort Worth, TX 76119 www.flu.org 1 800-466-3428 [email protected] FLU is spreading, if you would like to start a FLU chapter in your area, please contact John Montgomery for information on how to become an official FLU chapter. You may also sign up to be a regional contact. This is the first step to becoming a chapter. Join the fun!

Arizona “Desert FLU” (chapter) Eric Lynn– (602) 524-0053 [email protected]

Atlanta (chapter) John Montgomery– (864) 304-1337 [email protected]

Blue Ridge (chapter) Jim Aitken– (434) 295-0990 [email protected]

Carolina FLU (chapter) Denise Burchette– (eastern) [email protected] Kevin Barnett– (Western NC & SC) (828) 230-8470 [email protected] Chi-FLU Lee Putman– (847) 687-7291 www.chicagolandFLU.com [email protected]

Delaware Valley (chapter) John Rome– (610) 336-8454 FIAT FREEZE OUT 2009!! [email protected] Make plans now! Saturday January 24, 2009. 6pm We will host the winter party Detroit (chapter) Ottawa Canada (chapter) at the Park Ridge Hotel on North Gulph Sue Watch– Jeff Schneider– (613) 733-5657 [email protected] [email protected] Road in Valley Forge, PA. This will be the site for FFO 2009. Come with or East Tennessee (regional contact) Brett Melancon– (865) 604-3271 Pittsburgh (regional contact) without your Italian steed and join other Jody Farr– car owners in the dead of winter. We’ve [email protected] [email protected] done this party occasionally in the past (chapter) Florida-FLU (chapter) and it has always been a great excuse to Kevin Barnett– (828) 230-8470 Roamin Chariots Ron Conlon– (405) 325-9498 get together with old and new friends. [email protected] [email protected] You can get a preview of next summer’s (chapter) Indiana Rocky Mountain (chapter) big show as we will do a presentation on Mike Walsh– (765) 345-9883 Joel Hailey [email protected] the plans so far for Freak Out 2009. This [email protected] will also be an opportunity to volunteer (regional contact) Mid-Atlantic Texas FLUud (Houston) (chapter) for any of many the needed jobs for FFO. Haz Neuman– (410) 836-1102 Mike Rutenberg The cost is $25 per person for dinner and [email protected] [email protected] there will be a cash bar. We need to have (chapter) an accurate count for dinner. Mid-South Toronto (chapter) Chris Layton– (207) 882-6207 Jerry Cucchiara– (416) 496-0071 [email protected] [email protected] Please contact Thad Kirk through (chapter) [email protected] to get on the North East VT/NH/ME/RI West Michigan FLU (chapter) Diane Curtis– (828) 230-8470 Jon Prisbe– (231) 788-1649 list. The Park Ridge Hotel is also holding [email protected] Jon Prisbe at [email protected] some rooms at a discount rate if any out or Mike Bouse at [email protected] Northeast Coast CT/NJ/NY/MA (chapter) of town people would want to stay for Tim Beeble– (203) 743-4954 the night. Contact the hotel direct and [email protected] WYNSO (Western New York, So. Ontario) (chapter) tell them you are with the Fiat group. Darryl Stacey– (716) 822-3812 (610) 337-1800 Ohio Valley (chapter) [email protected] Jim Hyler [email protected] For more info go to our local website: http://fludelaware.italiancarclub.com/

www.flu.org 2 Dear Members, Some people check the calendar, another import that took America by went. Jim and a team of lucky FLU others observe the color change in the storm many years ago. member caretakers took the 500 all leaves, but FLU people know that the Some of us old folks remember 45 across the fruited plains of the entire end of the driving season is here when years ago when the “Fab 4” arrived country, getting 50 MPG all the while! Tim Beeble puts his beloved 1974 Fiat from Ireland to make its musical debut Enthusiastic crowds gathered every- 124 Spider in winter storage up in here in America. The Beatles appeared where the car was parked. Men lusted, Connecticut. I got the word from him to a record 73 million viewers on the women swooned, children pointed and just a few weeks ago. Yep, it’s back in Ed Sullivan TV Show on February 9th, even little dogs wagged their tails in the barn. Sure, we get a little more time 1964. Ironically, newspaper reviews on excitement. We don’t realize it yet… down here in South Carolina, but the the following Monday morning said the but Fiat’s destiny in North America frost is definitely on the pumpkin. band “couldn’t carry a tune” and that will be changed forever by this car. Just The trees are bare, the Holidays are they were nothing more than a passing give it a little time, for the seeds have here and the first snows have blanketed fad. However, the public’s response was been sown my friends! We are going to much of the Northeast. Mike Bouse far different! The band played 5 songs see Fiat automotive fruit here in the has reported that the salt trucks are on Ed’s “Big Shoe”, Beetlemania was next few years, because it’s just too tasty clamoring down western Michigan born and music was forever changed. to hold back. roads. The band was very reluctant to come So, what happened to our tiny hero of Still, the sizzle of this summer is to America at first since they had no a car? The story only gets better. The remains in our hearts as we look back number one hit song here and were little white has been adopted on a tremendous 2008. Wow, what a completely unknown just three months by Jeff Lane at the Lane Motor 25th Anniversary year! We returned to before appearing on American TV. So Museum (www.lanemotormuseum.org) the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania how did this unknown band pull in 73 in Nashville, TN. So much for being an where it all began back in 1983 to draw million viewers? The Beatles rise to orphan! Jim had to go back to Ireland, a full 25 year circle around the grand stardom in America can be traced back but we’re officially adopting him too! adventure that is Fiat motoring. We to the action of one person; 15 year old Meanwhile, I am happy to report that have more new photos from Freak Out Marsha Albert from Silver Spring, club membership is up to nearly 600 posted on the web so please go to Maryland. So who was Marsha Albert? current members and the amount of www.flu.org to have a look. Marsha watching TV and happened to regional and chapter activities is at an This year’s Freak Out broke all see Walter Cronkite do a CBS news all time high. The Chicago fire of Fiat records for attending members, cars, story about obscure British bands on fun and excitement still rages big time event sponsorship and sales of FLU December 10th, 1963. She got a glimpse over at Chi-FLU, and they have a new clothing & merchandise. The weather of the Beatles from the story and 2009 calendar! Buy one today was just as fantastic, just like the quality strongly urged the DJ at her local radio and support the Chi-FLU guys! and variety of cars. Jim McGill from station play a British hit song called “I http://italiancar.meetup.com/46/ Ireland brought his new 2008 Fiat 500 want to Hold your Hand”. The Lots of other good things are going for all to see and many got a first time Washington, DC radio station played it on within the club and at FLU HQ. experience from behind the wheel. For in America for the first time on We just had an FLU Board election. me and many others, seeing the car in December 17th. The calls to the radio This year Lee Putman and Denise person was truly witnessing the dawn station poured in and the single went on Burchette joined the BOD while Bobb of a new day for Fiat in this part of the the station’s regular play list. Within 3 Rayner and Jon Logan were re-elected. world. weeks it was not only a number one hit Since the FLU Bylaws revision vote I guess it can be said that FLU is an in America but had sold over a million (152 for vs. 7 opposed), Vice President Orphan car club. Yet, like every orphan, copies in the states. The rest is history. Jon Logan and Secretary Tim Beeble we look toward a day when we’ll So why am I bringing this up? gave up their BOD to remain be once again part of the national Because Jim Magill did the same officers under the new regulations. automotive family. Certainly our thing this summer that Marsha Albert Therefore, two more vacancies on the continued devotion to the Fiat and did for the Fab 4. But this time Jim was Board were appointed by BOD vote. Lancia marque positively impacts Fiat’s introducing the new “Fab 5”, the Fiat Chris Fumagalli and David Corder view for a new market here and dare I 500! The Fiat 500 made its first journey will serve on the Board until the next say their eventual return to North from here from Ireland and traveled 5 election in 2009 where they can choose American shores. Impossible you say? regions of the country over this summer. to run for a regular 3 year term. Well, after seeing and driving the “star” The reception for this little car at FFO BOD member Mike Bouse will be of this year’s FFO, it reminds me of was absolutely incredible everywhere it taking over from Jon Logan as FLU’s continued on page 16 * 3 www.flu.org Meanwhile, Alfa has unveiled a all-electric powertrain will be tested in The FIAT Freak small call aimed at the segment ruled a Weekend car in Brazil, by Bobb Rayner by the successful BMW-built Mini and with possibleseries production slated in the Fiat 500. The Alfa “MiTo” is based the future if the trials are successful. Ciao Amici! on the Fiat Grande Punto, featuring Overall, Fiat is surviving during It’s cold! Maybe not where you are, a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged this crazy financial mess, and actually but for most of us in North America, engine cranking out 155 HP with a prospering in some areas of the world. winter is setting in, so let’s spend a few predicted top speed of 133 MPH. The moments contemplating the warm and engine is reported to lack camshafts! THE VIEWS fuzzy feelings of the Club FLU family. Power is transmitted by a DSG (Direct With Fiat FreakOut’s 25th anniver- Shift Gearbox), getting to the ground sary now in our memories, FLU THE NEWS through 16- or 18-inch wheels. There members look toward the future for It should come as no surprise that are many hints of 8C styling in this little growth and prosperity in 2009. While Fiat is feeling the effects of the global buzz bomb, with all of the panache I’ve said it many times before, it’s financial quagmire just like every other you’d expect from the marque. worth repeating that Fiat and Lancia automobile company. For the first nine Elsewhere in the world, Fiat is enthusiasts need this club now more months of 2008, Fiat sales have fallen launching its popular “Linea” in India than ever. I’ve recently noticed a huge 3.3%. One of the effects of the world in December of 2008, to be followed by decline in the availability of parts and economic crisis is the delayed return the Fiat Grande Punto a bit later. The supplies for our cars. Not that it has of Alfa Romeo to the N. American growing Chinese market is set to see been all that great in the past few years, market. Fiat chief around fifty-thousand Alfa Romeo but the decline in parts and accessories has gone on record in saying that it models per year beginning in 2010, supply seems to have dwindled at a would be “simply crazy” to invest in a down significantly from the original more rapid rate in the past year. return to the USA in such a depressed projection of nearly three-hundred We need to stick together to provide American market. Plans are still in thousand. The production of small parts and assistance to our fellow place to return in 2011, one year later and medium in Russia, including members. Don’t crush that worn out than originally scheduled. That said, the Grande Punto and Bravo, has old car! There are likely plenty of it should be noted that some of the doubled in the first nine months of parts on it that, while junk to you, spectacular limited-production Alfa 2008, as that market continues to may be extremely valuable to other Romeo 8C Competizione cars have, grow. enthusiasts. Contact the many FLU indeed, been delivered to well-heeled Here’s a blast from the past: The sponsors found on the club website and customers through a prominent New much-maligned Yugo, which was on the pages of this magazine, and see England exotic car dealership. I’ve basically a Fiat 127 manufactured if they’d be interested in obtaining your seen photographs of the delivery of under license in the former country of car for parting out. As the saying goes, these incredible cars, so I can state for Yugoslavia, ceased production on “One man’s trash is another man’s a fact that Alfa Romeo has already November 21st of this year. Production treasure.” returned, though in very, very limited began in 1980, and the total output Plans for FreakOut 2009 are well numbers. approached 800-thousand units, of underway. The next venue will be Of course, this postponement will which approximately 142-thousand at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, just affect the possible USA sales of the were exported to the USA. Fiat plans outside of Philadelphia. The MG terrific Fiat 500, which is supposed to to revamp the factory in Zastava, club held a very successful national be promoted and sold in future Alfa , with an eye on restarting future gathering there in the spring of 2008, dealerships under its own brand. production of Fiat cars in 2010. with over 350 cars in attendance, so we Rumors abound that it will only come On the international car show scene, know the accommodations will be to America in the hot version. Fiat has been showing the “Fiat more than sufficient to cater to the One very likely scenario will be the Concept Car II,” a.k.a. “Bugster,” needs of FreakOut 2009, scheduled for manufacturing of Alfa Romeos and driven solely by electric power. The mid-August 2009. The hotel has been Abarth 500s in the USA, possibly dune buggy-like concept is reported reserved at a very, very reasonable rate utilizing Chrysler plants or even Fiat’s to be capable of a top speed of 110 (far less than 2008’s lodging facility), Case New Holland farm tractor kilometers-per-hour, with a 120KM and the surrounding area will provide factories in Pennsylvania. We can only range following an 8-hour full charge a host of attractions that will delight hope! of its lithium-ion batteries. The any vacationing family. Committee continued on page 16 * www.flu.org 4 The Fiat 500 Trek ends It may seem strange to tell you the would get our bambino back in one hitting 45mpg with the 500 on the daily by Jim Magill tale of the Fiat 500 adventure from the piece and no sooner had we left the commute to work as he waited on me end rather than from the beginning States but the 500 was at shows and coming back to collect the car for it’s but the Irish have always been a bit getting spotted on the ‘net’, sometimes return to the UK but the best laid plans ‘back to front’ so why change now. We even being mistaken as a Fiat factory never work out as you expect and brought our brand new Fiat 500 over presence back in the US by such suddenly Brett gets in contact asking if from the UK in June for the 25th notaries as The New York Times and I’d be interested in a buyer for the 500 anniversary of Freakout where it went Hemmings thinking that FIAT are meaning that the first New Cinquecento down a storm with all the Flu’sters that testing the publics reaction to their new in the US would not only get to stay came to the Pocono’s for the landmark range! but also be on display for the public to event. As soon as it was over Alan and So the car went from show to show see for years… Now that sounded a lot I jumped into the new baby Fiat and across the United States until it and more interesting that shipping it back headed west but that’s another story! Rudy ended up in Tennessee at Brett’s to the UK and putting the poor wee We left the 500 in LA with Rudy house just as gas hit five bucks a gallon thing on to the commute to work this Mortero a good friend of Brett so Brett wheeled his beloved Mazda winter! Melancon who assured me that we SpeedSix into the garage and started

75 www.flu.org So Fall comes and I get a flight to grinning faces of the latest converts to Atlanta were I find some bit of Fiat’s new baby. No sooner had they Southern Hospitality as soon as I get pulled over did the apologies start off the airliner. At immigration the about why they were late but no officer took one look at me with my amount of tales about traffic and small bag, teddy bear and UK number distance would shake my belief that plate that I’d brought for Brett’s car the guys where just having too much and he must of thought ‘We have a live fun on the freeways and probably one here, get the men in the white forgot all about me (Well, that’s what I coats....’! would of done, sorry guys!) After being grilled about my Next morning was an early start for intentions in the united states with a all but as I was still on UK time it small bear and a British number plate seemed like I had a good long lie in heard of the ‘SpiderLady’ and the the officer thought that I must be before the day kicked off getting ready ‘craic’ (as the Irish say for banter) was mostly harmless and let me though but for the annual Atlanta Italian Car day. great with the owners of the cars as with the word of warning that the Getting behind the wheel of the 500 they came pulled thou our checkpoint. plate would never fit a fiat as it must be for the first time in nearly 3 months I Some of them even said ‘Hay, your that about twice the width of anything realized just how much I missed the guy with the 500 that came from Italian that was ever exported to this little thing. I had ordered the car in Ireland, I followed your adventures!’ continent. Leaving aside his technical November of 2007 for delivery in which to be honest I’d have to say advice on this matter I headed for the March this year (yup, waiting lists were really made my day! metro to meet up with John that long and even now a year after my Montgomery and Brett on the other order 12 or 14 week delivery schedules side of town. are not unheard of such is the 500’s popularity) and in 6 months it had done 20,000 miles crossing the United States twice without ever having to visit a repair shop, not even for an oil change! When we first got the car the little 1.2, 68BHP engine seemed so tight but now it had really come alive and felt so much faster and even sounded better. I’d heard it so many times from Fiat owners that you really don’t get all the performance from your Fiat FIRE (Fully Integrated Thou I wasn’t the only export from Robotised Engine if your that way in- Northern Ireland for the next car to clined to ask what such things mean) pull up looking for the spectator John and Brett where running a little until you had a good 10K on the clock parking was a Delorean! These have late in Atlanta traffic leaving me all on and my example was no different. an extra special place in my heart as not my lonesome at the last station on the John, Brett and myself all arrived at only is the factory that made them only Metro. Cursing the pair of them under Kurt’s restaurant really early were the 12 miles from my house back home but my breath as only a true Irishman can I days show was happening for to set up my dad actually worked on the set myself down to my fate of being and John soon had us all hard at work production line building them! I got murdered in on of Atlanta’s more making coffee, hanging banners and talking to this particular automotive ex ‘interesting’ suburbs as the sun started putting out the registration desk. pat’s owner, Chris who was amazed to set on this little drama but soon, but Denise Burchette arrived and both of that in and Italian car show not only not soon enough the familiar site of us manned registration at the entrance was he talking to a guy from northern two small round lights came over the to the park. This just totally amazed Ireland but the son of the builder of his hill and behind the wheel where the me how many of the exhibitors had car! Touchingly he removed the glove continued on page 7 *

www.flu.org 86 The Fiat 500 Trek ends

At the next stop the Pontiac driver comes over and says ‘You guys can really hammer that little buggy, what size of engine is in it?’ to which I tell him its a 1.2 with just over sixty horse power. I get the feeling that the next day he was probably back at the Pontiac box lid off his car and asked me to sign plied me with enough alcohol for me dealer asking for a refund. it on behalf of my dad. I’d have to say agreed to take the 500 on the automo- Strange but not quite as strange as that I’ve have some amazing experi- tive equivalent of ‘Bush Gardens’. the family who walk across the ences with FLU organized events but Another early start and we all meet parking lot to come look at the 500 and this one particular one really did bring up at Kurt’s after an early breakfast of after a few minutes of admiring it’s a lump to my throat. biscuits (and what looked like road kill looks they then realize that its parked The rest of the day I just kept but I didn’t want to be rude to my hosts beside an ultra rare Lamborghini banging away about the 500 to all that as it was actually very tasty. Like we Gallardo spider and turn in shock as if would listen to me. Five star crash were in the south after all so ‘when in it has just arrived even thou it’s been ratings, the European car of the year Rome’ and all that!) we pulled into the parked 3 feet away the whole time. Its award for 2008, the fact the factory parking lot and were the first to arrive the biggest complement I think that can’t build enough and that FIAT are but soon the other cars that were going you could ever tell the designers of the opening two new factories to keep up on the run with us arrived and I can 500 that to the average person in the with worldwide demand, the 64mpg see that the 500 is going to be fairly USA a 500 get more attention than an that I got out of it from Sacramento to outclassed by it’s fellow Italian three hundred thousand dollar super car San Francisco, the emissions that are brethren. We have a 2008 Lamborghini, Brett and I say our goodbye’s to our nearly as clean as a prius, the 12 week a Porsche 930, a Pontiac Solstice. I take travelling companions and are back on waiting lists in Europe... Everyone was a quick glace over at the 500 and I the road home leaving me a little very polite and listened intently but could swear that it looked a little nervous as Brett has hyped the route I’m sure by the end of the day people nervous but like all the small FIATs so much that I feel that I should of where avoiding me in case I started that I’ve owned it seems to have a prepared a will and possibly considered talking about the 500 to them! tough guts and a brave heart so we the last rights before leaving Atlanta. The awards were given out, the raffle soon set off with me at the controls and Tales from the 98 Fontana Freak out was done and soon the day was Brett being co pilot. over and arrangements made for the Soon we get into the mountains and following days drive into the moun- Brett and I swap as he is more familiar tains. Brett kept a sly smile on his face, with these roads than I am and we soon telling stories of the route that we’d be find that the 500 isn’t as outclassed taking after back to Tennessee over as we think. In the convoy the ‘The Dragon’. These roads apparently Lamborghini leads, then the Porsche, are now folk law for the driving gods followed by John in his X1/9 (who that manage to keep their cars on the knows these roads like the back of his blacktop for the 11 miles with over hand) and then our little FIAT tails three hundred bends. I felt a certain behind. Brett is well used to Italian uneasiness in my stomach that only a engines and keeps the motor spinning dodgy Mexican meal could re create near it’s limiter, swapping second to when I first heard of this idea as it was third like a conductor hot on the tail starting to sound like my trip to the of the 3 lead cars. I look out the rear Nurburgring in the panda that left me window and the Solstice is a distant well out of pocket when I left the road memory behind as our little three door to commune in a very expensive way economy hatch keeps up with some with the roadside barriers but Brett very powerful sports machinery

7 www.flu.org of Spiders being pulled from the foliage and X1/9 owners heading home after the first bend don’t in spire confidence but Brett has been over these hills numerous times in his X1/9 without incident so I think to myself ‘What is the worst that can happen?’ The roads get tighter and tighter and soon we’re at the biker stop of ‘Deals Gap’ where they filmed the end to the movie ‘Two lane black top’. I’m just hoping that our story will have a happier ending than the owners of the cars & bikes that filled the ‘wreck art’ like it knows the significance of being ing week. Brett and I motor along on tree did. Just a few feet from the door the first of it’s breed to take on Route the Interstate, skirting the legal limit of the diner is a tree covered with auto- 129 knowing that it got to show ‘Big when we get into our first speed trap. I motive parts pulled from the ‘Dragon’. Daddys’ mini how to do it. The needle look down at the speedo and see that I notice one fender from a 2003 Mini is bouncing off the limiter and Brett is we’re ok but I glance at Brett and ask Cooper signed by it’s owner ‘Big pushing the handling like a factory test ‘What’s the fines like round here’ and Daddy’ who came off, hit the wall and driver. 319 bends in 11 miles and the he says ‘Oh about 120 bucks…’ and on rolled a 360. He signed off with the 500 is enjoying everyone of them as that we agree that it’s time for the first words ‘No Pain, No Foul’. Secretly I I film the whole roller coaster for 500 in the US to get a speeding ticket as pray that the only 500 in the US doesn’t posterity while I get flung from side to we were near 21,000 trouble free miles leave any of its important parts on this side in the front giggling with and it was about time that I’d some tree by the end of the day... delight at how well the bambino copes drama to report back to the FIAT fans No sooner than when we weave our on this amazing road. The 11-miles fly in the UK. But try as we might the way thou the parked bikes that seems and Brett keeps hot-dogging the 500 Cops just had no interest in booking to surround the 500 like some sort of from corner to corner where even he’s the rampant Italian. I pushed all the invading army of ants we’re on the impressed how well it copes. In no way up to 100mph but there were no ‘Dragon’ and the 500 is giving it it’s all time at all it’s near the end of the run biters. Must have been the RHD and and I can’t quite believe that we made UK plates on the car that made the it! How Fiat can make so little do so ‘fuzz’ think they’d be just a little too much, all for the same price as a Chevy much paperwork in booking us so we Aveo is beyond me. This little 500 has just flew on into Nashville and the had to endure a lot with it huge 500’s date with it’s new owner. mileage and extremes of heat and On meeting jeff I get the feeling that altitude on it’s transcontinental trip but I’ve just met Willy Wonka of the what it’s just did on these Tennessee automotive world (for those of you road takes my respect for the car to a not familiar with the story, google the new level. One up on the 500 and we Roland Dal story and you’ll know don’t repeat ‘Big Daddys’ mistake, the what I mean), as we play for an hour 500 lives too tell the tail of the Dragon. with all his toys, the huge amphibious Next morning, after we’ve let our lander from the Vietnam war gets a wheels and brakes cool over night, we 500 parked inside it, we race go karts take the 500 to Nashville for it’s meet- in the basement, sit in cars that I never ing with Jeff Lane who is our mystery thought I’d ever see let alone plonk my buyer and intends to put the car into back side on, then Jeff brings a classic the Lane Motor Museum and make it 500 out of the museum and parks it the star of the 5th anniversary celebra- right out side the front doors and in- tions that they’ll be having the follow- vites me to bring my car up to park continued on page 9 * www.flu.org 8 * continued from page 8 The Fiat 500 Trek ends beside it. Brett takes some photos of for the afternoon. Needless to say we behind the rear window we head back the two cars and the two of us shaking pick the 1942 T87. It would be the one to Knoxville, taking my mind off the hands though the windows of the cars that looks like a cross of the batmobile loss of my new Italian friend who I’ve in front of the most unlikely meeting and Flash Gordon’s spaceship! left to an interesting new life a long that the museum has ever seen. I just can’t believe Jeff is going to let way from home. So the next thing Jeff has the keys to his 66 year old antique out on the my baby and says is what do you guys freeway but we don’t argue as Brett want a lift home in and suggests the gets in the back and I get in the front of Mitizubishi Evo but Brett and I have a this piece of gas guzzling art deco. different idea as Jeff museum has We’re out on the freeway in no time one of the largest collections of and deafened by the noise of the rear Czechoslovakian Tatras in the US. mounted air cooled V8 but none of it Jokingly we ask if one would be matters as we fly down the freeway available and quick as a flash Jeff turns looking like we had just escaped from and says ‘Which one would you like?’ some 1930’s black and white science We’re both left with our mouths fiction serial. Grinning ear to ear and open in astonishment that Jeff would slightly numb from the noise of the 60 let such unusual cars become our taxi year old air cooled monster buzzing

Editor’s Note: Dave’s travel story will appear in the next few issues of RICAMBI. This is a fantastic story, thanks to Dave Voss for taking the time to share it with everyone in FLU.

by Dave Voss

This is the third part of Dave’s incredible journey. Refer to RICAMBI #38 and 39 for the more of this story.

Now, since the autocross was scrapped, having an autocross award dinner might have seemed to make little sense, but there was actually a larger turnout than expected! It was another great Italian dinner with more colorful conversations with great folks that I'm so glad I had the change to meet. When it came time to present the awards, Mike decided that a sense of humor was in order, and he simply passed the box around for participants to grab one (without looking) and I was honored to receive a first place award, and in a 131 no weekend, travel plans for the follow- turned in for the night. As I became less! I'll take it, as it's very likely the ing day, and future event to attend. sleepy I thought of the experience of ONLY first place autocross award I'll Alvon and I were both planning to the past few days at the Freak Out ever receive! leave fairly early in the morning, and event, and I couldn't help but note the Back to the parking lot for so we said our good-byes to those that strong similarities between this event additional conversations about the we wouldn't see in the morning, and and the Oregon event. Each is focused

9 www.flu.org on the PEOPLE that comprise the "Yeah, just look out your window!" to head home just yet, as our next club, with the common thread of He was calling from the Burchette's destination was Shaun and Nanci's Italian car ownership and enthusiasm truck, riding with them to his next new home outside of Reading at the core, but not necessarily the destination, right next to me on the Pennsylvania. focus. Where the Oregon event has highway, as I had just returned to the camping, the Freak Out has a hotel, turnpike after filling the tank, and Chapter 6 - Pennsylvania and where the Oregon event has a apparently merged right next to them. Chris and I left Damascus Maryland campfire, the Freak Out has a Kinda funny really, because I hadn't just a little before noon, and headed banquet dinner. Both events host an really even noticed their large trailer for Shaun and Nanci's home in autocross, a group photo, presentation (and it's big!) much less that it was Douglasville Pennsylvania. We of awards, tales of club beginnings them next to me. It was good to see decided to travel on and history, and countless hours of them one last time before they turned rural roads so that quality conversion opportunities with south and I continued east. we could enjoy the great people. In spite of the differ- The drive through Pennsylvania rolling hills past ences on the surface, I can't help but and Maryland was especially nice, fields, farms, and feel that these two events are actually everything is so green and lush even through the Amish quite similar as each is held in in the middle of summer (very unlike communities found the same spirit, that being to bring most areas in the western states and in that part of the members of their respective clubs California!) and I arrived at Dullas country. It was great closer together. I'm thankful I finally Airport around 3:00pm to wait for to find so many in- made the effort to go to the Freak Chris' flight. Of course it was over an tersecting roads, as it Out this year after contemplating it hour late, but the air conditioning in- was quite easy to for many years, and I look forward to side the terminal following the hot 10 make a direct returning again next year. hour drive made the wait worth route between our departure and I was on the road the following while, and by 6:00pm we were on our destination, very unlike California morning by the time the sun rose, off way back to Maryland to meet up where a single missed turn in rural toward the next stage of my road trip, with the seller of the Acura Type R. areas can take you 50 miles or more continuing east to pick up a friend at The car was amazing, ten years old out of the way in the wrong direction! Dullas airport in Washington D.C. but with only 3900 miles (that's right, Every so often, traffic would slow for 39 hundred, not thousand) and when a horse-drawn wagon traveling down Chapter 5 - D.C. Diversion I opened the door I was overwhelmed the road, but even with these minor I left Pontiac Michigan following with a strong 'new car smell' aroma. delays, I think we made it in the same the Freak Out event on Monday Not a scratch or a blemish anywhere, time that we would have on the inter- morning around 5:30am, heading for and for all intents and purposes, this state, and I know we enjoyed the Washington D.C. to pick up my good was a ten year old NEW car. It didn't scenery much more. Again, I found friend Chris Millikan, who was flying take Chris long to decide that he myself impressed with how green the out to look at a car (Acura Type R) would purchase it, and so we spent a hills were, with forests, fields, and that he was thinking about purchas- while dealing with the paperwork for agriculture everywhere you looked. ing. Chris bought one new back in the sale, and found a local hotel to stay We arrived at Shaun and Nanci's 1997 when the model was introduced, for the night. home a few hours later and received a but his was stolen a few years later, In the morning, the deal was very warm welcome and were given and he always wanted a replacement. completed at the seller's bank and a tour of the grounds and the house He contacted an owner in Maryland arrangements were made to have the that they are in the process of with one and arranged to take a close purchased car transported back to remodeling. Since I live in a typical look while I was in the area with the California. I had initially suggested to California neighborhood with lots intention of joining me on the return Chris that he drive the car back, but that are too small for the houses that trip home. once I saw how incredibly clean it were built on them, I was envious of My drive to Washington D.C. was was, I agreed that having it trans- the size of their yards, not to mention pleasant and uneventful, expect for a ported was the right decision. Beside, the adjoining acres. The house is very call on my mobile phone a few hours this way I would have someone to big, the remodel work that they are into the trip. It was Alvon, saying talk to during all of those miles of doing is turning out really nice, and "Hey, didn't you see us...?" I replied driving between the D.C. area and when they are finished it will look "No, is everything alright?" He says California. But we weren't ready and feel years newer. I enjoyed seeing continued on page 11 * www.flu.org 10 So to recap the fuel related troubles But wait, there's more... The with the , it seems that the fuel restaurant was roughly the size of an pump had actually been the trouble airplane hanger, and downstairs there * continued from page 10 all along, in spite of the debris found was a gift shop of equal area, with some of the interior work under in the fuel system which led us astray. isles so tight and packed with construction, with some new and Apparently, the fuel pump was failing merchandise that it could easily take some old floor plan, as I used to very slowly in that it moved plenty of hours just to know what items were work as a carpenter, and therefore fuel when cold (or while attempting sold there! I found a few gifts for appreciate just how much work some troubleshooting through a family back home, and left with my remodeling can be! Shaun and Nanci disconnected fuel line!) but not when head spinning from all that there was are doing a great job with it. it was hot, in particular when the to see. Upstairs there was a bakery When Nanci arrived home after outside temperature or elevation selling loafs of their specialty breads her first day back to work, they became high. In thinking about this, and other items, many of which we decided that we should go to dinner it explains the nature of the break- sampled during dinner. The Shady at the well known Shady Maple downs, where after a while the engine Maple experience is an unusual restaurant. That sounded great to us, would run again, as much because it combination of high quality and large and so we began the half-hour or so cooled down a bit as for any other scale, seemingly contradictory in most drive. While we traveled, I heard reason. The vapor locking that instances, but not at this place. I'm about Shaun and Nanci's final episode occurred was also due to the failing told that folks travel from all around of difficulties with the Zagato, as it fuel pump as once it became hot it to go there, and it's easy to see why had more of the same fuel related could no longer maintain enough with all that they have to offer. After troubles as before while we were pressure to overcome the pressure we finished up with dinner, we traveling east toward the Freak Out regulator to circulate fuel back to the headed for downtown Reading to see event. Apparently, it quit running tank, and so the fuel just sat in that Shaun Folkert's collection of cars, again, similar to before, however this hot fuel rail until it boiled. I've never parts, books, etc. that is better known time it happened on the turnpike. So, experienced an electric fuel injection as the Garagemahal. Chapter the clock was now ticking, as the system fuel pump fail in this manner, turnpike's tow trucks will make sure but next time I see this set of symp- 7 - Garagemahal you get towed if you sit for too long, toms, I might just start by replacing We arrived in downtown Reading as they tend to frown on roadside the fuel pump first! Pennsylvania at night, and after a repairs. Shaun, of course, did not Ok, we arrived at the Shady Maple short drive on city streets we pulled waste any time troubleshooting, but for dinner, and I was a little curious as into a driveway in front of a rather this time burping the fuel pipe for any we pulled up to an incredibly large large building with a tall roll up door. signs of vapor lock did not fix the building, more like a convention The building is roughly (maybe problem. As he told the story, he center than a restaurant. We went in- exactly?) the size of a city block, an recalled that throughout all of the fuel side through a very large entry/lobby old warehouse from back in the day. related troubles, repairs, bypasses, area, and onto the restaurant, which Nanci dropped us off and headed and vapor lock burping, the original was only part of this large facility. At back for home while Shaun began to pump had not yet been swapped for this point I began to realize that this show us around. The lights in the the generic new pump that he had was a smorgasbord buffet type of res- main building slowly brighten as they carried as a spare since he purchased taurant, evidenced by the 100-yard warm up, and so Shaun began the it back in Idaho. With nothing else to long (well, maybe that's an exaggera- tour in the living quarters that used to try (or lose!) he installed the new tion, but not by much!) line of entrees, be his home. pump on the side of the turnpike, at salads, side dishes, breads, deserts, I was surprised to see that the night, in the dark, using bungee cords drinks, everything you could imagine apartments built inside this old build- by securing it under the car in an wanting to eat for dinner. In addition, ing were as large as they were, plenty alternate location to shorten the repair there were several grills in operation of room for an entire family, although time. Well, the new pump made with fresh fish and other meats ready probably more comfortable as a large the engine run again, and thankfully to serve. Well, taking just a small office given the layout. It would before the turnpike dispatched tow portion of only half the foods that certainly make a great area for truck arrived to enforce their flavor caught my eye resulted in having had entertaining, which we understand roadside assistance. way too much to eat, but every bite happens from time to time. Inside the was delightful. apartment are shelves with books and

11 www.flu.org other literature about Italian cars, time I could visualize the completion with that I never realized were upstairs is a large area set up to orga- of many of the cars and their partici- Pennsylvania Dutch in origin, but nize parts, and adjacent to the door pation in future events and shows. It I suppose it all makes sense since I'm leading to the main storage area is a is definitely a magnificent collection about a quarter Pennsylvania Dutch large board for visitors to sign. Shaun of cars, with potential beyond what I and many family meals and recipes invited us to leave comment, but I had imagined. But the incredible were passed down from my decided to wait until the end of the number of cars was just the beginning grandparents. I found it rather neat to tour, as I figured that my impressions of what there was to see in the discover these childhood meal had only just begun to formulate. Garagemahal. Along the walls were connections while spending time in By now the lights had become groupings of parts, engines, wheels, Pennsylvania. bright, and so we returned to interiors, etc. such that quite a few Following our late breakfast, we the main building to view Shaun's bare chassis could be brought into the headed back to Shaun's place for a collection of cars. Wow... there are a building and be reassembled into final good-bye and a sincere thankyou lot of cars here, so many that each is complete cars! Everywhere I looked, for having us and showing us around practically touching the next on all there was too much to see, and after for a couple of days. After just sides such that you need to plan a many hours inside I felt a bit returning home from being on the route through the building if you overwhelmed by all of it. I've always road for two weeks, and in the middle want to stand next to a specific car! As had running and project cars around, of remodeling their house, and I made my way through the building, as well as piles of parts for spares or getting ready for their first child, trying to look at everything, I realized future projects, but the scale Shaun and Nanci were as gracious and that many of these cars were not the of Shaun's collection really puts my accommodating as anyone I've stayed typical models that one might expect efforts to date into perspective! As I with, and it was a pleasure to spend to see at a gathering of enthusiasts, later wrote on the visitor board, I see time with them at their home. Thank but rather the more obscure and rare Shaun's visions and share his passions, You! models that many of us only read and I wish him the best of luck on all We left around 2:00pm and after about or see a picture of from time to of the individual projects that await taking a look at our travel atlas, we time. Shaun stated proudly that each their turn within the Garagemahal. decided that it would be a shame to be and every car in the Garagemahal has By the end of our tour it was this far east and so close to the Atlantic a story behind it, and so we asked getting really late (or would that be Ocean and not see it, so we looked for about the history a few of the more early?) and so it was time to travel a appropriate destination somewhere unusual cars in his collection, and he back to Shaun & Nanci's home for along the New Jersey coast. I thought quickly recalled information about another night's stay in Pennsylvania it might be neat to see an Atlantic previous owners, the acquisitions, and before beginning our westward travel lighthouse, so we decided on Sandy the future plans for each. The stories back to California. Hook, apparently one of the oldest were great to listen to and so we asked lighthouses in America. The drive about some of the other more com- Chapter 8 - Farther East through eastern Pennsylvania and mon models, and we realized that We awoke late on Wednesday across New Jersey was slow going, but those stories were equally colorful as morning and decided that a nice we made it to see the lighthouse just Shaun had retained an incredible breakfast in town might be a great before the tourist information center amount of detail regarding each car. way to spend our final hours with closed at 5:00pm. It's interesting to Shaun said it would be great to sit Shaun before beginning our return imagine what life must have been like down for about an hour in each car trip back to California. Shaun knew hundreds of years ago when this light- and write about its history, to which just the place to go, a favorite dinner house and the supporting grounds we agreed would be time well spent, that he and Nanci had been to many were all that existed on the Sandy if for no other reason than to capture times. We missed seeing 'Flo' but still Hook peninsula, as it must have taken the depth of knowledge that he has had a great meal, as I was encouraged days and days just to get there! I've al- for each of the cars in his vast to try scrapple, a traditional ways liked lighthouses and the history collection. Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast food. behind them, and so traveling the extra We probably spent several hours After trying a bite, I realized that I distance to see this one was well worth climbing (sometimes literally!) over had eaten this before, years ago when the effort. all of the cars, listening to all of the I was a kid, but I never knew that it After spending a while on the light- stories, and discussing the restoration was called scrapple. In fact, there house grounds, we stopped at the adja- efforts to be performed, and by this were quite a few dishes that I grew up cent beach to take off our shoes and put continued on page 13 * www.flu.org 12 these made the most sense, and we Finding an available hotel room hatched a plan. from the road as we traveled was chal- First we would drive straight lenging, and as we became closer to * continued from page 12 through to St. Louis, a planned desti- South Dakota the reason became evi- our feet in the Atlantic Ocean. This nation from before we began traveling dent. Bike Week in Sturgis was just a was a great spot, as the beach stretched west, before I picked up Chris from few days away, and the roads were a long way in both directions with the airport in Washington D.C., and in filled with motorcycles heading for the crashing waves and large shells all over fact before I left Napa a few weeks Black Hills region in parallel with our the sand, many types and sizes not earlier. A month or so before I left on planned route. Chris finally found one found on the Pacific coast due to the this long road trip, I asked my daugh- in Rapid City, and although we would rocky shores that break up larger shell ters if there was anything in particular arrive rather late, we looked forward before they can be found by beach that they might want a picture of or a to getting a good night's rest and a combers. Knowing how much our souvenirs from as I traveled across chance to clean up a bit. family likes to collect shells at the country, and they said they wanted me While in Rapid City South Dakota beach, I felt like I had hit the jackpot, to go to see the St. Louis Arch, Gateway on Friday morning, Chris and I and found a few choice ones to bring to the West. We arrived there around stopped for breakfast at the same res- back home. This beach was also great noon on Thursday and we were im- taurant where Shaun, Nanci, and I ate in that it offered a view of Coney pressed by the enormous scale of it. We just the week before. Ironically, the Island, Staten Island, the Verrazano spent some time at the park that sur- same waitress took our order, and she Narrows Bridge, and the New York rounds it, checked out the visitor center commented that she remembered me. City skyline in the distance. Although underground at the base of the Arch, "Weren't you traveling back east?" she it was a bit hazy, we thought we could and took quite a few pictures. asked, to which I replied "Yes, but now see the Empire State Building amongst Interestingly, one of the best pictures I we're traveling west." She remembered the taller buildings, and that was pretty took was from the highway as we en- that we drove old Italian cars, and neat. I've never been to New York tered St. Louis, as I was not able to razzed us about being 'adventurous' at City, but now at least I've seen it! capture the entire Arch in any other which I stated that her charming wit is Well, we couldn't travel any farther pictures taken from the memorial! what brought me back! It was obvious east, and the sun was quickly setting, Our next destination was Mount to all of us that we were joking in good so we marked the time and set out west Rushmore, my second time on this nature, and finally I said that I wanted for home. Chris and I discussed how road trip, but Chris' first time there. the same breakfast as last week, just to good an Italian dinner would be, and We figured that we could drive straight test here memory. She got it right! after less than an hour's drive, we through from St. Louis to Rapid City, Ok, on to Mount Rushmore, this found a really great restaurant with South Dakota and arrive late that night time (for me) in the daylight. No cere- fabulous service and terrific food. After to stay in a hotel. This plan worked mony to see this time, just the monu- dinner we were both stuffed and ready well, and my just ran and ran ment and the beautifully built grounds for a long nap, but we decided to drive for hours at a time picking up highway surrounding the area. It was impres- through the night by taking turns at miles and setting them back down. We sive in a different way during the day- the wheel and in the navigator's seat to were both getting a bit tired about half time compared to the night viewing, try and make good time heading west way through this stage of our journey, and we stayed about an hour or so tak- to our next destination, St. Louis and although we were trading off driv- ing lots of pictures, including a profile Missouri. ing and sleeping with each stop to fill of George Washington from the access the gas tank, some stretches of road road which I couldn't see at night when Chapter 9 - Traveling West were a bit tough to get through. we passed through on our eastward As we left New Jersey, Chris and I Windows down, windows up…stereo trip. We left the Black Hills area and discussed the merits of taking it easy on, stereo off…drive faster, drive traveled along secondary highways for a few days and seeing sights all slower…anything to add variety to through the desolate high country of along the way back to California, driv- break up the boring miles of night time Wyoming en route to Interstate 80 and ing on the interstates for a while to interstate driving. At times, we would on through Salt Lake City and into make good time on the front end of trade seats just to give ourselves an ex- Nevada. By this time it was Friday our journey home, or simply getting cuse to get out of the car and stand up evening, and we decided once again to back as quickly as possible to return to for a few minutes, ever mindful of not drive through the night to make good our families. After a bit of conversa- pushing ourselves too much, for safety's time across Utah, Nevada, and back tion, we decided that a combination of sake. into Oregon for the final stages of this

13 www.flu.org long road trip. Back when we left New was great! The added weight of an Chapter 11 - Finally Home Jersey, we realized that we would have extra passenger and a full of Chris and I rolled into Napa late the opportunity to drive a Fiat from parts, tools, and baggage settled the car Saturday afternoon, and it sure was the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and helped the handling in many turns, nice to finally be home again. As much as part of this road trip, and so the coast especially high speed sweepers. From as I really enjoyed this extended road was our next destination. there, we continued west on Highway trip and all of the fantastic people, 36 to Fortuna and then south along places, and experiences along the way, Chapter 10 - Pacific Coast Highway 101 through the redwoods I enjoyed the greeting that I received The road between Winnemucca and onto Garberville for a lunch stop. from my family (as they ran out to the Nevada and Lakeview Oregon was Now, I forget the name of the car before it was even parked!) even rather interesting, and could have been restaurant, but that's probably because more. I missed them a lot, and I think described as deserted if referring to the I was just too distracted by all of the my kids grew as much as the grass vehicle traffic in the middle of the antique signs, advertisements, older during the weeks that I was away from night, but in fact we were anything but license plates, sports caps, pennants, home. There was a list of household alone. I cannot recall ever seeing so etc. that were displayed all over the issues that needed tending to, but none much wildlife in a single stretch of walls, doors, ceiling, counters, and of that would happen until later, as all road! We saw deer, coyotes, cattle, tables inside. I've never seen so many, I wanted to do was enjoy being home, rabbits, and other smaller mammals or and it was only after lunch that I play games and read books with my rodents everywhere, and nearly every realized how quiet I'd been during the kids, have a nice dinner with my wife, mile or so we could see another set of meal, as my head kept turning to and sleep in my own bed. eyes shining in the near distance, wait- discover more and more in each place Apart from finding the souvenirs ing to make a break across the road in that I looked. After leaving Garberville, that I'd bought, I didn't begin to clean front of us. We nearly hit a few crea- we headed south and down the grade out my car or unpack anything until tures along the way, but thankfully on Highway 1 to finally arrive at the late the next day. As I emptied out the they were only close calls. coast where we looked out at the Pacific trunk I found items that I'd purchased We arrived at Goose Lake around Ocean. It was so nice to see the water, along the way and then forgotten sunrise and passed back into California the waves, and the rocky shores and about, like the new sweatshirt that I to see the familiar brown hills so cliffs near Fort Bragg and Mendocino, bought in Oregon that I would have common during the summer months an area where I've spent so much time worn while I was in New Jersey if I'd out west. We took it easy along over the years. remembered that I had it! Oh well, Highway 395 and 299 all the way into Although we didn't stop anywhere that's how it goes... Redding where we stopped for coffee along the coast, we did spend a few In reflection, this was undoubtedly and a break from being in the car. We minutes calculating the time we spent one of the best road trips that I've ever sat in the sun, happy to be so close traveling west from the Atlantic Ocean taken, totaling 8300 miles through 23 to home, but equally happy that our to the Pacific Ocean, which totaled states in 17 days while driving a Fiat. journey was not quite over yet, as we 64 hours by the clock, though only I've taken similar trips in the past, but were back in our own backyard, so to 48 of those hours were spent on the not on this scale or for this amount of speak, and we were very familiar with road. Although we were moving most time, and now that I've finally partici- the roads that led from the central of the time, it didn't feel as rushed or pated in the Mirafiori-Oregon-Event valley to the coast up and over the hectic as that little amount of time to Fiat- Lancia-Unlimited-Freak-Out- mountains through the Trinity sounds, as most of the miles traveled Event Iron-Butt, I'll definitely plan to National Forest. were on the interstate or equally fast do it again, maybe next year in my Fiat We left Redding on Highway 299 secondary roads. We were almost 128 Wagon if I can get it put together past Whiskeytown Reservoir until we home now, just a few hours left in time. With an entire year to plan it's had left the recreation area and most of between Mendocino and Napa on completion, I should be able to have it the traffic behind, and then I stepped Highway 128 through Boonville, past finished, but if the month of June rolls up the pace all the way to Highway 3 Mount St. Helena, and down into the around and there is still quite a bit of where we turned south and enjoyed an Napa Valley past acres of vineyards work left to complete, I might just uninterrupted run through countless with the sweet smell of grapes that tells have to shop for another Fiat again. I twists and turns all the way to Highway me I'm almost home at last. wonder if that excuse would work two 36. This presented the first extended years in a row. opportunity to explore the limits of my Thanks for listening! ~Dave Voss newly built 131 on an open road, and it

www.flu.org 14 Trivia, reminiscences, and data gathered over 50 years REAR ENGINE FIATS by Bill Shulz

HOW IT ALL STARTED My history with small cars goes back into the early 1940s. The first recollec- tion I have is of a “kid-scale” little blue car with an opening top and red wheels ‘41 Crosley and upholstery. It was crude compared to my parents’ 1937 Buick, but, gaaaah- ments, pedals, shifter and brake han- hhhhllee!, was it ever NEAT! dles, and switches. I’d get on my bony It was a ‘41 Crosley and was the knees to look at the undersides. I also summer runabout my grandfather’s tried squinting through the Crosley’s ex-boss kept at his place on Lake small vertical front slots for a peek at St. George in Liberty, Maine. He had a the engine, though without much suc- nice “cottage” at the end of the single- cess in the fairly dark garage. track gravel lane which went down On occasions, I would be invited for past the Liberty Inn at which my fam- a ride in this little machine to go to ‘50 DeSoto 4-door ily vacationed each summer, so I got to Banks’ IGA store or to check the mail hear and see the little car on a regular at Liberty’s unique octagonal post basis since it’s twocylinder chuff-chuff- office. These rides were such joy! chuff was easily identifiable. I’d usually The Kemps weren’t really into run to try to get a glimpse of it as it double-clutching and the little Dana went past and disappeared, being gearbox wasn’t synchronized. The chased by its little trail of dust. reckless abandon with which they If we’d walk down the road with the made gear changes manifested itself grease-topped weeds between the tire with much graunching of gears to ‘46 Olds Club Coupe tracks to the Kemp’s for a visit, I’d be accompany the throbbing and pow- granted permission to go to the garage drumming of the little Waukesha ered ferries that plied the waters of the while the “big people” did their “big air-cooled flat-twin. Hudson River. I bought a ‘46 Olds people” talk. You know, to a kid, b-o-r- This was really fun with the top Club Coupe — not exactly a Crosley- i-n-g. The Kemps also had a gorgeous down, the sun in your face, and the style “mini”— and that was followed ‘41 Packard with a custom wind in your hair and mechanical in 1955 by a ‘50 DeSoto 4-door with a body by Darin. It was yellow with a noises galore. Everyone seemed so hood that reached into the future. black top and black rolled-leather inte- happy when they were riding in or But the “minicar” yearning was rior and had swoopy cut-down doors driving the Crosley. about to manifest itself again and in a much like MGs did in the TC, TD, I finished my freshman year at very unusual way, one I could never and TF models. It was handsome, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and have anticipated and with a brand of beautifully appointed, and smelled started my sophomore year only to cars I had never even heard of, even delicious. drop out before Thanksgiving of 1953. though FIAT had been founded in But the real attraction was the I got a job in “downtown” New York, in 1899 and had even built cars— Packard’s little blue stablemate. I never having the opportunity to large, expensive cars at that— at an touched either car but rather peered indulge myself in riding both trains assembly plant in Poughkeepsie, New over door jambs at the seats, instru- and the last of those great old steam- York, between 1910 and 1912 as seen in

15 www.flu.org this Poughkeepsie Journal ad from masses with the production of its first 1911. under one liter engine in the “508” As you can see, the name is an Balilla which was quickly followed by acronym and at this time it still had the the “500” of 1935 with its 570cc side periods alluding to that fact. At this valve engine with an aluminum cylin- point F.I.A.T. was twelve years old der head. having been incorporated in Torino in The 500 also marked the entrance 1899 as “Societa¢ Italiana per la on the design scene of Construzione e il Commercio delle who had been charged with the devel- Automobili Torino,” or the “Italian opment of the 500, his first design This was the beginning of a long and Corporation of Turin for the project. In this car he showed his ability illustrious career for Giacosa who went Construction and Commerce of the to grasp the problem and devise a solu- on to be head of the Engineering Automobile.” Very soon thereafter it tion specific to it so well exemplified by Department, retiring in 1967 after a 40 was shortened to Fabbrica Italiana the annular ring which was not only year career described in his book, Automobile Torino. the engine/ mount but “Forty Years of Design with Fiat.” It wasn’t until 1933 though that also the mounting structure for the William J Schulz, Form 0610-1, rev. 2 FIAT started building cars for the front suspension.

* Fiat Freak continued from page 4 * Prez Says continued from page 3

meetings have already been held, new Membership Director. Jon has linked at flu.org. So get your Chi-FLU consisting of many more volunteers done a tremendous job for the club and Calendar and save the date! than were seen at several of the FFOs will continue on as Vice President. The holidays are a great time to in the recent past. Lack of help was a Mike Bouse has already brought a great reflect on the past year and look major headache in organizing FFO deal of experience and wonderful forward to the next. I hope that 2008 2008, so we’re anticipating one of the enthusiasm to FLU so we won’t miss a was a terrific year for you; full of good best-run, most exciting FreakOuts beat during the transition. If you have health, personal enrichment and ever. Watch the pages of this magazine any questions just E mail Mike at prosperity. On a personal note, I finally and the club website, as FreakOut “[email protected]”. moved into a new house in Greenville, information and registration will be We also have a new advertising South Carolina, just 15 minutes from posted early in 2009. Many of the bugs committee at FLU. The group includes the now expanding BMW auto plant & that plagued FFO2009 have been Kevin Barnett, Mike Bouse, Denise about an hour from our 2003-04 FFO addressed, so make your plans and Burchette and Marc Matzer. Their venue in Asheville. Finally there’s a reservations early! mission: To further advance the good parking place in the basement for As always, I send my best regards to promotion of FLU, to more effectively the X 1/9, a future (yet unknown) my FLU family, wishing you all a utilize the media outlets of FLU, and to project car and all the car parts, happy holiday season and a future advance the connectivity between the literature and Italian car stuff collected filled with love and fun. I’ve treasured FLU membership and those vendors (and stuff I refuse to throw away) over the relationships I’ve developed with who desire an effective dialogue with the last 30 years. The basement area so many FLU members, and look FLU. (also known as the man cave) will forward to turning wrenches, sharing FFO09 is going to be a great show! display old Fiat, Lancia & Alfa drive time, and just being surrounded We may even pass the record numbers showroom marketing literature, all by you…the best car fans in the from this year’s Anniversary show so FFO pana photos, my car models, world! don’t miss it! The date of August plaques and various memorabilia. 14-16th and venue at Valley Forge, PA E mail me if you’re down in SC so you Love you, love your show! Ciao! (near Philadelphia) has already been can stop by and check out the progress. set. There is information about the area Happy Holidays! John Montgomery, FLU President

www.flu.org 16 August 1983, Pocono International Raceway by John Hilferty

From the very beginning, we sensed that the first Fiat FreakOut at Pocono International Speedway would lead to a second and so on because of a This barely touches on the amount camaraderie that developed among Open letter to FLU members of old dealer inventories we have us, especially because of the cordiality One of the things I realized at the purchased, model specific repair made possible by Bobb Raynor and 2008 Freak Out is everyone knows specialists that we have taken over, Dwight Varnes, our patron saints. C.Obert & Co. as knowing the old or companies in Europe that we That first day, we were excited to Fiats. Yes, my first car was a , represent as their North American learn that Bobb and Dwight had and my father had owned Fiat 500s & specialists. arranged for us to join the drivers of Bianchinas for years before I bought So the next time someone tells you the other sports cars, like the my own car. And his everyday driver, C.Obert only knows the older cars Corvettes, Triumphs, MGs etc., in a which I still own & drive, was a 1968 sold here before 1968, you can tell few laps around this famous and 124 . But you also need to them that is untrue. I know the later thrilling race track. Lining up to get realize that my company, named Fiat cars also. And with all of the self onto the track, we had to go through Plus at the time, became an autho- imported cars since, we are learning the infield and gasoline alley. The rized Fiat/Lancia parts & service those also. connection was very near the entrance center soon after Fiat stopped selling The other thing I realized at the to the track. I recall a middle-aged cars in North America in 1982. We event is folks also told me something gray-haired woman who was driving continued as an authorized facility about how I was just a vendor. This is something like a Dodge Dart trying until the North American Fiat also untrue. I am as much of an to get to the infield, perhaps to visit distributor franchise was sold to Linea enthusiast as you are. My hobby just someone like a son or husband. Rossa. My shop repaired all of the went wild after I graduated from Somehow she got mixed up in our Fiat models Fiat & Lancia had college, and you got a normal job. party. Instead of turning off into the imported up thru their closing as an My hobby, knowledge, & love of Fiats infield she found herself in line to get authorized center. We were the & Lancias just grew so much that it onto the track, being pushed along by largest volume parts dealer in became my way of paying my bills, a dozen or so salivating owners of North America, and after the service and providing employment for other Spiders and X1-9s. We had been department of Fiat America was shut enthusiasts on my staff. I have devoted instructed not to pass nor exceed the down, Bill Clark directed all the most of my life to preserving our normal highway speed limit. Even service calls he got to us. wonderful cars, and to keeping the then our membership had a definite C.Obert & Co. is also the only parts and knowledge to service your Red Neck mentality. Those who authorized parts distributor in car available so you can enjoy yours defied the rules and pushed it up to North America that can buy directly also. 100 or beyond had smiles on their from Fiat in Torino. So even today, Whatever the needs of your collect- faces as the track manager promised mama still knows who Chris is. ing & preserving your Fiat family us that the run we took would be We also became the authorized automobile(s) might be, no matter “your #@$%#$&* last on this track.” Yugo parts & service center after Yugo when it was produced, remember C. The only car in our midst which stopped selling cars in California, and Obert & Co. is here for you. And we obeyed the speed-limit, no-passing before that we did all of the warranty will continue to be here. rules was the ashen-faced middle- repairs for the local Yugo dealership. aged lady. She left the track in full All with the blessing of the National Sincerely, terror. Later in the afternoon Yugo importer. Chris Obert we were visited by a massive

17 www.flu.org thunderstorm. The heat had been in have pondered if this kind of mental- whom everyone knows as “Third” the 90s with high humidity. Some of ity was a requisite for owning a Fiat are particularly sorry we cannot at- us became trapped walking back or Lancia. Whatever, stupid is as tend this reunion. We will be there in from the race track to the Fiat Corral, stupid does. We waded through the spirit. Also, Dave and Nan Myers, which was about a half-mile or so water and lived for another day. That who live up the road from us in away. Soaking wet, we hid in our night, we capped off a perfect day Vermont, send their regrets. For the cars until the storm was over. Then with our “banquet” --- pizza and record, we have six grandchildren the races resumed and we walked beer at a place which I recall as the now. Four of them are Third’s kids. back towards the grandstand to watch Ugly Mug tavern in White Haven. Our ‘82 Spider is still with us, though them. To get from the infield to the There were many positively warm now rusting away in the bottom of grandstand, you had to walk through memories of subsequent freakouts in our barn. Third’s famous chocolate- a tunnel beneath the track. We en- the Pokiness. When the actor, Paul coated X1-9 is doing likewise. Some tered, and discovered rain water Newsman, for instant, led the field day they will be returned to the glory about a foot or more deep in the tun- and won races in those heavy Thunder they deserve. In the meantime, keep nel. If common sense had prevailed cars. And when race car driver Bob the faith and have a wonderful time. we would have retreated, especially Boig, our friend and owner of the when discovering halfway through fastest X1-9 on earth, plowed into the the tunnel an electrical wire dangling wall before our very eyes. It was a into the water. Once again, a redneck very serious accident, requiring Boig to the rescue, who suggested that if to be airlifted to a hospital. We we ran real fast we could perhaps beat speeded his recovery with a basket of any dangerous charge. To this day I flowers. Elli and I and son John,

www.flu.org 18 Once each of the blanks passes through the duplicating step, we then move on to drilling the holes in the Howzit Made ? base of the unit. Two different size drill bits are used for two different The Michigan SHORTER SHIFTER diameter holes, based on the design by:by: MikeMike BouseBouse requirements of the transmission Flipping through the channels with long. Then the fun begins. We shifter arm. This work is also done, the remote control the other day, I ran experimented with about three dif- individually on the lathe. One part at across a cable T.V. show called ferent designs before we hit on one a time is loaded into the lathe chuck, HOW’S IT MADE. I thought particular design that made the most and holes are drilled to specific depths. I would let you all in on a short sense for production purposes, and A large quantity of a water based pictorial view of the Michigan still afforded the end user the shortest lubricating fluid is used to flush away SHORTER SHIFTER in a similar to the chips, and at the same time cool cable T.V. article. the drill bit. Drill too fast and you will The Fiat Spider and Coupe have a clog the drill bit with chips, as well as nice shiny chromed piece of stamped dull the bit. Dull the drill bit and you steel attached to the shifter arm of must stop production to re-sharpen their manual transmissions. That the bit. Push to hard and you can snap chromed shifter cover is approxi- the tip off the bit. Drill too slow and mately 7 inches long, with some older other expenses begin to build. Time is models being even longer. Over the shifter possible, with no cutting, money, even at the bosses’ machine years, many Fiat owners have grown drilling, or welding needed by the shop! The second hole is drilled tired of this long shaft, and have installer. The neck is cut for the identically to the first, to a different fashioned shorter versions for their threads, and then tapered back for a depth. own personal use. With the help smooth transition on the lathe. and encouragement of several friends Once the four foot length of bar has and business associates, I designed been whittled down to about eleven and manufacture a simple replace- shifter blanks we will feed the next ment that requires only simple tools section of raw stock into the lathe and to install; and with installation time repeat the process. A full 12 foot bar taking under 15 minutes. In case the will produce about 33 shifters. Here is car owner ever wants to revert back a peek at what the model looks like in to stock parts, this process can be the duplicating station. There is reversed in about the same amount of a stylus that follows the model in time and effort. Let’s look at the tandem with the actual cutting tool manufacturing process of this unit. First we start with a 12 foot length of stainless steel, 3/4 inch in diameter. I’ll leave it up to you to find your source for that minor item. Cut the raw stock to sections Once the holes are drilled in the small enough to be base of the unit to accommodate the accommodated by transmission shift lever, it is time to your tracing lathe; move to the Bridgeport to create which is a lathe built the holes needed for the mounting for creating repetitive on the lathe. When the lathe is hardware. It takes a little time to set production parts. For in motion, it looks exactly like up the digital readout of the our application that those T.V. shows depicting how Bridgeport. Exact center of the part means cutting the big a baseball bat is made….except locked in the vise, as well as the exact bar down into three we gotta perform several more end of the part are needed to locate equal pieces four foot steps. the correct measurements for the two holes that will be produced.

19 www.flu.org Fortunately, this tedious but impor- tant set up need only be done once, and the 30 some parts will be all pushed through this workstation one SHORTER SHIFTERS. We go back remains is to add the mounting after the other in about an hour’s time. over to the lathe department and grab hardware. Of course, we are using First the hole is cut in the exact a die handle and a 10mm x 1.25 die. metric set screws with metric threads. location with a center drill, and then Loading the units one at a time in Pack the shifter with a printed finished bored with the correct size a lathe chuck, we cut the very installation instruction sheet, and drill bit. important threads that the customer stuff it in a box to ship out to an will use to screw his favorite shift anxious customer. knob on. A generous quantity of Here’s a picture of the finished unit special cutting oil is used to lubricate installed in a 1980 Fiat Spider. Doesn’t and cool the part and the die; a slow it look fantastic? Why don’t you order speed is chosen to turn the part and one for your car today? Just contact cut the threads. A lot of heat is me at [email protected] and generated by cutting these threads. I will get you started on installing Cut too fast, and you could damage your very own Michigan SHORTER the cutting die or snap the end of the SHIFTER. shaft off the part.

When all 60 some holes have been drilled in precisely the correct location, the next step is to use a 5mm x .8 tap to create threads for the set screws that will anchor our part to the customer’s shifter lever. Get the tap directly per- pendicular to the part, or you’ll bugger up some threads. Not After all of the threads very high tech, but high tech is not are cut for shift knobs; always needed, right? turn the part around in Only two steps to go. We’re almost the chuck, adjust the done building a batch of Michigan speed of the lathe to about 1850 revolutions per minute, and with a series of finer and finer strips of emery cloth, polish the shaft so it sparkles. This step is not necessary for the function of the completed unit, but the customer sure enjoys a nice shiny stainless steel part. Each finished shifter is test fit on an actual transmission lever to insure the customer will have no problems installing the shifter on his/ her Fiat. Now that the shifter is nearly complete, all that

www.flu.org 20 by Lee Putman Chi-FLU’s First Ever Official Club Picture

I’d had this picture inside my head ever since I started Chi-FLU in June of 2007. Last year we didn’t have enough events to do it, and earlier this year we’d not had anything remotely close to downtown Chicago.

Giovanni runs AutoSprint in down- town Chicago, a longtime Ferrari, Masseratti, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, and Fiat shop. They do amazing work, and have one of the best selections of NOS parts anywhere to be found! Giovanni was one of the very first people besides Mike Bouse who encouraged me to start this club, and many of our first members came off his mailing list. Then Tim North posted this picture crossed. I talked our club photographer, Once Giovanni decided to join of his X 1/9: David Wittingham, into showing up Chi-FLU, and participate in the club I immediately peppered him with even though his Spider still wasn’t picture, we suddenly had some momen- questions of where/when/how! His roadworthy, and he even scouted the tum! Two days before the event, I was shot looked so absolutely perfect, that location at 7am on a weekend prior! I emailing the entire club, soliciting skyline matching our logo so well…I had Tim North calling the Planetarium specific members, and setting a VERY knew we’d found our spot! He told me to see if there was a “more legal” way of high goal of TWENTY cars! This was he took this picture at The Adler doing this. The official response was almost hubris in-and-of itself, as our Planetarium, on the sidewalk at about that there included a $1,500.00 “facility previous club attendance record was 7am on a Sunday, when no security or rental” fee, but that the sidewalk was ‘only’ twelve cars! That record was set Planetarium employees were around! city property, and driving on it would just a few weeks prior at our second an- Knowing that our club attendance still be illegal. nual BBQ hosted at Jeremy Burton’s had been better this summer when So, I planned the event for 7am, and house – which was our club’s one year people had at least a month to plan for kept my fingers crossed. A few other anniversary event! an event, I chose a Sunday that was events and one family crisis later, and The day of the picture I was up at about six weeks away, on a weekend I’d not checked RSVP’s for a few weeks. 5am, and I was outside warming up the that looked fairly open. Then we had a flurry of activity with car and wiping dew off it by 5:30am. At At first, we had little RSVP activity, new members, and a “New to FLU 6am I met Bill Discher and his X 1/9 at and what seemed like too little BBQ”, and a logtime friend of the club, Dunken Donuts where I picked up a momentum. On our club’s website, Giovanni D’Avola at LONG LAST “Box ‘o Joe”, and we set off for the city. (www.chicgolandFLU.com), I chatted joined our ranks! I was more nervous than I’d been in a up the opportunity, and kept my fingers long time, unsure of the weather, our

21 www.flu.org Enforcement vehicle to clear the area, smiled, and watched for his reaction as before I called, “GO!” David had given he sipped his coffee. “Make it THREE” out numbers to each car so that we’d he growled, and pulled away. “Come not repeat colors, and hopefully get the on people, MOVE!” I shouted as smaller cars centered. Drivers at the I turned towards the 2/3rds that were turnout, and the likelihood of getting end of the lineup guided the first already staged. I was absolutely caught. few cars into place as we tried to line convinced that the security guard was Looping around the next exit everything up nicely. Then, from already calling Chicago’s finest. “LET’s southbound on Lake Shore drive, we around the back of the museum, a TAKE THIS PICTURE!” picked up two other Fiats, and as we sleepy-eyed security guard’s car drove Hurrying at the end, we had the came around Soldier Field, we found up. My heart sank, and I felt like foresight to move Giovanni’s ’84 Spider another. These cars were all new to me! kicking something, as I signaled behind from the right side where it’d be blocked As we came through the museum by the statue. Sadly, we got flustered complex, I saw the colorful line of Fiats setting up the left end of the lineup. already waiting on us, and suddenly I Two white cars ended up side by side, realized we were going to have a and the X’s didn’t exactly get centered. GREAT turnout! Giovanni brought Nor did the normally beautiful Chicago his red 600 with suicide doors, AND an sky help out, it stayed overcast, quite ’84 Pinninfarina Spider! When Scott windy, and many people were getting Hay showed up in his amazing my back for cars to continue moving chilled. But before we knew it, the Scorpion, he joked that without his into place. Smiling as brightly as pictures had been snapped, and we “token Lancia” the rest of us were just I could, I leaned down to his open quickly had everyone back onto the “F.U.”! passenger side window and gave him a main causeway. Cautiously, with an eye As we waited for the last few strag- cheerful “Good Morning, Officer!” towards the entrance road, we took solo glers to show up, my nervousness in- Scowling, he gestured towards all the shots of cars with that perfect Chicago creased. We were attracting quite a bit cars, and asked, “What the hell are you skyline as our backdrop. of attention at this point, parked all people DOING?” “Oh”, I said, “Just Finally, my heart rate was returning along the causeway to the Planetarium. doing a quick club picture”, still smiling to normal as we all pulled past Soldier I’d also walked the area we wanted to brightly, like there was no worry in Field, turning right at The Field use for the picture, and it was quickly the world, as another two cars got into Museum to head Northbound on becoming clear that we might not have position. “You can’t do that, it’s illegal Lakeshore. We did it! enough room! We had NINETEEN to drive on the sidewalk!” he nearly Check out all our pictures in the cars! shouted at me. Prudently, I decided to “Photos” section of our website at www. Not wanting to wait any longer not mention his own car on the same chicagolandFLU.com or you can see before drawing the attention of the sidewalk. “Oh, golly, I’m sorry!” I said them at my personal picture site: local constabulary, we waited brightly. “No problem at all, Officer, www.flickr.com/photos/leeputmanjr/ for a Museum Campus Parking we can be outta here in five minutes”. I sets/72157607824660182/

www.flu.org 22 Customize your shirt with optional artwork of a Spider or X1/9! All items custom made with the 3 color stitched FLU Logo, or substitute the Spider Logo or X 1/9 logo in custom colors! Sizes are Medium, Large, X-Large, 2-XL. USA Shipping $5.95 for up to three items. International orders extra. VISA/Mastercard accepted. Call (864) 304-1337 for info.

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23 www.flu.org www.flu.org 24 Roamin’ Chariots Fall Tour ‘08

by Ron Conlon

We had our fall tour this weekend in Tahlequah, Ok. It is very like Missouri/ Arkansas with parkway-styled roads, rivers, lakes and forests. The fall colors are predominantly brown but the twisties were tight and slow or high-speed sweeps with no traffic. It was a good weekend and we did warm up the tires. I organized just the tour and the participants did the rest. 12 folks and 7 cars showed up and the Italians at the evening restau- rant got a big kick seeing them all in their parking lot. With only a rough idea of a route (what else is new for me), I went looking for the towns of Chewey and Chance that more likely were extended family ranches from what we saw. But there on the highest ground on a windswept plain surrounded by chick- en farms and cattle ranches was Cowboy Corner, a small gas bar/restau- rant/store. Most of the gas pumps were knocked over and locals arrived in

trucks to call the cashier to turn one It was a good weekend in a great area or the other on for fuel. The clean and the cars were faultless but for some tables enticed us to stay for a hearty exhaust rattles/buzzes that need some lunch of local beef and chicken. attention. The Zagato had a weak horn Somehow I found our way back the so we oiled the compressor and all was starting point in spite of very few road well when the cool Italian horn once signs. Even the GPS units were con- again was in full song. My drive to/ fused and useless. from was a treat in itself with half the On the return to the motel, we passed distance through the hill country. a sad X1/9 that was for sale. The Maybe next year we can seek out a owner got a big kick when we stopped lodge with cabins for more atmosphere in a bunch of Fiats to look it over. than the motel. I know we did not find the best roads. 25 www.flu.org The Trip to Roman chose the area to spend his days away Nose Park from town life. Jim and Allen met up early that by Ron Conlon and Jim Wagner morning outside of Mulvane, Ks. They had decided to take a more sce- nic route to Roman Nose to meet up with Ron rather than the high speed dash down the toll road. So they spun down old Hwy 81 into Oklahoma of children who did not miss the nov- and then followed OK51 to OK8. elty of three unusual sports cars. The roads were good and nearly The cars did not look out of place empty of all traffic making the drive but must have seemed a page taken pleasant and enjoyable with the con- from another era. They all performed vertibles. The roadside signs about well but not without some drama. rattle snake roundups seemed to keep The Spiders are all over 30 years old Allen on his guard and on the paths. and that is several lifetimes for any They arrived at the park early, thanks automobile. Ron’s trip home was As a personal indulgence, I have to some spirited driving and toured pleasant and more often than not the hatched a plan to explore more of the the lodge while they waited on Ron. trucks waved greetings to me in the state of Oklahoma in my Fiat Spider open roadster. He began to wonder with other members of the Roamin’ what they had in the shed for Sunday Chariots. So we scanned over the drives – an early Corvette or T-bird. maps and found a state park named He did not push the speed limit but Roman Nose that obviously needed enjoyed the clear air in warm but not our attention. Ron put out the word hot sunshine. While Ron cruised to see who would join us in a lunch through the small town of Newcastle, and tour of the park and the call was suddenly all power was lost. answered by Jim Wagner and Allen Momentum carried the car into a Lofland both of Wichita. They nearby parking lot with thoughts of promised to meet me there on We had a fine buffet lunch at the doing a roadside repair. It rolled to a September 21. They did, too. Lynette lodge and then drove the park to see stop with the car at a perfect idle but co-drove with Allen in their very nice the sights. It is not a big park but has with no gas pedal. A retaining clip brown Spider and traveled convoy- two small lakes and plenty of camp- had slipped up and the carburetor style with Jim in his plum colored sites. Trails are laid out for walks, linkage had disconnected. The clip version. They took off-interstate bicycles and horses. These swing thankfully not lost. This was likely roads, as did Ron from Norman. The around and over the gypsum bluffs. from recently filling the steering box weather was perfect. with oil that is close by the linkage. It Ron’s route followed Hwy 37 west to was back to normal before the song Hwy 281 north to Watonga, which is on the radio ended and the last few the nearest town to the park. He miles through the suburbs to home passed through a nice variety land- were without incident. scapes on the 2 hour run. Flat land At the park we planned our next prairie gave way to rolling ranches outing to see the fall foliage in with plenty of bison to see among the Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Thus we will cattle. Then the roadside flora got be exploring more of this state. taller and more forested as the high- way dipped in and out of the draws We walked a bit and pointed out and over hills to the bluffs that the best views while we drove around prompted lawmakers to designate the the park minding the low speed limits park. It is named for an Indian who and being acknowledged by groups

www.flu.org 26 here”. Since then, Tony has purchased a ’78 x and an ’80 X for parts. Sarina “Io e le gets to drive a stock 1987 X 1/9, which Tony spent two years restoring. The ’79 is a little bit too temperamental for Sarina’s tastes. Mie Auto” Tony enjoys being a member of FLU, and believes that the internet has by: Mike Bouse (Me and My Cars) been very helpful to all of us old car enthusiasts. He enjoys the www.flu. org forum, but insists that there just is no replacing hearing an engine run or face-to-face discussions while watch- ing a part of history rumble or scream by. Tony’s advice is to get out there with your prized possession, display and use your car. Tony would like to share this advice with his fellow club members: “Drive an X, own an X, then realize that one really isn’t enough. The purists want to keep the car just as it left the factory and are afraid to drive them. Then there are the modifiers that realize that this car has so much potential that to keep it stock is a waste of a great . Try it, you will like it, then you will be hooked”. ______Meet Tony and Sarina Kaluzny and sion. The rims on this car are a 1979 Meet Bruno. Bruno is owned by a their 1979 X 1/9. This trio hails from ONLY for X 1/9’s. The paint job is very new member of FLU, Henry Toronto, Ontario. They are pictured original, except for a small repair job Steinberg. Henry lives with his family here attending the 2006 FIAT FREAK due to a door ding incident. and this 1983 Pininfarina Spider in OUT. The X was purchased brand new Tony is toying with a Megasquirt Costa Rica. Henry found his Spider on at a nearby dealership, and currently conversion and a new stainless steel the web in Milwaukee and split the has 81,000 KM on the odometer, manifold with multiport injection. He $1,000 shipping expense with the 50,000 miles. If that sounds like Tony kept part of the ’80 parts car and uses seller in December 2007. Henry be- babies his car, don’t believe it. that for test fitting his engine modifi- lieves he is the third owner of this very According to Tony, this car is a per- cations so he can preserve that 1979 nice example of Italian Iron. The car former, a Go Kart that is street legal. paint job. currently has 27,000 miles on the ’79 was the first year for the 1500cc This is not the first, or the only X 1/9 odometer, and is currently Henry’s engine, which has been extensively that Tony and Sarina have owned. The daily driver. Henry is not new to Fiats, modified over the years right from the first X was a used 1974 that Tony liked having owned a 124 “back in the day”. dealer’s show room floor. A perfor- very much, even though it was under- Even though he’s been a lifelong en- mance carburetor and camshaft were powered. Tony fondly remembers thusiast of Fiats, college expenses installed before Tony took delivery. that the ’74 X was beat only by Volvo took charge of the finances; and that Since then, Tony has added 10.5:1 when it came to exceeding 1974 crash car had to be sacrificed for more pistons, lightened and polished and roll over requirements, thanks to pressing needs. connecting rods installed, and the its stiff uni-body. According to Tony, This car sports a K&N air filter, per- head has been ported; and headers “an X is always predictable, there is a formance spark plugs and wires, and a installed. He is currently running dual melding of machine and man, you al- performance exhaust. Henry has also radiators, a 40/80 camshaft, and ways know where this car is going to added shorter performance springs in a Weber 36 DCNF, with 9:1 compres- point when you push it, no surprises the rear. He is currently changing out

27 www.flu.org the original pistons and the clutch. Henry Spiders in the country. His favorite, to own does not have a favorite one item about someday, is an Alfa Romeo Giullietta this car, he likes EVERYTHING about it; es- Spider, but that will have to wait for a while. pecially the styling. Although the wife and For now, he loves his Pinin, but wouldn’t boys appreciate having this car around, it is mind a second one of these as well. definitely Henry’s. Bruno just sounded Henry doesn’t believe he will make FIAT right, so that is Henry’s reason for the FREAK OUT 2008 due to the driving dis- name. Henry is also very happy to report tance, but would love to have someone that although his sons are of driving age, conversing with him via email at bushikai@ they tend to drive some of his older hand- racsa.co.cr After all; he joined FLU for the me-downs, rather than the Spider. friendship and advice. forth to work; well, she’s still riding the bus, ______Costa Rica basically has a 12 month driv- and the Spider is in Pete’s garage! ing season; although some months are May I please introduce to you the brand Although the odometer has 85,000 miles more comfortable than others for driving new 1970 Spider of Peter Hanson, on it, the engine and drivetrain were rebuilt his Spider. As you can see, the car is of Berwyn PA. Peter and this car just came within the past 200 miles. Peter has not equipped with air conditioning, something together early last fall, acquiring the vehicle had enough time yet to get to know the that Henry finds very useful in Costa Rica’s at an auction in California. The car was car, so it remains un-named, but only for a 8 month rainy season. Seems that it gets delivered with several layers of shop dust time. Other than the rebuild, the car is quite humid, and the functioning air condi- (inside and out), most of the electrical sys- basically stock, with the 1438 cc engine, tioning comes in quite handy. Henry says tem disconnected, and a stench of var- and a standard interior. Immediate needs that Costa Rica has two seasons, wet and nished gasoline. But, thankfully no rust, for the engine include adjustments or dry. You’d better like lots of rain if you are good chrome, a decent paint job, and a modifications to the ignition system and thinking of visiting Costa Rica. As I write working engine (sometimes). A good some adjustments to the clutch. Long this (02/04/08) it is 22 Celsius or 72 scrubbing and dousing a wiper motor fire range, Peter is dreaming of dual Webers, Fahrenheit. Quite a difference for a was all that was needed to bring the Spider and 4-2-1 exhaust and maybe exhaust Michigan resident, where it is 22 F right back to life. When Peter found this car, he headers. An old body shop guy, Peter is now. And, according to his calculation, had originally been looking for something also promising an improved exterior before Henry owns nearly 15% of all the Fiat suitable for his daughter to drive back and FIAT FREAK OUT 2008; participants take note that Peter is throwing out the challenge. Fiats have been in Peter’s blood since his senior year in college (Villanova Class of ’78). His early graduation present from mom & aunt was a 124 Spider; while study- ing in Siena ! The European Delivery Program afforded Peter a one in a million chance to drive a Fiat Spider in Italy during the time when NO Spiders were available to residents. That summer, Peter toured every twisty turn he could find throughout Western Europe. No wonder Peter “needs” a Spider in his life today. Peter has had 10-15 different cars over the past 30 some years. Honda Civic, TVR 2500M, and a Honda CRV just to name a few. Quite a diverse collection you might “Io e lesay. Peter met his wife Nancy in his 1979 X 1/9 twenty five years ago. It was rough on him to part with that machine a dozen years ago after a wreck. Ever since, his itch to tweak, adjust, upgrade and modify the family buggy was just not the same. Yeah, Mie Auto”he added new wheels to this one, modified continued on page 29 * (Me and My Cars)www.flu.org 28 * continued from page 28

the air intake of that one, or changed the suspension of the other thing. But he wasn’t satisfied driving just anything. The twelve year drought between Fiats ended with this Spider dropping off the delivery trailer and Pete’s mind drifted back to some very, very fond memories. collection of a 91 year old Italian gentle- and a beautifully stitched head liner. Wool Peter has joined FLU to find other people man who had recently passed away. Sitting carpeting invites comfort, as do the power with a similar passion. As Peter says “You among Ferrari and Lamborghini machines seats. Of course, the center console sports can’t run down to the local dealer anymore, in the Toronto showroom, this little thing a radio blanking plate; no need for a radio and some of the great garages that worked just spoke to Paul; besides the fact that it when there is that beautiful engine to listen on Fiats, Lancias and MG’s are long gone.” was the one of the few on that floor he to. Peter is looking for folks to share Fiat prob- could afford. One of Paul’s favorite gripes about the lems and concerns with; people to share Paul says the car has a top speed of car is that he frequently gets pulled over by issues and resources among. Also, he 140mph, and can do 0-60 in 6.8 seconds. the police; no, he’s not driving too fast. notes that it is great to hear the stories of The Ferrari 32 valve V8 alloy block and The cops are just curious car guys with the other owners who’ve “Been there, yup, head engine has a displacement of 2927cc. power to invite Paul for a chat. Everyone had that happen too!” Welcome aboard, and a 10.5:1 compression; rated at 215 hp hears the Thema coming down the road, Peter! at 6750 rpm, with 210 # of torque at 4500 but look right past the sedan for a non-ex- ______rpm. The manual transmission is a five istent Ferrari. The Thema is a definite For approximately 8 years now, Paul speed, and features a power activated rear sleeper; stately sedan look, but with power Beevor has been dealing with his mid-life spoiler. The car has rack and pinion steer- to outperform nearly everything in the crisis in a fairly normal way; however, he’s ing, and MacPherson struts with coil springs area. really going to extremes with it. Can you and front and rear anti-sway bars. Paul Depending on the option list, this car imagine: first a 1952 Willys Military Jeep, runs 6x15 alloy wheels with 205/55 VR15 sold new in the range of $69-80,000. It then a 1973 Lotus Europa Special which tires. With only 2087# on those four cor- currently has 107,000 kilometers on the was sold for a replica 1927 Bugatti Racer ners, you can bet this 80.7” car can shoot clock. Paul is the second custodian of this and a 1965 Huron Formula Vee; which are down the road. Paul has changed the fac- car, which came to North America with an still in his stable. Paul has also recently tory silencer with a much louder Magnaflow owner’s manual and service records, all owned a 1983 Capri RS, and a 1975 MG system, which Paul enjoys. The change in written in Italian. Paul is really happy to Midget that he set up for autocross. The exhaust provides a little more pony power point out the 2001 Italian parking sticker family shares daily drivers“Io in a Saturn and a to the ground. e leon the windshield. Hyundai, and a Ford. Paul employs a young aircraft/Ferrari Paul enjoys the companionship and dis- But, Paul’s current joy is with his 1989 engine mechanic who manufactures his cussions at www.flu.org If he could change Lancia Thema 8.32. This car was imported own specialty tooling for tune-up and our forum, he would do so by encouraging from Italy, originally purchased by a 79 year maintenance jobs on this car. The young more folks to participate in the discussions. old Italian gentleman, and ran by him until man is nimble enough to perform some He is looking forward to meeting fellow he was well into his nineties.Mie Paul has only pretty cumbersome tasksAuto” while the engine club members in Ludington this fall when owned the car for a few months, but it is is in the car; most mechanics needing to we get together for FUN (Fiats Up North). quickly becoming his favorite; a definite pull the engine for these jobs. keeper. This car came to(Me Toronto when an Theand interior is no slouch systemMy either. Cars) exotic car importer spotted it in Germany, Leather wrapped dash and door panels, where a French broker was advertising the wood dash and door caps, Alcantara seats

29 www.flu.org www.flu.org 30 FLU Membership Presorted First Class 3258 Scioto Farms Drive Mail US Postage Hilliard, Ohio 43026 PAID www.flu.org Columbus, OH Permit No. 4416

FLU Book Review... by Brett Melancon came to be one of our favorites. Over 6.5 million of these cars were I recently had the opportunity to read sold worldwide and there is not a a very informative book that covers the place on earth that has not been long and illustrious history of the popu- visited by a variant of these lar Fiat 500 and 600 series cars. This autos. wonderfuly produced, hardbound The book goes into details book, covers all of the models from about how coachbuilders the 500, 600 range including many of would take the basic car and the derivitives. do wonders with it. From the Thanks to Veloce Publishing for numerous special bodied providing another historically sigificant Fiats to the Abarth wonders, information source. This book written Fiat had a winner with this by Malcom Bobbit features numerous line of cars. They had color and black and white photos along created an economical, fun mode of with relevant factual data and specs that transport that has not been beaten since detail the long production run of Italy’s it was introduced. ingenuity that went into these timeless “people’s” car. Books like this are a must have for designs. I must recommend this book The concept photos and drawings any Fiat enthusiest’s collection. Even if and encourage you to once again visit were enjoyable to see presented along you have never driven a Fiat 500/600 Veloce Publishing’s website at with the unique story of how these cars based car, you can appeciate the www.veloce.co.uk.

You may also register online at www.flu.org � COPY OR CLIP AND MAIL WITH CHECK PAYABLE TO FLU � FIAT LANCIA UNLIMITED (FLU) MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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Indicate Chapter Affiliation:______(Choose from list on page two) FLU needs you! Re-up your membership today. ____ Single Day FLU Membership $5 Date: ___/___/___ Chapter: ______Simply fill out the form on the right or go to www.flu.og and sign ____ FLU One Year Membership $35 Make Check payable to: Fiat Lancia Unlimited up using our secure website, it is really that easy. Support your Mail to: FLU Membership club and make it better by getting out and driving your Fiat! 3258 Scioto Farms Dr, Hillard, OH 43026

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