Dixie FiatFest report

[ga.spyder]

We just got home from the best car event that I have ever attended.Some great cars,events,and some truly awesome people!! Instead of polishing our rides and parading into a show...we drove the crap out of them.That is my idea of what these cars were built to do.We had people from Florida,Georgia,N.C.,S.C.,Virginia,Tenn.,Maryland,Wash. DC,Indiana, and even SoCal.Some of the people familiar to this forum were baltobernie,4babycar,racydave,aceventura,denise,and myself(hope I got everyone).The best thing was everyone brought their wives and kids, and they all participated.
Friday Ace ,racydave and I adjusted the valves on my car,and did some work on one of Denises X19's.I neglected to tighten the cam covers adequately,and ended up with a mess!! We went back to the hotel and met at a historic restraunt,that once served George Washington.Had about 12 Fiats.The highlight was watching all of us run out of there at full speed when a sudden clouburst saturated all our(top down) cars. We then left for Greensboro indoor karting center for some serious cart racing.What a blast!
Saturday morning we had a 9 am drivers meeting and then the ''Fiat Mini Migilia'' rally .We had 20 some cars for the event.It was 3 hour jaunt through some beautiful country with some extremely challenging roads.I had a great navigator(my daughter,Heather) and we never missed a turn.We only managed a 8th place finish,though. The rally finished at Denises house where we were treated to a real Southern bbq. After that ,we took a tour of Dick Baers metal shop.He is in the process of hand forming a street legal F1 car with a sbc motor.Unreal!! Then to supper at the Celtic Cafe,a great Irish pub.After (too many) beers the owner came out to thank us for the crowd!She was a red haired Irish woman with a thick Irish brogue accent in a green dress.All of which prompted Denise to ask..."Are you German?" It brought down the house.Then back to the hotel for more beer and parking lot stories.
Back up at 9 for drivers meeting and the autocross with the BMW club.They seemed a little snobby at first,til they found out our cars could run as fast or faster times than their Bimmers.We had a pro solo guy there and he helped with some tips.He took Denises car out and posted the days fastest Fiat time..a 48 second pass. Denise and I were neck and neck with consistent 49 sec. runs.I took a load of pix and I will get them up soon.Truly a fantastic event..thanks Denise and Carolina FLU!!

[narfire]

The only thing I can think of at the moment (chuckling as I have a Guiness open) is" Beam me over Scotty"
The car show in Penticton this weekend was dullsvile compared to what you experienced.95 % detroit iron all really nice but perhaps 5 off- shore that were worth looking at.
Wonder if Tonyfromjersey could get the keys to the 135 and take the bladders out,gotta be able to get a few fiats in there.Perhaps next year.
Looking forward to the pics.
Chris

[4babycar]

I couldn't have said it better myself! I just wish we could have made Friday night. All four of us went on the Rally Sat. we managed to finish last but had a blast. Lunch was great and a perfect example of southern cuisine. Unfortunately, we missed the shop tours due to some tired kids (and adults). Dinner was also great but the parking lot chatter was btter. We didn't participate in the Autocross Sunday but I can thank Todd for a quick spin around the cones as a passenger in his X1/9 - thanks to Kevin for the helmet. This was our first Fiat event and are hoping to figure out a way to make FFO. We too took quite a few pictures, check out the link below. I will have to apologize for my daughters being in most of them but they were captivated by all of the stunning cars and both picked out their favorites. RacyDave's orange spider was the envy of my oldest while John Montgomery's red X1/9 stole my youngest's heart. Although my wife hasn't come right out and said it she has been talking quite a bit about Denise's and Craig's spiders. I think she is really just trying not to hurt my feelings (Anybody willing to do some painting and bodywork? So my wife won't try to fall into the seat of another spider. ). Again, one of the best weekends in a long time with some great new friends and families and I couldn't have asked for a better first Fiat event. Thanks everyone for a great weekend! I hope to see you all again next year! (Hint, Hint, Hint.......... Denise.)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 71bc61c2ac

[Europa]

Craig,

Thank you for the update. I couldn't make it this time. I was eagerly awaiting someone to provide details of the event and post some pictures.

4babycar, thanks for posting the first set of pictures. (you have beautiful daughters!).

I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures so that I can vicariously relive the event.

[ga.spyder]

Some pix from one of our cameras
Friday dinner group



Autocross,etc..











Following racydave



My baby girl,Heather

[ga.spyder]

Here are some more from Sat rally
my wifes ride for Sat!!



drivers meeting and start

[rlux4]

Fantastic job Craig and Jen(?), (Not sure which Staton did the great job on the posting) Thanks for the pics guys.
I talked with Ace for a couple of minutes today, he couldn't talk a lot, he and Denise were under the X that he drove. Perfectly innocent, I'm sure. Something about him almost destroying it in the autocross?
Ron

[mdrburchette]

Actually, this is the first time Ace has driven one of my cars and didn't break something! We were working on the inop dash lights and he finally gave up and decided a flashlight wasn't such a stupid idea.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed the event here in W-S. I wanted an event where we could enjoy driving our cars and still have a layed back time. I want to thank my local Corsa Rossa car club and my husband for helping me with the rally and autocross. I couldn't have done it without them!

I also wanted to thank everyone that came. I've been a Fiat fanatic for many years and I still can't get over all the great people these cars draw. You guys are the greatest and you're welcome to my neck of the woods any time!
Hey, maybe we can do it again next year!

[Elial]

Well it was SUPER! My Co=pilot (Cubby) had a great time. I want to thank all of you that took her in hand and cared for her. As Ga spider said ; this is what we need to do with our cars. To be able to have some off road time at the auto-X was reallly extrodenair! We never get the chance to spend time to see what our cars and us can really do! Spending time refining driving skills.

To Denise: really a great job of putting this weekend together! As you said it was the things you liked to do.
HATS OFF ..TO YOU GIRL!!! We like that stuff too!

[racydave]

Wow, that was fun! We just got home and now I can say that our Fiat ran like a champ! We got a little wet once, as it was the first time in the rain with the new top. Construction always seemed to be on the other side of the highway, and we were lucky missing any incidents or traffic woes. My left arm seems quite alot darker than my right. We had the best of times, and managed to put faces to our on-line buds. Denise was the best hostess, and Ron was most hospitable. I could not think of a better way to spend my vacation time. Most of all, I will always treasure the picture of the Stanton girls with my car. I will print it and place it at my work station. pics later, sincerly RD

[ventura ace]

From Maureen and I:
It was great spending the weekend with all of you. Friday morning, wrenching with Dave, Craig, and Burchettes. Friday night, watching Amber Burchett kick a$$ at the local Go Kart races (Amber took 1st in the prelimiary, and again 1st in the main event, with Ron Burchette heading up the team), magnificent Rally ride on Saturday, followed by a relaxing cookout, and fascinating metal forming tech session, Great Dinner on Saturday night, followed by longstanding traditional parking lot BS session. Sunday's autocross was my first ever racing event -- thanks to all that put it together.

Thanks most of all to Denise and Ron -- my words cannot express my apprecition for your success in hosting this grand party. I hope this becomes an annual event!

Alvon

[mbouse]

wish i coulda been there.

i wonder why no one would give my good friend Dave a chair?

[racydave]

I was so tired from the marathon following the bodywork that I enjoyed just helping, and spending time with Alvon, Ron, Craig, Denise, and everyone. Its gonna be great not having a deadline over my head again! Alvon, Craig and I must be cousins! Ron and I seem to have much in common, and spent alot of time lookin around and B\s-in. I got to work on my first X as Denise was tired of havin coolant leak on her feet. She really needs help with gardening thou... It was fun watchin Alvon auto-cross, especially drivin the Mc-Laren replica. His smile was so large that his helmet would'nt come off! We talked with Ron L to fill him in on Sunday, but neglected to tell enough Ron stories. Proudly we were the second ones to arrive and the second fron last to leave! Well, back to my normal boring routine. Again, thanks to Denise and Ron, and congrats to a perfect event!

[baltobernie]

Just under one thousand miles for us (a mere grocery run for Ace), and Gina ran great. Drove down with John & Nancy Erskine, and we knew it was going to be a great weekend by the time we got to our first rest stop!



A fantastic effort by Denise and Ron; more than enough things to do, so there was something for everybody. We hope to see all of you, and those that couldn't attend, at FFO in August.

[mdrburchette]

It was great to see you and your wife, Bernie. Wow, I see someone actually got a pic of my cool Fiat flag, courtesy of the DC Fiat crowd. Thanks guys!