New from North Carolina!

[JacobSimon]

Hey all!

This past week I became the giddily excited owner of a 1982 FI spider. As the Gods must be playing tricks on me it has rained every day since. Ive managed to sneak in a few topdown rides when the sun peeks out, and I'm already having a blast. The car (Princess Fiona) is in pretty good shape. Certainly no show car, but no rust(former Cali car), good engine, horn and turn signals work when they want (ill be asking lots of questions to you mechanical/electrical gurus!) and a 10 foot paint job. I'm currently in grad school, so the goal for now is to keep her running happily, but there will be no sinking big money in for a while. It has been really great to find this forum and see what an active community there is! It seems like the spider evokes strong memories in people. A couple of days ago when I came out of the grocery store a gentleman was checking her out, said his 75 was one of the best cars he has ever owned. Asked to see the engine and ended up spending a half an hour giving me a crash course on the mechanicals. (His wife, about two minutes in said "so i guess I'm shopping alone?" he responded "if thats ok with you honey!
So I am by no means a mechanic, and ill probably ask a lot of basic questions, but hopefully my enthusiasm will make up for it!

PS...kinda funny, Fiona and I are the same age!

[dmwhiteoak]

Hello and welcome . This is a great site for all that is needed to keep her running smoothly. Stay active on the forum and you will meet some good people to to help Fiona in top shape.

[RRoller123]

Excellent! Welcome aboard!

[GeorgeT]

Great "anti-theft" device!

[JacobSimon]

ha! Moses is not too much of a theft deterrent unless licking you to death is a deal breaker!!

[JacobSimon]

First longer drive yesterday! Took Fiona out to Saxapahaw, a lil mill town by the river turned artist community/getaway dinner spot near chapel hill. She ran beautifully! Forty miles of top down glory! SO happy! The one problem is finding a parking spot close enough to the bar/coffee shop where I can stare at her as I sip my beverage

[baltobernie]

Hello and Welcome!

Nothing like your first drive in a vintage roadster, is there? There's a national get-together in July where you can meet hundreds of fellow enthusiasts. Your car need not be "show car" in appearance for you to feel welcome. This year the event is in Charlottesville, maybe a little expensive for you (know anybody in UVA that can billet you?), but every Spider owner should attend at least one Fiat Freak Out.

[JacobSimon]

I have seen the information about FFO and it looks like so much fun! Again, the active community and passion that people feel for their fiats makes this new endeavor so exciting to me! Sadly I have already committed to going to friend's wedding in denver on the 4th, otherwise you better believe I would be there. (how inconsiderate of her, no??)

Ps as far as staying somewhere goes there is a great website called "couchsurfing.org", in which you post your own home as a hotel alternative to budget minded travelers, so that when you are traveling you have an entire community of people who are willing to host you. Its a great way to travel cheap, get the inside scoop on a new place and meet people who can show you around, or at least give you restaurant recommendations.
Jake

[baltobernie]

Maybe when I was your age, Jake, but now the Courtyard is "roughing it".

There's also Dixie Fiat Fest in Winston/Salem. Denise should be making an announcement shortly. Usually in early Sept. Very well organized and a lot of fun.

[mdrburchette]

Welcome, Jake! Fiona is a beaut. I know you'll enjoy her for many years to come. Part of the fun of owning a Fiat is getting to know the car inside and out and I'm sure the opportunities will present themselves. You've stumbled across a great forum with a bunch of awesome people willing to help you through it all.
As Bernie mentioned, I'm in Winston-Salem. We have a local car club that does several wine tours, rallies and car shows. We're a laid back group that just enjoyes our vintage vehicles. I am also a member of the national Fiat club, FLU, and also organize the Dixie Fiatfest, held on Labor Day weekend in Winston-Salem. The Dixie Fiatfest is a fun filled weekend of driving and comradery. If you're interested in getting together with fellow car enthusiast in our area, email me at spyderlady71@yahoo.com for more info and congrats on your new car!