Fiats and Porsches

[kilrwail]

Some of us take some good-natured kidding here about Porsches. And we’ve all seen the Spider sporting Porsche decals, trying to be a pretender. I thought you might get a kick out of my experience today with a whole paddock full of Porsche owners.

I went up to Calabogie Motorsports Park in the Spider to see my Porsche club friends, who are there for a three-day driver’s education event. Normally I’d be on track myself, but my motor’s broken. It has been a picture-perfect early fall day here, without a cloud in sight, but a little cool.

I was at the track for about an hour, chatting with friends and watching the lapping. During that time, several people were curious about which car I’d brought and began reminiscing about their experiences with Spiders. When I decided to leave (so I could enjoy the sunshine on one of the Ottawa Valley’s great roads), I drove around where a lot of people gather to watch the cars staging in the pit lane. No fewer than four people came over to the car to stop me for a chat, including the club’s photographer who can never resist a “different” shot. They all admired the car, asked what year it was or told me the story of the Spider they used to have. Most are people that I know pretty well, but not all of them.

To me it was a classic illustration of the visual appeal of our cars, of the lasting memories they create and of the emotions they stimulate in everyone who sees one or has owned one. Even those with $150,000 GT3’s. And it was a perfect day for a top-down country drive.

[NebraskaSpider]

Its moments like that, that make the Fiat spider such a wonderful car.

[ga.spyder]

Hey Peter,
Do you think if I brought my 77 to one of your Porsche events,someone would want to trade???? They could eye up my Spider,while I drool all over their Porsches!!
Craig

[kilrwail]

Craig - Why not give it a try? Go to VIR Nov 6-8 and take your pick! I would be all over that if I could, but it doesn't look possible

[mdrburchette]

That's an awesome story Peter! There is a certain appeal that many of these cars share with others.

[narfire]

Peter, I had a smile today thinking about your story.
I was down at the local general store this afternoon,, picking up a bottle of wine,kinda road test the fiat after changing a leaky injector hose, when the fellow accross the street,standing next to his 928, gave me a smile and a thumbs up.
I did get a wave from a Miata on thurs. The fellow had a smile peeking through the grey beard.

In the past I've been bemoning the fact there are not many fiats about here in the south Okanagan,but the past two weeks they are comming out like fruit flies on a ripe pear. At the pub on Friday, a local realtor came up and said he has one in his carport,has'nt run in 5 years. Well lets get on it,one more to look at. Recieved a call/message, "I was talking to so and so and he said you have fiats"... "I've just bought a Lancia Scorpian and a 79 spider and I want to do an engine swap". He's here in Naramata as well,then mentions his parents have an 850 in great shape with 40,000 kms down the street from me. There's one 20 kms south and a couple in Penticton as well. Things are looking up,the climate here is just fine for the cars for 10 months of the year.