pix from the Best of France and Italy Show

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:16 pm

here's the link to todays' show. Very good turnout. I tried to get pix of all of the Spiders there. The Ford/Fiat showed up, so I've included several shots of it. It's an outstanding conversion. Also included is two French cars, just because they were pretty unique.
The retractable hardtop is a 1938 Peugot 402 and was voted Best French car at the show. The other is a Delahaye.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welc ... Cw&notag=1

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:48 pm

Beautiful cars, looks like a warm sunny day! How was the run?

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:41 pm

it was a hot day. lots of cars with long lines for food and drink. this show just gets better and and better.met some really cool people.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:58 pm

I didn't make the run. Perhaps someone that was able to go will respond. The level of preparedness of the Spiders there was impressive. It was by far the biggest turnout of Spiders that I've seen at the show. I'm always surprised at the number of owners that show up that seem to exist in their own little world. They don't participate in forums or most events, but they have nice examples of cars and come out once a year.

TVST*R · Post by **TVST*R** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:29 am

Sorry I missed it....thanks for the pics....

It would have been nice to have met some of our locals.
T

ICF · Post by **ICF** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 1:59 am

What a gathering! Over 30 Lancias and over 50 FIATs! And there were probably another 30 or so in the parking lot.

Terrific venue: On grass in a great park. Well organized and attended.

So. California enthusiasts- especially those with Lancias and FIAT cars- are to be congratulated. What an outstanding display.

And the enthusiasts in California are as excited about the hobby as those ANYWHERE. Thank you for your hospitality in making this Texan feel right at home.

-Jerry Lee Phillips
817 521-4400

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:03 am

Look like a great time. Thanks for sharing your pics, Mark. Maybe I should move to SoCal so my car doesn't feel like the Lone Ranger. I'm beginning to think all the early bumper cars are on your side of the world.

CoupeFan · Post by **CoupeFan** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:24 am

Jerry,

It was a pleasure meeting and talking to you. Thank you for coming out. And thank you for the Spider Challenge.

cecat · Post by **cecat** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:13 am

Mark and Rey, your correct it was a great turn out, tons of people showed up, it was hard to look at all the cars, while your socializing with old and new friends. The run was cool, three spiders and a 124 coupe drove down Mulholland to PCh for a snack and a beer. I'm amazed on the amount of spiders that showed up and i know there where a lot that didn't go. We seriously as a group, need to get something going next year.

Jerry & Bob, thanks for coming out to sunny California. It was nice having breakfast with you guys. Thanks for the shirts and sodas. You guys were great.

I thought the Fiat Club, would reserve the front for the spiders, since we were having the BSC, instead of having us park in the back. I know it was shadier in the back, but the exposure to the public, and the BSC would have surely have us designated to the front. I tried to park in the front, but Merkel's had us park 6 aisles back. It appeared that he was putting the rear engine, mid engines and his cars first, then back filling with 124 spiders, and coupes. What was that about.

Why is it that the X's, 500, 600 and even the Lancia's want nothing to do with us, we never gone on a run with them or even socialize with them, they blow us off every time we ask them to run with us. I vote we start a new club, with only front engine Fiats. If anybody is interested lets email each other, and figure on starting a club. Lets get some runs going or charity events as a starter.

Pictures:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welc ... zw&notag=1

More Pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/90159795@N ... 362725380/

George
cecat@hotmail.com

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:14 pm

I'm in, let's get it going.

Gerard Del Monte · Post by **Gerard Del Monte** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 12:21 pm

Mark, thanks for posting the pics. I just love the effort the owner put into modifying that Ford/Fiat. That is a SERIOUS roll bar! Also liked that green car with the lucite steering wheel, and that sleek white beastie with the headlights behind the grill. And <sigh>, that Dino...

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:18 pm

Those French cars from the 30s are just works of art.

racydave · Post by **racydave** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:37 pm

Here in the MidWest we just show our cars tween the corn stalks. What a kickass show! Ive never seen a 8V in person, let alone 2!!! And what was that unfinisher Ghia lookin car? Glad to see there was one old Cabriolet. Owning diff Fiats and having diff affiliations Ive noticed the differences between the "front row guys, and the cars put to the rear. Also seems to be a diff in who restored their car or cars bought/folks. You will always pull up to a stop light and have a nicer car pull next to you. The same is true in clubs and such. I went to a party with some new "Italian" friends. There were 2 neat old Alphas, beautiful restos, and the host insisted that I parked the Spider with the other sports cars (Ferarri, Lancias, etc). I felt very out of place, but most folks there were more than friendly, made me feel welcome. Its good to have a big club with a variety of cars, is also good to divide into splinter groups and do your own thing! To heck with the "bigboys" Im going to have my beer attitude and who cares? The best thing about the CA show was quanity and variety. Thanks for the pics, I enjoyed lookin!

fiatS2000 · Post by **fiatS2000** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:37 pm

cecat wrote:Then next year we can represent our own club at the park. It my new years resolution for next year.

George
cecat@hotmail.com

The problem with that is that the Best of France and Italy is Co-hosted by the club formely known as the Rear Engine Fiat club(so i've heard or read, don't remember) The new club that we start would still have no say at the BoF&I.

HOLLYWOODSPIDER · Post by **HOLLYWOODSPIDER** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 8:11 pm

We may have no say in the runnung of the event, but we could all have sweet matching satin jackets with our names embroidered on the back. Let's call ourselves the Vicelords.

What do we need the rear engine Fiat guys for anyway? Aside from friendship, they don't have much to offer us. It's not like they've got parts for us or anything. And I'd much prefer the shady back area to the "front" of the Fiat zone.

Is there a way to suggest more/different food concessionaires next year? The lines were so long that I left the show to get food elsewhere. I kinda assumed that the food would have a french/italian theme. Hawaiian shave ice and barbecued ribs is not what I was expecting.?

pix from the Best of France and Italy Show

pix from the Best of France and Italy Show

Way to go!

Thanks Jerry