Tucson Auto Museum & 2016 Wrap-Up 17 December 2016 - Photos

Our December 2016 event was a trip to the Tucson Auto Museum (aka Wayne's Toys) followed by lunch at Brooklyn's Beer & Burger.

Dave K., Stephen S. Dave C., Wayne, and Chuck C. at
Wayne's Toys

Photo: Wade M.

Wayne's Toys is in the warehouse district near the train yard in Tucson.  This collection is an unexpected and very welcome site!  Lots of great examples of classic American styling can be seen here along with some examples of unique vehicles like an Amphicar, Isetta, and Delorean. They even have a classic Fiat 500 Abarth.  Chuck captured the event with a great write-up which is posted on the Pantera International forum.  Click > here < to see Chuck's write-up.

Photo albums of the event are available through the following links:

• F.I.A.T. - Select > here.<
• AZ POCA (Southern Region) - Select > here.<

After visiting Wayne's Toys we headed over to Brooklyn's Beer & Burger for lunch.  Fresh draft beer and hand-formed burgers!  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and we had some interesting and lively discussion about cars, clubs, and events which culminated into an outline for our plans for 2017.  The group calendar will be updated by 01 January 2017 with the events identified so far.

4th Annual Wine Country Cruise 19 November 2016 - Photos

Ready to Go at Sonoita Junction

We had a great time on our 4th annual Wine Country Cruise that took place on Saturday 19 November.  In our run this year we had an '03 Ford Thunderbird, '74 Alfa Romeo Spider, '65 Shelby Cobra, '73 DeTomaso Pantera, and an '82 Fiat Spider.  We started out with a breakfast meet-up at the Vail Steak House Cafe & Diner after which we departed for a quick sprint down AZ-83 to Sonoita where we met up with another member participating in the event.  You can check out a map of our route by clicking > here. <

Tasting & Taking in the Views at Callaghan Vineyards

We ran east on AZ-82 with a turn on Upper Elgin Road through Elgin and then west on Elgin Road to our first winery, Callaghan Vineyards.  The staff was friendly and very helpful.  They had a nice selection of wines to sample.

Tasting & Lunch at Sonoita Vineyards

We departed for a little drive through the southern end of the region on by heading west on Elgin Road to AZ-83, then north on Elgin Canelo Road to our second winery, Sonoita Vineyards.  We commandeered a table outside where we had lunch and took in the great views across the hills over to the Huachuca Mountains.  Several participants opted to just get a glass of wine to accompany their lunch while others took advantage of sampling various offerings provided by this vintner.

Italian Car Fans at Elgin Distillery [photo: C.Huber]

After lunch we departed for a short jaunt north on Elgin Canelo Road for our third and last stop on this year's cruise, Elgin Distillery in the Village of Elgin Winery. Mixing things up a bit we opted to sample offerings of gin, rum, and whiskey provided by one of the region's award-winning distillers.  We were very pleased with the samplings and learning how the distilling process works.  All of the ingredients are sourced right here in Arizona with the exception of sugar cane for the rum - and that is sourced just a few miles away on the other side of the border.

After our stop in Elgin we headed west on Elgin Road to AZ-83 where we headed north back towards Tucson or in one instance, west on AZ-82 back to Tubac.  Everyone seemed to have a great time enjoying all this region of southern Arizona has to offer.

To see more photos of this event check out these albums:

• AZ POCA (southern): click > here < 
• F.I.A.T. click > here <

Karts & Crafts Video

The September co-sponsored Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson (F.I.A.T.) and Southern Arizona Panteras event "Karts & Crafts" held on Saturday 17 September 2016 was captured on video.  Check it out!

Special thanks to John Lawson for capturing and producing this video!

Karts & Crafts - 17 September 2016

 

The September co-sponsored Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson (F.I.A.T.) and Southern Arizona Panteras event was "Karts & Crafts" on Saturday 17 September 2016.  We took in some indoor go-karting (the "Karts") at the new Autobahn track in Tucson and then gathered at Barrio Brewing Company (the "Crafts") for lunch.

Getting Ready to Race at Autobahn!

The karting was a blast.  It quickly became clear on who the "drivers" are in our pack as John, Chuck, and Stephen dominated the lead positions. The karts are electric so the torque is instant and speeds up to 50 mph can be had.  As a by-stander it looks like the karts are slow.  But being in the driver's seat is a completely different experience - definitely NOT slow!  It is a great way to get your "need-for-speed" taken care of without getting a costly ticket!

Lunch at Barrio Brewing Company

Lunch at Barrio Brewing Company was very good.  We were able to get parking AND were seated quickly a table big enough where we could all sit together. Our server did a great job taking care of us and did so with a smile (thanks Ivy!).

We had a great time and hope to do this again soon!

A few more photos of the event can be seen by clicking the following links:

• F.I.A.T. photos: click >here<
• So. AZ Panteras photos: click >here<

Check back as we may get some video footage of one of the races!

Day Trip to Tempe for AAROC Event: Antonio's Metal Craft - 27 August 2016

 

The F.I.A.T. and Southern AZ Pantera clubs coordinated with the Arizona chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AAROC) to participate in their August event: Antonio's Metal Craft.  The event was followed up with lunch at Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe, Arizona.

Antonio Brudaglio is the proprietor and chief craftsman of Antonio's Metal Craft in Tempe, Arizona.  Raised, trained and self-taught in Italy, he moved to California in the mid-1990's where he established a reputation for craftsmanship in automotive restoration and custom hotrods.  He moved to Arizona several years ago and continues hand-crafting metal in the finest traditions.  He gave us a tour of his facility and discussed the services he offers.  Antonio's shop today continues to offer automotive restoration, replication/duplication for out-of-production parts, and custom fabrication.  In addition to answering a myriad of questions from participants, Antonio gave us a demonstration of shaping panels using an English Wheel and pneumatic air hammer and dolly.

In his shop were a couple of Porsche 911s, a Mercedes 230SL, a couple of Alfa Romeo Spiders one of which is Antonio's personal car retro-fitted with an Alfa V6 that is in the midst of becoming a show car with a lot of custom bodywork.  Also in the shop was a VW Transporter customized with wicker panels and a retrofitted interior - very cool!

 

After the tour and demonstration at Antonio's, participants re-grouped at the Four Peaks Brewery just a few blocks away where the Pantera's took center stage as they found parking right up front just before the rush.  The place became busy but we did not have to wait as AAROC had arranged a reservation for the group.  The food was good and the service prompt with servers checking on us often.


A hearty "thank you" to Bill Greenslade and the members of AAROC for allowing us to participate in your event.  It was a lot of fun!

Additional photos of the event can be found by selecting > here.<

Mt. Lemmon Run 09 July 2016

Participants:

• Chuck - 1973 DeTomaso Pantera (disguised as a Honda Accord 2-door)
• Axel -  2014 Porsche Cayenne R4 Hybrid
• Kirk - 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Rennsport
• Dave - 1982 Fiat Spider (did not finish)

Hey - what's with the German cars on the write up of an Italian car event?   Well, in short, a couple of our friends from the local Porsche club joined us on the run and their cars along with Chuck's Pantera (disguised as a 2-door Honda Accord) were the only ones to make it.  Yep.  It's true.  The participants met at Tucson's monthly Cars & Coffee event.  Chuck's Pantera developed a coolant leak while at Cars & Coffee and even though it was a simple fix that was completed before the run, Chuck erred on the side of caution and ran his Honda instead.  The Pantera will get some more road tests around town before venturing up a mountain highway.  Dave's Fiat Spider lost power 10 miles from the summit due to a failed fuel pump.  So, the 2 Porsches and the Honda made it up to the Iron Door for lunch and a pleasant drive.


To see additional pictures PLUS photos from the Pantera / F.I.A.T. participation in the Mt. Lemmon 4th of July parade click > here.<

Special thanks to Chuck for the photos and for organizing the club's participation in the 4th of July Parade on Mt. Lemmon!

Picnic at Parker Canyon Lake 11 June 2016 - Photos

Photo: C.Huber

We did not have any our our Italian cars on the road for this event, but those that attended still had a great time!

We met at the Vail Steakhouse Cafe & Diner for coffee and then traveled south on AZ-83 to Sonoita with Dave K./Chuck in a Jeep and Axel/Dave C. in a Porsche Cayenne (nice!).  In and around Sonoita we encountered an early monsoon storm where Dave K. and Chuck got a little wet in the Jeep but dried off quickly as the storm was short and the roads dried up with partly cloudy skies and balmy temperatures all the way to the lake.  When we arrived at the lake we found the grounds moderately occupied as we were unaware that there were events taking place corresponding with National Get Outdoors Day.  There were exhibits and displays set up by the Sierra Vista Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest, the local offices of Arizona Game & Fish, National Parks Service, and The Nature Conservancy, along with several other local agencies and outdoor groups.  We were fortunate to grab a couple of parking spots by the boat ramp.  We even found a nice picnic table in the shade just up the hill with a view of the lake.  Everyone broke out their lunch and talked about cars and adventures they've had.  After lunch we took a tour through the exhibits. Chuck tried on a boa at the snake exhibit put on by the Huachuca Area Herpetology Association.  

Chuck and "friend."

After checking out the exhibits we started our next leg of the run with a trip to Lightning Ridge Cellars where we sampled wine, heard about the adventures of buying cars in Europe and taking a tour of wineries in Napa Valley, California.  We also met the winery's new resident greeter, Monte, named after the popular Montepulciano wine offered by the winery.

Lightning Ridge Cellars' "Monte" (4 months old - look at the size of those feet!)

On the way to the winery Chuck had spotted what appeared to be a new winery or brewery.  We back-tracked just a bit to check it out and learned that it is a microbrewery that just opened up named Copper Hop Ranch.  A couple of the group tried out a beer and we sat on the small deck and talked more about our various adventures with cars.  We departed mid-afternoon and headed back towards Tucson via AZ-83 and split up going our separate ways at the I-10 interchange.

A few more pictures of the event are available >here.<
Pictures of the event from the Southern Arizona Pantera Club can be found >here.<

Run to Alpine 22 & 23 April 2016 - Photos

If you were on the fence about participating in our Run to Alpine event let's just say you missed out on a great time.  Great people. Fun roads. Good food. Fantastic scenery.  We went from the desert floor chasing up Highway 191 past one of the world's largest open pit copper mines in Morenci and then practiced our driving skills on the super-twisty part of 191 up to the Mogollon Rim and into the alpine meadows of the White Mountains of eastern Arizona.

Our trip began where most of us met at The Vail Steakhouse Cafe & Diner in Vail for breakfast.  George, the proprietor, made sure we were well fed.  Heading east on I-10 we transitioned to Highway 191 in Willcox and headed to Safford where we met up with the Phoenix group.  From Safford we continued on 191 up to Clifton where we checked out an old jail in a hillside, fueled up, and then headed up through Morenci to the pullout that overlooks the Asarco open pit copper mine and had a bite of lunch.

After lunch we readied ourselves for the fantastic twisty road to Alpine that lie ahead - 90 miles with steep elevation gain, hairpin turns, and short straights through meadows and sights of the scars left by 2011's Wallow Fire.  The Fiat Spider had a bit of a "mystery issue" that left it on the side of the road until it cooled down a bit but then it started up and successfully continued on.

Photo:  Chuck Huber

After checking in at the Mountain Hi Lodge a few of the group either took a walk or run to take in the cool and clean mountain air while others prepped hors devours and relaxed a bit before starting to prepare dinner or building a nice bon fire in the fire pit.

 

Dinner consisted of steak, roasted veggies, salad, baked potatoes, and "beverages of choice."  To top it off one of the group brought a home made New York cheese cake.  We ate like kings and queens around the bon fire.  As the moon rose over the adjacent meadow we talked shop, burned up a back of marshmallows, and just relaxed.

Photo: Chuck Huber

Saturday started off chilly and dry with slightly overcast skies.  We gathered at the Bear Wallow Cafe for breakfast.  At breakfast we discussed several options for our return route and chose to head toward Show Low.  We headed back to the motel to finish packing and check out.  One of the Panteras was reluctant to go but a $4 fix proved to get it on its way.

Photo:  Chuck Huber

Leaving Alpine we continued up 191 to Eagar where we took AZ-260 west to Show Low.  The wind was strong due to a weather front passing through the area but the views were fantastic.  We took an opportunity to play in what was left from the recent winter snows.

After some fun in the snow we continued into Show Low and fueled up.  A couple of cars headed home to Phoenix by continuing on AZ-260 to Payson and down AZ-87.  The rest of the group headed south on US-60/AZ-77 to the Salt River Gorge.

Upon leaving the scenic views of the Salt River Gorge the group continued down into Globe where they headed south on AZ-77 towards Winkleman for a bite of lunch at Maria's Mexican Food restaurant.

After lunch the group continued south towards Oracle, Oro Valley, and Tucson.  In Oro Valley the group received a honk of a horn an thumbs up from a vintage Jaguar sedan heading in the opposite direction after which one of the group peeled off towards home and the rest headed home into Tucson.

The trip was a lot of fun and everyone made it home under their own power (yes!).  Let's do this again!

More Pictures

• Click > here < to view the rest of the F.I.A.T. photo album.
• For additional photos of the event from the Southern Arizona Pantera Club click > here.<

Cruise to Casa Grande Ruins 13 February 2016 - Photos

We had a great run up to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in Coolidge, Arizona.  Several F.I.A.T. members met up at the Tucson Cars & Coffee event where there was a fantastic representation of Italian cars!  See below for Italians at Cars & Coffee* photo album.

 

After Cars & Coffee, we traveled up AZ-77 into Oro Valley and then AZ-79 up to Coolidge to the Casa Grande Ruins.  (Special thanks to the nice couple in the blue minivan!)  Several members from the Phoenix group of the Arizona chapter of the Pantera Owners Club of America  (AZ-POCA) met up with the F.I.A.T. group at the ruins.  We inadvertently created a mini car show in the parking lot!  See below for Cruise to Casa Grande Ruins photo album.

At the visitor center we looked at the displays and took in a short video about the history of the ruins and then walked the main grounds.  There is a lot of interesting and intriguing history here.

After checking out the ruins we'll rolled into Florence, Arizona for a bite to eat at Big Quicks BBQ (excellent!). After lunch the Panteras returned to Phoenix and the F.I.A.T. group returned via a spirited drive down AZ-79/AZ-77 through Oro Valley and into Tucson.

It was a great event and the weather couldn't have been any better!

Photo Album:  Italians at Tucson Cars & Coffee* - 13 February 2016
Photo Album:  Cruise to Casa Grande Ruins - 13 February 2016

* Note:  Not all the Italian cars photographed are members of the Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson group.  However, those that are not are welcome to join in the group's events.

Italians at 2016 Tubac AZ Car Show

The Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts presented their 22nd Annual Collector Car Show in Tubac, Arizona on Saturday 30 January 2016.  There were three De Tomaso Panteras from the Arizona chapter of the Pantera Owners Club of America (AZ-POCA) and one Ferrari Testarossa.

A few more pictures are available > here. <