Drive to Kitt Peak

This will be a nice cruise to the top of Kitt Peak.  We will depart Circle K (1735 W Speedway Blvd 85745) at 7:30am sharp.  Please be fully fueled, water bottles filled and bladders empty by 7:25am so we can all leave together on time.

We will drive West on Speedway through Gates Pass and out Mile Wide to Sandario.  We'll head South on Sandario to Ajo then West towards Kitt Peak.

We will regroup in 3 Points for a short rest, 10-15 minutes, then off to the destination.

This is not a race!  No trophies, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine.   Let's all be respectful to other motorists/cyclists out enjoying their morning.

We will hangout at the top and enjoy the cool weather and company.  Feel free to pack a lunch, there are picnic tables and shade.

Looking forward to seeing old friends and new faces!

New Leadership!

The Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson (F.I.A.T.) interest group proudly announces its new leader - Robert Bastian.

Robert is a car guy through and through.  Robert has sponsored "track day" at Arroyo Seco and included F.I.A.T. for several years running.  He proudly drives a Ferrari F355 and a Fiat 500 Abarth and is a F1 racing enthusiast.  Robert's experience with organizing drives and other events comes from years of organizing AZ Drives events around southern Arizona.  Some of you have met Robert at Tucson's Cars & Coffee events.  Even his employment is car-related as he fabricates custom and replacement parts at Crown Concepts in Tucson, Arizona.  His enthusiasm for Italian cars along with his passion for automotive culture makes him a great person to lead F.I.A.T. into the future.

Join me in welcoming Robert as the group's new leader!

Thanks for a great 4 years!

Dave Knawa

"Ladies Night" at Tucson Speedway - 22 July 2017

The Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson (F.I.A.T.) and Southern Arizona Pantera Club are came together for Ladies Night sponsored by Empire CAT at Tucson Speedway on Saturday 22 July 2017.

The weather was dramatic and only the Legend class were able to get in a race before a hard shower postponed the remainder of the race.  Race officials were hopeful that it would be "typical Arizona" short downpour but ended up calling the race when the hard shower turned to a drizzle and didn't let up by 9:00 PM.  Regardless, people were milling about supporting various vendors and seemed to be having a good time even as the crowds slowly dwindled down.

Special thanks go to Chuck for organizing the event and providing discount coupons!  Hopefully we will get a re-do in the near future when the track is dry.

Sad News: Iconic designer Tom Tjaarda has passed

 Tom Tjaarda 1934-2017

• http://www.classicandsportscar.com/news/obituaries/rip-tom-tjaarda-1934-2017
• http://jalopnik.com/take-a-moment-to-thank-tom-tjaarda-for-designing-so-man-1795760216
• https://auto.ndtv.com/news/legendary-automotive-designer-tom-tjaarda-passes-away-1707292

Cruise to Kartchner Caverns - 21 May 2017

Photo:  Arizona State Parks

The Fun Italian Automobiles of Tucson had a great day on Sunday 21 May 2017 taking a run to Kartchner Caverns in southern Arizona.  Chuck gave his Pantera a break by running his '72 Jensen Interceptor while Dave ran his '82 Fiat Spider.

We started off with a breakfast meet-up at Hacienda del Lago in Vail.  After breakfast overlooking the golf course we took the long way around to our destination via AZ83 south to Sonoita and then AZ82 east to Huachuca City ending with a jaunt north up AZ90 to Kartchner Caverns State Park.  The roads were wide open with only a moderate bunch-up on AZ83 near the overlook to the future Rosemont mine site.

"Boss Hogg" has been Intercepted!

At the caverns we found ample parking.  We took in some of the displays in the Discovery Center while we waited for the tour to begin.  The Discovery Center gives you a preview of what you will see underground.  We toured the Rotunda and Throne Room.  The Big Room tour is closed for the season as it is a nursery for bats - it reopens in October. The underground temperature was a steady 72 degrees Fahrenheit with 98% humidity. Outside it was reaching the upper 90s!

After the emerging from the tour and drying out we headed to Benson stopping at the Horseshoe Cafe for a bite of lunch.  After lunch we headed back to Tucson where we made it back to air conditioned homes by around 2:00PM.

For the rest of the F.I.A.T. photo album click >here.<

Photo Shoot at Pima Air & Space Museum 15 April 2017

We had a great time at the Pima Air & Space Museum for a photo shoot.  PA&SM allowed us to enter before normal museum hours and take some fantastic shots of cars among historical aircraft.  Quite the unique opportunity!  We had participants from as far away as San Diego, CA and Scottsdale, AZ.  The field had 8 DeTomasos, 1 Alfa Romeo, 1 Fiat, 1 Ferrari, 1 Cobra, and 1 Cunningham for a total of 13 cars - a very nice and manageable turn-out.

After taking photos our host provided us with a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum's rehabilitation / fabrication department and then surprised us by extending our visit to include an open tour of the rest of the museum's public exhibits!

After we finished touring the museum we headed over to Brooklyn's Beer & Burger for lunch.  We had a great gathering with some really good food.   Our server mad sure the group was well taken care of with prompt service and a great can-do attitude.  The collection of Panteras caused a mini car show where people came by just to see the cars and some even stayed for lunch.

Special thanks go out to:

• John Bezosky and the Pima Air & Space Museum for making this opportunity available to us.
• Kylie at Brooklyn's Beer & Burger for prompt and courteous service for our group.

Photo albums: (check back once in a while as more will be added as they become available)

• Marco Signorini Photography Album - click >here<
• F.I.A.T. Album - select >here<
• AZPOCA Album - click >here<

Madera Canyon Run & Picnic PLUS Drive to San Xavier Mission - 18 March 2017

Cunningham C-4R

Our March event was a casual run up to Madera Canyon located east of Green Valley.  A few of the participants met up at the American Legion Hall (Post 109) in Corona de Tucson and then trekked to Green Valley where we met up with other participants and had a rest stop and beverage at Posada Java.

After our respite in Green Valley we headed up to Madera Canyon where the temps cooled to just about perfect.  We had a picnic lunch at the Mt. Wrightson picnic area at a nice shaded table. Parking there was at a premium but we managed to get just enough spaces for our group with a little bit of good timing and patience.

Picnic lunch in Madera Canyon

After lunch we went back down into the valley and then north among the man-made mesas west of Green Valley to San Xavier Mission.

Photo: National Park Service

Plaza on north side of San Xavier Mission

Check out the story on the Cunningham C-4R you see posted at the top of this article on the AZPOCA site (click > here <).  It is quite interesting and we are honored to have had such a rare and historical car join us!  We hope to see more of the car and its owners at our future events (even if it isn't Italian).

For a few more pictures of the event click >here.<

The pictures of the event from the AZ POCA members are available >here.<

2017 Il Giro di Phoenix Write-Up & Photos

Photo:  S.Schaefer

Many thanks to S.Schaefer for the following write-up and photos of his participation in the 2017 Il Giro de Phoenix held on Saturday 28 January 2017.

The 2017 Il Giro di Phoenix scavenger hunt/car rally saw a great turnout with around two dozen participants in about half as many vehicles. The Giro was organized by the Phoenix Sister Cities, Catania Committee. For those unfamiliar with the organization, Phoenix Sister Cities is a non-profit cultural exchange program partnering with cities across the globe to organize unique cultural and artistic events. Special thanks go out to Wendy Rozov with Phoenix Sister Cities and Enrico Sini with the Catania, Italy committee for this event.

The rally was a points-based competition to complete 30 tasks. The rally began at 9:30 AM sharp with a clue sheet being distributed to participants. The tasks fell into one of three categories: simple question-and-answer; fetch item, wherein participants were required to bring an item to the finish; and snap photos, which required participants to seek out landmarks and take their photo with them. With a 12:30 PM finish time and 30 challenging clues to solve, the scavenger hunt required intimate knowledge of central Phoenix and military-precision planning abilities. A fully-charged smartphone and reliable cell reception were a must!

Photo:  S.Schaefer

As a Phoenix-area neophyte without a dedicated navigator by my side, I decided the best course of action was to team up with another driver. Russ and his black & blue ’80 Fiat Spider were veterans of earlier events, and such a distinctive car would be hard to lose in the Saturday morning traffic, so I hitched my hopes with him. The morning was chilly with temperatures in the high 30’s, but being the stalwarts we are, we opted to go top-down the entire way. With the sun shining on one of those crisp, high-resolution AZ winter days, we soon warmed to the task.

Photo:  S.Schaefer

Some drivers opted to immediately peel out of the parking lot at Park Central in pursuit of their first objective, while others (such as my team) opted to carefully study the clues before taking our first steps. Such an approach proved fruitful as we were able to knock two tasks off the list before departing the lot! A carefully-planned route saw us hit five of our objectives in quick succession after getting underway. The clues became more difficult to fulfill as time ticked on, however. From time to time, either Russ or myself would dive off the main roads in pursuit of targets of opportunity, requiring “creative” traffic maneuvers to regroup.
The final and most important clue required us to seek out a north-central Phoenix coffee shop to ask the barista for a clue to our final destination. Unfortunately, this 30^th clue proved too tough for our team to crack, and we were unable to identify the coffee shop! This would have left us in the lurch were it not for the previous experience of Russ, who (correctly) wagered the rally would end at the Italian-American club of Phoenix.

Photo:  S.Schaefer

Upon arriving at the club around 12:40 PM we were relieved to see the other drivers gathering. We presented our clue sheets to tally the points, then headed inside for a meal of Italian salad, spaghetti, and meatballs (the best I’ve ever had, full stop!). Despite our best efforts, my team came up short in the final awards to two teams who succeeded in completing nearly all the tasks, a truly Herculean achievement. An extensive raffle drawing followed with a wide variety of prizes provided by local businesses on offer. As proof positive that buying more tickets increases your chances of winning, the majority of the prizes went to just three participants.

Photo:  S.Schaefer

The 2017 Il Giro di Phoenix lived up to the billing as a whirlwind tour through Phoenix with great company. This was a fantastic “driver’s event” that emphasized the scavenger hunt experience and a sense of community over the actual cars themselves. The Giro was a challenging exercise in problem-solving and navigation, but I highly recommend it to any interested drivers in the Phoenix area, or to anyone willing to make the trip up to Phoenix.

To view the rest of the photo album of the event, select > here.<

2017 Calendar of Events Posted

The 2017 F.I.A.T. Calendar of Events is posted and can be found > here. <  

Top Tip:  Once you see the calendar, select the Week, Month, or Agenda tabs (upper right) to see different views that may better suite your preferred viewing style.

A couple of good drives this year include:

• Kitt Peak
• Bisbee Day Trip
• Annual Wine Country Cruise
• Run to Globe

As part of our activity plan members are coordinating some interesting and fun events:

• Automotive design studio and car collection tour in southern California (October).
• US Grand Prix viewing party
• Participation in the Mt. Lemmon 4th of July Parad
• Photo Shoot at Pima Air & Space Museum

All events are pay-as-you-go as we do not collect dues.  RSVPs are very appreciated.  Check the calendar often as we will be adding events of interest and making adjustments throughout the year. No Italian car? No problem - all are welcome to join us, just use the contact form on the front of the blog (bottom left) to acquire more information.

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.<