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!