Roamin’ Chariots

April 2004

 

Spring lunch

 

            Last winter the Oklahoma City side of the Roamin’ Chariots decided to hold a lunch in the Bricktown area of the city.  Dave Washington sorted out the details and a small group headed to the TapWerks restaurant to sample beer and pub food. 

            This was a good event and a chance for the OKCity folks to meet with some members both from the city and elsewhere.  We discussed cars and the club, which is slowly becoming known in Oklahoma City.  We know there are cars and owners hiding on the back lots and we will find them.  It was great to see Jim and Debbie Wagner drive in from Wichita.

 

MOFLO 04

 

 

 

            June 10, 2004 and the fifth annual Midwest outing of Fiat/Lancia owners meet is about to begin with yours truly buzzing along the interstate to meet with Allen, Lynn, Mike and Theresa in Lake of the Ozarks Missouri.  My usual top down driving has been curtailed by intermittent showers and heavy clouds but all is right with the world.  The previous evening Delmer, Jim and I put the last bits on Jim Hannon’s handsome Pininfarina after a full engine and drivetrain rebuild.  It drove well around the block but was it going to make 400 miles to the show.  We were optimistic.  I pulled out the GPS unit from my glove box to amuse myself while at the same time trying to find space between lines of 18 wheelers where their wake doesn’t buffet me.  The speedometer reads 70 and the GPS is 67, 75 is 72, 78 is 75, 85 is 84 and then stays close.  That evening we planned our attack on the next day.  I find that I have popped a headlight bulb.

  

            June 11 and another wet morning but clearing.  Allen, Lyn and I do some early food shopping for the icebreaker BBQ. I wipe down and clean my car.  I found the blue beer cooler tub and we sort out the BBQ.  Early arrivals are drifting into the parking lot and registrations begin with Ken bringing the personalized nametags.  We serve the food from 6:30 until dark and try to greet each new car.  I wipe down the car to stop the rain spots.

 

            June 12 is our big day.  The usual coffee and donuts from Karen Dickson wake us to the new day around the cars.  I wipe down the car to stop the rain spots.  More hardy souls have arrived late and are signed in. Serious cleaning of the cars is now the order of the morning.  By noon we have driven over to the park for the concours and lunch.  It thunders and threatens rain as I see the Blessings rush off to find their Scorpion top and they find Jim and Jona and his Ferrari 308 as well.  The storm rolls through the area as we eat lunch in the shelter.   I wipe down the car to stop the rain spots.  Then we take the photographs and head out on the highway for the tour d’Ozark.  Jim and I return to the motel to write up a song for the dinner entertainment.  The afternoon is spent with the parts sale/auction.   I wipe down the car to stop the rain spots.   Dinner is at the golf club and a fine spot to end the day.  At dinner we auction off the Guy Croft Twin Cam book to benefit Mirafiori.com (thanks to the buyer Marcus) and award Allen Lofland the best in show award for the Scorpion.  A group always goes cart racing and this was no exception and others rested their feet and sipped on Laura’s peach brandy.  Several technical sessions were held under open hoods and I know some carburetor issues were solved.

 

 

 

            June 13 is the final day and a breakfast after coffee is planned for Laura to send her east but a leaky radiator needed addressing first.  Barsleak worked! I returned to Oklahoma through Arkansas since the interstate was boring me. A super drive through those rolling high country vistas and still Hwy 9 has a two hour section of 2-lane blacktop 70mph no cars or trucks that is a joy to navigate. The top was down the whole way - 9 1/2 hours. It added 2 hours to the trip. My big block ran heroically.   I guess it is time to wipe down the car again.

 

            There is more on the Roamin’ Chariots website. http://www.moflo.org/2004/ and http://gallery.italiancarclub.com/moflo2004

 

 

 

Coming Events

 

Colorado Meet 

The first annual Roamin' Chariots Rocky Mountain Rendezvous is

on for August 13-15 in the vicinity of Estes Park, Colorado.

 

The HQ will be at the Allenspark Lodge Bed & Breakfast. If we

have an overflow crowd, there are several other places to stay

within a couple miles. Just ask the nice lady at the Lodge for

recommendations. Contact info below.

 

Bill and Juanita Martin

Allenspark Lodge

184 Main, Highwy 7

Box 247

Allenspark, Colorado 80510

 

Tel:   303-747-2552

http://www.allensparklodge.com/Index.HTML

 

 

Italian Carfest

 

 

ItalianCarFest weekend is Sept. 10-12, 2004 in Grapevine, TX near

Dallas. Information is at 

http://www.italiancarfest.com

 

 

Fall Fling it around turns

To be announced