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May/June, 2003 |
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| MOFLO 2003 |
Hallet Race Day |
Editorial |
Hallett Race Day
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May/June, 2003 |
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| MOFLO 2003 |
Hallet Race Day |
Editorial |
On April 3rd the club was invited
by Csaba to join the Vick Racing team at the Hallett racetrack
near Stillwater. Delmer Teet in his Scorpion and I in my
Spider drove from Norman on a beautiful spring day. We mostly
drove up on I-35 and in topless comfort but finished following
the secondary highway through some rural towns. We arrived
at the start of the SCCA races and the Scorpion began a day of
getting a lot of attention from some knowledgeable folks.
This was the first real highway test of a carburetor upgrade on
my 79 Spider that I finished last winter and all went well with
a 25-26 mpg rating. This compares with the original usage
but providing much improved power. I was concerned that
it might be too thirsty for my liking.
At the park we met up with the
Gary Blessing(s) (father and son members from Wichita) who were
track officials for the day. Gary jr. took the photos.
This was a nice surprise. Also Csaba, Robert Vick and several
racers met us and let us park in the compound and share some needed
shade.
Gary
Blessing, Delmer, Ron 
Csaba Vandor
Robert Vick, 
John
Dorety(the driver)
The track has a nice canteen from which one can watch and sip
in comfort and the races were spirited and varied in classes.
I would recommend the outing to all.
The Jolly OU of Kathyrn Hatcher of OK City
I wanted to give you a little information about the Jolly that I own. I purchased the car in 1998. Stan Littleton Motors in Del-City has had the car in the corner of their dealership for over twenty years under a tarp. Before then it was in the back yard of a home in Nichols Hills being drove around by kids.
I have always wanted the little
car. I'm so excited that I'm finally starting to restore it. Since
1998 when I purchased the car it had been sitting again, But at
this point we do have it running.
I thought that locating the
parts would be a never ending job, But to my surprise it has'nt
been a pain stacking as I thought it would be. The cost
of the parts are very reasonable as well. It the mechanic that
hurts. (haha)
The only thing at this point
that have been a problem is that it will take five to six weeks
to get the tires. I was told it's the same tires that the
low riders are using. (bouncing the front end of the car).
Please keep me updated on the Roamin Chariots get together, and let me know if you did'nt receive the picture attachment.
MOFLO
03For the last four years the Roamin' Chariots car club of Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri sponsored an event in the Midwest for Italian car enthusiasts. This year, as in the past, on June 6,7,8 we met at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri to enjoy the scenic beauty and friendship that comes with like interests. 21 cars and 30 people made the journey and this is a driving event of some significance with average distances of 400 plus miles being common. The cars, which are mostly stock, all made the run famously. Two exceptions were a thrown catalytic converter from a Texas 124 Spider and broken coil wire on a Lancia Beta, both of which were bypassed until permanent repairs could be initiated back home. Much credit needs to go to the owners who maintain these cars in such fine condition. Here in the Ozarks ideas, parts and expertise were shared while we admired the many models on show and greeted old and new friends.
It is important to note that owners came from other states, too. Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Tennessee were all represented. This is due to the strong fraternity of owners that is spread across North America through the Fiat Lancia Unlimited club and Mirafiori.com website. This show is but one in a series of like events that take place throughout the summer.
This year's moflo was in many ways the best yet. Though we say that each year, this year I think the club put it all together. After four years of trying new ideas and getting resources and people together to put this kind of event on, the pieces finally fell into place. The carshow was superb. The tour/rally though the senic Ozarks was attended by all the attendees. The barbeque (al la chief Allen) was great! Beer and soda never ran out. The dinner event was even better than last year (though we missed Chandler's guitar). In every instance he events were well run and organized. The tech sessions were fun and informative (if performed mostly in the dark!!!) and the relaxed setting lent itself to meeting those people that we only hear about or read posts on Mira. Everyone left wanting to return and fix that odd part or improve their car for next year's event.
Of the cars some deserve special
attention. The show winner was an original 15,000 mile 850 Coupe
of Mike Shay that still has the tires on which it was sold. He
drove from Oklahoma on modern tires with the bias plies in the
rear seat. It is one of those rare time capsules. Also was Allen
Lofland's fresh restoration of a Black Scorpion that is now like
a new car and matches a brace of 124 Spiders that he brought last
year. The outstanding fly yellow 124 Spider of regular attendee
Bill Acklin from Iowa is one that we have watched blossom into
a gorgeous package. John Houchin's X1/9 of Oklahoma has been lovingly
maintained.
1966 Fiat 850 Coupe of Mike Shay
1979 Fiat 124 Spider of Bill
Acklin
Once again the weather was in our favor. Friday started
wet but was warm and clear by the first arrivals for the icebreaker
BBQ. Road grime was then removed and the detailing
begun in earnest. Allen Lofland flipped burgers to feed
the growing numbers around the pool, cars and refreshment tub.
By Saturday morning the parking lot at the motel was full of Italian
iron in top condition. We sipped coffee courtesy of Ken
and Karen Dickson while Mike Greer attended to details.
The show in the park was a pleasant picnic and picture fest and
ended in a country tour on back highways. Then the technical
sessions began at the motel with a radio installation, ignition
change and restoration ideas. We had a silent auction
to share parts and sales of club wares.
This is a people's event and still in its infancy but it how bigger
things happen. We attracted a lot of attention in the town
and even found a local Scorpion owner who joined us. The show
is already booking rooms for next year. The website is: http://www.mirafiori.com/~kdickson/
1980
Fiat X1/9 of John Houchin 
1977
Lancia Scorpion of Allen Lofland
For more pictures of MOFLO and some information about the cars
be sure to check out the MOFLO site on the internet. There are
links to Kris Layton's site that has a number of pictures (some
from the tops of tall trees!!) of interest.
Editorial
About MOFLO
MOFLO trys to make it's event different from some of the other
"car" events by focusing on providing opportunities
for people to meet and share ideas. With events like the Barbeque,
the carshow in the park, the breakfast chat sessions, the event
dinner, the dash plaques, the individualized nametags the website
and other personal touches. We try to create an atmosphere that
while the cars are our common denomitator, it's the people that
make MOFLO. We appreicate your decision to attend this year and
hope that you are able to come back next year. I've got my reservations
in already!!
MOFO goes ORG.
This year MOFlO has obtained its own domain. This means a couple
of things. First it means that we have arrived on the internet
with our own address, www.moflo.org, and that we are serious about
trying to put the best foot forward on promoting these neat little
cars and supporting the people that creat the amazing examples
that attend the event each year. We would like to enlist your
help with requesting ideas about how to make the site more useful
and interesting for you the user. So far, the site has grown brick
by brick with no real overall design. We have a very nice brick
wall, but it is time to shape it into something that we all recognize
as a helpful useful site. Please send any information to me here and I will be glad to
contact you about your ideas.
MOFLO is hosted by donations
from members on the Mirafiori web server. We get assistance from
Eli Caul and other web savy Fiatsi. Without this help it would
be much more difficult to put up a professional webpage. Your
ideas, support, and donations are greatly appreciated.
Ken Dickson