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The weather on the day was excellent but by 1.00pm it was getting a little warm in the sun. Luckily Ansell Park’s many trees gave everybody a refuge from the heat.
May I extend a huge T.H.A.N.K.Y.O.U.!!!!!!! to all the Committee Members and volunteers (far too many to mention individually) who worked tirelessly all day to make sure everything happened on time, as we had a very tight schedule. Our guests had to leave the grounds by 1.30 pm to attend another function and we achieved it TO THE MINUTE!!!!!!!
I am also grateful to the motorkhana competitors who had to endure our presentation ceremony after lunch. The fact that all the Show ‘n Shine entrants received a gift ensured that it took a little longer than normal, but going by the delighted smiles of the recipients, I think it was appreciated.
We had 29 cars registered to attend the Show ‘n Shine and we had a full field. I had hoped for a minimum of 20 cars, so was very impressed by the good roll-up.
Among the 500s was a purple “F” owned by Marisa and Marco Gorgio who joined our Club on the day. The car received a lot of praise from the onlookers and will be a serious threat at the annual Concorso d’ Eleganza in the “Modified Class” later in the year.
We also had some enquiries from potential new members, two of whom are looking for a 500N/D/F. If anyone knows of one for sale which requires only a little work, could they please contact myself on 0405 822 832 ah.
Tony Studan’s New 500 came complete with flies in its teeth, having just returned from a long 4.000 kilometre trip to Victoria for the 100th Anniversary of Alfa Romeo and the Historic Races at Phillip Island.
Tony was responsible for organising FCNSW historic DVDs which were presented to Alessandro and Wilmy along with several examples of Club merchandise.
It was a pleasure to welcome back Dean Ryan with his excellent 695 Esse Esse. It is about as genuine an Abarth as you can get (apart from a factory-built car) as it was created in the alternative fashion of converting a standard car with genuine Abarth parts back in the 1960s.
Poor Alessandro had a tough task to judge the various categories due to the excellence of the cars entered and seemed initially a little overwhelmed by the responsibility – and this by a member of a Club that can boast 1,400 Cinquecentos attending an event!!!!! He soon developed a strategy of choosing the most original example in each class of road vehicle, which simplified the task enormously.
The class winners were:
MARTIN GALLARD: best motorkhana car – Niki special
ADRIAN SANDRIN: best convertible – 124 Spider
VINCE POLITO: best Fiat 500 – 500F
RICHARD DALZIEL: best coupe – 850 Sports Coupe
ALAN RODD: best sedan – Topolino C
NORM MITCHELL: “Sandro’s Choice” (ie, the car he’d like most to drive home in!) – Fiat 501
Check the Photo Gallery!
Thanks very much Alessandro and Wilmy for your friendship, warmth and generosity! We trust you enjoyed your all-too-brief stay with us and hope that you might be able to repeat the trip one day. We’d love to have you back to show you the highlights of our region.
If anyone is planning a trip to Italy, make sure you call into Alessandro and Wilmy’s home town of Garlenda which is south of Turin and East of Monaco. It is the “home” of the Fiat 500 Club and the venue for the annual gathering of Cinquecentos from all over the world in July. It also boasts a Fiat 500 museum, which now displays several items from our Club.
The mountainous region is spectacular with deep valleys and ancient Roman structures and is just a few kilometres away from the Mediterranean Riviera.
Regards
Alan
