|
|
|
|
THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY of the FIAT 500
NRMA MOTORFEST, SYDNEY 2007
To all those Fiat
500 owners who took the opportunity to join us in the celebration of 50 years
of the model at the 2007 NRMA’s Motorfest in Sydney.
You may not have realised
it at the time, but in your own way you have contributed to a small piece of
automotive history.
Our display on Australia
Day was the first in the world to celebrate half a century of the remarkable
little car we have come to know affectionately as the Fiat Bambino. In short,
we beat everyone else to the punch; not by choice, but by coincidence.
By utilising an existing
event with media coverage, police control, street closures, insurance liability
and a proven format, we were assured of good crowd attendance and facilities
that no single car club could ever hope to achieve. This was John Di Rocco’s
“eureka” moment. Without his forethought, it would never have got off the
ground. It was an opportunity too good to miss. John convinced Stephen Knox
from the NRMA that the featured model for 2007 just HAD to be the Fiat 500. We
eventually received the “nod” around mid 2006. All we had to do now was
“organise a few cars and just turn up”. Easy. We hoped for 30 cars, expected
20, but in the end had 54 cars registered.
It took 6 long months of
negotiating, designing, planning, begging, cajoling, organising, fretting,
panicking, pleading, writing letters, going to meetings, emailing, winning,
losing, relenting, cancellations, replacements, laughing, crying, and insomnia
before it all came together.
Before I knew it, I was
dragging my bones out of bed after another sleepless night for the drive into
the city for the big day. I jumped into Buzz, so that my interstate friends
driving my Commodore could follow me to the appointed assembly area. We were
there at 6.45am and within minutes cars started to arrive.
The emotions I felt, as
the assembly area started to fill will never be forgotten. In no time there
were Fiat 500s lined up on both sides of the coach-parking bay in Darling Drive.
As many people commented – we had never seen so many Fiat 500s together in the
“flesh”. By 7.30am, most of the cars had arrived (some actually having arrived
an hour earlier, and finding no-one there, went for a coffee!). Talk about
keen!
The grand plan was that
John Di Rocco & myself would act as “tail end Charlie” in the support
vehicle – my Commodore (which is actually an “honorary Fiat 500” after the
Eclipse Run to South Australia in 2002). John would video the departure, jump
in the Holden with me and we’d overtake the convoy to arrive at Aurora Place
first in time to direct the cars to their appointed positions. Great plan!
As John clipped up his
seat belt he commented how smoothly the assembly had gone. I agreed, then
replied “but now comes the hard bit”. Those words would soon haunt me.
On the dot of 8.15am,
Leo, in his 695 led the convoy of Cinquecentos away, with their “FIAT” and “50th
Anniversary” flags flying in the breeze.
Passing traffic actually
stopped to let the cars get proceed. Videoing completed, we were in the
Commodore and away in pursuit of the Fiats – well for the first 50 yards until
we caught the very first red light at the end of Darling Drive which stayed
that way for an agonisingly long period. We eventually left Darling Drive in a
trail of tyre smoke. By the time we caught up to the Bambinos, they were
passing the Town Hall where George Street reverts to a single lane, making
overtaking impossible. Bummer. Plan “A” was out the window.
Instead of being at the
display area to help Lino organise the parking, we were stuck in virtual
peak-hour traffic – at 8.30am on a public holiday!
John phoned Lino to tell
him the bad news as we crawled all the way through the city. Poor Lino would be
on his own. Things were looking grim. John continued to video as we crept from
red light to red light. Asking me to say something, it was almost impossible to
avoid profanity.
Eventually we arrived at
the corner of Phillip and Bent Streets to witness the last of the cars bumping
up over the gutter and onto the footpath, courtesy of strategically placed
sandbags. Lino, with the help of some of the drivers and officials from the
Motorfest (who’s help I didn’t think we were getting) had pulled it off. I was
completely blown away. The “grand plan” that I believed would take an hour to
implement had been short circuited to just 15 minutes. By 9.00am, all the cars
had been positioned – an hour ahead of the NRMA’s deadline.
As I turned the wheel to
enter Bent Street, an official stopped me. “You can’t go in there!” said the
official. “But I’m organising this display and this car is needed as a support
vehicle!” “Sorry, but you’d need a pass and besides, there won’t be any room
for you!” I replied that seeing as we were actually several cars short, there would
be room and that Stephen Knox (the “main man”) had “given it his blessing –
(well “SORT OF” I thought). “Sorry, but without a pass you can’t come in. Do
you have a pass?” “Um yeah, but its on my Five Hundr…...” Just then I looked at
the passenger seat, and there poking out of an opened envelope was the corner
of a pass that had been returned that very morning. It was a miracle. Someone
“up there” was looking after me. “Ah yeah, here it is” I said as I presented
the magic pass! OK then, you can enter, but the police won’t let you stay
long!”
I HAD to stay long…..all
day in fact, so I went to one of the police officers on duty at the corner and
explained the situation as I had to the official. My fake “NRMA Motorfest FIAT
500 support vehicle” stickers must have convinced him and he granted me
permission on the proviso that I may have to move it later on. I gladly left
him my mobile number under the wiper and went to join the celebration.
NOW the “hard bit” was
behind us. The rest of the day was ours to enjoy (yeah, “right” again!).
Tony Potter from South
Australia, who had driven my car “Buzz” in the convoy, offered me a seat in the
café on the corner and a cup of coffee. “Be right there!” I said (as I just had
a “couple” of things to attend to).
Tasks completed, I
returned to the café for my coffee and a bit of breakfast. It was 11.00am – two
hours later!!!
It was amazing. As I sat
there with a 90-degree view, all I could see was Cinquecentos - of all colours.
It was as delightful a sight as you could imagine. It was like a beautiful
garden with all the various colours, but they were “my babies” – all Fiat 500s!
For a fleeting moment I was in Roma. Was it the caffeine from the cappuccino,
the lack of sleep, the adrenaline still pumping through me or a combination of
all three?
Breakfast consumed, it
was time to take a few photos. But there were so many people enjoying the cars
that a clear shot was impossible. I tried again several times throughout the
day but the enthusiastic throng was continuous – even at 5.00 o’clock when we
were trying to leave.
My day was a series of
meetings with people who had contacted me prior to the event, fascinated
public, media representatives, industry “heavies”, celebrities and fellow
Bambino owners who just had to share their delight with the day – including
inter-staters who flew down to see the show even though their cars had not been
completed in time. It was a surreal, heady mix. The day just flew by.
One of the 50th
Anniversary flags was selected and everyone who wished to was allowed to sign
it before its trip to Garlenda in Italy for the official celebrations in July.
Cartoonist Warren Brown, who accompanied Lang Kidby in the Peking to Paris
recreation sketched Lang and wife Bev in their car. We now had a work of art on
our hands. An invaluable piece of automobilia – AND WE ARE GOING TO GIVE IT
AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!
The last item for the day
was a group photo. Once again fate came in to play. By chance I had the signed
flag in my hands. It was quickly unfurled to immortalise the moment forever.
By 5.00 o’clock we were
all pretty exhausted. It had been a 12 ˝ hour day so far and it was time to
leave, but the crowds just kept rolling in. Even a few blips on the throttle
wouldn’t shift them. They were there to see the Fiat 500s, and by crikey (“by
jingo!”) that’s what they were going to do!
Amusingly, the official
who had pulled me up at the entrance that morning recognised me now driving
“Buzz” and cleared a passage through the crowd in a most animated way. I smiled
and thanked him – what a great guy!
To all of you who joined
us on the day, I can’t express in words the emotions that are still coursing
through me and the gratitude which I owe you. Thank you SO MUCH for your timely
arrival, your co-operation, your enthusiasm, your beautifully presented cars
and your fellowship. But most of all for your smiles! It was a
once-in-a-lifetime event and the memories will live with me for a very long
time.
Looking back, the day
just seemed seamless – it just flowed along. I reckon Dante Giacosa was looking
down on us, pulling the strings - after all, they were HIS babies too!
THE DINNER
The following evening
found us at Club Marconi for the 50th Anniversary Dinner. Some
70-plus Bambino owners and enthusiasts were there for a feed, to listen to
guest speakers, enjoy the entertainment and a bit of dancing.
Somehow I found myself in
the roll of MC. I was thrown in at the deep end. Wal Glading is NEVER around
when you need him! Ha ha! Somehow I stumbled through it – handing microphones
to the wrong people, forgetting names at the vital moment – you name it – I did
it.
The food was fantastic –
Italian naturally, but you’ll have to ask John to pronounce it in his best
Italian!
I can handle “hey,
Cinquecento, grazie, pisano!” but that’s about my limit (AND I don’t even know
what it means!).
Our first guest speaker
was Joseph Toro from Ateco who gave us a bit of a “heads up” about Fiat’s
long-awaited return to our fair shores; the models that WILL be released here
in the next 12 months – INCLUDING the New Fiat 500, and the reasons they pulled
the pin in 1989.
He went on to thank US
for keeping the faith, for maintaining our Fiats and keeping the marque alive
in the country. It was our enthusiasm that apparently contributed in a small
way to the company’s decision to return. It was heart-warming news indeed and
certainly made up for that very long “winter” when new Fiats were nowhere to be
found here.
Lang Kidby (of Peking to
Paris fame) was our other guest speaker for the night. Lang is soon to set off on
a trip around the world in a Bambino. Yes, you heard me, a FIAT 500. No back
up, very little in the way of spares, but with heaps of grit and determination.
His anecdotes from his previous adventures and his plans for future
“challenges” were mesmerising. He is a real adventurer. The tougher the
challenge, the more he likes it. His wife Bev, is always at his side: sometimes
even in front (as in the World War 1 Vickers Vimy replica that they built and
flew from England to Australia!).
Tina Petroni was our
entertainer for the evening and she soon had a mob up on the floor to finish
off the night.
What a weekend. It was
just like the heady days of the early 1970s when I was a new member of the
Club. Let’s hope the momentum continues!
In conclusion, I would
like to take the opportunity to thank our sponsors:
FIAT CARS Australia – for
the caps and FIAT flags
NRMA – for the keyrings
THE FIAT CLUB of NSW Inc
- for the 50th Anniversary flags, brochures and all the sundry
expenses from running such an event
REBEL GRAPHICS (screen
printers) - for the stickers, ‘fridge magnets and coasters
PRODATA – for all the
“office work”
LA FIAMMA – for the early
promotion of the event
PLATINUM PRINTING – for
poster distribution
Without their generosity,
the event would never have happened, so please support these companies should
you ever require the need for such services.
Thanks and regards
Alan Steele
John Di Rocco
Leo Di Rocco
bravenet.com