Chicago to Amarillo Texas
Photo by Carter Hendricks
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Planned or not, the Lancia Club Italia Tour of America began during the week noted for the celebration of Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America, a few years ago in 1492.
VeloceToday learned of the planned route and published the agenda on October 4th. Immediately emails came in from all over the United States, the first from Cindy Meitle, who wrote
“I would like to invite the Lancia team following Route 66 to attend my October 22 Concours d'Elegance Las Vegas.” Ralph Demasi wrote that “If any of those drivers require an Italian speaking, mechanically inclined passenger I stand ready to leave at first notice.” From California, Bob Bilek , the owner of a Flavia Coupe, offered “to meet the tour and offer encouragement and other support.” Many others wrote in as well, and before long, we had a list of names and numbers that covered virtually the entire route. The Lancia Italia Club would rarely travel alone and they would be met by other Lancia and Alfa owners from Illinois to California.
The Lancias arrive in Chicago, finding safe haven in a garage. Photo by Geoff Goldberg
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Chicago Illinois, Wednesday October 11-12
In the meantime, Geoff Goldberg, a very active Lancista in the Chicago area, had also learned of the tour and was trying to coordinate efforts with the Lancia Italia Club and the many offers from enthusiasts not only in the Chicago area but all along Route 66.
(Geoff has a Lancia blog, where updates and schedules of the tour can be viewed. ) He was there when the group arrived on October 11th and posted this description of the arrival:
“They have arrived in Chicago. We met at the parking area, where their cars were unloaded, and they made it to parking and are off to their hotel. Its like being in Italy, Chaotic, but stuff gets done.
The oldest and newest Lancias start off together. Photo by Geoff Goldberg
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The cars are lovely. They are well prepared. They are genuinely surprised and pleased to realize that we think this is special. But for us, seeing an Astura, four Aurelias, two Flaminias, two or three Flavias, and some Fulvias in Chicago is a treat well worth seeing.
“When you see them all together, they talk to each other…”. Photo by Geoff Goldberg
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Its amazing. Like a bit of Italy transported. And to see all these cars together…it’s like seeing Countaches in a group…when you see them together, they talk to each other, and you begin to believe. There is a culture, a tradition in their design which resonates differently than when you see one car at a time.”
The Flaminia Pininfarina Coupe, heavily loaded and ready to go. Photo by Geoff Goldberg
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Jack Rubin, a long time Italian car enthusiast, was also there and posted this:
“A crew of intrepid Lancisti arrived in Chicago today as the temperature heads for the low 30's and snow threatens. Three transporters brought the 16 cars to the Windy City from their New York arrival point. Resident Lancia-lover Geoff Goldberg, assisted by restoration specialist Giovanni d'Avola, from Autosprint garage, met the group as the transporters arrived and helped them offload.
Minerbi with his B12, along with another Lancia Italia Club member Stancati. Photo by Geoff Goldberg
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The first order of business was to find suitable protected parking for the Lancias; the travelers were perhaps a bit unprepared for the complexities of their Chicago arrival and a Rolling Stones concert scheduled for this evening near their hotel didn't help the situation.
Minerbi and Nino Romeo expound on Lancias in general. Photo by Jack Rubin
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Tomorrow's schedule will include a varied of cultural events - both American and Italian - around Chicago. Major themes of interest for the travelers seem to be Al Capone, jazz music and the Wild West. The day will end with a gala kickoff dinner in nearby Highwood, still home to many first-generation Italians.”
St. Louis Missouri, October 13 and 14
Carter Hendricks, who has professionally restored a number of old Alfas and Lancias in St. Louis, had this to say:
“The group arrived in St. Louis on Friday evening, October 13th. “The first cars were already at the Hotel when I came over around 5; more cars arrived in
small groups over the next two hours.”
At the Gateway to the West, under the arches in St. Louis. Photo by Michael Pranka.
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According to Hendricks, there were about 30 people in the group, two per car. There were no significant problems, but Hendricks, who has a shop in St. Louis, helped them fix a tire which needed a new tube. He noted that the oldest car in the group, the Astura, “…seemed to be travelling along fine. It was pretty peppy, and it sounded wonderful.
More like the V6
than an expected V8 sound. I need to look at the firing order/angles. The electric top is very cool.
Lancia B20 arrives safe and sound in St. Louis Missouri. Photo by Carter Hendricks.
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“Some of the group wanted to go down and eat on the old riverboat on the Mississippi, but it has been gone for years. So I arranged dinner at Bar Italia. “We spoke of many things, especially the personalities at Alfa Romeo and Lancia…men who
Minerbi knew as friends.”
By the Mighty Mississipi, waving the Italian flag. Photo by Michael Pranka.
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The tour was ready to move on towards Tulsa.
Tulsa Oklahoma, October 15-16
Ron Conlon from Norman, Oklahoma, met the group in Tulsa and had dinner with them:
“They are as a fine group as one could meet. The cars are spectacular and attract a lot of interest wherever they stop. The tour has been driving as separated units with differing start-off times and varied itineraries but all eventually gather at the evening stop. I got some calls from my Roamin' Chariots members who spotted small pods along the Rte 66 and I -44 corridor. They fought through some heavy showers and gusty winds that were a bit hard on the older models but all seem to be in good spirits and the cars are running like champs. My favorite cars were the Aurelias, all of them, they are so civilized they could be "Driving Miss Daisy" through Europe.
Fulvia by night in Tulsa Oklahoma. Photo by Ron Conlon.
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“Two Lancia (Fulvia, Flaminia and Scorpion) owners drove up from Norman to meet us and some local Alfisti rounded out the welcoming. They seemed to enjoy seeing my Fiat 124 Spider. As expected, the truly impressive size of the distances here in the US can only be experienced to be appreciated.
Minerbi's Lancia Berlina Aurelia interior seems spartan by today's standards, yet is elegant and functional, very comfortable with good vision. Photo by Ron Conlon.
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“I looked at the Flaminia coupe and told Marcello, "If James Bond was Italian he would have driven one of these..." Marcello loved that and staggered off laughing. I saw about 20 people but there was a lot of moving around and folks arriving late. You know that conversation is an aerobic experience to Italians. I was in high school in Montreal with a class of 35 of 40 Italian boys and it brought me back to those exuberant Friday afternoons. Picture 20 boys running to the windows to watch a pretty girl or exotic car pass in the middle of religion class. The teacher understood and would wait a minute before coaxing them to desks!
“We had dinner at the Best Western Inn (Tulsa) dining area.
They wanted to taste local beer and eat TexMex appetizers, some wanted burgers. They seemed amused at Italian dressing and passed it around, while we
had a good chat about the new Lancias. They felt that the newest models were worthy of the name and were outselling Alfa models.”
Amarillo, Texas October 16-17
Still looking good, now with American flags, the Fulvia stops to rest. Photo by Sam Deano.
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Sam Dean, from Amarillo Texas, was another Lancia (Scorpion) owner who came out to meet the Lancia Tour group:
"The group has now left Amarillo and should be in Santa Fe, NM by this time. It was wonderful to see so many of these beautiful Lancias in one place. In Tulsa the group split in two.
The clssic, clean lines of the Touring Flaminia coupe never fail to attract attention. A true Gran Turismo! Photo by Sam Dean.
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The first group seven Lancias arrived about 8:00 pm. The second group was delayed and did not arrive until around midnite. I met the 1st group at around 8:45 pm and most of them piled into an old Cadillac limousine with horns on the front and proceeded to the Big Texan Steak House. I guided the remaining pair to a nearby Chinese restaurant.
The smaller Fulvia coupe was also a great GT car, but was front wheel drive. Photo by Sam Dean.
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"The next morning I met the complete group as they were starting out for Santa Fe. Again they broke into two groups. The first group departed west down old Route 66, while the second group wanted to see more of the city and Cadillac Ranch. So, with myself in the lead, we toured the historic Route 66 that ran through the center of Amarillo and followed out to the Cadillac Ranch. While we were there, the Lancias received more attention than the famous buried Cadillacs. We said our farewells and I left the remaining group. This is a really neat group who have graced us with very rare and beautiful pieces of autoitalia.
The Lancia group has been missing bad weather all along the route--so far. Another of the Fulvia coupes lives to see the Texas sunset. Photo by Sam Dean.
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"The weather will turn quite cold on them leaving Santa Fe. As they arrive in Gallup, NM, the cold front should be east of them. There should be no snow for them, but Flagstaff usually carries a supprise as far as weather. Jim Fierst would be able to fill you in on that aspect."
