Lancias arrive safely in Los Angeles
Photo by Carter Hendricks
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What follows is Jim Fierst’s synopsis of the happenings from Flagstaff to Needles, October 20-21:
I arrived in Flagstaff and was soon greeted by Joachim Griese, one of the two English speaking tour members. The rest of the cars arrived by 8.00 P.M. There was a minor medical emergency with one of the members who was a diabetic but that was resolved and he returned to join the group at a late dinner at Mama Louisa's Italian restraint.
Photo by Jim Fierst.
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On Saturday morning we toured west and stopped at the Grand Canyon caverns, but in that we were behind schedule we moved on to Kingman. We finally all met up at the Powerhouse Museum and I got 13 or so of the cars lined up for a group photo.
Photo by Jim Fierst.
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At this point, the group was supposed to leave the Powerhouse and head to Oatman. I was acting as camera crew with a professional TV cameraman named Mimmo(picture attached) We staked out a stretch of switchback on a mountainous section to get some longs shots. We did get a few cars but for some reason the main body of the cars never got there and apparently took a wrong turn after Kingman. They should have had no trouble getting to their final destination in Needles via I-40. I did make a map from Needles to the Concourse at LV today and I do not think they will have any problem..
Photo by Jim Fierst.
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I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to be involved with this group and be a small part of their enjoyment of our heritage.
Cindy Meitle reports from the Las Vegas Concours d‘Elegance, October 22-23:
EVERYTHING was outrageously incredible. I can't believe it. . Marcello Minerbi and a few others actually arrived in the early hours after announcing to me that they were 60 miles outside Las Vegas. Others came later and still more got lost on the crazy Las Vegas freeway system and had to backtrack.
Once there, the Italians had a BLAST and the concours was kicked into overdrive by their presence. The weather was frighteningly perfect and the view spectacular. The group brought four beautiful silver bowls as trophies and asked that we pick two favorites and visa versa. I thought they would be biased and route for the Ferrari and other Italian cars, but it was obvious they found equal affection for the Nethercutt cars that took Best in Show, Best in Class and People's Choice. While the Americans applauded and praised the winners, the Italians were much more passionate about the concours awards ceremony and cried out each time a winner was announced.
As the group crowded round me, Marcello listened intently as I explained the purpose of the eBay Live auction, how people were bidding from around the world on 8 cars, and how proceeds from the car sales benefited our charity. Although I know he was translating exactly what I had just said to the group, he could have been talking about something entirely different and I would have had absolutely no idea. All I know is that I've never heard an eBay discussion that sounded quite that romantic.
The Astura sits proudly in the Vegas sunshine. Photo by Howard Koby
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The Italians also brought our emcee a beautiful gift. It resembled a large business card holder with a folding lid, but was deep like an ashtray.
They presented me with a Lancia scarf at the awards ceremony and I first tied it round my neck, then, I put it around my waist for the rest of the day. They then presented me with a car badge like the ones in the photograph that are affixed to their front bumpers. I tried to recall some of my grandmother's Italian language I grew up with, but alas, it is pretty much gone and I need two weeks immersed in the environment to get it back. Ciao and arriva derci were ample as was lots of BELLISSIMO!
Cindy enjoys the Astura. Photo by Howard Koby
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They left in one group at 4:15 pm after lettting most of the other cars go in front of them to leave single file. The last car passenger held a full size Italian flag out the window as they drove off. The cars had gear in them and one had a full American flag laying in the back window, pretty neat.
Cory Youngberg reports a safe arrival in Los Angeles, October 24th:
The Lancias across America have arrived in Los Angeles. The first group arrived about noon on Tuesday the 24th. (Three Aurelias and a Flaminia) The second group of two 1600cc Fulvias arrived about 5 pm. And the last group came in about 6 pm.
All cars made it across the desert with the exception of the Flaminia PF Coupe, which lost two tires in Needles California. That car is being trucked to Long Beach to be put on a container. It is hard to find 185 by 400 Michelins, or 165 by 400 Michelins, in Needles!
The first group in the Aurelias made it in 4hours 30 minutes, which is a good time. The Aurelias B20 coupes ran great. The group went across town to Gary Byrd’s residence for a mixer and a special dinner for the participants at a local French restaurant.
Today they will be going to the Santa Monica Pier and up the coast to Jan Voboril’s residence in Topanga Canyon.
VT will have a wrap up next week.
