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fiat in america

Fiat Freakout 2019: The Winners

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Adam and Rheana Watts won best Fiat 500 in this year’s Fiat Freakout.

By Philippe H. Defechereux © 2020
Event photos by Tim Beeble

In Part 1 of this report, the participants’ spirit had already been brightened by a surprise-filled countryside rally, a go-pro go-kart challenge or, for the sightseeing-inclined, a well-staged visit to historical Old Salem. But the fun was far from over: a fabulous Friday evening experience was still awaiting those who love movie thrillers filled with spectacular car chases and it would take place outdoors in a vast bucolic area and start at 8 pm close to sunset.

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Fiat Freak Out 2019

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By Philippe H. Defechereux © 2020
All photos property of Fiat Club America except otherwise indicated

From July 10th to 14th of 2019, on the vast and resplendent grounds of the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, North Carolina, the 36th consecutive “Fiat FreakOut” (“FFO” for initiates) successfully took place. Why such a long-lasting and popular tradition?

For some peculiar reason, Fiat cars (and some of their close relatives) inspire a beguiling and enduring fervor in their American owners and even their families. The FFO, organized by the Fiat Club America, is the annual national celebration of that passion, mixed with a large dose of well-planned fun.

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Racing Fiats in the U.S.

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By Karl Ludvigsen
This article was originally published in three parts at a length of 4,500 words in 2009. Links to the original articles are posted at the end of this article.

Louis Chevrolet, Louis Wagner and Walt Hansgen are among the best-known racing drivers the world has seen. What do they have in common with Don Parkinson, Pietro Bordino and Paul Richards? Just this: all of them were race winners in America driving Fiat-or Fiat-based racing cars. For over a century Americans and racing Fiats have been linked together in the world of auto competition. [Read more…] about Racing Fiats in the U.S.

The Racing Fiats: Tiremarks on America PII

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fiat
Part II brings us to mid-century, when Fiat was offering very sporting small displacement cars such as this rare 1100 S driven here by Tony Pompeo at Waktins Glen. Photo by Frank Shaffer.

By Karl Ludvigsen

Read Part I

The Saga of David Bruce-Brown

David Bruce-Brown, an 18-year-old prep-school lad whose mother was listed in New York’s social register, came on the scene in time for the American Grand Prize races. Driving Fiats for most of his brief but meteoric career, Bruce-Brown broke Willie Vanderbilt’s mile record at Daytona Beach in 1908. [Read more…] about The Racing Fiats: Tiremarks on America PII

The Racing Fiats: Tiremarks on America

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fiat
Louis Wagner with the Fiat at the Savannah races in 1911. Almost as tall as an average man, the huge Fiats won two of the three American Grand Prize events at Savannah.

Part I

From the Vanderbilt Cup to Indianapolis, from the Grand Prize at Savannah to Sebring, cars by Fiat of Turin, Italy, have competed with distinction in the greatest American racing events since 1904. With the news of Fiat’s deal with Chrysler, Karl Ludvigsen’s three part article about Fiat in America may be more relevant than ever.

by Karl Ludvigsen

Louis Chevrolet, Louis Wagner and Walt Hansgen are among the best-known racing drivers the world has seen. What do they have in common with Don Parkinson, Pietro Bordino and Paul Richards? Just this: all of them were race winners in America driving Fiat-or Fiat-based racing cars. For over a century Americans and racing Fiats have been linked together in the world of auto competition.
[Read more…] about The Racing Fiats: Tiremarks on America

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