Today is my wife Rosemarie,and my 25th wedding anniversary.Yes...she deserved better We decided to take a long ride in the Fiat.Mid 50 degree weather early,and off we went to the Cherohalaa Skyway.For those who dont know,this is a awesome road in the Western Carolina mtns.,near our home. http://www.cherohala.com/ After poking thru some antique stores and a museum,we headed up the Cherohala.This is a destination for bike,sports cars,and clubs nationwide.Imagine my surprise when there wasnt a car in front of us across the entire ride!!!We ripped through all the twist and turns like it was a private road.The car,of course,perfomed flawlessly.Stopped for gas in Robbinsville NC,and created a stir in the parking lot.There were a group of bikes and GTI's that had just come off the Dragon and they had a fit over the Fiat.One kid(sport biker ) said" Wow,that thing must be worth a fortune!"I didnt tell him different,in case his parents were loaded.They had a pro photographer with them and asked to shoot pics of the Spider.Pretty cool.
After a lunch,we headed back out of town.I was tellingb Rose about a guy I stopped and helped on the way to Road Atlanta last year.I went and got him gas for his Porsche 356 Outlaw.A freaking incredible car.He told me where his resto shop was,and that he had always had Fiats.I found his shop and pulled in.He remembered me immediately ,and after looking at a couple Fiats he was making into one nice one,we went inside his shop.The first thing I see is two 300SL Gullwings in different states of restoration.Holy S#*t!!!! Then a Aston Martin Zagato.Then various 50's era Mercedes coupes and convertibles.Another 356!!! I found heaven.Bear in mind,this is in the mountains,near no city whatsoever.This man does complete restos on some of the most expensive,iconic cars in the world in the middle of nowhere in a glorified barn.My wife said"You were like a little kid in there"
Unreal day!!!!!!!
Awesome Day Trip
- ga.spyder
- Posts: 3478
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
- Location: Blairsville ,Ga.
Awesome Day Trip
Craig Nelson
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
- TulsaSpider
- Posts: 1547
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Spyder 124 2L
- Location: Tulsa, Ok
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Sounds like an amazing day! one to always remember!
1978 Spyder 1800 make that 2L! Finally making real progress!
- Europa
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:02 am
- Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Spidereuropa
- Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Congratulations to you and Rosemarie. 25 years! That's certainly a milestone worth celebrating.
1983 Spidereuropa
Verde Scuro
Verde Scuro
- ga.spyder
- Posts: 3478
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
- Location: Blairsville ,Ga.
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Thank you,Abey.Great to hear from you.We missed you at FFO!
Craig Nelson
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
- Europa
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:02 am
- Your car is a: 1983 Pininfarina Spidereuropa
- Location: Ft. Lauderdale
Re: Awesome Day Trip
I couldn't make it to FFO this year. Looking forward to the next. Had some challenges on the job front.
1983 Spidereuropa
Verde Scuro
Verde Scuro
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Congratulations to you both on the wedding anniversary, Craig. The drive sounds wonderful, what a great thing to do, I'm very envious. But what a shame you stumbled across the local mobs chop shop. I hope you didn't tell them where you live
- kilrwail
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:49 am
- Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider
- Location: Perth, Ontario
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Craig - That sounds like a perfect cruise. And I predict that you'll be back at that shop one day soon, just to hang out.
_____________________________________________________________
Peter Brownhill
1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor
Peter Brownhill
1978 Fiat 124 Sport Spider - original owner
1977 Porsche 911S - track car
2022 Ram 4 x 4 - hauler
PCA National Instructor and Motorsport Safety Foundation Level 2 Instructor
- ga.spyder
- Posts: 3478
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
- Location: Blairsville ,Ga.
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Thanks everyone.If I lived a bit closer to that shop,I would volunteer my labor and spare time just to learn from him! The only clue to what is going on there,is a hedge with the Mercedes star cut into it.No sign...nothing.He asked me not to post any pictures ,but I almost fell in the floor when I saw the 2 Gullwings inside!!!! He hand builds body panels,does all the painting,engines,etc..in house.Do craftsmen like that still exist? Apparently some people know of him ,as the place was packed with clients very rare and pricey cars!! His first car was a 850 Spider and he has always owned a Fiat.Loves the cars,and he has been to couple FFO's.Too bad we didnt know then,but we drove right by his shop on the way up to "The Dragon at FFO10 on Asheville.He saw us go by!!
The ride across the Cherohala was fantastic yesterday.Impossible to believe that we never saw another car in our lane,across the whole 45 mile run!The weather was perfect.The only glitch was a 2 mile stretch where they were repaving and we had to follow a pilot car.We soon left the 2 cars and 2 motorcycles in line behind us in our dust
A really nice day
The ride across the Cherohala was fantastic yesterday.Impossible to believe that we never saw another car in our lane,across the whole 45 mile run!The weather was perfect.The only glitch was a 2 mile stretch where they were repaving and we had to follow a pilot car.We soon left the 2 cars and 2 motorcycles in line behind us in our dust
A really nice day
Craig Nelson
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
-
- Patron 2022
- Posts: 4211
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:32 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 2000 Spider
- Location: Granite Falls, Wa
Re: Awesome Day Trip
What a great day! That's one I really wish I could have been with you on, I'd love to see the shop you visited.
Congratulations on your 25th!
Ron
Congratulations on your 25th!
Ron
- ga.spyder
- Posts: 3478
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:19 pm
- Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
- Location: Blairsville ,Ga.
Re: Awesome Day Trip
Thanks Ron..I cant think of anyone I would have rather had come along with us than you.
Craig Nelson
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !
1982 Spider 2000...pride and joy
1981 Fiat X1/9..gone but not forgotten
1976 124 Spider..the self-healer
2001 BMW 328ci daily driver and track car
Fling It Around Turns !