Driving "Tony"

[mostlytwowheeled]

Yesterday, last day of 2011, after putting weather strip on the garage door I decided to take Tony for a drive. Here in West Michigan you don't get much chance to drive sports cars in the winter.But there was no snow and a few breaks in the clouds, so off we went. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the short drive as the sun was setting, very relaxing.
Today, first day of 2012, cold blowing snow with a winter storm warning until Monday evening and total accumulation of 6-10 inches.
Yesterday's drive was worth a million bucks.

[azruss]

didnt get to take the fiat for a drive, but did manage to get some more sanding done as it was a nice 85 degrees this afternoon.

[grittracing]

Did you know there is a fiat club in west Michigan.
West Michigan flu email me and I will send you a face book link great club

[RoyBatty]

So, just what is this "winter storage" thing I keep hearing about?
Just thought I'd tease some of you with a short vid clip from my camera phone showing a small part of my commute home from work. Darned climate change!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfsKZq5Tshg

[manoa matt]

Roy, a high of 61deg is nothing to brag about, that's considered freezing over here. Its only going to get up to a nippy 81deg here today.

[RRoller123]

We New Englanders love the change of seasons! Swim, boat and fish all summer on the Cape, Hike, camp and hunt in the Fall and ski, skate, board and snowmobile all winter. Life is good! But just about now I can admit some small jealousy at an 80 degree day! (Would like to be working on the Spider.) Especially as we have had zero snow this year to play in. <{:^)

[Wheel]

Although it would be great to be driving the fiat right now, I would miss the change of the seasons if I lived elsewhere.
Here is how I spent my New Years Weekend.

Ice fishing for Lake Trout on a lake in Northern Saskatchewan in this customized ice fishing shack. The shack used to be a semi-tractor until it was written off in an accident. The chrome stack is attached to the wood burning stove. I can't claim any of the creative handy work, but I did catch fish.

[dmwhiteoak]

Wheel, Looks like the ice fishing would be a blast. The closest thing to ice fishing we have is crappi fishing in the sleet but its still to early for that. It was almost 80 today and I spent all day out in the spider. Life is good!

[RRoller123]

That looks like a lot of fun!

[Wheel]

It is a lot of fun. You are together with friends. It is remote and very peaceful. I wish I was a better writer to describe it for you. If you ever get the chance, it is something you have to experience at least once.
I find it very good for my soul as it is one of those activities where all the worries of the world and life disappear for a while. In some ways I think you could compare the feeling to finding an empty curvy road where it is just you, your Spider, the road and the enjoyable task at hand.

[RRoller123]

I used to feel that way about iceboating when I was a kid. Our friends had a couple that they built, DN types, and man those were fun! The opposite of peaceful but a real blast. I mean to make one of those someday. It is high on the bucket list. Unfortunately here in New England the snow in general screws up the iceboating, but this should be a particularly good year.

[Spiderinmlnj]

This year you could still be driving your fiat in saskatoon in january.
I know christmas day it driveable when i was at my parents, although the ice on their side street would have been interesting.
But then living now in NJ i figure it is top down weather as long as above freezing point.

[Wheel]

Geoff, I probably could drive the fiat, if it wasn't partially disassembled.
It certainly is not a usual winter this year. Tomorrow is supposed to +10 Celcius (50 F).
We had to go north of Prince Albert to get into some real snow, in fact drove through a blizzard to get to White Swan Lake (north of Candle Lake). That is where the picture of the ice fishing shack was taken. We got to take in some snowmobiling and cross country skiing as well. Hopefully we will get some snow closer to home soon so we won't have to drive so far to get in some skiing.

What year of Spider do you have?

John