Why Are There No FLU Events Out West?

[SeldomSeen]

Is FLU an East Coast/MidWest organization? It would be nice to have something like this west of the 100th meridian. I'd certainly join such a group. I think FLU would have a significant increase in membership if they scheduled events in the Rocky Mountain region and parts west. Surely there are more Fiats out here than there are in the rust belts.

[SunnySideUp]

In my opinion it's quite simple - the majority of the population is east of the Mississippi. There's a FLU chapter in Southern California (So-Cal chapter, Sean Russell seanrussell01@gmail.com). I've noticed by scanning the posts in the Fiat Spider Events section that there's a lot of shows/meets in California. You're sure to find some other Spider fans at a few of those.

Personally, I don't see why FLU (or Fiat Club America as they're now known) couldn't have 2 events, one East and one West, each year or even simply swap coasts every other year.

There's definitely interest: http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 16&t=14964

[baltobernie]

Running a car club is an daunting, time-consuming venture. The successful ones, like DC Fiats, are able to enlist a lot of folks to each do a little bit. You need a Webmaster/Social Media person, membership director, events coordinator, etc. New members are encouraged to create and sponsor an event; we have two such this year. We had 17 cars on a very hot and humid Saturday this past weekend for a 60-mile drive ending at a nice converted-train station restaurant. Some drove 60+ miles just to get to/from the start! Try planning a challenging scenic route near a major city sometime; it's not easy. Then there's the cue sheet, negotiations with the restaurant, and a complete run of the route a day or two beforehand.

It's a lot of work, and you have to do it locally. As Sunny sez, there ain't no FLU no mo. As you can see from their magazine, the target of the new Fiat Club of America is new 500 buyers. If you want events for your Spider, you're going to have to plan them yourselves. Sunny's referenced posting is typical; everybody says, "Count me in", but no one takes the initiative to do it. Do you have a vintage British car club in your area? See what they're doing. Can you get enough Italian cars together for a drive? That's how clubs start.

[vandor]

> I think FLU would have a significant increase in membership if they scheduled events in the Rocky Mountain region and parts west.

FLU is not a large corporation that opens offices in new areas if it wants to. It is a club, and chapters are formed where Fiat owners get together, organize, and decide to form a FLU chapter. There are several Fiat clubs in California, they just elected not to be FLU chapters.
Same thing with events: they are held in places where there are enough volunteers to organize it.
Are you volunteering?

[azruss]

Some drove 60+ miles just to get to/from the start!

The issue we have here is how spread out everything is. I can drive 60+ to and from and never get out of town. Going to an event in a nearby state or out of town becomes a major undertaking. There are regular car outings that are standard location and times where anyone can show up. This is not much of a Fiat crowd. I am thinking of a Fiat "car warming" when the beast is finished and see who shows up.

[garion]

Yeah, things are very spread out here. I don't think people on the east coast grasp that. I'm originally from Syracuse NY, and driving to Rochester or Utica was a day trip. I drive the equivalent from Syracuse to Utica every day just to get to work.

From my house to about where azruss is, its probably 40-50 miles (I'm down in Maricopa), and we're in the same general area, Phoenix.

[johndemar]

+1 on being spread out here. The local FLU has a drive on New Year's Day each year. I put over 200 miles on the car this year and we stayed in town the entire drive.

And I want to thank Russ for hosting the next event out west with the first annual "car warming" scheduled for sometime in 2027. Details to follow

[narfire]

I drove 400 kms one way (250 miles) to get to a best of Italy and France car show. No shortages of clubs here though if you have British or Detroit iron. Mind you "here" has a population of around 35,000 in the immediate area and around 3-5 Fiat spiders.
With so many other competing interests, I'd have a difficult time joining another event let alone trying to organize car events.. that would take up limited time.
Saying that though, I did enjoy talking to other Fiat owners at this years show in North Van, best turnout in a long time evidently with around 15 spiders.
Chris

[ga.spyder]

I am on the FLU/FCA Board.The effort to put together and pull off a FFO is daunting. Next year will be in Chicago.They were the only proposal we had.It will be a fantastic location.The CHIFLU group worked on the proposal for months.There is locations,lodging,meals,banquet halls,etc... that have to be found at the available time.It is a job that requires a active chapter with many,many volunteers.I helped put on Asheville and Nashville.Both are hundreds of miles from my home,but I made many trips to help put them together.
There has been talk of doing a East and West FFO in the same year.As of yet there has been no proposal from a western chapter.I can guarantee the FLU would love to have a FFO on the west coast.
By the way,Fiat owners are spread out on the east coast,too With the exception of the 2 southern venues,I have had to travel 600-800 miles to the FFOs I have attended.I will travel 800 miles to attend FUN(Fiats Up North) this fall in Michigan.The best course is to get some like minded avid Fiat guys together and form a chapter.Have fun with it.That is what its all about!!!

[So Cal Mark]

the So Cal chapter of FLU was started a few years ago and we had a very difficult time convincing owners to join FLU. We are very spread out here and that's part of the problem along with the fact that most groups have formed over the years and host their own events. We attempted to incorporate those groups/events into FLU events without much success.
I had a dream of a west coast freakout, but not really any support for the goal. Last year, inexplicably, the chapter was given to Sean Franklin somehow even though there was a Board of Directors in place. He has moved the base to San Diego and is running it as a for-profit venture. I haven't heard anything about it for quite awhile now, not sure if he is still attempting to make it go or not.
I have my own issues with FLU and let my membership lapse a couple of years ago

[racydave]

I searched and found like minded buddies, here and thru other forums, and we revived our local club. No, FLU did not. And we made sure to retain our original members in the process. But, having a good metro area to draw from was the main thing. Actually, I started here, before I attained my car. And I found a lot of friends to share the fun, including Craig and others. The best tool is now the internet. A local search of Italian cars points anyone in our direction. Some of the friends that I found here on FS, did the same and founded chapters in neighboring states. We now see each other at national and regional events. Our last local event yielded 10 cars for a Italian festival. There was only one Spider, three other Fiats, including a Dino, a 500, a 850 Spider, three Alfa, a Maserati, and a Ferrari. I must admit that FLU was the catalyst, and the FFO was the cause. Attending a FFO encouraged the local fever. After attending the Nashville FFO, I had plenty of help locally. We now all work together to organize and arrange outings. Last fall we hosted a regional event and hosted 50 people from 10 states. It was my crazy idea, but our guys made it possible. We even had our own band and enjoyed some Blues at the parking lot party on Sat evening. And it was really special that Craig and Rose came all the way up from Georgia to join in. So, it may be possible. It was here, but not without a lot of friends. It took a lot of work, and a few years.

[SeldomSeen]

There is a Fiat/Lancia club in Denver and I have been a member. http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/rmflc/ . I live an hour and some north of where the meetings are held and don't get down there much. The club sponsors an extremely well attended annual Italian car gathering called the Automezzi. Proceeds from the meet go to local charities. I don't know if the club has ever been affiliated with FLU.

I offered to organize what should have been a stunning loop drive in the foothills of the Rockies west of Fort Collins last year but scrapped the idea as the area I chose was subsequently involved in the High Park wildfire which burned 87,274 acres last Summer. I drove the beautiful route (which at one time could be compared favorably with the old Nordschliefe/Nurburgring race track) the week before the fire. Now it is just a sad memory.

[ga.spyder]

As Racydave alluded to,you don't have to be a FLU chapter to pull off a great Fiat outing.We attended FUN last year,put on by Dave's guys(the CIICA).It was one of the best organized , well thought out events I have attended.Those people worked their butts off on that.Great drives,rooms,music,and food.And of course,great people.It can be done!

[georgeramos]

I just returned from Howard Prairie Resort in Ashland/Medford, OR where there is a big 3 day weekend campout every 3rd weekend in July. Put together by the Mirafiori gang. It's a bit of a hike for you but with all that newness I doubt your car would have any trouble at all coming down next year! Theres a Washington group as well (FEN). I agree though, I wish there were a lot more 'informal" get togethers like saturday coffee type stuff. I suppose I need to put my money where my mouth is if I want to see it happen.

[SeldomSeen]

Deb and I will most likely be moving to SW Oregon next year. We're looking for a place near Oakridge where an old friend lives. Lot's of trout to throw dry flies at too .