2) The DCFIAT crew live, were as welcoming and helpful as they are on the web. Enjoyed being introduced as "that guy that bought a car on eBay and drove it back from Cleveland without wipers in the rain", and cared not one whit if the look I got back was amusement, respect, or "what a noob". I felt right at home. The Italian sausages helped.
3) There is some inside joke on the Mirafiori forum and live targeting Mr. Carl Friedman that I am not in on, and cannot yet know whether it is warranted. He has been good to me and had a really cool coupe. I ain't taking sides. Met Mr. John Frawley, who if I remember right gave me my quote of the day - something like "it's really easier for me to keep adding oil than to pull the engine" - which I took to heart after adding a quart just to get to Carlisle, and another quart to get home.
4) There were rows and rows of vendors selling spare parts. I saw not one for a Fiat. John Erskine scored some Cromadora wheels. He is like a bloodhound - give him a whiff of a rare Fiat part and he will find it three counties away.
5) The Fiat camp, at least while I was there, enjoyed almost no female spectators. I was sure it would be infested with the ladies pictured in that forum thread "Girls & Fiat Pics". Was surprised the Opel GT gathering had more women oggling the cars. Maybe they thought they were fun-sized Corvettes?
6) Much to my surprise, my car was not the worst, nor terribly out of place as I had feared. There were some sweet Fiats at the event - beautiful cars that I wished I could have bought instead. That said, I am learning that the most satisfied owners earned that accomplishment, and a raw car nudged and cajoled and making its way towards roadworthiness is far more rewarding than dumping a 401k on a show car. I suspect come the holidays, we will all be competing for Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.
7) My car feels more nimble and quicker completely unencumbered with oil.
8 ) Rolled through Frederick after dinner and saw the helos leave Frederick airport and disappear over the Catoctins at sunset to fetch the G-8 summit participants. By the time I passed Leesburg it was dark, and I enjoyed the unusual display of lights as the four or five helos approached Dulles. Somehow reassured that those responsible for the republic are on the job while I'm enjoying the day.
9) Speaking of darkness, driving home was my first night journey in my 124. Learned a great deal. My headlights are more than adequate for my limited speed. My clock and my fuel gauge, neither of which work, are brightly illuminated on my dash. My oil pressure and temp gauges, vital signs that terrify me, work fine but are completely blacked out. This relaxes me a great deal on the drive home. No news is good news. My speedometer is only half lit - the half that includes unreachable speeds. The aftermarket stereo is blinding. The only upgrade made by the previous owner is a $1000 Alpine with a subwoofer that I am convinced simultaneously disintegrates rust and kidney stones that may be forming in my body.
10) Carlisle is up there in my top three Fiat experiences thus far; up there with foolishly but successfully driving the car home from Cleveland, and working with John Erskine for a day in his rehab center. But the absolutely most surprising and impressive thing of the day was this:
I caught a guy taking a photo of MY car!!!!!!!!
