Back from FFO with the pix

[ga.spyder]

WOW !! I just got in this evening ,after a 12 hour drive from Filly.The event was a huge success,the guys from Deleware Valley FLU really put on a first class events.Lots to do,everything on time,nice facility(who just about turned the hotel over to us).But ..really ,it is all about the people.I really dont know if you could put together a nicer group of folks.Friendly ,generous,helpful...God,it sounds like the Boy Scout oath! I took lots of pix but I am a little whooped ,so I will get them up tomorrow.
I met up with the 'Jersey Boys', George ,Brady and his patient wife Daneen,but Ralph didnt make it.We missed you,since you have helped so many of us out with parts we kinda wanted to hoist a couple with you.Spider 2081 helped Baltobernie sort out his cruise control.He is an electronic whiz!! Kevin1 led the Maine contingent and brought his Spider and his awesome V8 Austin replica.Peter is a great guy,who I really enjoyed talking to,and I even got a autographed copy of his book.I got to see my friends,the Kristoffs who offered me use of their Porsche if I would come visit.John....that one may come back to bite you!And Denise...she is a pistol. She brought ''Big Red''( her Suburban),and 4 little girls,which we promptly took into the city and got lost!! We had to cross the worlds tallest bridge,then ended up at the Philly airport.Uh...Denise...who is this 'Dick Viagra ' fellow again?
A really fine group of people,all willing to help.I didnt have a car at the event and Bernie and Debbie just handed me the keys to their beautiful car and said''take it'' How great is that? John Erskine dug up a part to my car and refused to take a penny for it.Kevins friend ,Thomas,gave me a work apron he made...all because I posted pix of his gorgeous Daytona Blue Spider that has now been copied three times!!My friend Elial spent 3 hours in gridlocked Philly traffic helping a fellow Spider in peril .Fiat people are the best.One of the best comments were from a couple who brought a TR4 to the event. The girl is from Ireland and told me that they had never been treated nicer by any group,including their own Triumph club. She asked me ''What makes all these people so friendly?" Nuff said.
Craig

[mdrburchette]

I just got back home from a long drive from Philly too! Had to continue our sightseeing tour and check out some caverns in the VA mountains.
Craig, like always, I enjoyed hanging out with you. I also enjoyed seeing so many people I call friends and made several new ones. One guy I'm itchin' to meet is the one who has a burgandy 72 Spider that was being pulled by a red 1993 3/4 ton Suburban.....how creepy is that? That Spider looked so much like mine, my kids were even confused! All I want to ask him is if his Suburban has a 454...

Denise...who is this 'Dick Viagra ' fellow again?

You don't know Dick, Craig? Don't worry, you will.
I'm going to make sure I bring a car next year. It was way too hard looking at all those beautiful cars and knowing none of them were mine.

[lanciahf]

Hi Craig,

Thanks for the thought, sort of swamped helping my sister. She is trying to get her house ready for sale by the end of the month. But I did see the FFO & the new 500 on the local news. Hopefully next year?

[baltobernie]

It was great seeing you guys again, and I'm glad everyone made it home safe and sound.

(Not only did I get my Spider cruise control sorted out, a mechanic attending the show remotely diagnosed the steering rack problem I'm having in my Dodge!)

[NJFIAT1981]

Hi Craig,
It was very nice to meet you. I can now say I attended my very first car show. Had a great time! I was very impressed that everyone was so nice and willing to showoff and talk about their cars. What a great group of people. It's also good to be able to put a face to the name here on the site. Next year I will be staying for the weekend. Would have been nice to go back to the hotel for a shower, pool, and a cold beverage. (Next time). Was a bit hot out at Valley Forge.
Drove home to New Jersey with a big smile on my face. Stopped by at 5 Guys for a hamburger as the family was already out for the eveining. As I'm walking out the front door I just happened to run into a small group heading to a car show down the street. Actually thought about attending but decided to call it quits for the day.
Anyone from NJ who reads this feel free to PM me as we will be doing some type of ride in Sept. Probably end up at an italian resturant. Looking for some ideas and will post in the near future. We have a very small group here and are looking to enlarge it. Thaks and regards, George

[ga.spyder]

Here are some pix.The first one are from the auto-x,others from the Concorso.I had a camera problem ,so I had many that didnt come out :



























tp://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc132/gaspyder/dadspics117-1.jpg[/IMG]

[markpink]

Nice photos. I missed the autocross. I was still driving down there.

Mark

[kilrwail]

I just returned from FFO 2009 and it was the best one yet. Hats off to all the organizers for a job well done. I really enjoyed meeting Craig, Brady, George, John, Charlie and of course seeing “my girl” Denise again. And a whole lot of other nice people who aren’t regulars here. My pictures can be found here:

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee23 ... ut%202009/

The 1962 Multipla won Best of Show.

[kristoj]

Peter, thanks for the brew, the conversation and the autographed book. It was great seeing/meeting everyone. Had a wonderful time and can't wait until next year. Craig, you have to get your wife up to Ohio to visit her family while we hit the backroads in the Spider and 911 (I may even let you drive the P-car ). Seriously, you are welcome to stay with us anytime -- we are less than an hour from Salem.

[Elial]

Craig, Great pictures, great time,It was my first FFO! what a great grathering of people, friendly and always willing to go above helping out in any way! I'm looking forward to working and sharing with the club.
Elial

[Kevin1]

Thanks for the great pictures, Craig!
This is my 2nd FFO, and going home I had the same feeling as the first - the weekend wasn't nearly long enough! Too many cars to see, too many stories to hear. But most important, too many people to meet and not enough time to spend with them all. We are hoping that next year's FFO will be within driving distance again.
A tip of the hat to the Delaware Valley FLU and everyone who volunteered for putting together a first class event.

[mdrburchette]

All of them are within driving distance, Kevin! Just ask Alvon, who drove from SoCal to Pocono last year.