New member - Longtime Fiat lover

[billstyer]

Hi All,
I finally decided to get active here, after browsing through for ideas about my 1981 Spider. This is my second Fiat - My first was a '69 124 Spider that I sold in '84 because it was about to fold in half from all the rust. I've had the '81 for almost 5 years now, and it went from being a garage queen to being my daily driver. It's more reliable than my old Ford pickup! I hope I can contribute something useful from time to time, because you've already helped me out a bunch, just by existing.
Thanks for being here,
Bill

[2ndwind]

Bill,
Thanks for joining. I'm sure we will benefit from your many years of Fiat ownership. Any pics?

[mdrburchette]

Great to see another southeasterner here. Welcome! Are you aware the national Fiat Freakout is being held close by in Asheville, NC this year? Check it out at http://www.flu.org
It would be a great opportunity to see plenty of Fiats and meet many owners.

[billstyer]

Thank you! I saw that the Freakout would be down here yesterday. Today is my wife's birthday, so I haven't had the nerve to broach the subject yet. We are fixing up our new house, and have been absolutely frantic trying to get it done so we can get out of the old one. To say her nerves are frayed is an understatement! Once we get moved, I think she'll be in a much better frame of mind. Like with our cars, timing is everything!
I'm trying the flikr thing - I'm not sure of this.

Yay! I figured out what I was doing wrong.
This isn't a great picture. I just ran out into the parking lot, and shot it with my phone.
I'll do better next time.

[mdrburchette]

Nice looking Spider. If you can't swing July 8-11 for the Freakout, maybe you can swing Labor Day weekend for the Fiatfest in Winston-Salem. This weekend a few of us are meeting at the Mitty for some racing action.

[billstyer]

I'll probably be able to make the Freakout. Just have to wait for the most diplomatic moment to present my case. She likes the area (and the Fiat), so I think we'll swing it.

[baltobernie]

You're no newlywed, aren't you?

[billstyer]

It shows, huh? She's a good sport, I just have to use a little common sense.

[billstyer]

Finally got some decent pictures.

[2ndwind]

Very Nice

[rlux4]

Hi Bill, I'm a tad late, but I want to join those who have welcomed you to the forum. I only wish my Spider could be my daily driver, but I'm in construction and it won't hold enough tools. You've got a pretty one there.
Ron

[billstyer]

Thanks Ron and Steve,
I carry around a pretty good set of tools myself. I'm still learning (hopefully!) and, while I'm an optimist by temperment, (must be, or I wouldn't be using her as a daily driver!) I'm a pessimist by policy. So far, so good.
Bill