Gardner's 15th Annual Fiat Picnic with pics of the event

[markpink]

Any other board members going to the Gardner's Fiat Picnic on Sunday September 12 in Ashby Mass?

There is at least three of us going from the board, and if anyone else in the New England Area wants to go, Anyone with a Fiat is welcome. What is this Gardner's picnic? There's a guy named Gardner who has six rare Fiats in his barn and at least 20 fiats in his yard in Ashby Mass. He holds this annual event, the first Sunday after Labor day. This is the 20th year. Here is a link to local newspaper story about him. http://www.allbusiness.com/manufacturin ... 673-1.html. This is only my second year going. If anyone else is going to or wants to go. Let me know and I will give you information about the event.

mark

[alfadude1]

Hi Mark,

I will be going and encourage anyone in New England to go. It is an annual event with all kinds of Fiats and other Italian autos, good food and great people. There was actually television coverage a couple of years ago.

I hope to see a bunch of first-timers there this year!

Jon

[donm]

If I can get away frome another obligation I'll go. I live on the North Shore of Boston and this will be the longest trip my newly aquired (July) '80 Spider has been on since I've had it. But I have AAA and I'll dig out my old St. Christopher dashboard statue and try to make it.

Where exactly is this event and what's a good time to go?

Don

[markpink]

Don,

Hope to see you there.

Put it this way, If you have car problems on the way, there will be a abundance of Fiat Car knowledge and parts at Gardner's house to get you back and running..

I got this email from Gardner himself this morning with directions:

Good People,

Just a reminder to folks who are on my Fiat list and an invitation to people recently added.
The (something like 20th) annual Italian car gathering is scheduled for this Sunday (the12th) starting at about noon. I have expanded the backyard to about double its previous size, lots of room for parking.
All are invited. no need to respond, just show up with or without your Italian car.

For new people ..just find Ashby, MA on a map and go there.You cannot get to Ashby without traveling on Route 119, which is the Main Street. Our address is 662 Main Street and the corner of Allen Road. The entrance to the backyard is on Allen Road

Gardner

Via

Mark

[DUCeditor]

This should be a fun get together! And Gardner's comment to 'just find Ashby' is right on. Every Fiat nut who ever drives on Rt 119 knows where his house is. There is some cosmic force that draws the eyes to all the Fiats in his yard!

-don (the other don)

[DUCeditor]

Just got back from attending Gardner's Annual FIAT Picnic along with several forum members. And what an amazing time we had!

About 8 Spider owners brought their cars, and several of them were really nice examples. But what made the event special was the people. An eclectic group of FIAT nuts gathered by perhaps the biggest FIAT 'nut' of them all, Gardner LePoer, whose collection of FIATs in various states of repair and disrepair eclipses anyone's I've seen by far.

I had no way of recording the many interesting conversations among this unique group of people, nor of sharing the delightful picnic and BBQ lunch we enjoyed together, but I can share a few pix.

First off here are a couple of shots of the visiting Spiders...






And now some of Gardner's own 'garden collection'...







Not quite you average garden party, eh? What fun! And how nice to meet several forum members as well as a couple of old FIAT friends I hadn't seen for several years.

I'm looking forward to next year's picnic already!

Thanks Mark for starting this thread.

-don

[markpink]

It was a good turnout considering the overcast weather. Gardner's yard is a sight you really have to see to believe.

Here is a few pics:

The first is of me markpink, Jon/alphadude1 and Don/DUCeditor. All of us standing next to our cars.


Don/Donm and his car was was also there and this is him and DUCeditor talking.


Here is a shot of most of the cars.


And two shots of the cars in the yard.



It was a good day had by all.

It was nice seeing Don, Jon, and other Don there as well.

Mark

[reinaldo]

Such a nice event indeed. I also want to join this type of event. Unfortunately, I am doing some project with my Fiat. Doing some engine rebuild and changing other auto body parts since it's a bit rusty.