U.S. Lancisti , Please Note .

[Jim Fierst]

I used the title of this post to cget the attention of some who might otherwise not see it.. I am a subscriber to Velocetoday.com an online Italian car enthusiast magazine.. Yesterday's issue featered an upcoming tour by some 16 Lancia cars from Chicago to L.A. following what is left of Route 66 starting on Oct14th. Itenary details at www.velocetoday.com
Standing in my driveway I can watch the traffic go by on old Rte 66 about 1/2 a mile away. It is the longest remainging intact stretch, about 125 miles ( For our Interntional members Route 66 is sometime refered to as the "mother road' because so many peopled used it to get to the west from Chicago in the early1900's to mid 1960's As the Interstate system was developed much of the highway went away.)
The organizer of this trip is Marcello Minerbia. Does any one know this person ? I would like to join the tour in Flagstaff AZ and follow it to Kingman.
Some one is driving a LB Montecarlo . Does that person frequent this Forum?

[Jim Fierst]

Brief update.. Through Pete at VeloceToday my telephone number was forwarded to Marcello. I will be getting a call from them somewhere in route. Pete mentioned that they had contacts in Chicago,St Louis,LV and LA but no others. He also said that He would be following the tour with updates in VeloceToday.

[Jim Fierst]

Another update.
The cars were shipped from Genoa Italy to NYC where they are being transported to Chicago to start the tour. Pete at Velocetoday e-mailed the 7 individuals/ groups who will be joinng or supporting the tour Marcello's cell phone number so we can get in touch. Most of the route is fairly well covered with support but we could use some one from western NM or eastern AZ for the Sante Fe to Flagstaff leg.. PM me if you want to be involved. Pete said Velocetoday will be covering the trip. Since Kingman,AZ is a city involved in a lot of Rte 66 nostalgia I am going to see if I can get a article in the local paper.
I did about 100 miles on Rte 66 yesterday returning from Flagstaff in the LBZ and it was a thouroughly enjoyable step back in time.

[Jim Keller]

It's a shame they will not be coming farther east, would have loved to meet up with them and maybe take a short drive with them, :( Oh well.......

[Jim Fierst]

The tour group is staying on schedule and has passed through Sante Fe NM headed for AZ. I will be joining the group in Falgstaff tomorrow for Saturdays trip through Kingman to Needles CA. Sunday they are off to Las Vegas where they will be featured in the LV Concourse.
The latest issue of VeloceToday has current information and some great pictures.. www.velocetoday.com

[KeppelmanJ]

Jim, I have no idea how convient this may be for you, but I am editor of the American Lancia club's magazine, Lanciana, and I would love to have some photos of that group. There's a bit of buzz about this event and i know people who saw them off in the east but I don't know of anyone besides you driving with them. If you connect with them and have a camera in hand I'd be grateful for a shot or a few. If you're inclined, let me know and we can discuss particulars.

Thanks, John Keppelman

[Jim Fierst]

The Arizona leg of the tour is now history with the cars moving on to Las Vegas for the Concourse on Sunday..
The cars had suprisingly few problems coming across the county .A few flat tires, a loose exhaust and i believe one carburation problem.. We left Flagstaff Saturday morning and had a brief stop at the Grand Canyon Caverns and then on to Kingman Powerhouse Museum. We did get a group picture of sorts. I was able to get 13 orf the 16 cars lined up in front of the Powerhouse. A potographer from the local paper was there to take pistures and do a small feature. John K. I emailed you some of the photos I took and will try to get the one taken by the photographer.
My LBZ became the camera car for the professional TV cameraman who was part of the trip so i was running ahead of the group and getting him in position . We had a great location picked out on the mountainous switch back section on the road to Oatman but the main body of cars took a wrong turn out of Kingman and never showed up.
All in all it was a great time meeting the Italians ,seing those beautifu Lancias and being a part of Lancia's 100 year anniversary happenings..
i am sure Peter will have more on the tour in this Wednesday's paper.. www.velocetoday.com