Benvenuti amici!
I have been asked more times & in more ways than I can recall why we chose the proposition of the Cream City 500 Club. I do think it is a legitimate question which deserves an equally legitimate answer. So, here it is. Why not? Why not celebrate ordinary people? Why not celebrate their daily lives? Why not celebrate those lives in their FIATs? Why not celebrate FIAT S.p.A.? Why not celebrate the FIAT design philosophy? Why not celebrate other ordinary people doing the same, or similar, thing?
Well, for the argument against why not, we will need to look at what kicked off one of (if not) the most storied FIAT clubs on the planet. To do this, we must travel to Garlenda, Italy. I doubt there will be an argument from you, intelligent & adventurous reader, on the subject of that invitation. Let's ride...
[Editor's note: The following is taken from the official 500 Club Italia site. It is presented, here, in a slightly edited form. The edit was done in the interests of space & focusing on what started the club as well as what keeps it going today. The full story behind 500 Club Italia can be found here.]
Rolling in/out ~ 500 Club Italia style
"In 1983, the Council and Pro Loco of Garlenda Italy, set about uniting the community, and bringing reputation to the small town. It was envisaged that an annual event would also encourage much needed visitors to the area. Thus the Inaugural Fiat 500 car rally took place on the 15th of July 1984, and while only 30 people attended, it set in place a memorable event that has endured to this day. The engineer on the Fiat 500, Dante Giacosa, was surprised and impressed by the resurgence of interest and the initiative to give life and prestige to the the Fiat 500. This talented designer held the club in great esteem and remained close with the club until his passing in 1996.
Dante Giacosa enjoys the fruit of his labor
Among the first 500 enthusiasts of the time were the future president Gianpaolo De Capitani from Alassio and Mario Ferrando from Genoa, two columns of a great partnership. Ronald and Annelies Hoeven, two Dutch tourists visiting the area, alerted the locals to the existence of a club in Holland founded in 1980 and dedicated to the Fiat 500. This prompted the then Mayor of Garlenda, Domenico Romano and friend Giuseppe Nespolo to take a road trip to Holland. This historic trip marked the birth of the "Amici della 500" ("Friends of the 500") the first nucleus of the current club.
... In 1987 the first European tour took place with over 100 cars leaving from Geleen in the Netherlands. The sports field that had previously been used in Garlenda to hold the Fiat 500 car rallies was insufficient to host the event, and thus the Pro Loco of Garlenda, then led by Giancarlo Tassistro, made available the Villafranca Park (15,000 sqm) which is still used to stage the event today.
Aerial shot of 500 Club Italia meet
... In 1992, the cooperation with "Le Caravelle" in Ceriale began. The Fiat 500 Rally participants enjoying Saturday afternoons at the Water amusement park.
It was around this time that "Amici della 500" saw the need for the club to become better structured, organised and official in nature. From this desire, in 1990, the "Fiat 500 Club Italia" was born.
In 1995 the first 500 car was registered with the Historic Automobile club of Italy (ASI). Enrico Bo, technical advisor of the Fiat 500 club, participated in meets, where Fiat 500 club members could have their car accredited by ASI. This worked splendidly. In 1998 the club commenced its annual visit to Gaslini Children’s hospital on the occasion of the Befana to distribute gifts to the children. This is not the only charity to which the Fiat 500 club contributes. Frequently the club works with voluntary associations from various fields."
500 Club Italia official meet print ad circa 2013
A people. A small town. A desire to draw attention/establish a reputation. A fun focal point serving as the binding/bonding agent. Any of this read familiar? It should. This mirrors the foundation of FIAT USA of MKE & the newer CC5C.
A few entries back, I explained the significance of the name of our club along with the fact I find ways to include Cream City in all my ventures. I am proud of the accomplishments born in this place by the lake.
Milwaukee/Brew City/Cream City/Città Crema, like Torino/Turin, is a city with a rich industrial history. Torino has their machine of note ~ as does Milwaukee. We also have our brick (for shelter) and our beer (to toast). With the 2007 FIAT 500, I found a vessel into which I can pour my creative passion ~ and there is a bonus. Unlike my drawings, paintings & publications, it is a passion I can share with other people on a level playing field. The most notable of people with whom I share this is the missus.
I would be hard-pressed to dream up a more inspired beginning to anything worth celebrating than these. Join the club at our LS this Saturday... as well as every other day of the year via this blog and our Facebook community page. The party is just warming up...
Vivere.Amare.Guidare.
Ciao!
