CC5C (Cream City Cinquecento Club) was founded 4 July, 2013. In the 2+ years we've been active, a lot has changed. The FIAT Family range of cars has grown to five 500-based or inspired models… 6 when you include the 500e. In a year or less, that range will include the return of the 124. FIAT S.p.A. purchased Chrysler Group LLC. FIAT-powered Dodges, Chryslers and Jeeps are adding some spice to the North American automobile menu. The first Italian built Jeep is already rolling on & off roads in the US and the EU. Alfa Romeo introduced two new models to the market. Maserati is the head of a performance group that includes ABARTH and Alfa Romeo. Scuderia Ferrari, tattooed with Alfa logos, is taking podium on a regular basis. Although still majority held by Agnellis & Ferraris, Ferrari has spun off on its own. My friends, the action shows no sign of slowing down.
All that activity is bound to impact national and local car clubs celebrating the sweet FIAT life experience... CC5C is among them.
Our inaugural attendance attracted 20 curious 'centos and is, now, hovering between 5-10 (sometimes as many as 13-17) hardcore FIATisti… sun, rain, sleet or snow. Many members have purchased their second, third and/or fourth FIAT! In fact, on this very blogspot we chronicled moving from a 500P (500 Pop) to an A500 (ABARTH 500) as well as the customizations to the beloved runabout we fittingly named La Sombrita (The Tiny Shadow).
Our inaugural attendance attracted 20 curious 'centos and is, now, hovering between 5-10 (sometimes as many as 13-17) hardcore FIATisti… sun, rain, sleet or snow. Many members have purchased their second, third and/or fourth FIAT! In fact, on this very blogspot we chronicled moving from a 500P (500 Pop) to an A500 (ABARTH 500) as well as the customizations to the beloved runabout we fittingly named La Sombrita (The Tiny Shadow).
Although the majority of our blog entries are written by one person, we regularly feature pieces about or written by others. These entries happen to be among our very favorites.
We began local business relationships with a trip to a gelateria and, now, have more pronounced ties with other eateries, the local Italian community and local car culture-related staples. One of the most important of these has been with Reina International Auto (and Vespa). The Reina family is a permanent petrol culture fixture, perhaps even the nucleus of our local Italian car and moto communities. In 2015… for the first time in the history of their Italian Auto, Moto & Vespa Day... a local FIAT club joined their ranks! Being a part of their perennial extravaganza, as one family-focused unit is an honor.
Still, there is more. Our first piece of club 'branding' was an inexpensively produced black & white, square bordered window cling. Those clings were free of charge and mailed to those interested on our dime. We, now, have several 4-color grille badges and die-cut decal options fans can use to show their love. We created a multi-national design/logo to represent the CC5C philosophy of unified FIAT fan efforts and called it… the Mighty Mouse Militia or M3. We are very excited about this expansion of our merchandise line, with an alternative to the borderless M3 magnetic grille badges.
Because we realize many tune and/or track their FIATs, we offer FIATisi in-the-know the M3 vinyl decals! Honor the achievements of the Giannini brothers and their greatest rival… the true Scorpion King… Karl 'Carlo' Abarth with these heritage logos. No other automaker can claim the significant strides both tuning/racing houses made in the quest to improve power-to-weight ratio in the common commuter car. When one considers the cars they chose were the smallest Dante Giacosa designed/engineered... and FIAT S.p.A. produced... celebration is the only logical reaction.
These beautiful stick-ons are offered, at EuroCompulsion, in the ABARTH (giallo), RECORD (grigio) and GIANNINI (azzurro) versions. They measure 2"x2" (5.08cmx5.08cm) and are perfect for attaching under the bonnet, on the windshield/window and/or the hatch of your lovely or on your track day skull protector. Local members can purchase theirs directly. More fun + affordable CC5C-M3 gear is on the way for 2016!
Today, we announce another change… an evolution of our local club.
We began local business relationships with a trip to a gelateria and, now, have more pronounced ties with other eateries, the local Italian community and local car culture-related staples. One of the most important of these has been with Reina International Auto (and Vespa). The Reina family is a permanent petrol culture fixture, perhaps even the nucleus of our local Italian car and moto communities. In 2015… for the first time in the history of their Italian Auto, Moto & Vespa Day... a local FIAT club joined their ranks! Being a part of their perennial extravaganza, as one family-focused unit is an honor.
Because we realize many tune and/or track their FIATs, we offer FIATisi in-the-know the M3 vinyl decals! Honor the achievements of the Giannini brothers and their greatest rival… the true Scorpion King… Karl 'Carlo' Abarth with these heritage logos. No other automaker can claim the significant strides both tuning/racing houses made in the quest to improve power-to-weight ratio in the common commuter car. When one considers the cars they chose were the smallest Dante Giacosa designed/engineered... and FIAT S.p.A. produced... celebration is the only logical reaction.
Today, we announce another change… an evolution of our local club.
For some time, the founder of CC5C has also offered his services as the Wisconsin Regional Representative for the national Italian runabout club called FIAT CLUB AMERICA (FCA). Writing an article or two, for FCA's RICAMBI magazine, and answering emails from new FCA members around the country has been fun. But it is time to draw nearer to national activities and secure the future of Wisconsin's FIRST and ONLY dedicated FIAT Social Motoring club.
Check the subtitle of this site and you'll notice something has been added. Our evolved affiliation with FCA, as the official Wisconsin chapter, is boldly proclaimed. The culmination of two years of work (between the national and local clubs) cements our commitment to the efforts of the three decades strong club and works to match, domestically, the international appeal of this FIAT life enthusiast blog & supporting FB page.
So, how does this change the blog?
Apart from the modified subtitle... not at all. We will continue to write and publish about the FIAT life experience/s of local club members and share stories submitted by our supporters across the nation… and around the world.
Does this change the nature of the local club?
Not really. The local club has always functioned with a loose, albeit clear, structure. One individual has always acted as 'president', while others assisted in the capacity of a 'secretary' and/or activities coordinator. We have/will always plan bimonthly or monthly meetings/gatherings. We will always plan F-U-N events. What does change is how we function on our guided drives. For insurance purposes, we will -- at times -- require a 'Fun Fee' for non-FCA members. They will remain minimal/affordable, in order to encourage the broadest appeal and participation.
The CC5C-FCA guided drives will likely be far and few between... and they will be announced far in advance (via our club FB Events page).
'Still more? You bet'cha! Our final update, for this entry, is the strong famiglia-style relationship we are forging with a specific new local business…
… Veloce Indoor Speedway (Veloce IS). Our own Joe Noto has accepted a Sales Manager position with the indoor kart firm and CC5C-M3 is playing a key role in planning the Veloce Kart Championship League. The league is billed as "Powered by Mighty Mouse Militia"… a nod to the FIAT-ABARTH EU division involvement in Formula 4.
We think local enthusiasts will dig it. Cream City deserves the level of thought and passion poured into planning this activity. The marketing team responsible for Veloce IS marketing took out all stops, in regards to designing league and team logos/badges. They were able to take the wheel of initial ideas we handed over and cross the finish line with a "Mighty Mouse Militia Approved" advertising vehicle. It's brilliant… truly beautiful… artwork.
Check the subtitle of this site and you'll notice something has been added. Our evolved affiliation with FCA, as the official Wisconsin chapter, is boldly proclaimed. The culmination of two years of work (between the national and local clubs) cements our commitment to the efforts of the three decades strong club and works to match, domestically, the international appeal of this FIAT life enthusiast blog & supporting FB page.
Apart from the modified subtitle... not at all. We will continue to write and publish about the FIAT life experience/s of local club members and share stories submitted by our supporters across the nation… and around the world.
Does this change the nature of the local club?
Not really. The local club has always functioned with a loose, albeit clear, structure. One individual has always acted as 'president', while others assisted in the capacity of a 'secretary' and/or activities coordinator. We have/will always plan bimonthly or monthly meetings/gatherings. We will always plan F-U-N events. What does change is how we function on our guided drives. For insurance purposes, we will -- at times -- require a 'Fun Fee' for non-FCA members. They will remain minimal/affordable, in order to encourage the broadest appeal and participation.
The CC5C-FCA guided drives will likely be far and few between... and they will be announced far in advance (via our club FB Events page).
We think local enthusiasts will dig it. Cream City deserves the level of thought and passion poured into planning this activity. The marketing team responsible for Veloce IS marketing took out all stops, in regards to designing league and team logos/badges. They were able to take the wheel of initial ideas we handed over and cross the finish line with a "Mighty Mouse Militia Approved" advertising vehicle. It's brilliant… truly beautiful… artwork.
Veloce Kart Championship racing league activity puts sticky tires to twisty tracks 26 October 2015. Check their site for more details.
With so much happening in 2015, it's difficult to image how we will keep up in 2016. The operative word is "difficult" not impossible. Twenty-sixteen already promises to be an even bigger year for CC5C, FCA, FIAT USA and… of course… Veloce IS. More on that at a later date. Until we meet again…
Vivere.Amare.Guidare.
Ciao!
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