Fiat Barchetta 20th Anniversary

A trip organised by the Barchetta Club of Italy visiting Verona and Turin
Report by Philip Healey

Day 1 After a two day drive and 850 miles from Calais, we arrived in Modena the night before the meeting. Day 2 As soon as we arrived at the restaurant Esse esse in Maranello, we sensed we were in motor country, as we saw the latest Ferrari Provas being tested along the back roads, we knew we were in for a good time! The restaurant had been the pre-arranged place to meet Barchetta Club members who had driven up from Rome and Naples, around 20 cars. We had a superb lunch followed by a visit to the Ferrari museum followed by a drive in convoy to the hotel on the shores of Lake Garda. Members from the Dutch and German clubs had arrived there so we now numbered around 70 cars. Dinner of unlimited pizza and Czech beer followed before late bedtime.

Day 3 Up for a 09.00 briefing then a convoy of around 70 cars right into Verona centre, Piazza Bra. What a magnificent sight made even better when the remaining crews from Holland and Germany arrived making a line up of 102 cars. This provided a great photo opportunity for many of the tourists of all nationalities who were very curious about the car and its history. We were the sole Brits but we flew the Union Jack with great pride. Afterwards back to the hotel for another superb evening of pasta and vino.

Day 4 Another early briefing, then ‘make your own way’ to Torino, 3.5 hours away down a very fast moving motorway. Joined a small convoy cruising at 90mph on the motorway. Then to the old Fiat Lingotto factory, now a hotel, for a drive up onto the famous rooftop test track, sadly no longer used. The drive up, much like that of a multi story car park, was exhilarating in itself and the view from the top was second to none, but over 100 barchettas made a truly wonderful picture. From there we moved across Turin, in the rush hour and 34° of heat, to hotel Olympic, where it became a work of art to fit us all into the underground car park. The evening meal was outside on the rooftop, great food.

 Day 5 Another early briefing. We followed a small group to the Museo Automobili di Torino.
 Thenafter lunch off to Piazza Vittoria for another exhibition of cars. That evening was a gala dinner in a fabulous restaurant by the river. The guests of honour were three guys who designed the Barchetta and they signed autographs all night like rock stars. Day 6 Last day of the trip. A visit to Fiat Centro Storico, a great little Fiat museum, cars, boats, planes. Finally off to Mirafiori Motor Village with a final lunch with our new amici Italiana, followed by two laps of the test track following a 595 Abarth. By then it was late afternoon, so after our goodbyes we set off for Susa then a further two days driving through France to the joys of Calais and the port workers strike! But a wonderful trip with a lifetime of memories of the heat, food and mad Italians in their barchettas. A great celebration of the ‘little boat’ we all love.