131mirafiori forum

The father of a friend of mine had the annoying habit of always saying as soon as we sat down to dinner "What would you like for dinner tomorrow?". While his eagerness to find out people's dinner wishes for the following day before anyone had even started their dinner on the day seemed very strange, he explained that it was the only time he had everyone's attention and everyone had dinner on their mind. (Plus he used to get up at 5:00 am to go to the local market and buy fresh produce for dinner.)

So now that everyone has 3MA on their mind and we seem to have the attention of a lot of people, let's talk about 3MA for next year and also 2009! The reason for jumping to 2009 is because it will be the 35th anniversary of the launch of the Fiat 131 and we thought it would be nice to organise a trip to Turin in our 131s to visit the birthplace of our favourite cars.  If we get sufficient interest then we should be able to organise visits to the Mirafiori factory and other interesting Fiat sites (Lingotto?). So if you would be interested in a little drive to Turin, post here to let us know. If it seems there's sufficient interest, we'll set up a registration form to make things slightly more official.

Assuming that 3MA 2009 will happen in Turin, it has been suggested that 3MA 2008 should be held in the UK or France, the two places that Irish cars can reach on a single ferry crossing.  So if you have any suggestions for a venue for 2008 then please post your suggestions here.

I'm going - To both of them? ?;)? ;)? ;)? I dont care where it is Theo.? ;D

I'm more OK with the UK for 08 and it may be the most likely venue for Irish drivers to go to in view of the length of the ferry crossing to Cherbourg. The other bonus of the UK is the apparently sizeable number of 131s in the UK already and it's also close to the continent for European participants. Wales (Snowdonia), North England (Lakes) or Scotland could be potential touring venues.

Wherever it turns out to be it would be useful to have somebody on the ground who knows the area to get the most out of it. Although we can always have another recce in the depths of winter!

We should also try to identify what were the high points of 07 and see if we can replicate them - I suspect an area of 10 square miles around Molls Gap added a certain "zing" to this year's event!? ;D ;D ;D

hi theo thanks again for spring and thanks again to you kevin 131 and simom131for all your hard work in organising the event as for 2008 what about the north pole there was alot of side ways driving done in kerry ha ha  . lake windy up in the lake district would be nice to  a drive thru in mc donalds all the same i dont mind where i go as along as my road side buddy dave nolan is near by  ;D ;D my quote of the week there are no strangers in 3ma just 131 friends(houlagans) whom have never meet before ??? ??? ??? keep in touch guys by the way with my internet speed write me a letter instead bye for now martin from cavan ps can we move 2008 to next weekend ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hi all,i would to mirror martins thanks to the three wise and brave men who organised 3ma.rool on 2008-2009.venue is of no importance i will be there. just as long as someone reminds martin to bring a spare fuel pump ;) ;).

I'd certainly agree to that and would add that a recce is essential in any such event. If nothing else, for the routebook which at least some people made good use of during 3MA-2007.

OK, the simple polls on this forum do not allow for text entry so would the person who voted "Other European Country" for 3MA-2008 like to own up and tell us which country he/she would like and why?

Spain! (Granada) September time as it will be a little cooler for those without A/C and we have a classic/tuning car show in the town around then, oh and also 'Rally Granada' which has a classic element to it, i can arrange accomodation etc etc etc.
The sun is always shining!
Good food!
Good company!
Collect some spares!
And im here to help organise.
And heres some oher good reasons.
Orange ones mine.
(http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/4509/car2oh4.th.jpg) (http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=car2oh4.jpg)
(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9456/greenfiatuq8.th.jpg) (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=greenfiatuq8.jpg)
(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/2581/p2240054fq7.th.jpg) (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2240054fq7.jpg)
(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9683/p4120043sc1.th.jpg) (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4120043sc1.jpg)
(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2006/p4120045uf1.th.jpg) (http://img517.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4120045uf1.jpg)
(http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5093/p4120046ch8.th.jpg) (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4120046ch8.jpg)
And finally me posing with a Ferrari,
(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3185/p2250003rn4.th.jpg) (http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2250003rn4.jpg)

hi guys i bet theo thought it was me who put down other countries by the way have a new a addition to family a fiat tipo sedivi 2 litre 16 v going to put engine in 131 ha ha as for you micheal i am towing a spare car  ;D ;D ;D as for spain sounds very tempting will have to get a 7seater 131  ??? ps hope mc cabe 131 gets half a dozen rear shocks before then not to be frightening people coming other way i hope someone gets a dvd of footage my morse code line wont download videos sneer soon martyk  ;D ;D ;D

I've only been to Spain once and that was just for a day (drove to Seville for the day from Portugal). It was far better than I expected and would very much like to see more of Spain so maybe not a bad idea.... Simon has driven to Spain from the UK (although not in a 131) so maybe he can tell the rest of us the details of driving to Spain...

I think that driving from the UK to Spain in one go in a 131 might be asking a bit too much! :o :o But I did drive from Hampshire to Barcelona, some 1,000 miles, only stopping for fuel and comfort breaks, in about 16 hours, last July. I certainly wouldn't recommend it ::) but at the time it had to be done ::)

This included driving through the centre of Paris too, which I learnt from on the way back! ::)

Driving long distances on the roads of continental Europe is no sweat at all, especially in a lazy, large capacity '6' as manufactured by our German cousins. 8) ;)

Last April I took the Abarth to central France for a HRCR rally and it was a privilege. No pain, no breakdowns and no stereo! ;D The same can be said for the 3MA weekend too. 1,250 miles without mishap or back pain, so long journeys can easily be done in a 131 ;D ;) ;D

When are we going??? 8)

hello to all the friends of the 131 are a time P? that I do not make myself to feel, but want to express mine compliment for the resolution of the gathering of the 131 hope so much that in the 2009 the greatest gathering can itself be made Turin than Fiat 131 if you have need of a hand for the contact directed with Italian Fiat fatemelo to know, I will be very lieto to help you to organize the greatest gathering than Fiat 131 to Turin salutes from Turin michele 

Hi Michele

Thanks for the offer of help for 2009 - That would be very useful.

Once we see how 2008 goes we can understand how interested people are in travelling to Italy - It would be a great event and very attractive to Fiat 131 owners.

I will be in Italy in September - Near Lake Como. Maybe you could tell me the best car musuems to visit.  ;D ;D

Gracie mille.

Kev

hello, you council a series of museums to attend, that I enclose... would be much beautiful one for you that six gotten passionate of cars of Fiat to visit the historical archives Fiat, single visitabile on appointment (if serves tries the telephone number to you) where can see of the beautifulst Italian cars, is truly the much beautiful also museum of the automobile that we have to Turin, but unfortunately is closed for jobs the past month and will reopen beautifulr and larger in 2011 for the 150 anniversary of the unit of Italy.
you come in vancanza with the 131?
would be beautifulst to be able to organize a great gathering of Fiat 131 to Turin in even centers them san carlo square here who would make one beautifulst frame for of the beautiful alive cars Fiat 131!
hello michele, Turin ;)

http://www.museonicolis.com/website/main.htm

http://www.museobonfanti.veneto.it/

http://www.collezionegraziano.it/azienda.htm

http://www.archiviostorico.alfaromeo.it/

http://www.museoauto.it/mambo/

how about starting off in the cotswolds maybe including a track day at castle combe
then venturing into wales

just back from hols in majorca no 131s found however some fantastic driving in the mountains

this one taken by anita hanging out car window

like i said this one taken by anita hanging out the window

after a couple atempts hanging on to her heels

Hi Andy - Should we be expecting some more photos on here? - With the lengths that Anita apparently went to... it's the least you could do...!? ;)? :)

(http://131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=228.0;id=156;image)
Wow!  :o I've only just seen this picture! I WANT TO DRIVE THAT ROAD! (but must get new, better, bigger, stronger smoke-free brakes for my 131 first...)

not quite sure why the other photo didnt post ??? could blame anita as she took it  but not that brave,
as for the pic which did come out you could drive all day on roads like that with some rather nice bars
at the end ;D

try again

Is there any more progress on where the 2008 3ma will be

Scotland is the strongest possibility at the moment but nothing is finalised.

Another Italian holiday posting but on instructions from Theo I kept my eyes open for some good driving roads for 2009 and the attached images are from the Alpine pass that crosses the Italian/Swiss border near St Moritz. (I haven't looked at the map yet to see how this would tie in for a European Fiat 131 raid - Maybe for the return leg having been to Turin first...!?)

St Moritz is about 120 kms from the town of Como (at the most southerly point of the lake) and on the day that we visited the temperature dropped from 24 to 4 in a few miles. The road surface, visibility and cambers were ideal for spirited 131 piloting although traffic density could be a problem if the time of day was wrong - Still plenty of opps to overtake. We had a Focus Diesel on hire (I had expressed a "strong preference for a new Bravo on the booking form) but having had a Focus for the third time now, I have to say that they are a great car for all round abilities, including chasing a Peugeot 306 being driven up this pass on 3 wheels!!! :o ;D - He was driving normally on the straights but was getting an inordinate amount of fun from trying to maintain the same speed on the hairpins with the result that the tyres were screaming in torture every time! Unfortunately Jacquie's back was giving her trouble and the tyre squealing fun had to end prematurely!! :-[

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07012.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07014.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07015.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07016.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07017.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07018.jpg)

(http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l250/kev131/ItalyComoSept07019.jpg)

I adore roads like this ;D Superb driving coupled with spectactular scenery ;D When are we going?  8)

Those italian mountain roads bring a tear to my eyes, remembering my first drive in Italy last year as I brought my 124 sport home no radio just the sound of a twin cam on full song. But count me in for 2008 as I enjoy getting the hands dirty but might be in the x1/9 turbo just to work on my tan :), but it is still a fiat and rear wheel drive so I might take Marty's hooligan of the year award :D :D :D

Are you implying that the 131s will require you to get your hands dirty by breaking down?  ??? You are treading on thin ice saying such things on this forum  ;D :D ;)

Theo,
Its October! a date needs setting for 2008 that is if theirs any chance of me  attending. I work a 27/29 Rota here in the Middle east and i need to plan.
Any idea of the days yet?
Regards
Steve

The website will soon be updated with details of 3MA-2008 but I can confirm now that the dates have been set as Friday 16th May to Monday 19th May. We are most likely going to be based in Inveraray (http://www.answers.com/inveraray?gwp=11&ver=2.0.1.458&method=3) (we are finalising the hotel deal). Details and itinerary will be posted soon.

Basic details of 3MA-2008 have now been posted on the website at http://www.131mirafiori.com/news.