Just to echo that...Really great day, exhilerating at times! Thanks a million Noel - Fantastic organisation and all in aid of charity.
Started in the car park in Dunnes as stated. I arrived at 11.45 to a large gathering and what looked like organised attendances from Ford, VW, Alfa and of course Fiat clubs. There were other cars there too and it was great to see such variety. Robert led the Fiats off and this group and the main group set off with motorcycle outriders and one Garda who kindly held traffic up at junctions to keep the convoys together.
Our first stop was the Vee up in the mountains where it was a lot fresher and cloudy but the view was worth it. While parked up a convoy of Harleys on the same itinerary passed by with lots of mutual admiration.
Next stop was Lismore and the Castle where a Trophy was presented to the furthest travelled attendees - Namely Mike & Caitriona from Co Louth.
We then turned around and climbed back over the mountains. Having been held up behind a slow moving 4X4 for several miles, when we were released it was almost as if a kind of telepathy passed between the drivers of the 5 Sports and off we went up the hill like scalded cats. Lots of red-lining and over-taking - When we got over the brow and the downhill stretch began on greasy roads, off camber corners and fading brakes, common sense took hold and it all calmed down again!
Next and last stop was a stop in Ardfinnan at the local Fish & Chip shop owned by an Italian called Max. He is a big petrol head and had been looking forward to the visiting Fiats all weekend. He even parked his beautiful black Fiat 500 (early version) outside to welcome us! Apparently he has a silver Racing back home in Italy (with a broken engine). He took a spin in Robert's car with his young son beaming in the passenger seat.
That was it - A total of 31 cars turned up with 7 Fiats and 6 Mirafioris. The weather was kind and the words on all the 131 drivers lips at the end was "when are we doing it again?"
I've no pics as Jacquie has the camera but Robert took enough for all of us.