3ma14

[Robert]

more (continuing from previous page):

[simon131]

Bearing in mind that I may have to be doing this drive in a 1976 131 1600 Special I think that either me or my passenger (or both of us) will be throwing up half way down the first pass  Always assuming of course that we are still anywhere near you in your Twin Cams.

Some of those roads look stunning Robert. As has been alluded further up this thread, we have no hard and fast plans for this year's event so all suggestions are very welcome.

[kev131]

Stelvio is definitely a challenge on several levels and I think is best tackled in chunks, especially if no power steering!! 

Plus the sheer volume of traffic in both directions precludes much spirited driving (there's that phrase again... that was first used at 3MA07!!!) 

Taking breaks allows one to enjoy the ever changing vista ....and the slowly changing oxygen levels (I kid you not).....!

It's rewarding to reach the top though and there are many restaurants, coffee stops, souvenir shops....along with lots of motoring enthusiasts!

[jasonh131]

Taking breaks allows one to enjoy the ever changing vista ....and the slowly changing oxygen levels (I kid you not).....!

It's rewarding to reach the top though and there are many restaurants, coffee stops, souvenir shops....along with lots of motoring enthusiasts!

 And lacking oxygen levels for the cars to burn as well as i  found out at the top of Bavaria..

[Thotos]

We have negotiated deals with 3 hotels and they are holding a number of rooms for us until the 15th of April 2014.

We've managed to extend the hotel booking deadline to 30/04/2014 so you have another 2 weeks to book your rooms  

[Thotos]

For anyone joining us in Dover and taking the DFDS ferries crossing from Dover to Dunkirk we have a 20% discount code ENFF20S 

[Thotos]

It's just 5 weeks to 3ma14  But you've only got just over a week to book the hotels. After the end of April, our reserved rooms will be released and since we are staying in popular locations it's likely that the rooms will go fast once released. Don't forget you can always cancel the hotel rooms if something goes wrong and you can't make it so if in doubt book the rooms now while they are still available    Details of our hotel deals can be found at http://www.131mirafiori.com/smf/index.php?topic=6882.msg59200#msg59200

[Thotos]

This year's 3ma is looking like being the smallest gathering we've had so far so probably also looking like the last 3ma  Our hotel room reservations have now lapsed and the rooms held for 3ma will be released by the hotels. But there may still be time to book if you are quick so if you want to be part of what may be the last ever 3ma, please be quick and book your place to go down in the annals of 3ma history 

[simon131]

Where are we going to drive to in May next year in our 131s then Theo? Or are we going to stay at home now? 

[kev131]

There's nothing wrong with a small gathering Theo....makes for a totally different dynamic...and allows the days to be more flexible. 

I'm really looking forward to touring sunny Europe and seeing the snowy Alps......

[Robert]

Well, after all, the 3MA motto for this year is "Knights Rallye to Turin" - looks like there's not many knights among us 

- The Ineptitude is ready to set sail, by the way. Can't wait for the multitude of alpine passes to conquer 

Bad thing is that there are 2 major events this year, and I guess the Irish event draws more attention. (I myself am still undecided if we go there - I'd like to, but...)

How about 3MA2015 in Chester?  If not, we thought about an event covering the German/French area of Alsace, Lorraine, Vosges we could organize.

[simon131]

The alpine passes will have to be driven rather more slowly by me this year, especially if I'm in a 1600 OHV against everyone elses 2000TC  I'll have to see you back at the hotel at the end of each day 

[131akafa]

This year's 3ma is looking like being the smallest gathering we've had so far so probably also looking like the last 3ma 

I personally don't care about the title "smallest gathering" as long as it's still "the next" 

Nethertheless: for everyone still undecided: take your chance become part of the elite 

[kev131]

How about 3MA2015 in Chester?  If not, we thought about an event covering the German/French area of Alsace, Lorraine, Vosges we could organize.

Sounds good to me Robert.....I don't think anyone wants the event to die off and there must be loads of suitable venues left to explore in our 131s.....it's local organisers that we're short of.......

[Thotos]

Having managed to beg and acquire the expert organising services of Jacquie131 one of our very few female members, accommodation deals for 3ma14 are now complete

Jacquie131 has come up trumps again! I've been trying for a while to convince Fiat to allow us to visit a factory or some other 'special' Fiat location to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our beloved 131s but it was like hitting my head against a brick wall. I was either doing something wrong or the Italians just don't like me...    So once again we turned to the expert convincing powers of our charming female member Jacquie131 and not only she managed to get Fiat to be very accommodating but they've even given us choices of multiple places to visit   So as part of 3ma14 the (very few, or 'elite' as described earlier in this forum thread  ) participants will be privileged to visit the Historic Fiat Centre.

Inaugurated in 1963, Centro Storico Fiat, located in Turin, is hosted by an Art Nouveau building that was built as the first expansion (1907) of the workshops located on Corso Dante, the company's first home.

The facility began to witness important moments in Fiat's history straight away: the first of these dates back to 4 May 1966, when in the building's central hall Vittorio Valletta, a key figure in the more than a century of history of the company founded by Senator Giovanni Agnelli, signed the agreement with the USSR that led to the construction of Togliattigrad.

Centro Storico Fiat now hosts a collection of automobiles, mementos, models and advertising manifestos by artists spanning the company's entire history: from its first vehicle, the 3? Hp, to the impressive Mefistofele, which in 1924 beat the all-time world speed record. Then there are the first tractor, the Fiat 702 of 1919, the 18BL truck, which transported Italian troops in the First World War, the Littorina, a rail transportation leader beginning in the Thirties, and the striking G91 fighter, an aircraft designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli and later adopted by NATO.

The exhibit itinerary, which will surprise visitors with Fiat ship engines, bicycles, refrigerators and washing machines, includes a reconstruction of several facilities symbolic of the company's history and changes in its working methods.

In the same building are located the corporate archives, available by appointment: more than 5,000 linear meters of print documents, 300,000 technical designs, 5,000 automotive and industrial history volumes and magazines, more than six million images (prints, slides, plates and negatives) and over 200 hours of historical films. Of particular interest is the archive of designer Dante Giacosa, the ?father? of the mini cars: the Fiat Topolino (?little mouse? in Italian), the Fiat 600 and the Fiat 500, which motorized the Italian population.









Looks like Simon is already there and parked