FIAT CLUB AMERICA – DFW CHAPTER: APRIL 2025 NEWSLETTER
April is here! I feel like our schedule for this year is a lot like most of the bigger roads around the metroplex – under construction. By this time most years, we have all but November- December nailed down. Through no fault of ours, this year is yielding its schedule grudgingly. Hopefully, we will have a trip to a great new car and toy museum set up for May. We are waiting to hear back from the event manager to firm things up. For November, we are waiting on Texas State Parks to release their schedule of events before we can plan what should be a fun day trip to the west. Then, we have the new museum opening in Oklahoma and Bray’s Raceway and Museum still in flux, too. So, hang in there, we will have the full schedule firmed up in a…well….who knows? But, we’re working on it.
NEXT CLUB ACTIVITY:
12TH: 5th Annual Bluebonnet Tour
This is always one of our biggest events. At the request of multiple attendees, we will be starting a bit earlier this year.
10:00AM Meet up at Buc-ees in Ennis, TX – 1402 s IH-45, Ennis, TX (Exit 251A)
10:25AM Driver’ s Meeting
10:35AM Head out
~1:30-2:00PM Lunch at Bella Italia, 105 S Kaufman St, Ennis, TX
As always, the tour will include a couple stops for picture taking.
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THE WINNER’S CIRCLE:
February:
Equipe Rapide Autocross: 1st place GST class: Jesus Robles – 2017 Abarth 500
Revel Patio Grill Car Show, Frisco, TX (3-23-25): 2nd Place Import: Tazilon and Jennifer Brenner – 2018 124 Spider Classica
Bubba’s 33 Car Show, Mesquite, TX (3-30-25): 1st Place Import: Tazilon and Jennifer Brenner – 2017 124 Spider Classica
If you place in a car show, autocross, track event, etc, (or get put on a calendar!) email me at dfwfiatclubfca@gmail.com and let me know so we can include you in The Winner’s Circle!
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STELLANTIS NEWS:
1. Stellantis is temporarily laying off 900 workers across 5 US production facilities as well as briefly pausing production at 1 assembly plant each in Mexico and Canada as it evaluates the effects of US tariffs. The UAW has already protested the decision.
2. The 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will take place April 15th in Amsterdam. Along with other business, 7 non-executive board of director positions will be filled. Will a new CEO be named? We will have to watch and see.
3. No matter when the new CEO is named – and Stellantis says the position will be filled in the first half of 2025, the naming of the new CEO may signal the impending end of several Stellantis brands. Industry analysts continue to discuss the future of Lancia and DS, in particular. The general consensus is Stellantis can not sustain 14 brands and one of the hotter issues for the new CEO, whomever that may be, will be determining which brands to axe.
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BRAND NEWS:
Alfa Romeo:
Alfa Romeo recently held a media drive of their new Junior Ibrida Q4. With 30,000 orders already in for the newest Alfa, the Q4 all wheel drive variant promises to boost sales even more; sales sorely needed by Alfa Romeo. The Q4 system uses all wheel drive at low speeds, front wheel drive at other times, and all wheel drive in tight corners and other traction demanding situations. The adaptive AWD allows for sporty driving while retaining low emissions and fuel consumption.
Other improvements the Q4 receives are a multilink rear suspension, heated Spiga seats, LED headlights, and a host of interior upgrades. From all the articles I could find following the media drive event, automotive journalists love the Junior Ibrida Q4. Let’s hope consumers echo their sentiment.
Fiat:
FIAT continues to pile up awards in Europe. Recently, German magazine Automobilwoche awarded FIAT the “Top Brand Desire Award” during their Conference 2025 in Munich. Then, the Grande Panda won the “Best Urban Vehicle” award from the Spanish magazine Mujer Hoy. Let’s hope FIAT USA decides to being the Grande Panda to the US.
Lancia:
Lancia is struggling mightily so far in 2025, with Ypsilon sales down72% over 2024. Price is the biggest concern, but the fact Lancia is directly competing with similar models from Peugeot (the 208) and Opel (Corsa) isn’t helping. Both companies have stronger brand recognition while Lancia is attempting to claw its way back from the grave. Lancia plans to open 70 new dealerships across Europe in 2025 and has the Gamma slated for release in 2026.
Maserati:
On March 3, 2025, at the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC), the Maserati MC20 set a world record, rocketing down the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility runway at Cape Canaveral, Florida at a blistering speed of 197.7 mph (318km/h). With no driver on board, the autonomous driving MC20 broke the record of 192.8 mph previously held by an IAC Dallara AV-21.
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NATIONAL FIAT CLUB AMERICA NEWS:
1. FIAT Freakout 2025 Is getting closer and closer. It will include duck boat rides, spelunking, houses built on top of rocks, cheese factories, and a water park located both inside and outside the host hotel (free use with your reservation!), as well as all the traditional normal things like the Concorso D'Eleganza, Welcome and Awards Diners, driving competitions, and more.
Go here to register: https://fs4.formsite.com/Ei4wF4/fhy7wiszcd/index
2. If you don’t like social media sites, don’t forget you can always check out upcoming events on our new website. AS more and more chapters add their events, the Calendar of Events on the new site will become a great source of information, especially if you are travelling and want to check out another local chapter. The national calendar of events is here: https://fiatclubamerica.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4001&club_id=152684
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CLUB NEWS:
Don’t forget Vick Autosports Open House on April 26th. Vick has supported FIAT owners for decades and their open house always has a good turnout from FIATs and Alfas all over the state.
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Flux seems to be the operative word for April this year. April weather is always in a state of flux as we switch from summer to early spring, hot and dry to cold and wet and back again. This year our schedule is in a state of flux, too, as we try to nail down 3-4 more months in 2025. Fortunately for us, no matter what the weather and where we end up going this year, one thing that never fluctuates is the enjoyment FIATs, Alfas, Lancia’s, and Maseratis offer when you
GET OUT AND DRIVE!
Michael “Tazilon” Brenner, President
Fiat Club America – DFW Chapter
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SPONSORS:
Park Cities Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat – We are still getting a 15% discount on parts, labor, and service. Unlike before (where you had to ask for a specific service advisor), you can now let any service advisor know you are in the club to receive the discount.
Drop Top Tees - An online Spreadshirt shop with T-shirts, and V-necks for 124 Spiders, Abarth 124s, Classic 124s, Fiat 500s, X1/9s, Giulias, and some especially for the DFW Fiat Club! https://droptoptees.myspreadshop.com/
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----2025 CALENDAR----
APRIL
12TH: 5th Annual Bluebonnet Tour
This is always one of our biggest events. At the request of multiple attendees, we will be starting a bit earlier this year.
10:00AM Meet up at Buc-ees in Ennis, TX – 1402 s IH-45, Ennis, TX (Exit 251A)
10:25AM Driver’ s Meeting
10:35AM Head out
~1:30-2:00PM Lunch at Bella Italia, 105 S Kaufman St, Ennis, TX
As always, the tour will include a couple stops for picture taking.
26TH: Vick Autosports Open House
601 E Chambers St Cleburne, TX
10AM-3PM
Vick will provide free food, free drinks and some door prizes, too! Vick usually pulls in vintage Fiats and Alfas from around the state; expect to see some cars you don’t usually see at our meet ups. Modern vehicles are welcome.
MAY
11TH: All British and European Car Day
Bath House Cultural Center, White Rock Lake
521 E. Lawther, Dallas, TX
9:00AM Car club canopy setup
10:00AM Show field opens
2:00PM Winners announced
Because we had 10 FIATs enter last year, we will have our own FIAT class this year!
Sign up here (remember to put down DFW Fiat Club as you club affiliation so they reserve enough spots for us): https://allbritishcarday.com/shop/
JUNE
28TH: Dinner and a Movie
Dinner and a Movie has become a popular addition to our summer lineup of events. This year, we have a good car movie to watch!
Pending release, as scheduled, of F1, Brad Pitt's upcoming Formula One movie, here is the itinerary:
6:00PM: Meet up at Terry Black's BBQ, 2926 W 7th St, Ft Worth.
6:30PM: Move inside to eat.
7:30PM: Drive 3.4 miles to the Coyote Drive-In, 223 NE 4th St, Ft Worth
9:00PM Watch F1
Terry Black's menu: https://terryblacksbbq.com/fortworth/menu/
JULY
9TH-13TH: Fiat Freakout 2025
The Dells, Wisconsin.
https://fs4.formsite.com/Ei4wF4/fhy7wiszcd/index
The Freakout is our largest gathering for the national club every year and also serves as our annual membership meeting.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
7TH: Italian CarFest
Stay abreast of this event here: https://www.italiancarfest.org/
OCTOBER
Brays Raceway and Museum
NOVEMBER
15TH?: Fort Richardson Civil War Reenactment
A drive, lunch, and civil war reenactment all in 1! Date will be determined when Ft. Richardson State Park publishes the days they will do the reenactment; typically the middle of November.
We will probably meet up at Yesterday's 50 Diner in Bridgeport, TXC then caravan to Ft. Richardson State Park for the civil war reenactment. They fire real cannons during the reenactment! Yesterday's is a 50s-60s car-themed diner.
DECEMBER
13TH?: Annual Toy Run With Ferrari Club America – DFW Chapter
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Tazilon Brenner
DFW Chapter Leader
FCA Board of Directors