FIAT CLUB AMERICA – DFW CHAPTER: JUNE 2025 NEWSLETTER
Please note our June meet up has changed. The Coyote Drive-In told me they will not be showing “F1” so we switched from Dinner and a Movie to Diner and Some Ice Cream. See details below.
NEXT CLUB ACTIVITY:
28TH: Dinner and Some Ice Cream
Vaqueros used to be an extremely popular food truck. Now, they are a full scale brick and mortar, sit down restaurant. D Magazine states they have made the transition seamlessly, keeping all the flavors that made them so well loved as a food truck. We will top it off with a short drive to a local favorite ice cream parlor: Henry’s.
6:00PM Meet up at Vaqueros Texas BBQ
965 Garden Park Dr, Allen, TX
6:30PM Go inside to eat
7:30PM Head down the road to Henry's Homemade Ice Cream
3100 Independence Parkway, Plano, TX
*************************************************************
THE WINNER’S CIRCLE:
All British and European Car Day:
2nd Place Fiat: Robert T Canal, 1978 124 Spider
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!
************************************************************
STELLANTIS NEWS:
1. The biggest news from Stellantis in May was obviously the naming of Antonio Filosa as their new CEO. Filosa comes from heading South America and Jeep operations. He is an Italian who has lived and breathed Fiat and FCA for many years now. Hopefully, he will bring the same energy and marketing ability he displayed in South America to the North American continent. Filosa is currently touring facilities in Europe as he begins to step into his job as CEO. In a recent interview with UPI, Filosa stated North America is his high priority. Whether that focus will result in working to strengthen the FIAT brand in NA remains to be seen.
2. Stellantis has also named Sebastian Jacquet as Chief Quality Officer. Previously, he worked as a Deputy Chief Engineering and Technology Officer for Stellantis.
3. Xavier Chardon has been named the CEO of Citroen. Chardon has worked for Citroen for over 20 years.
*************************************************************
BRAND NEWS:
Alfa Romeo:
Alfa Romeo appears et to push back the release of the new Stelvio by about 6 months. Originally scheduled for early 2026 release, it will probably not release until September 2026. The delay provides Alfa time to retool to produce hybrid versions of the Stelvio. It was slated to be EV only, but the large drop in demand for EVS has made Alfa update their plans and create a hybrid version of the SUV.
Fiat:
Don’t hold your breath, because we don’t know if it will come to North America, but Fiat is making a 6 speed manual version of their hybrid 500!
Lancia:
On June 2nd, Italian President Sergio Mattarella rode in a Lancia Flaminia during the procession to open the Festa Della Republica. Italy has used 9 Lancia Flaminias since 1961 for President’s official car. The Flaminia is said to have influenced the design of Lancia’s upcoming New Gamma.
Maserati:
Maserati has been making some noise on racetracks lately. They won overall and GT2 class victories at Zandvoort. At the same time, Maserati MSG won the e-Prix in Tokyo. Stoffel Vandoorne overtook the field from P14 to pull out the win.
*************************************************************
NATIONAL FIAT CLUB AMERICA NEWS:
By the time you read this, you will have less than 1 week to register for Fiat Freakout 2025 in the Wisconsin Dells. Come celebrate our 42nd annual Freakout with us! Our host hotel, the Chula Vista Resort features a large indoor and outdoor waterpark with tickets provided gratis to their guests. The Freakout will have a track day, autocross, tours of local cheese factories, beer breweries, wineries, museums, caves, duck boat rides and much more. We also put on the largest Fiat car show in North America! It is a bit of a drive, but, this being the 4th Freakout Jennifer and I will attend, I can assure you, it is well worth the drive. We hope to see you there!
Go here to register: https://fs4.formsite.com/Ei4wF4/fhy7wiszcd/index
************************************************************
CLUB NEWS:
1. We are looking at making some sort of event committee. Not sure what kind of shape it will take yet. It could be several of us – met me know if you are interested – meeting a couple times a years in person to plan future events, or it could end up being having a Teams meeting online or a mix of both.
Either way, the goal is to get more club members involved in having input as to what we do as a club without burdening anyone with having to actually plan out their ideas.
Stay tuned for more info.
2. I recently had a polo shirt embroidered with our club logo on it. Pics are included. If there is any interest, no matter how large or small, I can get more copies made in whatever size you want for $30/shirt. Go to the Facebook GROUP online or reply to this email and let me know what you think. I will wear the shirt to June’s meet up so you can see how it looks in person.
It ‘s June and we still aren’t hot yet! Great for our gardens and even better for top down driving, especially if your vintage doesn’t have AC. I’ve seen 4 500s around Mesquite in the last 2 days. Hopefully, we will see you, too, (you better shout and wave back!) when you
GET OUT AND DRIVE!
Michael “Tazilon” Brenner, President
Fiat Club America – DFW Chapter
***********************************************************
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/
************************************************************
----2025 CALENDAR----
JUNE
28TH: Dinner and Some Ice Cream
Vaqueros used to be an extremely popular food truck. Now, they are a full scale brick and mortar, sit down restaurant. D Magazine states they have made the transition seamlessly, keeping all the flavors that made them so well loved as a food truck. We will top it off with a short drive to a local favorite ice cream parlor: Henry’s.
6:00PM Meet up at Vaqueros Texas BBQ
965 Garden Park Dr, Allen, TX
6:30PM Go inside to eat
7:30PM Head down the road to Henry's Homemade Ice Cream
3100 Independence Parkway, Plano, TX
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.
26TH: Cruise to Bebo and Kathy’s Diner
We are making this an early start to avoid summer heat.
9:30AM Meet up at the Buc-ees in on IH-35 in Denton.
10:00AM: Depart for Bebo’s.
Route: (~28 miles, 40 minutes)
Buc-ees to Loop 288
Loop 288 to Locust St/ FM 2164
Locust St/ FM 2164 to FM 455
FM 455 to US 377
US 377 to Buc-ees
~11:00AM Eat lunch at Bebos.
Bebos is an automobile/dragster/Elvis-themed diner that you kind of have to see to believe.
AUGUST
(We are considering several options yet for August.)
SEPTEMBER
13TH: Italian CarFest
Stay abreast of this event here: https://www.italiancarfest.org/
OCTOBER
Brays Raceway and Museum
NOVEMBER
15TH: Fort Richardson Living History Day
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, TX 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
------------------------------------
Tazilon Brenner
DFW Chapter Leader
FCA Board of Directors