New Year’s Day heralds with it thoughts of things to come. For some, it’s a day to watch football games, catch up on sleep from a possible late night celebrating the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. For others, it’s an early wake up call to spend some extra time shining up their cars for a New Year’s Day car tour. Rain or shine, the drivers are undeterred, and this year, the sunny, albeit slightly chilly air, provided the impetus to pass on some extra sleep and instead join their like-minded friends and friends to be and enjoy their cars.
At least two car-related events took place on January 1. The more well known among fans of older cars, was the Annual New Year’s Day Anti-Football Run. The 21st Annual Anti-Football Drive, organized by Martin Swig, saw a turnout of more than 100 cars. To enter, the cars had meet one same basic requirement (along with being registered to driven on roads, and insured). The cars had to be at least 25 years old. Not to be one to promote an event but not participate in it properly, Swig drove his 1925 Lancia Lambda in the tour. Starting at 8am on January 1, drivers converged at Poggio’s Restaurant in Sausalito for the 9am departure on a three-hour tour. According to a press release, the route took drivers and passengers “…north on Highway l to Stinson Beach, Olema, Point Reyes Station and Petaluma for a cheese break and tour at the Petaluma Creamery. The drive…” returned, “…by way of Nicasio and Lucas Valley Road arriving at Poggio about noon for lunch.” The entry fee was $35 per person but people who registered early were treated to an annual event sweatshirt.
In the south bay, a tour with fewer cars, but with equally enthusiastic drivers, was organized by FIAT America. Several members of the Alfa Romeo Association joined in as well in FIAT America’s 3rd Annual New Year’s Day Tour. FIAT of Fremont was the designated starting point and over 25 cars, ranging in age from the mid-1960s to new 2011 FIAT 500s participated. The approximately 135-mile tour, six-hour tour took participants from Fremont down to Los Gatos on mostly one- or two-lane roads, including Quimby Road, Black Road, Skyline Blvd, Pescadero Road, Highway 1 with a destination and dinner at Mimi’s Café in San Mateo. The tour featured Fiat Spiders, X1/9s, a 2011 Mazda Miata (dubbed a “Fia-zda Miata”), 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS, 1973 Fiat 124, a 1981 Fiat 131 Brava, a 1968 Fiat 124, a 1972 Alfa Romeo GTV, an Abarth 1000, a Fiat Barchetta, an Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato as well as a few Alfa Romeo and Fiat Spiders.
For more information about the Anti-Football run, visit their website: www.CaliforniaMille.com. For more information on FIAT America, visit their website: www.FiatAmerica.com. For more information on the Alfa Romeo Association, visit their website: www.AlfaRomeoAssociation.org. For more information on FIAT of Fremont, visit their website: www.FiatUSAofFremont.com.