Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dixie FiatFest 26-28 June 09
Winston-Salem, NC
Sponsored by the Carolina chapter of FLU
An eventful three day weekend in the western Piedmont of North Carolina.
Itinerary:
Friday June 26, 2009
3-5 pm Event registration (lobby of Hawthorne Inn) Packet pickup for those who preregistered
6 pm Dinner at Old Salem Tavern (Open menu with Entrees $15-$24)
8 pm Go kart racing at Grand Prix Greensboro ($45 per person)
Saturday June 27, 2009
8 am Event registration (lobby of Hawthorne Inn)
9 am Line up for Fiat Mini Miglia rally
9:30 am Driver/navigator meeting
10 am First car off
1 pm Meet at Denise’s house for cookout ($6 per person)
3 pm Tour to Dick Bear’s metalworking shop or Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists
7 pm Italian buffet at Winston’s Eatery
Sunday June 28, 2009
8:30 am Breakfast buffet at Winston’s Eatery
10:00 am Autocross (Wake Forest's BB&T field) ($20 per person)
Autocross pizza lunch ($6 per person, drinks not included)
Sign up Now online
For registration and to purchase prepaid events go to http://www.flu.org/carolinaflu/
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
New Living Will Form
I, __________________________, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it or lawyers and doctors interested in simply running up the bills.
If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:
______a Glass of Chianti
______a Glass of Pinot Grigio
______Bruschetta
______the Keys to my Spider
______a Shot of Limoncello
______an Adjustable Spanner
______Grappa
______the Latest Issue of Alfa Owner
______a Pizza Margherita
______Pat Braden’s Alfa Romeo Owner’s Bible
______a Cappuccino
______an eBay Listing of all Alfas For Sale
______Tiramisu
______Sex
it should be presumed that I won't ever get better.
When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day. At this point it is time to call the Fat Lady to come do her thing at my memorial service, and ask all of my friends to raise their glasses to toast the good times we have had.
Signature: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Monday, June 01, 2009
Fiat to acquire Chrysler assets
The move, which is backed by both the US and Canadian governments, should enable Chrysler to exit bankruptcy protection in the near future.
Under the terms of the deal, Fiat will control 20% of Chrysler, while 68% will be owned by a union trust, and the two governments will share 12%.
Meanwhile, rival General Motors has also entered bankruptcy protection.
Government loans
Under the terms of the Fiat-led deal, creditors holding $6.9bn (£4.3bn) of Chrysler debt will receive only $2bn. However, 90% of them backed the deal.
Meanwhile, the Canadian and US governments have agreed to provide about $8bn in loans to the new Chrysler.
Fiat is not paying anything for its 20% stake, which will give it access to the US car market. It has the option to increase its shareholding in Chrysler in the future.
In return, Chrysler will be able to take advantage of Fiat's expertise in making smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in its existing US factories.
Bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez said in his written ruling that the only alternative to the sale would have been the "immediate liquidation" of Chrysler.
He added that the deal best protected the "public interest", and that the involvement of the two governments was necessary because "the marketplace alone could not offer" an alternative.
Judge Gonzalez turned down hundreds of objections to the deal, including one from a group of Chrysler dealerships who fear they will now be shut down.
US President Barack Obama said the move "paves the way for the new Chrysler to successfully emerge from bankruptcy as a new, stronger, more competitive company for the future".
Chrysler, which is the smallest of the three US carmakers after General Motors (GM) and Ford, filed for bankruptcy protection on 30 April. It could now emerge from bankruptcy protection as early as later this week.