Festa Italia: Spettacolo Automobilistico, Hobart

Festa Italia: Spettacolo Automobilistico, Hobart - 21st of February, 2016

2016 must be at least the fourth, if not fifth, year that southern Tasmania's Italian community has staged its excellent Festa Italia, a celebration of all things from the Old Country. That means Italian music and dance, Italian food, Italian wine, Italian beer and, last but not least, Italian cars!

Ferraris will always draw a crowd, especially when they're lined up like this. Another red 308 joined in on the end of the line shortly after this photo was taken.

The 308 is so much more than just the Magnum, PI, car but for a young bloke in the 80s, it's hard to shake the connection!

Six plugs = six cylinders. But that's just half of 'em!

Phil Blake's 850 Abarth replica is a regular entrant in Targa Tasmania. Phil told UMPH that this year's event will be his 21st, and final, entry in Tasmania's most iconic Motorsports event. However, he was quite emphatic when asked if that meant his yellow beast was for sale, the answer being a resounding no! For more photos of the car being driven in anger and at rest, please see: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=1411228409624317255;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=34;src=postname, and https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=4162286812682154743;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=6;src=postname. There's also a post on the Shannon's site that worth a look, too (http://www.shannons.com.au/club/enthusiasts/fiatmeister/garage/1964-fiat-abarth-ot-1600/).

This Fiat 128 coupe belongs to Italian car stalwart Graeme who, rumour has it, is pretty handy behind the wheel. The 128 series featured everything from two- and four-door sedans, a station wagon (not available in Australia), the coupe shown here, a two-door lift back (the 3-P) and UMPH's favourite, the mid-engined X1/9 (https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=8173377202801720952;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=18;src=postname).

Natty plaid seats.

Alfa 159.

For more pics of the wild yellow Fiat 500 shown at right, please go to: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=577324446181624170;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=16;src=postname. It's just one of several Italian classics its owner has in his collezione.

Italian is a sexy, sexy language. Take, for example, the Maserati Quattroporte (try not saying that with flair!). A cool name or what? Translation? A rather more prosaic 'four-doors' in English. Below is a very pretty coupe version.

More shots of Mike's Alfa Giullietta can be found at https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=827588566725504543;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=24;src=postname. It's similar to the one driven by around Italy by chefs Gennaro Contaldo and Antonio Carluccio in the first series of SBS's Two Greedy Italians.

Mike's beautiful Giullietta.

A straight, rust-free Alfetta in the livery of the Italian military police.

Eagle-eyed readers may have caught a glimpse of two of this stunning Lancia Fulvia Zagato elsewhere in today's post. If the car has piqued your interest, it's featured more extensively in: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7165367970551834236#editor/target=post;postID=2214422603185860812;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=19;src=postname.

Arrivederci!

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au).

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

Upper Middle Petrol Head:

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