Story by John Hilferty III with excerpts from Dwight Varnes.
Fiat Club of America was founded by Fiat owner Santo J. Bimbo in 1966 in Somerville, Massachusetts. Santo ran a hand typed correspondence newsletter mostly composed of letters from members who wanted to share their experiences of FIAT and Lancia cars.
Enthusiasts Bobb Rayner and Dwight Varnes, members of the Fiat Club of America, decided to meet in 1982 and discuss an idea for gathering like-minded enthusiasts in eastern Pennsylvania. Ironically, it was the same year that FIAT and Lancia distribution ceased in North America. Bobb and Dwight met at a fountain in the Park City Mall in Lancaster, PA. In 1983, they used Santo’s membership list to contact Fiat owners that were within a day’s drive from Pocono International Raceway in Lake Harmony, PA. A few members, including Bobb Rayner, Dwight Varnes, John and Ellie Hilferty, Dave Gillespie and several others met at the SCCA Summer Double Nationals at Pocono International Raceway in July 30-31 1983.
In July, 1984 members of FCOA gathered at the Pocono Mountain Lodge and the Pocono International Raceway. Bobb Rayner was “Freaking Out” from all of the Italian Autos, hence the name Fiat FreakOut was born.
In December 1985, Bobb Rayner, Scott Hill, Jim Manbeck, Bruce and Tracy Harber, Damon Kane, Ellie Hilferty and her son John “Third” met in Dwight Varnes parents’ home in Manheim, PA. Bobb proposed the name of a new activity club to be the Fiat Lancia Underground or “FLU”. FCA president Santo J. Bimbo was disinterested in his club being more than a correspondence club, and FIAT the company had no interest in the American market at the time. Dave Myers, of Hagerstown, MD later designed a FLU logo. The club grew quickly and began printing their own newsletter to announce events, post member stories and offer helpful tech tips. Dues were $5 per year. The newsletter was still hand typed and photocopied, but it was a great way to spread the word. Brian Sullivan did a great job as illustrator to add more zing to the publication. Dave Myers penned the logos for T-shirts. He was later awarded for “The Look of FLU”.
Over the years the club grew and Chapters began to form in places like Detroit (who were already established on their own), Western New York Southern Ontario (WNYSO) and Blue Ridge. Eventually over 25 Chapters joined ranks.
The annual FreakOut event moved from the modest beginnings of the Poconos in PA to Summit Point Raceway, in WV in the eastern United States, then eventually towards the central and southern US.
In May 1993, the club became incorporated and changed the name to Fiat Lancia Unlimited to welcome all Italian automobiles, and widen the appeal to enthusiasts all over the world. The club magazine went from the early days hand typed newsletter to a professional style glossy paper magazine after club members Darryl and Deb Stacey took over production and publication. The magazine, called “Ricambi”, was published 6 times per year. The issue featured columns by Dwight Varnes, Bobb Rayner, Scott Hill, Jim Aitken, Joel Hailey, Tracy Harber, Paul Valente and other members who gladly shared their wonderful adventures with FIAT and Lancia automobiles.