Since 1978...
The Italian Happening: a day at the race course, another just for show. It's both a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan (a charity for terminally-ill children) and a wish-come-true for several "Wish Kids" we'll be entertaining. Last year we donated over $2,500 (our net profit) and entertained twelve wish kids. We hope to do even better in 1998.
Events both days will be held rain or shine.
Labor Day Saturday at Waterford Hills
It is NOT wheel-to-wheel racing. The event sells out virtually every year, so forty-five drivers will spend the day driving a winding, narrow road racing course. Waterford Hills has 14 turns, a hilltop, and off-camber curves. Let the engine roar, put the pedal to the metal and GO! No radar detector needed, no police cars hiding in the bushes. No speed limits!
Instruction will be available for novices. Experienced race drivers always appreciate the generous amount of track time everyone receives.
All convertibles must have roll bars. You'll need a race helmet and to pass a tech inspection at the track (wheels and bearings, suspension, steering and battery all properly tight, brakes in good working order, etc.). You must be present at the track by 9 AM for inspection and the drivers meeting. Each of the children we'll entertain has a life-threatening illness and requested to be at Waterford Hills Race Course during the event. For an afternoon we'll exchange wheel chairs for competition helmets and rides in cars-Italian sports and racing cars.
Everyone pre-registered for the track by mid August should receive a
detailed information package about the event and driving at Waterford Hills.
Have questions about the track or your car or registration? Contact me
alfa@umich.eduand I'll forward your
question to the proper person.
For more information, check out the Italian Happening Racing Page
Labor Day Sunday - Car Show
After you've worn the soles off your shoes from hours of pressing clutch and throttle pedals, spend Sunday at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate for the car show and social gathering. We'll park under the trees and in the green fields. It's a "show-that-ltalian-thing-you-brung" gathering, with people's choice classes and a couple of hundred vehicles on display. The entry donation remains the same whether you bring a car or bike to display or not, so you might as well show your Italian transportation even if you have to push it there.
The display is restricted to Italian cars and motorbikes (i.e. Laverda, Moretti, OSCA, etc.). If you have a question as to whether your vehicle qualifies, contact me, and I'll foreword the questions to the right people. New this year, classes to be listed on ballots will be determined by pre-registration. A minimum of four pre-registered vehicles will be required to maintain a trophy class.
On the day of the event, the Registration Desk (and the show) will open at 10 AM, close at 3:00.
Check out the Awards Page for results of past Italian Happenings
Because we wish to have assets to donate to charity, we cannot afford to mail confirmations of registration. If in doubt, please e-mail.
A portion of the money received from event registrations and T-shirt sales will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. We typically have 10 to 20 Make-A-Wish kids show up to the event, and they have a blast! Remember when you were young looking at pictures of exotic cars- wanting to ride in them? We try to fulfill this dream in any car we can get, from a Fiat Spider to a Lamborghini Countach, from a Vette race car to a stock Viper. Any and all exotics are welcome for the noon touring session.
Registration Information
For the track event, we will accept 40 vehicles, preference to Italian cars. If you pre-register, cost is $75 per driver, but if you miss the pre-registration date, or if you just show up the day of the event, the cost is $105 per driver. No registrations will be excepted after 10 am the day of the event- NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! These prices may change at any time.
For the show, pre-registered cost is $10 per-person, and after Aug. 15, its $12 per-person.
If you want to register, e-mail me and I'll make sure you get a proper entry form.
For Vendors at the show, the cost is $50, and again, e-mail me for information
This page has been visited times since March
3,1997.
Questions, Comments, etc. alfa@umich.edu
Last updated August 27, 2000