<VV> Driving John's Fitch Phoenix

[Charlie]

It sure beat “Driving Miss Daisy”!

 

Just feeling her move under your left foot was better than I imagined, and I dared not ask to take her on the course! 

Would that he might have  let me, but I don’t think John even drove her around the track ~ even a parade lap would have made the Communiqué or even the news, I’m sure !

 

Charlie

 

From: Sethracer at aol.com [mailto:Sethracer at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2014 10:14 PM
To: chaz at properproper.com; patiomatt at aol.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Driving John's Fitch Phoenix 

 

At the Washington Convention (1991), John Fitch was one of the honored guests. The Phoenix was on display in the underground vendor area. As the event wrapped up, someone needed to move the Phoenix out to the waiting transport. I offered to move it around to the loading dock. Okay, is wasn't very far, but I drove it a little bit. Much more memorable was the dinner John and I enjoyed one night at the convention. I took John out to a local restaurant and he and I (mostly he) talked for a couple of hours. That was where I learned about his Caribbean sailing adventures and his WWII service. A most memorable evening. I also accompanied him on the dinner cruise Thursday on the Potomac. A real gentleman.

 

Somewhere, I, too have a snapshot of me, sitting in the Phoenix. - Seth Emerson

 

In a message dated 6/6/2014 8:48:33 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, virtualvairs at corvair.org writes:

I was honored by John just to get this close back in the day !



What could I get for pix of me driving Fitch's Phoenix at Lime Rock?

cid:image003.jpg at 01CF81C6.D3E19DC0

Picture probably deleted on VV version of this message but attached as a URL below ?



And, OK, it was a while ago, but hey ~



Charlie





-----Original Message-----

"Thanks to the concerted efforts of Wayne Carini (Velocity’s “Chasing Classic Cars”), journalist Don Klein, and the Fitch Family, the late John Fitch’s pride and joy – the one and only Fitch Phoenix -- went to the Bonham’s auction at the Greenwich Concours Sunday, June 1.



Given appropriate display space just feet from the auction stage, the Phoenix was the center of attention. After bidders went back and forth, at 2:42 p.m. the gavel came down on its sale to Mr. Charles Mallory of Greenwich, Conn.



A collector with eclectic tastes, Mr. Mallory was not there to simply add to his stable: “This was by far my most emotional purchase,” Mallory said shortly afterward. “I loved John, I love Lime Rock, I really feel the Phoenix belongs in Connecticut. I’m very happy for not just me, but everyone who understands what this is about.”



The Phoenix went for $230,000 (137,278 British pounds, 168,665 Euros)."



Look for a "Chasing Classic Cars" episode covering the Phoenix and the auction this fall on the Velocity Channel







Matt Nall

Charleston, Oregon

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