2017 NIFE Events


Nov. 16, 2019	NIFE Club Meeting (Winter Meeting Kick-Off) - Wheaton, IL Our winter series of NIFE club meetings begin at 10:00am on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Wheaton Public Library where our speakers will explain how to upgrade your Fiero to enhance your driving experience. At this meeting, NIFE Member Allen Warren will discuss how to upgrade the stereo head unit from the factory installed unit. Allen will also discuss how to install a modern era rear-view mirror that gives additional information in a digital display. Our second guest speaker at this meeting, NIFE Technical Director Bill Klicker, will discuss how to install window tint film on your car including some valuable lessons learned from personal experience. Finally, in the just-in-case category, I will discuss what to do if your front hood doesn't close due to an uncooperative hood latch. The Wheaton Library is located at 225 N. Cross Street in Wheaton, IL; just East of downtown Wheaton. After the meeting, everyone is welcome to join us for lunch at a nearby establishment. Wheaton Library
Oct 26, 2019	NIFE October Event - Schaumburg, IL So, let's see how much we can get for this article! We'll start the bidding at... That's right we are headed to an auction right here in the Chicago area. Come out and join us as we experience the 2019 Mecum Automobile Auction taking place at the Schaumburg Convention Center on Saturday, October 26, 2019. For this event you will need to purchase your own tickets in advance through the Mecum website. Advance tickets purchased before October 23, 2019 are just $20/each and can be purchased at mecum.com/auctions/chicago-2019. Tickets purchased after this date at the gate once the auctions begin will be $30/each. We plan on starting our day at the Steak N Shake in Hoffman Estates, IL at 8:00am for breakfast before heading over to the auction. The Steak N Shake is located at 1825 Barrington Road, Hoffman Estates, IL. Around 9:30am we will head over to the Schaumburg Convention Center located at 1551 Thoreau Drive N, Schaumburg, IL to begin our bidding on some vehicles. Oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself! We won't plan on bidding, but we will plan on watching the LIVE auction take place as others bid on the cars crossing the auction line. If you would like to skip the breakfast and rendezvous at the convention center, meet us outside the main entrance near the ticket booths around 9:45am. While we are there, we will be able to walk around the auction staging lot to look at the cars that are sold or waiting to be sold. The special thing about Saturday is that the higher valued cars will be crossing the auction block, so we might be able to see cars that go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is estimated that this auction will see upwards of 1,000 vehicles crossing the auction block. This is a first-time event for NIFE and is a great opportunity to check out an automobile auction to see if you are interested in becoming a bidder, or maybe even a seller. We will see firsthand how everything works. Breakfast Location Schaumburg Convention Center
Oct 19, 2019	NIFE Fall Color Tour - Woodstock, IL Set aside Saturday, October 19, 2019, for the NIFE Fall Color Tour to historic Woodstock, IL. There we will have a private tour of the Woodstock Opera House, the Old McHenry County Courthouse, and visit the Woodstock Square where the 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" starringBill Murray was filmed. The Woodstock Opera House, designed and constructed in 1889 by Elgin-based architect Smith Hoag at a cost of $25,000, once housed the library, council room, justice court, fire department, and a second-floor auditorium. Orson Welles, a native of Woodstock, IL, Paul Newman, Tom Bosley, Betsy Palmer, Geraldine Page, Shelley Berman and Lois Nettleon all performed there. The Opera House has been beautifully restored and is now used exclusively as a performance space. The Old McHenry County Courthouse, completed in 1858, is now one of the few pre-Civil War courthouses remaining in Illinois. Designed by John M. Van Osdel, the first licensed architect in Chicago, the building and its adjacent jail has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. The first floor now houses private tenants, an Art Center, and restaurant. The Woodstock Square has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, and features two gazebos and war memorials. Many key scenes from the movie "Groundhog Day" were filmed in and around the square, and Bill Murray's character is seen plummeting from the Woodstock Opera House as his character realized he will be reliving the same day over and over. The tour of the Opera House and Courthouse will begin at 10:30am and is free to participating NIFE members. After the tour, we'll have lunch together as a group at a restaurant in the town square. During our visit, Woodstock is hosting a local "Autumn Drive" event with different tours starting from the downtown center. Stops along the drive include farms offering fall produce, crafters selling pottery and jewelry, antiques, garage sales, barn sales, and pumpkin farms. For more details visit autumndrive.net. Maps will be available if you would like to participate on one of the routes on your own after lunch. Meet at the Fierorama host hotel (the Quality Inn located at 1600 East Main Street/Route 64/North Avenue) in St.Charles, IL beginning at 8:30am for a departure at 9:00am for the 33-mile drive to Woodstock, IL. Or, if it is more convenient for you, meet us at the Woodstock Opera House (121 E. Van Buren Street, Woodstock, IL) in time to join us for the tour at 10:30am. Meeting Location Opera House Location
Sept. 22, 2019	NIFE Car Show Event Pontiac Museum Regional Car Show - Pontiac, IL Join us as we head to Pontiac, IL for the sixth annual Regional All Pontiac Cruise And Show. This is one of the largest all Pontiac shows in the area with over 200 cars last year. Let's make sure Fieros are again well represented this year. The show benefits the Pontiac/Oakland Museum located in Pontiac, IL, an organization that is preserving Pontiac history, including the Fiero. The show is on Sunday, September 22, 2019 in downtown Pontiac, IL. Besides the show, this event is also a great opportunity to check out the Pontiac/Oakland Museum, the Route 66 Museum, and the Livingston County War Museum. We will meet in the parking lot of the Cheddar's Restaurant in Bolingbrook, IL located at the Northwest corner of the intersection of I-55 and Route 53. We will be leaving from the parking lot at 8:00am sharp, so please begin arriving anytime after 7:30am. We will then travel South on I-55 to Pontiac, IL with an expected arrival time around 9:30am. The show hours are from 10:00am until 2:00pm with the awards ceremony at 3:30pm. Meeting Location Show Location
Sept. 6 - 8, 2019	Fierorama - Pottowattie Park in St. Charles, IL The 24th Annual Fierorama. Mark your calendars for Friday, September 6th through Sunday, September 8th. Find more information on this years historical show on the Fierorama page.
Aug. 30- September 1, 2019	NIFE Car Show Event (Heartland Fiero Show) - East Davenport, IA The 2019 Heartland Fieros Car Show will be taking place in the Village of East Davenport, IA during Labor Day weekend (August 30-September 1, 2019). For 2019, we are undergoing some changes as we revamp the event. The host hotel will now be the Comfort Inn and Suites located at 902 Mississippi View Court in Le Claire, IA. The hotel is located just off I-80 on the north side immediately as you cross the Mississippi River bridge into Iowa. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at 563-289-4747. We have reserved a block of rooms for Friday and Saturday nights at the rate of $120 per night; ask for the "Heartland Fieros" group rate when you make your reservations. This rate will be guaranteed until August 25. You have a choice of two queen beds or one king bed (we reserved one handicapped accessible room as well, if needed). If you have any problems with your reservation, please ask to speak to Kayla who is there from 7:00am-3:00pm each day. An additional change for our 16^th annual event (don't be afraid...change can be good!) is that for our Friday, August 30 evening event we will meet up with The Classy Chassy Cruisers, a local car club, for their monthly show and shine cruise-in at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, IA to gain more public exposure for our beloved Fieros. They look forward to seeing "any car that you are into", and as their President said, "The more Fieros we bring, the better". Their club attracts a very eclectic variety of around 60-70 cars at the cruise-ins which runs from 5:00pm-9:00pm. There will be a couple food trucks present and there are also numerous restaurants in and around the mall. We will depart together from the host hotel at 4:30pm to caravan the 68 miles West on I-80 to Coralville which will allow us to arrive there by 6:00pm. For those coming from either the north or west who want to meet us directly at the cruise-in, Coralville and the Coral Ridge Mall is located along I-80 at exit 240, 1.5 miles East of the I-380/218 and I-80 interchange. The Heartland Fieros Car Show itself will take place on Saturday, August 31, 2019. Registration will open from 9:00am until 12:00 noon at our usual location on Christie Street in the Village of East Davenport, IA. As in the past, this will be a "points judged show". As 2019 is a year of transition for the Heartland Fieros car show, the BBQ cookout and campout that has taken place at the home of Fred Bartemeyer and Annette Wilson unfortunately is no longer on the agenda for Saturday night. The plans for its replacement are still in the works as of this writing, so stay tuned to our Facebook page for the latest information. Due to some event restructuring at the Village of East Davenport, we anticipate that 2019 will be the last year for our car show to take place here. So, we invite you to come and help us bid a fond farewell to this location as we look ahead to the 2020 Heartland Fieros Car Show taking place in a new locale Show Location
August 9-11, 2019	Indian Uprising All Pontiac Weekend - St. Charles, IL August 9-11, 2019, the Cruisin' Tigers Pontiac Club will be hosting their 29th Indian Uprising All Pontiac Weekend located at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. The Cruisin' Tigers will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Fiero by highlighting the Fiero as one of the Feature Cars. This means we will have special preferred parking on the show field on Sunday, August 11, 2019, the Fiero will be featured on the event T-shirts and dash plaques, and there is a Feature Car only show on Saturday, August 10, 2019 starting at 12:00pm with awards presented by distinguished guests who will vote for their favorite Fiero in the show. In addition, the Midwest Fiero Clubs will be the Feature Club for this year's event. Starting Friday afternoon, the events schedule includes: Friday Events: vendor set up and sales, early indoor arena parking, movie night in the indoor arena featuring "The Cannonball Run" starting at 7:00pm Saturday Events: Feature Car only show with awards (this is for our Fieros!), the 7th Annual MEGA Cruise-In Sunday Events: All Pontiac popular vote show with over 600 cars and over 150 awards, the Legends of Pontiac Guest Speaker Panel, and the salute to our Veterans The Indian Uprising is one of the larger Pontiac shows located in the Midwest and has drawn as many as 600 Pontiacs. We had over 230 Fieros at the 35th Anniversary event back in August of 2018. Let's continue the celebration for 2019 and show our fellow Pontiac family members how much we love our Fieros by supporting this event. The Indian Uprising All Pontiac Weekend is the largest all-Pontiac charity event of its type in the world with thousands of spectators from across the U.S. Over the 29-year lifespan of this event, The Cruisin' Tigers have donated proceeds totaling over $100,000 to children's charities. Full details of this year's event can be found at theindianuprising.com. Make your plans today to continue the Fiero's 35th anniversary celebration this summer! You can pre-register online until July 31, 2019 by going to www.crusintigers.com or register on show day. Visit fierofocus.com to download the show flier. This event draws all models of Pontiacs from across the Midwest. Come on out and help us show off our Fiero spirit by joining us at this event. NIFE out-of-towners, this is a huge event. Why not make a weekend of it and visit your NIFE friends! For more event and lodging information go to www.cruisintigers.com. Pre-register here Show Location
July 20, 2019	NIFE July Event - Car Show - North Chicago, IL - CANCELLED Come on out to help NIFE support our military Veterans as we show off our Fieros. On Saturday, July 20, 2019 we will join other antique, classic, and exotic cars at a car show for the Veteran residents of the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center located at 3001 Green Bay Road in North Chicago, IL. We will meet at the Create Your Own Cheesecake & Cheesesteak Restaurant located at 2341 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064 at 9:30am for breakfast and be ready to leave for the show as a group at 11:00am. Show registration opens at 11:30am and ends at 3:00pm. The Veterans themselves choose the show awards. There is no entry fee for the show and you get a free lunch! Meeting Location Show Location
June 22, 2019	NIFE Event - Lombard Cruise Night - Lombard, IL Join us as we show Lombard, IL what Fieros are all about. On Saturday, June 22, 2019 we will gather together and cruise to downtown Lombard, IL to take part in one of the oldest and largest cruise nights in the area. Downtown Lombard offers a number of dining options. At 4:15pm we will gather at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Northwest corner of Roosevelt Road and Finley Road. The Crowne Plaza is east of the I-355 exit at Roosevelt Road and is located at 1250 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn, IL. The cruise night in Lombard will fill up quickly so we will depart from this staging area promptly at 4:30pm to arrive to the cruise night around 5:00pm. The "official" cruise night runs from 6:00pm until 10:00pm. Parking for the cruise night is along St. Charles Road from Main Street to Elizabeth Street; several other designated "cruise zones" are located along St. Charles Road. Gathering Location Cruise Night Location
May 30- June 2, 2019	2019 Dells Run - Wisconsin Dells, WI It is time again for our annual Fiero community pilgrimage to the Wisconsin Dells. The Fiero Fanatics of Wisconsin will be hosting Fiero owners from across the Midwest starting Thursday, May 30, 2019, and running through Sunday, June 2, 2019 for the 27^th annual Dells Run event. This event is four days of Fiero fun with countless opportunities to meet new Fiero friends and experience everything Fiero - from mild to wild! The Dells Run will be the first stop on this year's Midwest Fiero Clubs' (MWFC) show circuit. The host hotel and show site will again be the Chula Vista Resort. Call 1-888-601-7053 to make your reservations. Please call early to guarantee a room and ask for the "Fiero Fanatics Club" discount. It is a beautiful location and the staff has been very accommodating to all of the Fiero people in the past. Please consider pre-registering for this event. A registration form is available to download on our website at Fierofocus.com or visit fierofanatics.com for more information. On Sunday, June 2, 2019, we will caravan back to Illinois after the awards ceremony and traditional NIFE club photo. We plan to be on the road headed back home by 11:30am-12:00pm. Join us for great times and good fun in the scenic Wisconsin Dells. 2019 Dells Registration form
May 11, 2019	NIFE Spring Driving Tour This year, the NIFE spring driving tour will take place May 11, 2019 as we travel to the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. We'll meet at 10:00am near the intersection of Route 53 and I-55 at the Cheddar's Restaurant parking lot located at 105 Remington Boulevard in Bolingbrook, IL. Midewin is a 20,000-acre federal tallgrass prairie reserve located on the site of the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant. Operated by the United States Forest Service, it is located between the Illinois towns of Elwood, Manhattan and Wilmington. The prairie reserve was established in 1996 to conserve, restore, and enhance the native population and habitats of fish, wildlife, and plants. Along with hiking trails, Midewin offers a welcome center and a bison herd, which was introduced to the reserve in 2015. Many of the ammunition storage bunkers built during the arsenal's heydays during WWII are still present on the site. As many as 10,000 people worked at the reserve site when it was a munitions plant for our nation's military. After breaking for lunch at a nearby establishment, we'll visit the newly opened Midwest Classics on 66 auto museum in Wilmington, IL. Midwest Classics is involved in buying, selling, and restoring American classic and muscle cars, as well as vintage motorcycles. The two owners of the museum have been involved with classic cars for over 34 years and have long dreamed of opening a modern facility to showcase their passion. The spring driving tour serves as a good "shake down" trip for our Fieros in preparation of the summer show season. As the date approaches, check the NIFE website for further details. Meeting Location
Apr. 13, 2019	NIFE Club Meeting - Wheaton, IL NEW MEETINGL LOCATION (WHEATON LIBRARY)* Complete the circuit of your Fiero knowledge by attending the April 13, 2019 NIFE club meeting which will take place at a new location, the Wheaton Public Library. The meeting will start at 10:00am. NIFE Activity Director Art Hall and NIFE Member Nick DiMonte will share their automotive electrical knowledge by explaining basic concepts such as power, grounds, relays, shorts and voltage drops. Learn the operation of a digital volt meter and the tests you can perform to troubleshoot a problem. This meeting will teach you how to avoid needlessly changing parts without understanding the most likely cause of the problem. A case study will be presented of a specific Fiero electrical issue and the troubleshooting undertaken to determine the diagnosis and fix the problem. Besides gaining more confidence in operating your Fiero, your newfound understanding will improve the reliability of all the vehicles you drive. The Wheaton Public Library is located at 225 North Cross Street, two blocks north of the train tracks and two blocks east of downtown Wheaton, IL. The library parking lot is located on the southwest corner of Scott Street and Seminary Avenue. From the south, use Roosevelt Road to turn north onto Main Street, then turn east on Seminary Avenue shortly after crossing the train tracks. From the north, use North Avenue and turn south onto Schmale Road in Carol Stream, IL. Schmale Road turns into Main Street in Wheaton, then turn east on Seminary Avenue. After the meeting (around noon), join us for lunch at Bricks Wood Fired Pizza located at 103 E. Front St., Wheaton, IL. Meeting Location Lunch Location
Mar. 23, 2019	NIFE Club Meeting - Oswego, IL Have you seen all the discussion in the auto industry about ceramic coating paint protection? On March 23, 2019, from 10:00am to 12:00pm, we will meet at Auto Smart, 39 Stonehill Road, Suite E, Oswego, IL, 630-554-2285, for a demonstration and explanation on the uses and benefits of ceramic coating. Our host will be owner Brian Caldwell. Brian will also discuss clear bras and will provide us with some detailing tips. This event is sure to be of interest to all Fiero owners. After the meeting we will gather for lunch at Portillo's restaurant (2810 US-34, Oswego, IL 60543) where we can further discuss the potential use of ceramic coating for our cars! If you would like to see all of the services offered by Auto Smart, visit their website located at: autosmartnetwork.com. Meeting Location Lunch Location
Feb. 23, 2019	Hulki Breakfast Club - St. Charles, IL Hulki Breakfast Club! Join us Saturday, February 23, 2019 at Colonial Caf� at 9:00am for some Fiero discussion and celebrate the memory of Hulki Aldikacti, commonly known as the "Father of the Fiero." Colonial Caf� is at 1625 East Main Street, St Charles, IL, 630-584-4647, directly across the street from the Quality Inn (our Fierorama host hotel). If you are not sure who Hulki was and his importance to our Fieros, you will need to stop by for breakfast and we will fill you in. How are your winter Fiero projects going? Who is ready for spring? We will discuss some ideas of which parts would be most beneficial to pull from a Fiero that was recently brought to a junk yard! See how your list compares with ours. This will be a Fiero social gathering only; no agenda, no guest speakers, just a meet and greet with your fellow Fiero enthusiasts. Join us for as long as you can. What better way to start the day? Breakfast Location
Jan. 19, 2019	NIFE Club Meeting - Alsip, IL Join us January 19, 2019, as we head south to visit our friends at the Eastwood company store located at 12100 South Cicero Avenue in Alsip, IL. Our club meeting will start at 10:00am. The Eastwood staff will present a seminar on plastic repair for auto parts and body panels. Some parts are not readily available for our Fieros, so it may be necessary to do a repair rather than replace a part. This meeting will discuss some of the options that are available. Eastwood is a nationwide company that sells many tools and supplies for auto body professionals and do-it-yourselfers. The Alsip store is unique in that it includes its own workshop area where hands-on classes are offered and customers can try out some of the Eastwood products before their purchase. After the meeting (around noon), join us for lunch at a nearby establishment. The location will be announced at the meeting or check the NIFE website for the latest details. Meeting Location

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