See the attached pics. Heres a Chicagoland landmark that makes a great photo backdrop for Ferraris, and it's right in our back yard. A half scale replica of Italy's Leaning Tower of Pisa located at 6300 Touhy Avenue Niles, IL. This would make an excellent group shot for next years "Ferraris of Chicagoland" calender. The FOC is planning a group drive June 12th to tour the north shore area using Lake Shore Drive & Sheridan Road. This would be a great meeting place prior to the drive, and we could take some pics while we are all there. I'll need to do some more investigating with management to see if it's doable. The Leaning Tower of Niles stands 94 feet tall and is 7'4" off plumb, roughly 1/2 scale to the Italian original. The Niles tower was built in 1934, 600 years after the Pisa tower was constructed. See these links for more history on both the Niles, and the original tower: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/ILNILpisa.html http://www.endex.com/gf/buildings/ltpisa/ltphistory.html Dave Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Fantastic idea! Count me in. We just need to make sure we get a landscape style picture for the calendar as opposed to portrait. Here the real deal for comparison.
My sister-in-law's family lives just west of "The Tower", so I guess after driving by it umpteen times I never thought of it as a photo op. The grounds definitely look nicer now. I remember when the town of Niles was trying to establish "sister city" standing with Pisa, Italy because of the matching towers, but were declined. I would think the management would love the opportunity to see a herd of Ferraris around their landmark. It would probably make the paper.
The Niles Tower was restored in 1996 and now has landscaped gardens & fountains at it's base. Niles was fairly rural in 1934. It's hard to picture this type of structure in the middle of farm country. Dave
FYI, Niles did become a sister-city to Pisa. Reason I know is? I used to live in Niles and delegates from Pisa did and still do come into the suburb. If I'm not mistaken Niles does have a musical event during the summer w/live Italian music near the tower.
Yes,The "Leaning Tower YMCA" in Niles. I,too have passed by it dozens of times,yet totally forgot about it....
Thanks for the tip, and your absolutely correct. Because of the tower, Niles, IL is a "Sister City" of Pisa Italy ! See: http://www.vniles.com/Pages/sister%20city%20pisa.asp If you can read Italian, see the Pisa sites at: http://www.comune.pisa.it/doc/stam-pi/gemhome.htm or: http://www.comune.pisa.it/ The Italian music festivals are held in July & August on Thursdays. Dave
Mike (and others), I don't know if you've joined the FOC-Midwest yet; but if you have, please disregard...... At some point, we plan to limit events to FOC-Midwest paid members only. Everyone is entitled to join us on one or two events (as an unpaid member, and to meet the members to see if they'd like to join the club). The FOC-Midwest is in its infancy again, and we do need funds to make it work. So......anyone that has enjoyed what we've done so far, please become an official member of the FOC-Midwest, and join the Club as a paid member! P.S. I'm the treasurer of the Club!
Hey Skip, Got the latest FOC newsletter today.. All you guys look good on the front cover, Nice job with the article too.... Andreas, Frank, Dave and Skip are featured on this months FOC newsletter..... We need to get more of our drives printed in it.... See everyone on sunday.... I hope it doesn't rain, but i'm going anyways, after getting jipped out of the LFSC show from stupid rain and it was sunny there......
And we will, not to worry. BTW: A few more of you guys made it into the magazine in the article about the in door karting event. Jack and Billiam, Bob and I believe you Tod as well.
Dave will post the details, but in essence we'll meet at the tower of Pisa and drive from there on Saturday the 12th. ------------------------------- Who's in? Dave Andreas who else?
You're currently leading in the "most FOC events attended", so if you skip this one, you give your competition a chance to catch up... 12 Cylinder award is wide open btw.
Here's some details regarding FOC Midwest's Saturday, June 12th drive. Meeting place: The Leaning Tower of Niles 6300 Touhy Ave. Niles, IL Meeting Time: 11:30 AM We will be taking group pics of the cars using the YMCA's entrance drive off Touhy ave. The Leaning Tower will serve as a backdrop. The photos taken could be used for the "Ferraris of Chicagoland" Calender. After the photo op, we will drive east to Lake Shore Drive, heading north through beautiful north shore. We would then stop for an early afternoon lunch at Bertucci's Restaurant in Highwood, IL. Bertucci's provides outdoor dining on an elevated deck. So whether your an FOC, FCA, or F- Chat member, please advise if you plan to attend. See you there ! Thanks, Dave
Well, so far we have for the June 12th drive: Andreas Dave Frank & Frank Jr. Hmmm, that's 3/4 of the FOC Midwest staff ! Anyone else ? Dave
I'd love to go, but now that summer's in full swing, there's a lot of stuff on the table. I think it would be better to space some of these events out, especially since that's only a week after Oak Street and a week before Indy. Plus, traffic that time of day is going to Ess-You-Cee-Kay!
We'll probably still go,no matter what. I've been driving around searching for Photo Op spots that everyone can use if they'd like. Albeit,my photo showing capabilities have been quashed here on FChat.(Non Subscriber/"Met my Photo Quota"...) Must have been all of those Bondo Fiero/355 pix... Oh well,I'll still pass them along if anyone is interested. But,if I can't show you what they look like. You'll just have to trust my description...
I don't think my opinion counts too much anymore since I no longer have an Fcar, but I would like to attend. I will be out of town on business the next two weekends one trip out to the Dakotas, ( is there anything in either state besides some trees and grass? ) I will steal/borrow a friend's Fcar for the next meet but think the Tower photo op would be so neat to see with so many Ferraris buzzing around. I agree with Skip, seems like all are 50/50 on going, why not just postpone? RocketBoy PS: I have been traveling so much I heard it has been nothing but rain here in Chicago the past week and a half. Hopefully no one in the Fchat section had any run ins with the Des Plaines river overflowing. Hope all is well with everyone.
Please note that we will be postponing this drive to a later date TBA. June seems to be a very busy month for many, so stay tuned for a revised date. Dave
Well. All of the Weather Reports that I've seen so far indicate Rain through the rest of the week and into the weekend. But,if we get any nice weather,be sure that Frankie and I will be out driving around....
