Bye-Bye 2009: Best Driving Experience of the Year

Story and photo by John LeBlanc My best driving experience during 2009 had nothing to do with one of those fancy-pants press junkets that we auto writers are spoiled with on a regular basis (Mrs. Automotive Journalist's words, not mine). Nope. Instead it was some personal driving time in and around the Italian Chianti region, north of Sienna and south of Florence, piloting the soon-to-arrive-in-Canada Fiat Cinquecento. The Chianti region's map is dotted with medieval, walled hamlets, perched on top of mountains between valleys of vineyards and olive groves. To get to these towns, you have to drive rural back roads that flow like the local wines. Plus, you also have to love the Italian ministry of transportation. Paraphrasing here, its four-step road-making process is a treat for those who love to drive: - Climb to the top of a mountain. - Pour gravel and tar down the side of said mountain. - Make it as smooth as a marble floor. - Don't post any speed limits. After four days and almost 1,000 km of Tuscany driving, my arms and cheeks were sore as hell. The first from the thousands of turns I managed, and the second from the non-stop grinning.

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