our usual Section meeting at the George & Dragon and then AutoItalia Spring Italian Car Day at Brooklands. May will be a tad quieter, but then June goes very busy again. We’re off to Stanford Hall for the big AutoItalia event there on the 5th, always enjoyable that with the field of Alfas and massed ranks of Italian exotics, and rarities. We’ll have the red Section Shelter there again and a special long line up of our Section’s Alfas, so do please head for that at around 12.30 for a mass picnic. Bring a chair too! Clare and Mandy have kindly offered to do an Italian Buffet - if you’d like to partake of that, please let me know; just £5 a head. By all means bring your own food otherwise. Just two weeks later we’re off to Mallory Park for

the special race day on the 19th. You can see more about that in the panel on the right and on page 7. Suffice to say, with special parking, two Alfa-only races and a track parade you can take part in, it will be a lot of fun. Before that more track action; on Tuesday 14

June this time it is karting at the exciting outdoor Sutton Circuit near Broughton Astley. Plan is for a team endurance event taking on our pals from the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club again. Cost is £40 a head, and well worth it. Kick off is 6.30pm, with the racing followed by an optional meal at the Red Admiral pub in Broughton Astley, who’s proprietor is Richard Doyle, a fellow Alfista! Plenty on the books then, will all

be great fun. Cheers! John John John John

WEDS 8th JUNE, 7pm

Now firmly cemented as a favourite in our calendar, the Section Fun Concours event is set for our regular meeting night in June. Now, last year for the first time in its 10 year history we had to postpone it owing to bad weather, despite a valiant effort from the 30 or more people present. Still, deferring to July we managed to run it, though that was between thunderstorms! (See photo at foot of this page.) Anyway, we plan to run a similar format with ALL

Alfas present on the night at The George & Dragon in Thringstone automatically entered, and everyone playing judge, but for a nice variety of categories (more than last year) ranging from shiniest wheels to ‘dodgiest’ tyres. Lots of terrific prizes too, and the friendly crew from our local Autoglym franchise will be there too with bargains aplenty. Before that one we’ve got the meeting at the

George & Dragon on 11th May. That will be a ‘Blag-a-ride’ night where you an request a spin in the passenger seat in any of the Alfas present; and that could be just about anything. There are some very good roads near the ‘G&D’ too around Belton. Oh, please be prepared to offer the rides too of course! April has been a very busy month for our

Section, with Spring Alfa Day being very well attended, the Classic Car Night at Beedles Lake,

Inside this edition:

��� Spring Alfa DaySpring Alfa DaySpring Alfa Day

��� Brooklands Spring Italian Car DayBrooklands Spring Italian Car DayBrooklands Spring Italian Car Day

��� Classic Car Night Classic Car Night Classic Car Night

��� Technical Talk at ‘The Aviator’Technical Talk at ‘The Aviator’Technical Talk at ‘The Aviator’

��� Our Alfas… Our Alfas… Our Alfas… and more.and more.and more.

■ ■ ■ ■ Alfisti Issue 133 ■■■■ May 2011

Alfisti is edited and produced byAlfisti is edited and produced byAlfisti is edited and produced byAlfisti is edited and produced by

John Griffiths AROC Central & East Midlands Section Secretary

Tel: 0774 8881317

e-mail: jg.alfa@tiscali.co.uk

Section website, for latest news and more:

www.AROC-UK.COM/CEMIDS

Production sponsored by

Alfa Race DayAlfa Race DayAlfa Race Day MALLORY PARKMALLORY PARKMALLORY PARK Sunday 19Sunday 19Sunday 19ththth June June June We are playing a major part in the Mallory Park Classic Festival with qualifying and the two Alfa Romeo races

now all taking place on the Sunday. Special parking for Alfa Romeos and a dedicated AROC area, plus Alfa track parade all feature too. If you want to take part in that please contact John as

SOON AS POSSIBLE. (Parade open to paid-up AROC members only.)

Discount advance ticket forms were in April’s Club Magazine.

Watch out for the Chris Variava guys there including their special course car!

SEE MORE INSIDE

Italian Car Concours Italian Car Concours Italian Car Concours

STANFORD HALLSTANFORD HALLSTANFORD HALL Sunday 5Sunday 5Sunday 5ththth June June June Always an enjoyable event with hordes

of Italian cars present including plenty of Ferraris, Maseratis and other exotics. We’ll have a special SECTION LINE UP of Alfas and a lunchtime picnic too! Look out for our Section Shelter next to the big red AROC shop. Entry is £10 per

person at the gate and the event opens at 9.30am. (Venue: Stanford Hall near Lutterworth, LE17 6DH)

FUN CONCOURS NIGHTONCOURS NIGHTONCOURS NIGHT

A beautiful Giulia Sprint GT at last year’s Italian Car Concours at Stanford Hall

CENTRALCENTRALCENTRAL & EAST& EAST& EAST MIDLANDSMIDLANDSMIDLANDS SECTIONSECTIONSECTION NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

ALFISTI / C.E.MIDS £0.00 Where Sold

Lancia curiosity found at IntaServices...

This amazing 1978 Lancia Beta HPE was in at IntaServices recently, its owner (who also has a ‘mint’ Beta Coupé) having discovered it for sale near Bournemouth. Looking around the car was like a step back in time - chocolate brown paintwork in remarkable condition, though dirty, and a fabulous orangey beige velour very reminiscent of the time. The dash with its quirkt knobs and switches and blue veglia clocks very reminiscent of a ‘Sud of the time. Dave Knott took me for a quick spin around the block in it and you could tell it was in great nick even pre-fettling. The owner plans a full recondition of mechanical and paintwork. Oh, it has the most superb ‘Italian’ two-tone air horn as well. I so wish they still fitted those as standard!!

The Beta HPE was truly a remarkably practical car with a long flat loadspace and bags of interior room fore and aft. Hope to see this one at a few Italian car shows in the future. John

Read in all the best places...

OK chaps, we all know you cannot beat a good read at ‘break time’. Here two year old Giuliano Giuliani, son of AROC member Leonardo out in

Barga, Tuscany, gets into his latest copy of Alfisti. Good lad!!

Classic Car Night at Beedles Lake

We were very pleased to be invited to the Jaguar Enthusiast Club’s annual Classic Car night in April over at Beedles Lake Golf Centre, East Goscote. This year’s gathering fell on a very pleasant, balmy evening for a change (freezing last year!) and again proved to be a great evening for our members to bring over some unusual machinery to line up next to the assorted E-Types etc. Bryan Alexander brought his 4200

CambioCorsa Maserati with its mellifluous, burbling V8; George Cole his raspy ‘Sud Super (great to see that back with him); Keith Krog with son StJohn in his amazing Alfa ES30 SZ with just 9,000kms on the clock. Bruce Peers (of red Bertone Coupe fame) appeared out of left field in a quite amazing machine – an early 60’s Dodge Dart (photo right), resplendent in metallic green with a 3.8 slant 6 engine and bizarre 13” wheels running 205 section tyres. Long story, suffice to say he’s looking after it for a friend pending its sale. Elsewhere among our number, Kev Bunney

had brought his shiny 166; Neil Fairhurst his 145 Cloverleaf (for change from his Spider); Roger Smith and Brian Smith in their Spiders (916 and S4 respectively), then Simon Addison in his red S4 but with Leigh Nethercot at the wheel who’d driven it over. I’d brought my GT, and son David arrived a little later in his low-flying 106 GTI. Among the weird and wonderful other

machinery present, a very early twin-cylinder motorcycle that smoked like nothing on earth prior to it then lapping the car park at a remarkable lick! Then, among the assorted XJSs, Mark2s, X, S and E-Types, my Father-in-Law’s XJS-C (unusually out from under its Concours blanket!) and a brand new, black, monster XJ. Now that is one big car!! Also, Mike Swinfen (of V6 Spider fame) had his big supercharged V8 Daimler. Not a small car either! After a good natter while the sun was

setting several either departed or retired to the very smart bar and conservatory where we lost the ‘Jag’ raffle (as usual). All good fun though! John

The 25th edition of this event saw a tremendous attendance of Italian car fanatics, and some amazing machinery to feast eyes upon. The allotted space for primary Alfa parking was

full by 9.30 (~250 cars), with the remainder of Alfas having to go on part of the famous Brooklands banking or overflow mixed parking. I’d travelled down with Andy Wallington and Mark

Sangster in the Club van, Andy doing the honours behind the wheel. Arriving just after 9, we were lucky to bag a prime spot in the Alfa area to set up flags and furniture and a shop display. Simon and Clare soon arrived in their Spider. During the day we signed up a dozen members

and sold a good deal of shop items to the enthusiastic throng. Parked nearby was a terrific line up from the Giulietta Register (around 25—30 cars of all shapes and sizes from early Ti Berlina to Sprint Speciale. Around the site, there was a superb display if

Lancias including hordes of Integrales and some great classic Aurelias, plus a very rare newer model Europe-only Thesis. Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis were just everywhere too in many shocking shades; a baby-blue 4200 Spyder was particularly garish. With F40s, 288 GTOs, Enzos, Murcielagos and the new Maserati MC Stradale - plus two stunning Alfa 8Cs - it was hard to know where not to drool! By all accounts the demo runs on the adjacent

Mercedes Benz World test track were sensational, and the timed runs up the ultra-steep test hill provided much entertainment later too, with everything from Panda and 500, to 458 Italias and Gallardos. A particular favourite though being a well-laden diesel Multipla! We were very happy to sign up 12 new

members on the day along with selling a stack of shop gear making the effort very worthwhile. Anyway, it was a day of wonderful sunshine,

and great automotive sights, sounds and smells. We will be there again, hopefully with even more Club support. John.

BROOKLANDS Spring Italian Car Day

Section stalwart Alan Lathwell has only been in the car sales business (Fiats & Alfas) for a few months, but I was a tad concerned when I read this email he sent me. OK, I know he’s a bit ‘Cockney’, but I’m bothered it might be affecting him% John

“Fundle me bundies John, great shifting the haddock

& bloaters this bubble & squeak. All the Garys are getting

their bangers and mash out of their sky rockets and that’s

the haddock for harrisons like me. Take the well tooled

Brenda we’ve had on the backpipe for two julians now -

lovely greg with breeze and shiny shoes, but normally no

Gary would want to fart on his mum for it because it

doesn’t run with the greasy weasel, but it’s shifted now.

Enjoyed a bit of shifting last wogan too when a casual

Gary gozzed up looking to swap his handsome Hocus

Pocus for a Grunto Heave-Ho. Couldn’t do a full-pop

fleece so showed him round a ChiChi I’d just fingered

from the hammers at Turdly - full bobby, Hansen and

Losing the (car) Plot Alan’s doing the deals… (I think.)

jumpers - and only up for a kitten under five wesleys. The

Gary went straight in with a couple of ocelots under, so I

said I’d meet him with a tarzan. Gary wasn’t having it, so I

slipped him a bing bing and said it was his for a polecat.

Sure enough, a bit Christian Slater he’s on the dog and

bone wanting to punch his auntie for the full nelson.

Sorted!

Nah then, one of my grinders is popping the lovely this

feta on a Tee Hee after grunting the grisbies on an Incy

Winy that’s been round the Judith since last Arthur. He’s

been parping marmalade about it ever since I’d fingered it

for a six leaves and a frisby at the hammers in Moira, even

though it’s got no cow or flakes. The smooth Gary has

offered a fat hamster and two soldiers - mind you, I’m

happy to just to get it off the gran. Minty. Laters, Alan.”

Anyway, if you’ve got any idea what he’s on about, please let me know. Or ask him yourself of course down at Motorvogue% Ta, John. ;0)

Simon, Clare and Andy enjoying lunch

More photos on our website

Six years since our club’s last visit to the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, but the attendance was as tremendous as ever with the owner of more than 540 Alfas enjoying fine weather and superb attractions.

Spring Alfa Day

Fantastic! First big outdoor Italian car gathering at last! We had been looking forward to this one fro months after an interminable winter. The weather had been Spring-like for a good few weeks, and thankfully the day dawned wonderfully dry and bright. Anyway, after our meet up at the Services and the

compulsory calories of the McDonald’s breakfast, we were soon underway having enjoyed some jollity around the ’KontzWagen’ 155 on its maiden voyage, plus Bryan ‘Biggles’ Alexander with his flying helmet and goggles… Despite negotiating various sets of traffic lights,

average speed cameras and picking up Martin Lindus and family to our line en route, on arrival our Section was able to park pretty close together near to the American Hangar. Wallets were immediately opened having spotted the new excellent range of clothing at the Club Shop. Before we knew it the main parking field was full up too, with a fascinating mix of Alfas to peruse. After a lengthy stint on membership signing up (we

got 14 during the day), Simon and I had a good wander around the fantastic aircraft exhibits, learning that the pair of us were almost as bad ‘Anoraks’ with ‘planes as we are Italian cars!

Sadly our hangar tours meant we totally missed the prize awards - but we did have a good chance to take tons of photos of the many fascinating cars lined up during the day. Three pre-war Alfas were present by the Club

shop (Danielle doing amazing trade there all day). The Vintage machines comprised Carol Corliss’s well known 1929 1750 SS Zagato, Denis Richardson’s red and black 1931 1750 Grand Sport and John Guyatt’s blue 1933 1900 ‘blower’ in its Le Mans body. Chatting to John, he told me how the car was located in Ireland two years ago, well, it’s engine and chassis were - then the aluminium body in America. A new bonnet had to be fabricated, and after much more work one delightful piece of Italian history was restored. Marshall’s of Hitchin had brought along a great

collection of new Alfas including two MiTos equipped with full Alfa body kits and graphics, then a Mito Sprint with smart Alfa bike on its roof rack, plus several Giuliettas and a 159 Ti also with full ‘kit. That looked great in black. Among our group, Neil and Simon & Clare were

in their 105 Spiders, John Partridge in his lovely Bertone GTV, Jacqui and Mark Wood in the Giulietta Cloverleaf (I do like the ‘dark’ Alfa Red Metallic - see picture below), Andy Wallington in his 164, Dave Atkins in his Turbodelta, Chris Cheal in his lovely white GT, plus a bundle of the Cotswold Section guys. No space fro all but in was a typical wide variety! Overhead the twin-cockpit Spitfire did several

flypasts during the day — what a tremendous sight and sound; and the exhibits for an aircraft fan are just breathtaking - everything from WW1 biplanes through to Eurofighter Typhoon, B52 Stratofort ress and B29 Superfor t ress to SR-71 Blackbird, even Concorde. Just fantastic. The tank museum is great too, though I did get around it this time - another visit is called for! Anyway, love ly Spr ing

weather, lots of friendly people and amazing cars and planes; just as an ‘Alfa Day’ should be. Now, if we could just lose the ‘scameras’ en route we could enjoy the journeys too. John

Steve Ball’s shot of part of the red line

The hangar displays at Duxford are just staggering. So much to take in.

Just part of the main parking area.Just part of the main parking area.Just part of the main parking area.———What a huge variety of Alfas! What a huge variety of Alfas! What a huge variety of Alfas! (All photos by John unless credited.)(All photos by John unless credited.)(All photos by John unless credited.)

Spring Alfa Day pics...

It was a shame that after a run of warm sunny evenings our April meet was cold and overcast. Still, the 20 or so present enjoyed some time outside chatting around the assembled Alfas. An eclectic mix as ever; two 166s, four 916 Spiders, 146, 164, 147, 156s, 159, GT, Brera –all sorts really! Inside topics covered plans for the

forthcoming events, how we’ll be supporting the Mallory event, new models expected, Spider hood treatments, latest goings-on in the club, car insurance, ECU resets, alloy wheel refurbs, tyres - then holidays, beer, football, Italian holidays - and that was just on one table! John

April Section Meeting at the George & Dragon

Above - Keith Krog’s dark-grey painted alloys on his 159 were a talking point. Until we realised they were just the extremely dirty silver ones! :o)

Above: Bryan brought out his 156 Below: Mike Swinfen’s stunning Spider Below Right; Wayne’s 166 3.2 V6.

This Column - Top: Tally ho! Squadron Leader Bryan ‘Biggles’ Alexander enjoying his Spider. Middle: Part of the Marshall’s Dealer display. (Alfa bike!) Bottom: Amazing SR-71 Blackbird

This Column - Top: The 155 Kontz Wagon Middle: Superb Alfasud line up Bottom: Neil’s S2 and Simon & Clare’s S4 Spiders

This Column - Top: Smart Mito with full AR bodykit Middle: A rare RZ arrives Bottom: Dave Ward’s superb Giulia Spider

Brian Hawkins, Secretary for the South Midlands Section, invited us over to their April meeting where Jamie Porter, proprietor of The Alfa Garage in Royston was giving a ‘technical talk’.

The advertised start time was a tad early for a lot of our members it would appear, but our small party certainly very much enjoyed it. Certainly the surrounds of the Art-Deco styled Aviator Hotel at Sywell Aerodrome were just superb. If only we had a place like that closer to home…

Club members will recognise Jamie from his regular column in the AROC magazine, and he truly is a font of knowledge. As he explained, overseeing his four mechanics he gets to see every problem as it comes in working with them to resolve them. So, the first time a new problem is presented, e.g. with a new model, it might take say 7 hours of thorough investigation (not all charged to

customer!) – but next time maybe just an hour in total to fix.

Now, ‘Technical Talk’ might sound a little dry, but actually his delivery was great fun. We started off with an explanation of MultiAir and how it cleverly controls valves and the important part of clean, economical and powerful combustion. This was solely developed and patented by Fiat/Alfa of course, and years ahead of the competition (as its Common Rail diesel engines were 10 or so years ago). So how did he do this? Well, using a head off an Alfa Nord twin-cam and a bicycle pump (!), then some volunteers from the audience to act as camshaft lobe and valve – and, do you know, it worked!

Jamie went on to demystify many aspects of modern Alfas including EGRs, DPFs, MAFs, DMFs you name it, as well as some of the classic machinery like the Alfasud and its Boxer engine. He also illustrated that many of the ‘issues’ are with the Bosch/GM bits mainly and in fact the Alfa /FIAT technology is the most robust! Certainly for us ‘anoraks’ and interested ‘customers’ alike, it was fascinating stuff. Our thanks again to Brian Hawkins for the invite. John

Alfa Technical Talk at The Aviator, Sywell

GIULIETTA ARRIVO! GIULIETTA ARRIVO! GIULIETTA ARRIVO! SHOCK SHOCK SHOCK --- John swaps his beloved GT... John swaps his beloved GT... John swaps his beloved GT...

Giulietta Veloce 2.0 JTDm2 170

Selling my GT was a tough decision. I’d grown hugely attached to it over three years with its great styling, surprising space, easy turbocharged ‘go’ and relaxed cruising, 43 MPG average plus the best car seats I’d ever sat in - but after much consideration the decision was made. With my job demanding lots of miles and a need for some five-door practicality in the family, the new generation Alfa Giulietta it had to be.

After a brief flirtation with the idea of a 159TI 2.0 JTDm2, then a Giulietta 1750 Cloverleaf, the deal was struck with Paul Jones at Chris Variava for a 2 litre ‘170’ diesel - my sixth ‘Alfa Red’ Alfa and third ‘JTD’.

I had fun choosing specification and colour scheme, but settling on exactly which was still tricky, but a really good test drive wrapped it up. I practiced with the stop-start system and grew to like it, was mighty impressed with the electronic Q2’s performance through bends, the impressive chassis rigidity with obvious lightness of foot, the absence of any creaks and rattles, then the magic ‘pre-fill’ brake system and effortless overtaking offered by 258lbs/ft on over-boost. With the 170 diesel there was much to like - and an easy 45MPG is promised too. Seeing a brand new one awaiting collection in Alfa Red sealed the question of colour, so that was it.

On the spec front, after a dalliance with an idea of the 8C style wheels (too like our MiTos) I settled on the big 18” ‘Turbines’, mainly as I’d not owned an Alfa with anything like them before and they just work so nicely with the car. I went for sporty flavour with Veloce spec with mean black headlining and part-leather seats. The dark-tinted windows add to it too, as suggested by Paul. They are not a ’total black-out’, just right. The reversing sensors (with neat graphical readout) were a must as rear vision is a tad difficult like on many modern cars.

The weeks of waiting for delivery felt like forever, but the suggested 10 weeks turned to under 7, so I shouldn’t complain! Anyway, let’s see how Alfa’s newbie performs in practice. It’s been subject to some early-life tweaks and spec upgrades, so hopefully bugs ironed out. First impressions are very, very good. The car feels every inch a real Alfa, with great ’go’, steering, braking and handling, a fantastic smooth ride quality and a very refined engine. I’ll report again of course once I’ve got some more miles under the wheels. Meantime, it is fab to be back in a red ‘un! Cheers, John

Above: Jamie points out different aspects of combustion - real hands-on stuff.

Above: % moving on to the complexities of Alfa’s MultiAir technology. Basically lots more fun with a bicycle pump!!

The GT’s gone, but the plate will reappear. Great car.

FAB rear LED lights! Turbine wheels, surprisingly, are not hard to clean

We’ve wanted an Alfa Day based at a race track for ages and now we have one slap bang in our Region! Mallory Park, near Kirkby Mallory in Leicestershire is a superb track for spectators. Situated in a natural

bowl, it is a motor racing amphitheatre with fantastic views available of the action. You can also get really close to the track for great photographic opportunities.

There will be two dedicated races for Alfa Romeos dating from 1960s to ’90s and with qualifying now moved to Sunday morning all of the Alfa Romeo action now features on that day rather than Saturday as well as originally advertised. The race programme will feature other fascinating races organised by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, an some classic bikes will also be racing.

There will be a special parking area for Alfas near the Paddock bridge, the Alfa Hospitality unit will be available for use by members and the Club Shop will also be in attendance. A team from Chris Variava will have a display of new cars for us to look at there too.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! Importantly, we need your help as local members for marshalling (in the car park, not waving flags

incidentally!) In return for some of your time on Sunday you will receive free admission. Please contact John urgently if you wish to do this. (Thanks to those who have already offered. Your names are down!!)

AROC Central & East Midlands Section Events 2011

Date Event

11 May ‘11 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm

5 Jun ‘11 Italian Car Concours - Stanford Hall near Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Inc. Section Picnic.

8 Jun ‘11 Fun Concours Night, at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm

14 Jun ‘11 Karting Night - Sutton Circuit, Sutton Elms nr Broughton Astley, Cost £40 a head; Endurance format v Jaguar Enthusuaists Club. Followed by optional pub meal at The red Admiral, Broughton Astley. (Free for spectators!) CONTACT JOHN to book place!!

19 Jun ‘11 AROC at Mallory Park - Large AROC gathering at our local circuit. See panel below.

26 Jun ‘11 Cotswold Alfa Day - Buscot Park, Faringdon nr Swindon. SN7 8BU

13 Jul ‘11 ‘Spider Night’ at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm

17 Jul ‘11 National Alfa Day, Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Reading, Berks RG8 9NR

10 Aug ‘11 ‘Blag-a-Ride’ Night at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm

14 Aug ‘11 MITCAR - Midlands Italian Car Day at Stoneleigh Abbey, near Coventry.

4 Sep ‘11 Leicester Aeroclub Open Day - Leicester Airport, from 10.30am

11 Sep ‘11 Autumn Italian Car Day - Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwicks.

14 Sep ‘11 Twilight Drive at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm

TBC Sep/Oct 11

AROC Track Day - venue and date TBC. Expected to be good value at a circuit near us. Free expert driver tuition available too - ideal for the novices.

12 Oct ‘11 Section AGM and Alfa Quiz at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - from 7.30pm

End Oct ‘11 Tuscany Fly-Drive trip! Including visit to the Padova Classic Car Show. See ‘Gazetta’

9 Nov ‘11 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm

11 - 13 Nov Classic Motor Show - NEC Birmingham

14 Dec ‘11 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm

Lots more events to be added through the year

Gazetta News Snippets

Mazda 3. (Stop yawning at the back!!)

Now, does this car look like it’s sticking its tongue out or what? (Thinks% People buy these!)

OTHER MARQUES

The Small Print: ‘Alfisti’ is published primarily for the enjoyment of members of the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club Central & East Midlands Section with its cost effectively included as part of their annual subscription paid to the AROC. We are very pleased that local dealer Chris Variava Alfa Romeo also support the cost of printing production. Please note that the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club UK ltd cannot endorse or recommend services or products advertised in its publications. Any opinions published in ‘Alfisti’ are personal ones. Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club Ltd is registered in Ipswich. Registered Number 01106134, Registered Office Address: 48 High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QJ. VAT Registration Number 31801433.

OCTOBER TRIP TO PADOVA. If you’d like to join our ‘lads’ trip to the fantastic classic car show at Padova near Venice, staying at Dave Atkins’ apartment in Barga, Tuscany (or nearby B&B if numbers too big for him to accommodate), please get in touch with John as soon as poss. Fly/drive trip, last weekend in October, probably Thursday to Tuesday.

COTSWOLD ALFA DAY is on Sunday 26th June is hosted at Buscot Park, near Swindon SN7 8BU . The traditional Giro Panoramico (Scenic Drive) will start at the Frog Mill Hotel, just off the A40 at Shipton Oliffe, near Andoversford GL54 4HT. Application forms for both are available on the Cotswold section website. Entry prices for Buscot Park, payable on the day at the venue; House & Grounds £8.00 / Grounds only £5.00 / Children half price / NT members Free. AMERICAN ‘ALFA’ MUSCLE. A wealthy American has commissioned Zagato to re-body a Chrysler Viper V10 in a carbon fibre body reminiscent of last year’s one-off TZ3 pseudo-racer - maintaining its side exhausts, but keeping multiple styling themes, e.g. the famous Kamm tail. Chrysler (/Dodge) are planning to redesign the Viper with a large dose of 8C styling by all accounts ready for 2012. That will be interesting. Pete Brailsford is still working on our planned visit to COSWORTH

ENGINEERING, complicated as the guy who was providing our way in has left the company and Pete now having retired from Bilstein. Pete is still hopeful for a date later this year. Our website will be kept up to date with developments, as will Alfisti given enough notice.

AROC RACE DAY at MALLORY PARKAROC RACE DAY at MALLORY PARKAROC RACE DAY at MALLORY PARK SUNDAY 19th JUNE

TRACK PARADETRACK PARADETRACK PARADETRACK PARADE At lunchtime there will be

a circuit parade of various AROC members’ Alfas. If you’d like to be part of that please also let John know and he will arrange for you to have the appropriate circuit pass and instructions.

All in all this should be a superb event with a feast of entertainment on and off track. John

■■■■ Alfisti no.134 will be out in mid-June

Our Alfas All the latest on our local members’ cars...

Keith Krog’s 159 TI Keith Krog’s 159 TI Keith Krog’s 159 TI passes 40,000 miles.passes 40,000 miles.passes 40,000 miles. Pirelli introduce Pirelli introduce Pirelli introduce additional night shift ...additional night shift ...additional night shift ...

19” tyres and Keith ‘Sideways’ Krog. A tyre company’s dream. ;-)

- SCOOP! - Unusual news from the world of motoring

166 2.5 V6 - Kev Bunney Kev’s delightful black 166 is going strong and ready for this Summer’s events. Looking at the car at our April meeting we were struck by what a great looking car the 166 is, inside and out, and what a rarity they are to see on our roads. Such a shame. Had Alfa re-engineered a RHD diesel-powered version maybe it would be different.

■■■■ Alfisti’s production is sponsored by Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham

Andy Wallington - 164 2.0 TS The famous ‘Home 2 Rome’ Scuderia di Banger is of course now in the hands of Andy who uses her as a daily runabout. Evan a couple of years after her epic

journey to Rome and back - with no b r e a k d o w n s o f course - she’s still going strong. Andy equipped her with new boots recently thanks to eBay. Four as-new steel wheels and Continental tyres from a Mito. And the price? £40. For the lot. That’s a tenner a corner. Incredible!

MiTo Sprint - Dave Atkins After lots of consideration, Dave has replaced his ‘everyday’ 159 Sportwagon with this bright white MiTo Sprint via Platts at Stoke. It is already prov-ing great for his daily 45-mile commute.

Spider 3.2 V6 - Roger Smith Roger brought his Spider out for a run to our meeting in April and we enjoyed having a good look around it. These ‘facelift’ 3.2s are really rare, and it took Roger a long time to t r a c k o n e down. You may just be able to spot t h e b l a c k Spider graphic on hi ‘Irish’ number plates - a nice little touch. (Just tell the MOT man you ran into it Roger!)

Spider Series 3 - Dave French Dave has had some cosmetic surgery performed for his 50th birthday% on his Spider’s rear end! Basically its ‘duck-tail’ black rubber spoiler has been replaced by a very smart Zender one (true to the late 80’s period), along with a liberal application of red paint on the rear light surrounds and formerly silver-grey bumper trim. Up close it’s worked really well, coupled with a pair of headlamp cowls (courtesy of Neil Fairhurst), a full gearbox rebuild by Dave Knott at IntaServices and it’s a transformation! Looking great for the summer.

GTV 2.0 TS and CUP - Tiernan Daly

From an email to John Many thanks again for the copies of Alfisti that keep falling on my door mat. It's a great read and it was excellent to see my GTV and my fathers old GTV featuring in a copy as well. Apologies for not getting down to one of the monthly meets but juggling two jobs has affected the amount of free time I have. I'm hoping to get to a meet as soon as possible. Just thought I would give you an update on my GTV and now my father’s GTV Cup which he bought recently. A single drive in my Lusso made his mind up that he wanted a GTV back in his life... In the enclosed pictures you will see some shots of his Cup; number 153 of 155, and my GTV now sporting a Cup spoiler (the Autodelta spoiler hunting was not revealing any leads). As well as the spoiler I have now fitted clear side repeaters and a full Powerflex kit to improve handling and also to help in our attempt in the next few weeks to drive to Rome following the Mille Miglia route. I am unfortunately working so will be missing the Spring Alfa day, but my father is attending in his Cup. Kind regards, Tiernan

Our next monthly meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone is on Wednesday 11th May from 7pm. It’s a ’blag-a-ride’ night too… See you there! John