Alfa Romeo Owners Club East Midlands Section
Formerly Central & East Midlands
Sunday 6 April 2014 A great chance to enjoy driving your Alfa on some wonderful roads, through villages and beauty spots. Starts at Wistow Country Centre at 9.30am (LE8 0QF), with first cars leaving at around 9.45am. The route is 70 miles taking around 2 1/2 hours, ending at The Ice Bar Café in Market Harborough for a buffet lunch and Italian Ice Cream. Cost is just £4 a head for the buffet and £2 for the route guide. (Drinks at the Ice Bar Café are extra.) Please breakfast before you come to the event, but toilets and take out drinks are available at start. The event really suits having a navigator. IMPORTANT: Please let John know asap if you’d like to go.
Wednesday 9 April 2014, 7pm After the clocks change it’s our first opportunity to start the evening outside by our cars. Hopefully it will stay dry too! It’s a perfect The Curborough Circuit, near Lichfield, is a short, opportunity for people to come along who tight but sweeping Sprint circuit, affectionately 30 April haven’t been before. The ‘G&D’ is on the A512 known as the Curburgring. El Presidenté, George between Ashby and Shepshed. Starts at 7pm. Cole, Sprinting campaigner of many years, has again As you will see in our feature inside, we’re getting booked a Sprint Experience for us. The last two very excited about National Alfa Weekend on 10 and years’ events have been quite superb - above you 11 May. Saturday sees a traditional Show & Shine can see Brian Smith at the helm of his Brera, at the beautiful Boughton House near Kettering , pushing hard, and loving every minute! Sadly, all of including the splendid National Club Concours the limited car spaces ‘sold out’ when first announ- followed by an evening meal in a huge marquee, ced back in December, however, coming to watch is then Sunday is a track action day, focussed at TBC in April (or May!) 2014 free and you can get free passenger rides too. If you Bruntingthorpe in darkest Leicestershire—a simply The date will be confirmed as soon as CV’s want to ‘blag-a-drive’ then you can of course, but will brilliant venue if you’ve never been. There’s a full-on Brand Manager, Paul Jones, has details of the need to pay as the bill is split by driver, working out track day at a bargain rate per car, a special parade arrival of the amazing new machine. Three cars at around £55 each - brilliant value! that anyone can tale part in, including the amazing are due, we just don’t know exactly when yet, The best bit is it is only us there - so track access nearly 2 mile, 60 metre wide, runway, plus superb only it’s soon! All AROC members will be is excellent! It is strictly restricted to one car on twin-engine karting you can pay for on the day for welcome, please keep an eye on our website. track at a time for a 3 lap stint. There’s no official just £15 for a 20 minute race! All that plus special timing, but that doesn’t mean you cannot click a display cars too... Can’t be missed! Importantly we stopwatch yourself. But that’s not really the point, REALLY need marshals for both days. If you are it’s about enjoying driving your Alfa quickly and willing to donate an hour or two to help make the safely and how wide your smile is, not how many days the great success they deserve please let me tenths you’ve shaved off your best time. know ASAP. We will particularly need help early in Sadly George has now sold his single-seater so we the day at Bruntingthorpe so you could help even if won’t have opportunity to drive that, but it’s still one you plan to take part in the main track day itself. It of the most cost-effective circuit experiences going. would be greatly appreciated of course. Remember there are no food facilities so pack a What about the 4C Spider then? A beautiful lunch, and do wrap up warm! accompaniment to the coupé. Word from Geneva Now - as it’s proved so popular, a second date is show is it could be mid-2015 before sale however. being arranged for later this year, with spaces going Meantime RHD coupé production is to car drivers who missed out this time one. If you underway. Can’t wait to see them… want to do that, please let me know asap. Cheers! John
Alfisti is edited and produced by Inside this edition:
John Griffiths Rolls Royce Tours AROC East Midlands Section Secretary Tel: 0774 8881317 DynoNight
National Alfa Weekend e-mail: [email protected] March Meeting See our website for latest news and more: www.AROC-UK.COM/EASTMIDS 166 GTA Q4
. . . and more @AROCeastmids Alfisti production sponsored by Stunning 4C Spider Preview debuted at Geneva ALFISTI / EASTMIDS ■ Alfisti Issue 163 ■ April 2014 Free to club members National Alfa Weekend - it’s gonna be big! 10 & 11 May 2014
Finally announced! Saturday 10 May is the Show and Shine Special, at Boughton House near Kettering. A beautiful stately home, scene of National Alfa Days from 2004 to 2006. The event will feature parking by model, the National Concours competition, and special displays featuring wonderful cars. There will also be an evening meal in the main house itself, subsidised for all club members. Sunday 11 May is the big track action day at Bruntingthorpe, the fantastic airfield venue south of Leicester. If you’ve never been you will probably recognise it from various motoring programmes, and definitely from the pages of Auto Italia magazine as it’s scene of many a photo shoot. The day will have a very cheap general admission, a full-on track day at a bargain price of £95 per car for the full day, and sessions from just £25. Then, karting on a superb outdoor track in fast twin-engined karts, at a real bargain rate too, PLUS, everyone present can take part in a parade tour around the full circuit including a run along the amazing close to 2 mile runway. Bruntingthorpe once was a base for American jet bombers in the 1950s and 60s, and was a potential emergency Fantastic Bruntingthorpe landing site for the space Alfas at Boughton House in 2005 shuttles! There will be special display cars too. Our Section members will asked to help with parking and other duties on the day, (both actually!) - Once again these things honestly cannot take place without your support—so please let me know if you can spend some time on either or both days. There will be some reward too. This big weekend event will form a fitting celebration of the clubs 50th Anniversary. Please don’t miss it! John
March Meeting Night Curry Night At the George & Dragon, Thringstone. 28 February
It’s always fun seeing who will come along to our evening meets, and the March one saw a terrific attendance, with several new cars in the car park, not to mention two GIANT vans piloted by Carl and Fred form our local AutoGlym team. On the Alfa front - Salvatore Vitale was along in his superb Alfa Red 159 ti 2.4 (mapped, as you’d expect!) Then Chris Childs in his fantastic new GT 3.2 V6, it looks MINT in cark grey with full beige leather. And was a complete STEAL. John Vincent also has a recently acquired GT—a 1.9 in the rare Dijon Blue. Very smart too! Alan’s Giulietta was going in to Chris Variava’s for tyres, so Paul Jones had brought over a brand new MiTo 1.3 JTDm2 Sprint to swap. Alan dropped me a text when he got home: “Forgotten how good the MiTo 1.3 is. Fab little thing, drives beautifully, very pointy and well screwed together. Looking forward to ‘Out of India’ on the A512 near Shepshed came driving it to work on the twisty roads.” Praise indeed. very well recommended and we were not at all disappointed. 19 of us gathered together on a Also out, Graham Traxson from Willington in his very shiny black 156, one I’d not seen before as I’d rather cold evening on the last day in February and missed the Feb meet! One car not there however belongs to Roger Smith - his silver 159 3.2 Q4. When on arrival seeing the big car park pretty full was a driving home from the Curry Night (opposite) he was run into by a lady driving a 307 who’d crossed the good sign. centre of the road! The impact crumpled his off side wing and goodness knows what else behind. Roger rang the police, and one breath test later proved she was well over the limit. Roger brought his red 3.2 As we all know it’s hard to go wrong with a curry Spider along in its place, not the Merc E250CDI “Taxi” supplied by his insurers! (It’s all getting sorted.) house in Leicestershire of course - the most tricky thing was choosing from the immense menu! It was particularly nice when I drove over to get behind a certain gentleman driving a red ’78 Alfasud Super, belonging to George, We It’s certainly a venue we’d use again anyway, were all delighted to see El Presidenté after his recent hospital good food, good service, plenty of Cobra beer on aggro. tap and friendly and efficient service - fully recom- mened for party bookings. John So, after much AutoGlym was purchased (honest guys I was not on commission!) we had some great ’natters as usual, and I was very chuffed to sign a load of people up for The Fox Run too. Mark Wood with And April should be a much lighter evening giving us more time to ‘Tactical’ curry shirt. look at the fab Alfas collected. Bring a brolly in case - Cheers! John (Shows no marks!)
AutoGlym Queue Chris’s GT
Dunk’s MiTo has developed red lights
ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
Rolls-Royce Heritage Centre Tour, Derby
Brian Smith suggested this visit to the Rolls-Royce number of beautiful Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars heritage Centre on Osmaston Road in Derby back in featured too and we were delighted to speak to an October, and we were all delighted by how great it old expert who told us about the recreation of a one- was on the day. The day include the morning tour, off Bentley Corniche from the 1930s, currently then lunch, then a very special visit to the modern having its aluminium on wood body painstakingly Aero Engine service and repair department a short manufactured in France. Also the collection houses distance away. an early Rolls that belonged to Baden-Powell, Starting at the Heritage Centre at the site of the founder of the Boy Scouts, complete with matching old Rolls-Royce Light Alloy Foundry, now much caravan! demolished, the 21 of us present were split into two The Aero Engine museum was incredible - with Merlin being tested groups with ex-Rolls-Royce staff as guides. Both Ian models from many other manufacturers too, and Peter were extremely knowledgeable. I including a monster WW1 Fiat, and an engine A perspective on the Afternoon Jet Engine service managed to scribble down a few facts on our tour, licensed to Alfa Romeo! The company Spitfire was and repair plant visit, from Bob Human: but I apologise now for inaccuracies! (The guys were glorious, and in a nice original matt camouflage After a very good cost and time effective lunch we so full of knowledge, born by experience, it was finish - so often they are restored to a very shiny went on to a very privileged tour of the Rolls-Royce incredible!) state that was totally unoriginal. service and maintenance department. Here we were The Derby centre focuses on the Rolls-Royce During our tour we were amazed to hear the guided round the facility and told about the company and its founders. The collection is sound of a Merlin engine starting up and running - procedures in place when an aero engine is in for phenomenally expansive, containing a wide an low and behold outside a team of engineers were service or repair. We were talked through every selection of original paintings, memorabilia, aviation running one on a wheeled (chocked!) stand, stage from the engine entering the door. It is firstly artefacts, cars and aero engines, from the formation complete with a temporary prop. Despite non- assessed for level of service / repair, then split into of the company to the present day, including famous original exhausts it sounded fabulous. Back indoors modules. The modules then go to different RR aero engines including Eagle, Hawk, Kestrel, the collection of jet engines was no less departments where they are stripped and rebuilt Merlin, Griffon, Welland and Derwent through to the impressive—seeing an engine with vector thrust with any new parts required. They are then taken to RB211 and the Trent. The comprehensive collection nozzles from a Hawker Harrier was fascinating in the assembly area and reassembled into a 'like provided some surprises in the quantity and variety particular, and then an early Trent engine with its new' jet engine. All this sounds simple but takes of the display including a sectioned Blue Steel clever ‘reverse thrust’ technology. It seemed big, but around 65 days. This was all obviously of great nuclear stand-off bomb, as dropped from Vulcan the very latest Trent is 50% bigger again! interest to those of us with engineering bombers;- the original ’stand off’ nuclear weapon It was amazing to think that the Royce family backgrounds, but the guide was very informative at and cruise missile of the day. started in Mills - moving to electrical generators, the all levels - even to explaining how an aircraft engine We asked early on, why all the manufacturing in cars, to aero engines, then was among the early jet starts while we are sitting on the plane waiting for Derby? The answer, much as why Toyota are here engine pioneers and now building the world-leading our holiday. He even answered questions with his today - the Council did a deal! Derby has been an Trent. The two hour tour seemed to take a few thoughts on the Malaysian 777 disappearance. engineering centre for years of course - 1833 saw minutes, we could all have stayed much longer—but We saw various engines including the awesome the Midland Railway Works - and now Bombardier lunch beckoned, followed by a very special visit (not Trent 1000 with its 10 feet wide induction fan and today, who make trains, and more. normally open to any public) at the modern engine even the engine of the future - the Trent XWB. The centre is a working place with experts works. . . This was a brilliant afternoon following on from refurbishing aero engines, Merlins in particular - we Many thanks to Jayne Rogers our host at the the morning historical tour and we all left feeling were delighted to see and hear one being run. Not Heritage Centre and Mark Davis at the Engine proud that this world leading company is British. as rare as you think given 168,000 were made works, plus all of their respective teams. Bob (including the USA version licensed to Packard). A John
Photos L-R, top to bottome Very early Royce generator. Baden Powell’s Rolls-Royce Blue Streak stand-off nuke Roger Smith by Alfa aero engine The amazing Mk1X Spitfire Bob Human by massive WW1 Fiat Diesel engines, sold by RR to Perkins Early Trent engine Huge tank and train engines.
ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter DynoNight! At FutureMotorsports, Syston
A visit to a rolling road Dynamometer was the screen to see the results! BHP and torque at the suggested last year by both Mark Wood and Richard wheels is accurately recorded than an algorithm Shaw; Richard who’d used one after re-mapping his calculates the ‘flywheel’ power - the figure quoted by 159 and Mark who regularly uses them in the manufacturers. course of his business of motor engineering. We had a wonderful array of cars as you’ll see. We Anyway, Mark’s suggestion of FutureMotorsports in were heartened with Mark’s G QV run as its readings Syston, Leicester, was the one we went for in March were about bang on the manufacturer’s. Among us as the owner, Bejal, or B for short, offered us a we had two mildly modified GTV 3.0 V6s, a 155 1.8 healthy group discount at £30 a car for 3 runs with 16v, a 145 1.6 Boxer, a Giulietta JTDm2/170 TCT, a power and torque print outs. 159 2.4 JTDm, a MiTo QV, 156 SPW 2.0 JTS and So, on the evening 18 of us gathered early on with Brera 2.2 - plus a Panda 100HP with LPG gear (!), Mark leading the way with a demo power-run in wife And Leigh’s bonkers BMW M3 V8. Jacqui’s nearly new Giulietta Cloverleaf! (How So how did they get on? Owen’s 18-year-old, 180K understanding Jacqui is!) It took a while to get it tied 145 was still giving 100bhp (solid!), Rich’s 159 gave down, but longer to try and switch off the traction a massive 250bhp and 429 lbs/ft (!), Mark’s Panda control, the clever system not liking the fact its front 104bhp on petrol and 92bhp on LPG (expected), wheels were moving but rears not—in the end the Matt’s MiTo QV with induction kit and 99 octane ABS fuse was pulled and all was well! gave 194bhp (nice), Leigh’s M3 a solid 414bhp and So what’s the method? Well, to start with the cars an insane 8,400rpm. Impressively, Keith’s diesel G need a good check over to ensure all levels are gave a monster 200bhp out of the box! Steve’s 155 topped up, and the cars need to be warmed up to 1.8 16v also gave 149bhp (big exhaust and operating temperature. The car rolls its powered induction kit). Christian’s 156 2.0 JTS gave 150bhp, wheels on the roller and then the car is securely so down 10%, but was desperately in need of a strapped down, with just the right amount of service, and it has got 180K on the clock! Brian’s pressure to ensure the wheels don’t ride up the Brera was a tad down on power (needs service too?) drum and give false readings. Happily the but with its re-map ran out to 7,200rpm, sounding FutureMotorsports guys are expert at this - their superb with a lovely smooth power curve. Dave Rolling Road capable of handling 2,500hp! The car McFarland’s GTV 3.0 gave an impressive 240bhp, is then hooked up via OBD connection to the Martin’s a little behind it but both Busso V6s computer and away we go. sounded fantastic! A great deal of fun anyway and ‘B’ did the driving, giving them a gentle run, then something we’ll do again. Many thanks to Mark, B through to third gear (normally) and up to max revs, and all at FutureMotorsports - an excellent evening held for just a few seconds. Then its charge over to for Petrolheads - and Dieselistas too!) John
Top to bottom - Keith Krog’s Giulietta giving 200bhp as stock!! B lines up Jacqui’s Giulietta QV Strapping down to remove risk of movement and get accuracy Strong fans provide breathing for the cars Top to bottom - Matt Yousuf’s MiTo QV, Steve Reid’s 155 and Top to bottom - Brian Smith’s Brera, Owen French with 145, Mark Spinning up those wheels - 3rd gear through to max revs, then Leigh Nethercot’s M3. Great Varety Sangster with Panda 100HP. (Should be 104HP on V-Power!) it’s time for the read outs...
ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Mark Wood’s GTV Fancy Zandvoort? Is still under development, as Nick Clancy from the West Midlands Section those at the Dyno Night could see. is the organiser of AROC trips to Europe and Here Mark in the grey jacket Ireland. A big one planned this year is on explains to Mark Sangster exactly 23-24 August for the big Alfa gathering, where the turbocharger fits into ‘Spettacolo Sportivo’ at the famous the equation on his 2.0JTS. Well it Zandvoort seaside circuit in Holland , not far was one of them but now with from Amsterdam. It’s based on a 4 night trip Twin Spark head on board. It’s a to Holland (fewer or greater number of great bit of work with special nights also possible). pulleys, hoses and bespoke The AROC accommodation will be at a newly opened hotel on the outskirts of Amsterdam, with good public transport connections into the city taking just 10mins. Expect to pay around €100 / night for a double room in Holland (breakfast pipework. Will be a and parking may cost extra). Fewer or more nights are available. heck of a machine Preceding the main event this year, SCARB (local Alfa Club) are when complete. At also organising an optional 2-day scenic trip for foreign visitors, present when travelling from the Dutch (eastern / southern…) border to assembled its blowing Zandvoort on 21/22 August, passing through many of the oil filter off! Soon to the typical Dutch landscapes and attractions. be fixed though and its Channel crossings seem to have increased in price considerably likely to have well over recently and are now available from around. £45 each way (for car 300bhp at the + up to 4 passengers) at time of writing (DFDS Seaways). Early wheels…. We can’t booking is recommended. Our man DAVE ATKINS is coordinating wait to see it in action. interested parties from our Section. Please drop him a line at John [email protected]
AROC East Mids. links up with Jesolo in Italy Jorge Lorenzo - face of the Alfa Romeo Duncan Langford has been chatting on Facebook to various Alfa MiTo Clubs in Italy brand. and has arranged an informal twinning with MiTo Club Jesolo. Though the name For 2014, suggests they are only fans of Alfa's hatchback, they are indeed a club similar to ours, several times with a variety of Alfas driven, but with most members owning a MiTo. Jesolo is located champion Jorge a stone's throw away from Venice on the Adriatic Coast and is surrounded by beautiful Lorenzo will be mountains and some stunning driving roads. Duncan has already been invited to visit the face of the and has offered a place to stay for some of their members if they ever visit the sunny Alfa Romeo climes of Leicestershire. brand. A winning combination of one of the most well-known and appreciated racers at an international level and the brand with a century of history that superbly expresses Italian style and motoring experience together with a unique, winning spirit made of challenges and competition. In particular, the exceptional 'Alfa Romeo Fan' will sport the Alfa Romeo logo both on the racing suit and the helmet used in the 2014 MotoGP World Championship, where he will compete with his official Yamaha YZR-M1 in the Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team.
An Alfa that never was…
166 GTA Q4
During the development of the Alfa Romeo 166 facelift (2003), a team of engineers were working on an ultimate flagship model on top of the 3.2 V6. The Alfa Romeo 166 GTA Q4 was supposed to be the sportiest model of the 166 line-up. It was planned to make use of four- wheel drive system like its predecessor, the 164 Q4. The main problem was the engine; the Alfa Romeo Busso 3.2 V6 delivered a maximum power output of around 250bhp and would already serve duty in the regular facelift of the Alfa Romeo 166. To differentiate he GTA version the engineers first tried to fit the legendary Busso V6 with a turbo, but quickly realized this would cause reliability problems. Eventually the M138 4.2 V8 engine developed by Ferrari producing 390bhp was chosen. This engine was also to be used in the then new Maserati 4200 GT and Quattroporte. But the project turned out to be too expensive as a lot of changes needed to be made to the 166 and Alfa Romeo would only be able to produce a limited amount of them. Another reason for why this sporty 166 didn’t make it is that Luca di Montezemolo, boss of the high performance Fiat Group brands, thought the 166 Q4 would become a major competitor for the new Maserati Quattroporte itself! The photos here, sourced via an Italian website, show a 166 GTA development vehicle. You can see its body kit, with big cooling apertures in the nose and deep skirts and rear valance - it’s quite a handsome beast. Wouldn’t it look superb in black? John
ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter £12,995 Used car stock highlights
Chris Variava Alfa Romeo www.nottinghamalfaromeo.co.uk 431-461 Nottingham Road Basford, Nottingham NG6 0FB Phone: 0115 855 3040 Sales: Ask for Brand Manager Paul Jones, Richard Chadwick or Joe Parmenter
£15,990 £10,895
£17,495 £14,695
Waterless cleaning? What’s all that Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde LE about? Duncan Langford (Detailing fanatic extra- Special Launch Edition due later this year ordinaire) gives us a recommendation this Now all QVs get 4C alloy engine and TCT. month… Alfa Romeo announced a special Launch Edition for its new Aquanil (see what they did there?) is a waterless Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde that will feature the 4C’s 240bhp cleaning system from Croftgate USA and I have to all-aluminium 1750cc turbo engine with the TCT admit I was very dubious about their claims that: A. transmission. 500 will be built for sale in all markets, it would clean the car, and B. it would do it without available in a new Matt Magnesio Grey (which looks great), scratching soft modern paint. also traditional Alfa Red and 8C Red. Standard kit includes How you use it: Aquanil is applied to one of their the 5-hole alloys in dark Titanium, and what looks like the full supplied microfibre cloths and then to the surface of body kit, including the rear diffuser. Press release states the car. It lifts the dirt off of the surface trapping it in available to order from May, but that’s likely to be Europe, the liquid and then you just wipe over with the cloth. with UK the usual 3 months later - then there’s the wait for Best to do this one panel at time. I was pleasantly the car itself. How many Les will come to UK is anyone’s surprised to find that it really works and leaves no guess, given only around 100 standard Cloverleafs were sold scratches or marks. Croftgate’s Quick ‘n Slick is here in 2013. (Around 700 sold in UK in total since launch— good to apply as a sealant/shine enhancer it’s so underrated.) afterwards. On a positive Anyway, after extensive use I highly recommended note, it them! See http://www.croftgateusa.co.uk Dunk ‘looks’ and … And a quick guide to application of spray will certainly products like these. Obviously Microfibre towels are shift: 0- a must. These are readily available in 62mph in Supermarkets nowadays usually in pack of 4 or 5 6.6 seconds for about £4 or less. They re-wash great, just make & 150mph+ sure you do not use fabric conditioner as it breaks top speed. them down! (Been there—done that!) John HOW TO APPLY: Fold a clean, dry microfibre cloth twice, giving you 8 sides to use. Mist the towel with a couple of sprays of product. Do not over apply. Treat the surface by rubbing gently. Continue applying an area at a time, until vehicle is done. You can use this technique with quick detailer sprays and windscreen cleaner sprays too. You end up making your stocks of cleaner last much longer into the bargain. John
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ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter AROC East Midlands Section Events 2014 Gazetta Date Event News Snippets The Fox Run - Breakfast meet up for scenic drive in South/East Leicestershire, finishing for a buffet lunch and Italian Ice Cream at CURBOROUGH EXPERIENCE IS FULL . . . Sun 6 April The Ice Bar Café in Market Harborough. Buffet is just £4 a head - then just £2 a car for READY FOR TAKE 2? the route guide pack, all payable on the day. PLEASE BOOK ASAP WITH JOHN!
Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - from 7pm. First Weds 9 April light evening meeting of the year, but bring a brolly!
Curborough Circuit Experience – Thanks to El Presidenté, George Cole, 10 cars from Weds 30 April our Section take on the challenges of this tight and twisting circuit – the Nurburgring of the Midlands! Price @£55. Contact John Griffiths. (NB all car places taken.)
Alfa 4C launch open day at Chris Variava Nottingham. Date will TBC April / May be announced as soon as available. Please keep an eye on our website! 2014 John will also email out to all local members as soon as it is known. Our Sprint Experience day at Curborough AROC 50th Anniversary Weekend - National Alfa Weekend. ‘Show & Shine’ circuit sold out in minutes for cars, though Sat 10 May BOUGHTON HOUSE near Kettering, including model parking and National space remains for additional drivers. We Concours d’Elegance. have three people with cars currently on the reserves list, but we may advertise another AROC 50th Anniversary Weekend - National Alfa Weekend. ‘Track Action Day’ date later in the year giving preference to BRUNTINGTHORPE south Leicestershire. Track Day, displays, parades, karting. Sun 11 May those who’ve not been before. If you’re For the low-cost admission charge you can take part in a ’fast parade’ including a run on interested in being either an additional the 2-mile runway—and track day slots start as low as £25 in advance. Great Value!! driver on 30 April OR taking part in another event later in the year, please let John Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - from 7pm know. It’s a wonderful day and a bargain! Weds 14 May We’re going to make this one a ‘blag-a-ride’ night so we can give people spins in our cars, both classic and modern. BEWARE ATTRACTIVE MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION GIFTS Classic Car Night at Beedles Lake Golf Centre. Meeting with the Leicester Region I was delighted to get a deal on a of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. (170 Broome Lane, East Goscote, Leicester LE7 3WQ) Tue 20 May subscription to CAR magazine in December, see www.beedleslake.co.uk - All Alfas welcome, classic or modern, plus any 'interesting others'! Bar meals available - always a good evening. Starts at 7pm. particularly as the free gift was a pack of the excellent AutoGlym HD Wax. The Feb Fun Concours Night at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm. edition landed, but no gift. Emails were Weds 11 June All Alfa Romeos automatically entered and all present do the voting! Stacks of categories exchanged and promises made, but come 1 from Shiniest Paint to dirtiest wheels. One not to miss... March they admitted no HD Wax available and offered a screwdriver set. Great. So, Summertime Classics – with Auto Italia, at Stanford Hall near Lutterworth, please be wary of offers that appear to be Sun 29 June Leicestershire. Incorporates the Italian Car Concours. Great display of Alfas expected. too good to be true. (Subscription offer was via ‘Great Magazines’ ) BEWARE! John Summertime Spin at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm. Weds 9 July Summer meet up, with a convoy drown around local lanes thrown in. GET KARTING AT BRUNTINGTHORPE!
Spider Night at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - from 7pm. All Alfas welcome Weds 13 Aug of course, and we’ll be having a ‘Blag-a-Ride’ too...
MITCAR 2014 - Midlands Italian Car Day, Rockingham Castle near Corby, LE16 8TH. Sun 17 Aug The 14th edition of our Section's flagship event will be one not to miss! See feature item inside. Admission to show, gardens and house for all occupants, just £10 per car!
Leicester Aero Club Open Day - at Leicester Airport (aka Stoughton Aerodrome), Sun 7 Sept including air displays, special Alfa display and potential free pleasure flights too!
TBC Sept Karting Challenge - Will be at an outdoor circuit; more details later in the year. The karting will be terrific fun at National Alfa Weekend. They have twin-engined karts Wes 8 Oct Section AGM and Alfa Quiz - at the George & Dragon, Thringstone, from 7.30pm capable of 60mph and a really twisty, challenging track. It’s only likely to be £15 Triumph Motorcycles Tour, Hinckley - Details will be confirmed as soon as new visitors TBC Oct/Nov for a 20 minute race too, 6 at a time. Let centre is open. John know if interested and we can look to get a race together. (Over 18s only.) Classic Motor Show - NEC Birmingham. AROC stand will again feature some superb TBC Nov The general track day is very much biased classic Alfa Romeos and possibly something new. towards novices too - a single slot costing £25 and a full day just £95. Superb value. More events will be added during the year. Please watch our website for latest news. OTHER MARQUES AROC East Midlands Section Merchandise Polo shirts with full colour embroidered logo, in mid or dark blue. LEXUS styling inspiration revealed Next model must be being called Predator All sizes - Just £15 each.
Fleeces from £25 and Soft-Shell waterproof jackets from £30
All items are genuine high quality and an absolute steal at the price. TO ORDER contact our man Brian Smith at [email protected]
The Small Print: ‘Alfisti’ is published primarily for the enjoyment of members of the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club East Midlands Section. Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham supports the cost of Alfisti’s printed production carried out at cost rate by a Section Member’s company. Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club UK ltd cannot endorse or recommend services or products advertised in its publications. Any opinions published in ‘Alfisti’ or its sister website are personal ones. Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club Ltd registered Number 01106134. Please contact John Griffiths if you have any queries about the club or our active local Area Section. See cover for contact details.
ALFISTI - April 2014 - Issue 163 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter MiTo 1.4 ‘155’ Veloce - Rachael Atkins Yes, another Alfa in the Atkins Family! All three offspring of Dave and Chris Atkins now have Alfas, with daughter Rachael collecting this delightful white MiTo from Paul Jones at Chris Variava in March. (She’s owned two FIATs before this Alfa.) Rachael’s future husband is also GTV 2.0 TS - Keith Davies a bit besotted by a new Giulietta From an email to John: I got bitten by the urge to too - a far better buy another Alfa when a work colleague’s GTV vehicle than his failed its MOT and I thought I might be able to buy 1-Series BMW of (steal) it as a future classic. Alas, I couldn’t close course!! the deal. But by this time, I’d been infected by the Quoting Dave: bug. I had to have a 916 GTV. After a little “Chris says I am searching on the interwebbythingy, I picked up my brain washing Proteo Red ‘P’ plate 2 litre TS for a song. A bit of a all the kids, gamble as there was very little history with it. She don't know what needed a bit of TLC which I lavished on her over her first winter with me. The she is on about - first thing was a new cambelt and water pump. Then a complete strip-down and do you?” rebuild of the suspension. Shot-blasting, repainting, poly-bushing and replacement of parts too far gone. Soon after, a new battery, 2 sections of exhaust and more recently, four new tyres have completed the current ‘to do’ Bertone Coupe 1750 - Phil Levell list. Next, discs and pads. A couple of years ago there was a call on the club From and email to John: I've finally got the lights fixed on the Bertone – forum from 5th Gear, requesting a Pininfarina-designed car to appear in their there were fixed a few months ago but kept on blowing a fuse after 3 or 4 next series. I offered mine up, they played with it for a day down at Castle uses. So far so good Coombe, the piece was shown in the next series and now I own a GTV that’s but fingers crossed they been featured on 5th Gear. She's famous! The GTV is not my everyday don't go again soon. workhorse thanks to my 156, Now that the days are she’s locked in the garage most beginning to get lighter of the time. But three and a half this shouldn't be so years after the purchase, I can much of an issue but I honestly say I haven’t had also had a leaking anywhere near as much fun in radiator – that's also any other car I’ve owned. been fixed so after over Hmmmm, I’ve just been offered a 3 weeks of being off the 3 litre GTV . . . time to sell the road it's great to have Twinny? Keith the car back. Phil
Giulietta 2.0 JTDm2 TCT Veloce - Alan Lathwell Alfa Romeo 2500 6C Evocazione - Andy Wallington Just had the 42K service carried out at Chris Variava Alfa Romeo. Some going Our back page isn’t the same with Andy’s Alfa inspired ’special’. with the car only just over 2! Clean bill of health, and 2 new Bridgestone He’s not quite Potenzas on the front, the last pair of fronts covered 18,000 miles which I'm not settled on a name unhappy with. Driver’s seat base pad replaced as the last one had lost shape. for it, but there’s (Cue the jokes!) Sadly it’s picking up a few many options. It stone chips due to the mileage I'm doing, has a proper Alfa including a nasty one of the grille - will 2.5 10v V6, a body need to be replaced. Currently considering shape reminiscent an aftermarket DAB tuner. It integrates of the wonderful with the existing unit and steering wheel Alfa 158/9 ‘Alfetta’ controls, giving you hundreds more too. Now with its stations to choose from. My car’s going to wonderful red be given its first full clean of the year soon bodywork on, and I've started buying the products. Very Andy’s working much looking forward to this season’s away on comple- events and will do my best to make sure tion. Looking good! my car looks its best. :) Alan
GT 3.2 V6 - Chris Childs From an email to John; Well I was wondering whether or not to keep the GTV but it started driving me crackers Alfa style! Wheel bearing went interior light that - SCOOP! - came on when you shut the door? Electric ariel that stopped was replaced and Unusual news from the world of motoring stopped again. Throttle body changed then the intake split then the thermostat went replaced that then the sender died to that replaced that... bla bla bla. Then I turned 40.... (phew and breathe.) I was actually looking for a diesel GT but Alfa to reopen WTCC attack next year!! Alfa Romeo is to join the World Touring Car Championship in 2015 moon rocks trapped in most tyres put me off... and potential cambelt/ with the Giulietta, after an 8 year absence, sporting the classic waterpumps/EGR....etc (I think he means expense – JG ;0) ) Martini livery too. Spotted this in Peterborough of all places and deal done... eeek. It's not quite full Gabriele Tarquini has signed as team leader, Giorgio Pianta as team specification but has BOSE. The boss at a newly re- leather is anthracite grey / with formed Alfa Corse splashes of fake tan (previous operation based out of owner last 7 years a lady/Barbie). Arese. Brit James Only 17s on it but full s/h by Thompson is Rusper and 99k on the clock and expected to sign as plenty to do. All new badges second driver, with arrived today and front plinth all Nicola Larini a original parts £40 the lot! possible return Full stainless medium range alongside them. sprint exhaust fitted recently Interviewing Tarquini sounds amazzzzzzz-ing!! It goes he said “. . . What’s like stink!!! It stops on a button - that alarm sound?” And smiles..... priceless. Chris
■ Alfisti’s production is kindly sponsored by Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham ■ Alfisti no.164 will be out in May