AROC EAST MIDLANDS SECTION
Formerly Central & East Midlands
BROOKLANDS SPRING ITALIAN CAR DAY Saturday 4 May People from our Section are supporting this big Italian gathering again this year at the magnificent Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey (KT13 0QN). The club van will be central to the AROC display and parking area which always fills up incredibly quickly. If you plan to go, do let John know so he can keep an eye out for you, and if you do want to park in the main Alfa Romeo area do plan to arrive by about 9.15 at the latest. Any time after that and you could end up in the mixed parking, often on the old 40-degree banking itself—photo below taken as it began to fill. SPRING ALFA DAY Brooklands has both a car museum and historic aircraft park and sections of the The editorial bit now. It looks like our section incredible old banked race track that have to has bucked a trend of decline in car club’s be seen to be believed. Highlight of the day SUNDAY 21 APRIL generally with local membership increasing ever so is the runs up the steep test hill - see photo Section Convoy Run Too! slightly since the same time last year. This despite below featuring a Ferrari 458 Italia. Also the new Alfa range being just two mainstream during the day, various special cars will be models and a noticeable decline in the number of lapping the adjacent Mercedes Benz World We can only hope for a nice, warm spring day I older Alfas on the roads. track. The event famously attracts a host of guess for this year’s event, just like the one we We’re still a relatively small bunch really, Italian Supercars and fascinating classics had for the event at Burleigh House in 2010, an (perfectly formed of course!) - with about 170 too, as well as all the major Italian car clubs. event largely delivered by our Section of course. members plus partners in the region. Of that we The trade area is always well supported too. This year the North West Section has stepped have a core of around 40 true ‘activists’. We have Tickets are available at discounted rate in up to the plate to stage the event at Gawsworth a great list of events and gatherings each year, a advance via www.brooklandsmuseum.com. Hall near Macclesfield. well established regular meeting date, a website Again, if you plan to go please get in touch Ticket price is just £10.50 per car for pre- updated constantly and this organ of course . As a with John, it maybe that a (very) early booked entry by members. Entrance on the day proportionate ratio of activists in the country our convoy run can be arranged. for members and non-members arriving in Alfa Section actually does very well, but it’s never good Romeos will be just £15 per car. All tickets to rest on laurels. include entry to Gawsworth Hall itself too. So what should we do to attract more people There will be an array of trade stands, the AROC along? Do we need to do new things? Are some of Club shop, Alfas from local dealership Mangoletsi the things we do a bit ‘tired’ now? Do we need a plus an Italian market and Italian food stalls all on new regular meeting venue for ‘freshness’? site to keep you busy through the day. Suggestions by email please - all ideas welcome. Book tickets at www.arocuktickets.lpl-uk.com We were sad to have to postpone the or by posting a cheque to Club Manager Nick Curborough Sprint Experience in March, but Wright, 8 Ickworth Court, Felixstowe, Suffolk, delighted its back in May. The weather has been IP11 2XL. horrific, and not much better for the Coventry event CONVOY RUN reported on inside, so I’m really not surprised that Our Section will meet up at the Donington Park we had so many no-shows on the day. Hopefully Services, M1 J23a, to depart at 8.30am prompt. we’ll have more along for Spring Alfa Day. I do hope Please arrive sooner if you would like breakfast / to see you there. Cheers! refreshments there. John
Alfisti is the AROC East Midlands Section Inside this edition: newsletter, edited and produced by Coventry Transport John Griffiths Museum Alfa Display AROC East Midlands Section Secretary Sensational Alfa 4C up close Tel: 0774 8881317
Geneva Motor Show highlights e-mail: [email protected]
March Meeting Night Our website for the latest news and more: A new big Alfa? . . . and more www.AROC--UK.COM/EASTMIDS
Alfisti production sponsored by ALFISTI / EASTMIDS Price? IT’S FREE!! ■ Alfisti Issue 152 ■ April 2013
Alfa Romeo 4C - It’s official:
STAR OF THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW!
Alfisti have be praying that this one would be right - the Alfa to truly demonstrate the style, performance and technology of the marque. Me, Leigh, Martin and Simon just had to find out and our trip to the Geneva Motor Show was organised early in the year, with stand hospitality including full access to the 4C provided via Damian Dally, Alfa Romeo UK’s Brand manager. The 3am wake up to get to the airport proved to be well worthwhile. . .
After being first shown in Geneva as a concept in - it’s just right. 2011, the 4C now enters production at Maserati’s Before the full annual production of 3,500 units factory in Modena. It’s a lithe, 2 seat, mid-engined commences, (approx 1,000 pa destined for coupe; I think of it as a 4/5ths scale Ferrari. Europe) the Launch Edition features, complete Perfectly proportioned, at 850kg dry (that’s half a with carbon fibre mirrors, boot spoiler and Nissan 370Z!!) its 1750cc, turbocharged, all headlamp surrounds, plus additional air ducts in aluminium engine with twin-clutch ‘box will let it fly the front wings. Two colours are available, Alfa to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed Rosso or a very special Carrara Bianco, a very of around 160mph. The special limited number attractive semi-matt metallic white. Both look Launch Edition’s Interior is beautifully functional superb, the white one is the most ‘show car’ for with really superb seats, a digital tft instrument sure, but it’s hard to beat red on an Alfa Romeo. panel, multi-function DAB entertainment unit, no- 100 RHD Launch Editions are coming to the UK nonsense switches from the Giulietta, swathes of from October priced at £52,000. If you want one, carbon fibre (carpeted, unlike a Lotus Elise ), with it’s £16K deposit - quick! leather and aluminium just where you need it - and Overall, the 4C is a fantastic way of showing off Above: “Standard” version of the 4C will appear a gorgeous, tiny sports steering wheel. It’s a special the “essence of Alfa” - or as per the advertising in early 2014. Expected to be priced from around place to sit; not minimalist Lotus, not luxury cruiser material, PURE ALFA ROMEO. John £42,000 and with a very long option list.
4C - UP CLOSE
ALFISTI -- April 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Elsewhere at the Geneva Motor Show
After the 4C there was still plenty to see. Clever work from Martin Lindus firstly got us into the Maserati stand, then, having befriended Natasha, our host, we got onto the hallowed ground of the Ferrari stand. Martin had also secured la very nice hot lunch on the Saturday courtesy of Mercedes Benz (he’s bought a E-Class Coupe for work). ‘Blag of the Weekend’ however came via Simon who befriended the driver of our taxi who gave us contacts with Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. This got us the other side of the barriers on the Saturday too. We were massively impressed by the quality and features of the Rolls Phantom Coupe and new Wraith in particular, the Astons generally looked terrific too, though some were in questionable colour combinations. The Maserati coupes still look terrific 6 years on, but the HUGE new Quattroporte is definitely aimed at rich Chinese businessmen; the old one’s sporty mojo has gone, hopefully to return in the new, smaller, Ghibli saloon. Ferrari. Where do you start? LaFerrari, the £1M+ 950bhp Enzo successor is breath-taking. If it was a boxing match, the McLaren P1, its prime competitor, would be knocked spark-out at the first punch. An awesome car. California, FF, 458, 458 Spider, all beautiful, but we all fell for the magnificent new F12 Berlinetta, in subtle ‘Grigio Silverstone’ with fantastic interior in sumptuous tan hide. Very special, and we can only imagine its performance from the 730bhp 6.3L V12. It’s only £239,000, before the long list of extras! All the supercars were there of course; Pagani Huayra, Lamborghini, the bonkers Gumpert Apollo (love it!); and some very special Alfas of a sorts too. Touring Superleggera had their Disco Volante based on an 8C donor they strip to bits (I’d keep my 8C), and the IED Gloria, a seriously big Berlina concept, looked very attractive in the metal (and carbon etc.) I wasn’t a big fan of it in photos, but it was mighty impressive up close. On the Alfa stand we had two MiTos in SBK trim and four Giuliettas; a Cloverleaf in 8C red with carbon add- ons was to the fore and was one of my overall favourites, especially with the optional rear ‘diffuser’ panel fitted. We also enjoyed looking at the more prosaic stuff from Mercedes, BMW and Audi to Kia, Opel and Dacia… well, did the lot really. If you ever plan to go look for weekdays as crowds double at the weekend. A great trip anyway with a lot of laughs, but boy-oh-boy that 4C - what a machine. John
LOTS more photos on our website.
From top - Hypercars, supercars and concepts… the more normal feature below. Top row: IED Gloria, stunning Alfa concept. Second row; Ferrari F12 hugely impressive. (Pics by Simon. That’s John grinning at the wheel!) Row 3: - Touring’s Disco Volante and bonkers Gumpert Apollo; Row 4: Sublime LaFerrari and Lamborghini Aventador. Bottom row; Simon, Martin and Leigh - gottta try ‘em out!
MORE FROM GENEVA SHOW Think of a new car and it was there. New cars from many manufacturers of course, but I’ve picked on half a dozen here. Images clockwise from top left; Massive Rolls Royce Wraith was an amazing place to sit, suicide doors and twinkly star-effect headlining and world’s deepest carpets. New 500L is a very practical family motor. Lacks sportiness though. Aston Vanquish, one heck of a car. New Abarth 695 has huge spec and 180bhp. MiTo ‘SBK’ has plenty of kit. Jazzy red and black cloth interior in new Spec Giulietta to be called Collezione in the UK.
ALFISTI -- April 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter ALFA ROMEO DISPLAY - Coventry Transport Museum 31 March 2013
Easter Sunday 2013 dawned freezing cold, but Nottingham brought along their 8C Competizione looked great there too. Andrew McInerney drove mercifully dry and bright. Temperatures were to last year of course which stole the show. Owing up from Silverstone in his SZ which we plonked climb during the day to a dizzy 4 degrees in to the road grit and salt and the car currently near the main entrance where it drew much Coventry (not taking into account the wind chill!), a being in the window of Graypaul Ferrari, Paul attention as these unusual machines do, with far cry from last year’s event in March that saw 22 took the opportunity to bring along his wife Liz Martin Bourne’s Silver Brera and Brian Austin’s degrees! This no doubt deterred a few on the day, and the two kids in a brand new white Giulietta silver GTV close by, plus Bob and Gill Human’s along with losing an hour’s sleep, but we were all Sportiva TCT which looked fantastic with its dark 159 and Keith Millard’s similar black machine. All still pleased to see 35 Alfas along during the day. grey wheels and red leather seats. in all a good selection of Alfas anyway. Sadly however many of the Classic Alfas were left Getting there extra early to sort things out, me I could list the classics we were missing, from indoors with the roads being simply caked in salt. in my red Giulietta, Alan in his white one and GTV6 to Junior Zagato, but hopefully they will all be Still, there were plenty of interesting cars to see. Duncan in his Etna black one parked them along at Spring Alfa Day instead. Redvers Arnold’s Bertone 2000 GTV looked together in a line to later add Steve Sembay with I must mention Liz Jones’ cup cakes - she superb, parked fairly close to two classic saloons his white one and Paul’s. It made an interesting brought a big pack of these all topped with an in the shape of Mike Scarf’s 75 Twin Spark and line in its own right, all 5 being spotlessly turned edible Alfa badge - they looked (and tasted) Dave Atkins’ Giulietta TurboDelta, the latter having out. Well spotless ‘til they were bombed by some brilliant! its first outing since October. Mike had driven pigeons! Autoglym wipes to the rescue there! The museum proved as fascinating as ever, down all the way from near Grimsby, his car very Bob Woodward brought along his 166 V6 in though there was not a huge amount of change in dusty with salt on arrival! place of his ‘mint’ 164 V6, Simon and Clare exhibits from last year though I was delighted to Viv Stephens’ immaculate GTV Cup was looking Addison brought their V6 Brera and GT spy a 6-wheel P34 Tyrrell this time, a personal stunning as always. It’s really hard to find any respectively (the Spider S4 being in the body favourite of old. Oh, inside the warm coffee shop fault at all on the car. He is looking to bring it as repair shop). On the Spider front people could was extremely welcome during the day too! close to standard as possible now, and is looking enjoy seeing Brian Smith’s white S4, hood down So, suffice to say it was a very enjoyable day. into replacing its twin-exit stainless steel exhaust as always! Three 916 Spiders were along too Thanks to Simon for co-ordinating the passes and with a standard rear box. I’d be very happy with it belonging to Paul Mayes, Stuart O’Donnell and hanks to everyone who came along. We’ll be as it stands! Phil Gotts who’d come all the way over from doing something similar in the spring next year. Paul Jones from Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Suffolk. Mandy Nethercot’s Brera Spider LE John
The day started wonderfully bright… but freezing cold! Giulietta line-up Simon and Clare’s Brera and GT
Redvers Arnold’s delightful 2000 GTV Dave Akins’ Giulietta Turbodelta Mandy’s Spider LE looks terrific
ALFISTI -- April 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter More photos from Coventry
Brian Smith’s Spider S4 Viv Stephen’s GTV Cup Stuart O’Donnell’s 916 Spider
Triumph Stag - Italian designed of course Liam Jones liked Viv’s GTV... Liz Jones’ fantastic Alfa cakes! Bob Woodward got the Autoglym out!
Talbot and Peugeot rally cars - Coventry links Andrew MacInerney’s ES30 SZ drew attention... The day was a good advert for Giuliettas Mike Scarf’s 75 next to Phil Gotts’ 916 Spider Detailing Corner
Barbie’s XJS! This is a bit of an unusual one as it is from the AutoGlym Trade Range only, but available through our Section. It is simply called Autoglym Car Shampoo which has been re-formulated - not the ‘trad Fantastic Tyrrell P34 six-wheeler green Shampoo and Conditioner, it’s a deep red colour. I bought 5 litres on recommendation from Carl from our local AG franchise and after a few washes, I’m really impressed with it. Quoting from the manufacturer blurb; ‘Car Shampoo is a concentrated, wild cherry fragranced detergent designed to remove traffic film and other contaminants from vehicle bodywork. It has a neutral, biodegradable formulation, is easy rinsing and is silicone free.’ Basically it works really well and smells terrific, and our local guys sell it at a bit less than the well known (and excellent) ‘green one’ too! We’ll see them a few times this summer if you fancy some. John Thrust SSC - mighty impressive
ALFISTI -- April 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter New Maserati Ghibli - March Meeting Night 3 of the 6 Giuliettas there! basis for a new ‘big’ We had a really good attendance at our meeting at the George & Dragon in RWD Alfa saloon? March despite it being sub-Arctic again. Our friends Carl and Fred from the local AutoGlym franchise brought their huge van along and many of us took
advantage of some really good deals.
In fact their van struggled to get in the car park as there were so many people in at the pub - mainly our lot! Excuse Mark Sangster’s mega- It’s no secret that Alfa Romeo is working more reflective Alfa jacket, the shot on the left is supposed to show him colleting closely with Maserati and Ferrari, the new Alfa a whopping 25-litre pack of car wash. We think it’s being shared, or else 4C being actually produced at Maserati’s plant in he’s buying 5 years’ worth! Modena. Inside, as usual, lots of friendly banter, some discussion around Coventry, Geneva Show, various Alfa projects underway, the Mallory Park saga, El Presidenté’s race car … I could go on. Good fun as ever. Do join us all next time, when it might even get above zero! John
MALLORY PARK AROC RACING DAY - Sunday 4 August Just one AROC race meeting this year, but back at one of the circuits in our region; Mallory Park near Earl Shilton in Leicestershire. This will be a very well promoted event (organised again by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club), just like the terrific day we had in 2011. Our Section is being called upon Impression of a ‘Big’ Alfa Saloon to organise special Alfa display parking again, but we do hope that this will be rewarded with the FIAT Group boss, Sig. Marchionne, has openly opportunity of a track parade or parades during the day. More later in the year... stated that the co-operation will extend beyond the exciting coupé and that, where logical, various sharing between brands will take place. With the huge new Quattroporte aimed at the growing Limousine market, Maserati will very soon be launching the Ghibli, a true ‘drivers’ Berlina in the fold of the old ‘QP’. With some clever work on differentiation, (panel styling, interior) it would make a superb rear drive Alfa Romeo, particularly suitable to the huge market of America. For Europe a selection of turbodiesels will be essential of course. It looks very probable to be before the Giulia... John Part of our Alfa display at Mallory Park in 2011
ALFISTI -- April 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter AROC East Midlands Section Events 2013 Gazetta Date Event News Snippets Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone 10 April ‘13 - starting at 7pm. (See Gazetta opposite) APRIL MEETING AT THE GEORGE & DRAGON Spring Alfa Day at Gawsworth Hall, Macclesfield, Cheshire. Our Section CONVOY RUN It’s the fist light evening of the year of 21 April ‘13 meets at the Castle Donington Services, M1 J23A, ready to depart for 8.30am. course, so hopefully we can start off outside around our cars. An earlier start 4 May ‘13 Auto Italia Spring Italian Car Day - Brooklands, Surrey. See cover. too - we meet from 7pm. NB, if you want to eat it is recommended to get 8 May ‘13 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm your order in early. (Please remember that the G&D is a friendly, family run Curborough Sprint Experience - Event now rearranged after postponement from pub that do not charge us for using the NEW DATE March. People who had booked spots have first call, but please contact John G if place - it is not a Harvester/Beefeater 29 May ‘13 interested. (Event will be mid week 9.45—5pm, cost for all drivers is @£60). ‘fast food’ type joint.)
JULY MEETING ‘SUMMERTIME SPIN’ AUTOKARNA at Wollaton Park, Nottingham. A very easy going Classic Car show; our We’re going NEW 2 June Alfas park in mixed general parking, but Section meets at the Chris Variava hospitality to make the area at 12noon. (Free drinks and nibbles!) Great day out in 2012 repeated again, July meeting a bit diff- Fun Concours Night at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7pm. erent this 12 June ‘13 All Alfa Romeos automatically entered and all present do the voting! Stacks of year. categories and terrific prizes from our Section’s supporters. Parking in the paddock Cotswold Alfa Day - Including the Giro Panoramico run that will finish at Stanway House area at the 23 June ‘13 which has the highest gravity-fed fountain in the world. More details nearer the time. G&D, we will organise a 30 minute drive around the countryside as part of things. Auto Italia Italian Car Concours and ’Summertime Classics’ - Stanford Hall near That will also be a good opportunity to 7 July ‘13 Lutterworth. Includes special Section parking area and picnic. ‘blag a ride’ in another person’s Alfa if you fancy too. NEW 11 July ‘Summertime Spin’ at the George & Dragon in Thringstone. from 7pm. CURBOROUGH SPRINT EXPERIENCE AROC Racing at Mallory Park – Lots of Alfa racing as part of the Classic Touring Car Owing to the threat of more snow and 4 Aug ‘13 Racing Club’s event. Special Alfa parking area and track parades!! freezing temperatures the planned event in March had National Alfa Day – Chatham Historic Dockyard, Kent. We will again have a convoy run to be post- 11 Aug ‘13 to the event. It’s a nice run down on a Sunday, especially after a good breakfast. poned. Organiser Spider Night – at our regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - George Cole 14 Aug ‘13 starting at 7pm. (All Alfas welcome of course!) has now rearranged it MITCAR 2013 - Midlands Italian Car Day at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. The 13th for 29 May 18 Aug ‘13 edition of our Section's flagship event will be one not to miss. Incredibly, admission is still when hopefully we’ll have spring! just £5 per Italian Car!! 4C LAUNCH EDITION: THE ESSENTIAL Leicester Aeroclub Open Day - at Leicester Airport (aka Stoughton Aerodrome), EXTRAS 8 Sep ‘13 including air displays, special Alfa display and potential free pleasure flights too! Starts Rear Parking at 10.30am. Sensors = £450 Twilight Drive at our regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - Cruise Control = 11 Sep ‘13 £220 starting at 7pm. Drive at 7.45pm followed by optional pub meal. Hi-Fi = £305 KARTING NIGHT at Sutton Circuit, Broughton Astley. Fantastic outdoor track, Suitcase = £350 TBC Sep ‘13 Endurance style mini-team event. Racing followed by drinks and supper. Interior bag = £175 (The front ‘boot’ doesn’t open incidentally.) 9 Oct ‘13 AGM & Alfa Quiz at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm Battery Maintenance = £175 Vehicle cover = £260 13 Nov ‘13 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm. Cigarette lighter = £0 15 -17 Nov ‘13 Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham, AROC display featuring historic Alfa Romeos (Hmm, might order a Cigarette Lighter.)
11 Dec ‘13 Regular Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm. MOST INAPPROPRIATE NAME
Please keep an eye on our website as things can change!! The KIA Provo. A deeply ugly ‘concept car’ presumably not aimed at the Irish market. We are uncertain of reports that it will be followed by the KIA Black September, The AROC EAST MIDLANDS MERCHANDISE KIA PLO and the KIA ‘L’ Qaeda. Polo shirts with full colour embroidered logo. All sizes - Just £15 each.
PLUS Fleeces from £25 and Soft-Shell waterproof jackets from £30 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 2013 -- No. 152 AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Giulietta Veloce 2.0 JTDm2 /170 - John Griffiths A February day trip emphasised the superb capabilities of this Giulietta. Our Alfas The journey was Leicester to London (O2); London to central Birmingham, then Brum back to Leicester. 300 miles, averaging 55mph overall including All the latest on our local members’ cars... city crawls and M11 speed restrictions. It took a true no-holds-barred charge round M25/M1/M6 to get to the evening show in Brum, averaging a motorway speed of, er, a lot! After all that tanking along the overall MPG GTV 2.0 JTS TURBO - Mark Wood fell to 41.5, still using just half a tank. The ‘G’ Mark’s long term project was tremend- continues, but Mark only ously secure on has a certain amount of icy roads, gave time for it. Turbocharger is a really smooth installed - but the clutch ride and was ‘3 packed up. Race-spec one -up’ too. 29K on now installed and it’s back the clock now, to the rolling road for more it’s better than tuning. We are talking ever. A fantastic 360bhp plus… Will be all-rounder; hard fantastic when complete! to replace.
Giulietta MultiAir TCT Veloce - Duncan Langford V6 Special - Andy Wallington You may remember Dunk’s car from last month’s back page . Here though Here’s a teaser photo of Andy’s V6 you’ll see he’s Busso-powered ‘special’ very soon to done a swap to be transported from preparer to his the 5-hole 18” new home ‘Darn’Sarf. It’s going to have alloys from his areal ’50’s vibe to it, I mean, just look at Turbines, a the Borranis! Quoting from his email to swap organised John: “Now that the suspension by Paul Jones geometry is resolved, and all welding from Chris complete, the chassis has been Variava. Dunk dismantled and sent for shot blasting really likes their before painting and reassembly. style and how it Hoping to source Bilsteins this week, displays the red and maybe the exhaust manifold (CSC Brembo brakes. now available in stainless from EB Looking good... spares). He’ll keep us in the picture.
Alfasud Sprint Trofeo - Bryan Alexander Spider Series 4 - Simon Addison From an email to John: My Trofeo has been to Lincoln Hospital to undergo Slippery, just-gritted road, cold tyres, traffic island, skid, crash barrier - surgery under the care of Dr Shrubb. Symptoms were serious loss of prang! Simon was gutted. The repair is being trusted to Mike Spencely at hydraulic fluid and iffy clutch disengage-ment. Diagnosis: shot clutch slave MGS coachworks, the cylinder and minor leak from brake hose. The former, relatively easy with the classic Alfa Romeo engine out but diabolical with it specialists in Surrey. in situ. Skilled surgeon Happily Simon was definitely required. So it was totally unharmed - it another hairy drive to Lincoln, really could have been this time nursing (and a great deal worse. pumping) the clutch - it still Insurance hassle needed several lay-bye stops aside, Simon has on the A46 to top up the decided to have the fluid. What fun! Clean bill of car fully re-sprayed health - AKA - an MoT whilst in, plus new certificate, was happily soon door handles etc., so it received! Bryan should emerge looking great.
164 Twin Spark - To IntaServices! Andy Wallington has finally handed over his beloved 164 to Dave Knott at IntaServices in Leicester. Dave intends to remove certain - SCOOP! - parts and the remainder will be sent to Alfa Heaven. Many will recall Unusual news from the world of motoring that the car was originally purchased for £100 and, with some preparation work from IntaServices, it was entered in the 2009 ‘Home 2 Rome’ Banger Rally to raise funds for charity. Initial plans were to Martin Lindus is the New ‘Face of Panda’ leave the car in Italy but it was driven back to the UK and Andy bought the car for his own use. The H2R 164 has made many Section and AROC Martin Lindus, fresh from event app-earances his modelling success for over the years and the AROC SHOP, has not so long ago I now been signed by FIAT had the pleasure of Group to promote the taking it for a few new Panda 4x4 across laps of the Europe. 'Curburgring'. It is Martin, himself a Panda sad to see it gone 100 HP owner, says he for good but let us will continue his career hope that the parts as a model unless the removed will assist pressure of fame other 164's to becomes too much. remain on the road. RIP. Brian Smith
■ Alfisti’s production is kindly sponsored by Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham ■ Alfisti no.153 will be out in May