Iniezione the Newsletter of the Northwest Alfa Romeo Club
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Iniezione The newsletter of the Northwest Alfa Romeo Club Magical Montreal ALFA expo17 - Part 1 Great cars, company and convention activities at the National Convention Montreal's ALFA expo17 was a fun and successful (inter-) national convention enjoyed by more than 430 Alfisti. Several NWARC members made the trip north of the border, and sent back the following reports on their activities. There was so much going on, and so much fun being had, that this report will be published in two parts. Watch for the conclusion in September! Pre-convention Voyager Tour Participants for the three-day pre-convention driving tours of the Ottawa River area met at the historic town of Kingston on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Joe and Lynn Faherty, Gordy Hyde and Dolly Samson, and Bill and Judy Gehring joined the tour, which explored the Quebec side of the river with highlights including waterfalls, canals, hand-operated locks, covered bridges, quaint villages and parks. Because there were 37 drivers doing the tour, we were put in groups of about 6 cars each. Our group was especially inter- esting, as it was led by Oliver Collins in his 1900 Touring and included a 1959 2 liter spider, a Callaway twin turbo GTV6 and a 2017 Giulia. Oth- er groups included Pre-Tour Alfas - Judy Gehring more new Giulias, a couple of 4C's, a Montreal, some Canadian spiders of the 90's that weren't available to us, and lots of "common” Alfas. Doug Zaitz and AROC president Cindy Banzer joined an equally inter- esting tour of the Ontario side of the river. The Holiday Inn Pointe-Claire, west of Montreal, pro- vided spacious rooms, convenient The Alfa lot at the Holiday Inn - Judy Gehring meeting places and a designated parking area filled with over 125 Alfas from all over the US and Canada, including eight of the featured Montreals. We were glad to see other northwest Alfisti (including Debi and Tony Schmid and Rita and Wes In- gram) and to take part in the many well-planned dinners, tours, activities, meetings and events offered at the conven- Covered bridge on the Ottawa River – Judy Gehring tion. – Bill and Judy Gehring Welcome Dinner The Bienvenue Supper was held at the rustic mountainside Sucrerie de la Montagne, an authentic maple sugar shack in a 120-acre forest of old maple trees. A drive through the Canadian countryside brought us to the Shack to sample all things maple flavored. Horse-drawn wagons took us (continued on page 4) Inside this August 2017 issue… * Alfa Expo17 .………….. pp 1, 4 * Solar Eclipse Tour …..…... p 6 * Membership ….........…. p 11 * President’s Column ......... p 2 * Half-Fast Lap ………..…..... p 7 * Calendar …………...……… p 12 * Aug/Sep Club Mtgs …….... p 3 * TZ2 Drive in Monterey ….. p 8 Next club events… * Seley/Lorna Moore …....... p 5 * Alfa History Snapshot ...… p 9 * Back Roads Summer Drive …….. August 12 * Summer Drive ..……......... p 6 * Alfa News, Classifieds ... p 10 * Club Meeting …..….…………………. August 15 * Solar Eclipse Tour ………....…. August 20/21 President ’s Column By Fred Russell Driven to Madness Driven: adjective 1.) Operated, moved, or con- trolled by a specified person or source of pow- er. Motivated or determined by a specific factor or feeling. 2.) Past participle of Drive Many of us are driven to get out and drive. It may be a desire to enjoy our Alfa Romeo, the open road, the beautiful or unique scenery, or just the idea that you are holding the wheel and taking control. The New York Times had a small article on the topic of how to have a perfect road trip. Our club does a lot of drives, so I found it intriguing. They started out reminding us that it is the journey, more than just the destination that is the reward. In addi- tion to your luggage tossed into the trunk, remember a first aid kit, phone charger and jumper cables, and ensure the spare tire and jack are good. With Alfas, we often add to this list with oil, brake fluid, belts, duct tape, wire and a couple tools. Next was to in- clude a cooler with snacks and drinks. It continues with keeping the hours entertaining the high plateaus that make our state so diverse. It with little games like “I Spy” or reading the historical was a wonderful reason to drive — and it helps lead information. Stopping every two hours to get out and to driven people. stretch your legs while finding interesting spots. Hit a Heading into the madness… I had to cancel the lemonade stand, local store, small town or quirky mu- annual Viva Italia car show. After the 2016 show, I seum. Become part of the community rather than asked Karl, the park manager if we could simply book simply drive past. Bring a map and follow along so again for next year and he agreed. About 9 months you know where you are in relation to the rest of the prior to this year’s event, I reached out to Karl not state. It’s rare for me to agree with an entire article, only to confirm, but to also pay for the space as be- but I did on this one. fore. He didn’t reply and when I stopped at the park, I don’t only read the newspaper, I also like I was told he had retired. (Have a great retirement, books. Though they say we shouldn’t judge a book Karl!) His temporary replacement was Peter who by the cover, I make an exception whenever I see a worked out of some mystery location. After 4 or 5 book that has an Alfa Romeo on the cover. This attempts I contacted Peter. Very nice guy, who said means that I have grabbed a dozen different books the space was already reserved for a wedding but he that have no Alfa content other than the cover did offer up just the north half of the lawn. I said yes art. Two weeks ago, a book named Drive On! caught and he sent me an e-mail with the forms and various my eye. It had two older people looking like they are fees outlined. Well… it has been many months of me celebrating life and retirement while riding down the e-mailing and calling but to no avail. Peter has never road in an Alfa Spider. Of course, I bought it and confirmed or replied. We cannot show up without a now I’m struggling to read it. It’s not easy and once confirmation and after all, they’ve never received any again, I haven’t found any Alfa content. payment. I feel bad but I had to cancel. If you have suggestions for locations for future shows, please let I do have strong opinions on driving so these me know. books and articles have a tough road when trying to get inside my stubborn head. Speaking of the future, have you seen the new Syfy movie named Valerian and the City of a Thou- A few days back, I helped my boss when he want- sand Planets? It’s set in a fantastical universe in the ed to host a few friends on a drive through the North 28th century. The city is an ever-expanding metropo- Cascades. Many of you many remember that we’ve lis where diverse species gather in peace to share used the wonderful North Cascades Hwy as a route a knowledge and culture. This metropolis is named Al- couple times heading east or west on our drives. I pha. I like that name, but the film didn’t impress the had a great time working out route details; stops, reviewers. “Seldom has such a glittering wagon been scenic anomalies, food, bathrooms, parking and gas hitched to such dull stars.” Or “… how hard must it stops. It was nice to be able to refer to previous be to act, for almost an entire movie, against nothing route guides from NWARC drives done in the but a green screen.” 2,734 special visual effect shots past. We successfully made it from the moist western were done and none were in reality… all used CGI. Washington climate through the passes and into the But the city name caught my ear and made me at arid climate of eastern Washington. We saw the rug- least give it a try. Driven to check it out, I guess. ged mountains, river valleys, ancient lava flows, and Fred Russell NWARC August 2017 newsletter page 2 August 15 - NWARC Club Meeting Board Members With Viva Italia cancelled, so President Fred Russell was our August Club Meeting, (425) 308-6621 which we’d planned to have early [email protected] in conjunction with the event. Since we haven’t had a normal Vice President th Cindy Akana Club Meeting since June 13 and (425) 502 1185 the next isn’t scheduled until mid-September, it’s a [email protected] good idea to have a meeting. We’ll have some people Secretary freshly home from the AROC Convention as well as Gordy Hyde people just about to go on the Eclipse Tour and then (425) 241 9307 the Half Lap. [email protected] It’s also a good idea to try something different dur- Treasurer ing the dry, sunny time of year… Bellevue Botanical Ken Case Garden is quiet, not crowded, easy parking, no cost, [email protected] and you can bring your own dinner. A bonus is that if Committee Leadership you want, you can wander the garden until it gets dark; the 53-acre garden is open from dawn to dusk.