THE OFFICIAL ALFA ROMEO OWNERS CLUB EAST MIDLANDS NEWSLETTER

■ Feb/March 2018 ■ Issue 206

Coming up ... Springtime Action

Writing this coming out of our Section’s winter Talking of which have you March Meeting Night break of sorts, wow have we got a lot coming up! been on the main club George & Dragon, Thringstone Things start at the George & Dragon in Thringstone website to register for your with the last of our ‘indoor’ meetings of the winter chance to win a pair of free Wednesday 14 March, 7.30pm on 14 March where Viv Stephens will be giving us tickets to the meeting?

As well as our usual natter about all things Alfa an informal talk on some fascinating Alfa stuff. No This is one of the key and a look ahead to the fun coming this year, games or quizzes this time. On 23 March club reasons us on the Club board decided to sponsor we’ve roped in Viv Stephens (vehicle design regular Graham Whiteside has used his contacts at the team, i.e. for the benefit of Club members, not engineer extraordinaire) to talk about various Rolls Royce to get us in on a special visit to the just advertising. things including his recent 3 day visit to the company’s Heritage Exhibition in Derby. See page 2 There’s no let-up in May either, with the big fabulous Alfa Museo Storico near Milano, which for more on that but it should be excellent - we still Spring Italian Car Day at Brooklands on Saturday included an amazing exhibition of the glorious have places left. the 5th and the Donington Historic Festival on the Alfa T33 endurance racing cars. Next month we will have more on the many and 6th. With all this outside stuff now's a good time to varied April activities. On the 13th we are returning buy a new Alfa jacket and/or fleece I think. Happily to the Curborough Circuit for a fantastic low-cost Danielle has got fresh stocks in at the Club shop! and low-pressure track day - Brian Smith is pictured For the summer, the calendar is as packed as above there in full flight in his 4C Spider. We’re tight ever too. A key one of course is our big event, on numbers now, but let me know if interested, and MITCAR, At time of writing we’re in negotiation with spectators are welcome. After that we’ve got the another new venue which will be number 18. With first BIG outdoor Alfa gathering of the year - well, all of the racing action this year we’re aiming for a after our ‘outdoor’ meeting at the G&D on the 11th. more relaxed day for people, a traditional summer On Sunday 22 April it’s AROC Spring Alfa Day at the picnic in beautiful parkland surroundings, which Imperial War Museum, Duxford. That’s always a was the original ideal way back in 2001. The goal is firm favourite venue with over 500 Alfa Romeos to have it all ready to be announced in March. With expected among brilliant aircraft exhibition halls so much on available dates are tight so we might be and hangars. Then on 29 April we’re at Donington at the mercy of August bank holiday weekend Park to cheer on Rob Austin racing the AROC weather! I’m sure we can cope. sponsored Alfa Romeo Giulietta in the British I hope you’ll be able to attend a lot of these Rolls Royce Exhibition Touring Car Championship. That should be brilliant gatherings and get the most from L&CD Centre, Wilmore Rd, Derby fun - the car looks terrific too as you can see inside. your Club membership. Cheers! John Friday 23 March from 5pm

A special guided tour looking at the history of Alfisti is originated by the world famous company at its LDC site in Derby. It covers Rolls Royce’s earliest John Griffiths beginnings through to its leading-edge AROC East Midlands Section Secretary technology of today; cars, aero engines and a 0774 8881317 lot more. See more info on page 2. Visit will end around 7pm and we will then go for a pub Email: [email protected] meal. Spaces are limited so please contact John asap to book. See our website for all the latest . . . AROC-UK.com/EastMids

Alfisti is sponsored by

@AROCeastmids Superb GTAm captured by Matt Cox at Bicester in Jan. Coming up . . . Gazetta News Snippets Date Activity

Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone. Wednesday 14 Some extra entertainment is being planned for this one, hopefully March 2018 not involving clearing snow off our cars like we had to in December! from 7:30pm Viv Stephens will be doing an informal talk about a recent trip to a special Alfa exhibition in Italy. It should be a very enjoyable evening.

Visit to Rolls Royce Heritage Exhibition. A special guided tour Friday 23 looking at the history of the world famous company, from its March 2018 earliest beginnings through to its leading-edge technology of today. from 5pm. This is not something general public would get to see! Spaces are limited—please contact John to book. (See panel below.) TRIUMPH FACTORY TOUR IS ON Monthly Meeting at The George & Dragon in Thringstone. It’s the Friday 1 June at 12:00 is the time. We will Wednesday 11 first light evening of the year, but bring a brolly in case. Our local start with Tea/Coffee and biscuits, then a April 2018 from Autoglym franchise will be in attendance with bargains galore! We 90 minute tour seeing the fascinating 7pm had around 45 Alfas along last April for a super evening. Bring a factory in action, followed by a tour around brolly in case and wrap up warm! the new and extensive visitors centre, This is a very special group opportunity and Curborough Circuit Experience – Our Section take on the limited to 15 Club members only. Cost is challenges of this tight and twisting circuit – the Nurburgring of the £18 payable all in advance to John. You Friday 13 April Midlands. £30 non-returnable deposit required to book your car’s can get your name on the list NOW. 2018 from place. Please contact John. Overall hire cost will be divided by all Our last visit was way back in 2005, will be 9:45am drivers who take to the track. Spectators are free. Cost should be very interesting to see what’s changed, in the region of £69 each. A FEW SPACES LEFT.

AROC Spring Alfa Day at Imperial War Museum, Duxford (Cambs) Our Section convoy, will meet at the A14 services (McDonalds) near Sunday 22 April Rothwell (J4) to depart at around 8.30am. 2018 Advance discount tickets will be available for members via the main AROC website; aroc-uk.com

BTCC - Watch the HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta, as sponsored by AROC! Arrangements are still being Sunday 29 April made around a Club presence at the circuit (i.e. potential special 2018 parking area), but we should know more for next time. More details in the Next Alfisti but it’s one for the diary for certain.

Donington Historic Festival - Features Alfa Romeos racing in various classes plus LOADS of glorious Classic racing cars. Special AROC Sunday 6 May infield parking and display area on all days of the event (Friday 28 2018 – Sunday 30). Special AROC “2 for 1 in 1 car” ticket discount code available - see Club Forum and aroc-uk.com Register by 20 April. NEW FUN CONCOURS TROPHY This super new foot-high trophy has been hand-crafted by Club member Steve Weston. It’s sold wood carved into a beautiful Alfa ‘Scudetto’ shield, with a Rolls Royce Exhibition Visit special inlayed mirror. A genuine work of Friday 23 March (5pm - 7.30pm) art! It will be awarded to the winner of our annual Fun Concours contest in June, as chosen by public vote on the night. We last had a visit to the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust in (Winner will keep for a year, it will be fitted Derby back in 2014. It was a really enjoyable morning with a nameplate on the reverse, then with loads to see, That main centre is still undergoing an replaced by a version to keep forever.) extensive refurbishment, however, there is a special Now we need to come up with a name! exhibition at The Learning and Development Centre (LDC) and our inside man at Rolls Royce, Graham Whiteside, has got us in for a very special guided tour, led by one of the trust’s veteran volunteers.

Our group will meet at LDC site from 5 to 5.30pm, ready for a tour of the special display which will end by around 7pm. Following on from that we will move to a relatively near by pub for an evening meal and/or drinks.

NUMBERS ARE LMITED to 20 in total, so if you’d like to go please email me asap. John Our Section raised £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support at our New Year Meal raffle. Just tremendous! Thanks to We have stacks more exciting things to come this year - visits, navigational runs, Karting, convoy runs to big everyone for their generous prize events, including of course MITCAR which is still being organised for this year…. All will be in Alfisti, on our donations and to everyone who bought Website and details will be emailed to members too. tickets on the night. (We received a very nice thank you letter from the charity.)

The Small Print: Alfisti is the newsletter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK East Midlands Section. Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK ltd cannot endorse or recommend services or products advertised in its publications. Any opinions published in Sign up to get ‘Alfisti’ or its sister website, Twitter account and Facebook Group are personal ones. Alfa Romeo Owners Club Ltd Registered Number latest news, info 01106134. Please contact John Griffiths if you have any queries about the Club or our active local Area Section. See cover for contact details. and chat. See

Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham kindly supports the cost of Alfisti’s printed production. Printed by Lavenham Press, Sudbury, Suffolk. www.facebook.com/groups/ ALFISTI’S CONTENT, IMAGES AND DESIGN ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT. PLEASE ASK PERMISSION BEFORE ANY RE-USE. arocukeastmids

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206

New Year Meal La Torre, Coalville

55 of us along this year for our TENTH New Year Meal at La Torre! Our hosts, Gregorio and Fabio were as welcoming as ever and had a super team of staff to help. As ever, the food was fabulous, especially the thick Fillet steak with its choice of Italian-style sauces. Wonderful. Of course we had many of the long-standing members along, though a few Regulars were away this year. Great to welcome around 10 first-timers though, and I as delighted they enjoyed it so much too. After the 3 courses, our fun charity raffle was brilliantly supported, People brought along some really generous prizes, and of great variety—rare books, lots of various booze from Magnums of Prosecco to Lorraine Cox’s amazing home made raspberry Vodka (!!); Paul and Liz Jones brought some very generous things over from Chris Variava including the latest Alfa Brolly and a superb Christmas hamper. Greg put in a meal for 2 voucher, and then we had 2 very special prizes; Salvatore’s immaculate hand-crafted Alfa Romeo Biscione tie-pin, made from solid chromium, and Steve Weston a BIG wooden Alfa Romeo plaque. LOADS of super stuff. Even better - our party raised a whopping £400 for Macmillan Cancer Care - absolutely brilliant! For next year—well we’ve already re-booked! Thanks to everyone who came along, another super evening - thanks to you all. John

TOP - 55 of us along this year. Above, La Torre’s top chef, Fabio, with his raffle prize - a makeup bag!

Right, Peter Viv and Nicola Stephens taking home various prize Left and above - an idea winnings! of the raffle prizes. Immediately left - the superb tie-pin manufac- tured from Chrome by Salvatore. A lovely object.

Classics Recreated FCA to rebuild great cars

Fiat Chrysler's new 'reloaded by creators' scheme will see the firm's heritage division buy, restore and sell classic cars. This follows a trend among several premium It is certainly five of the family’s best from the past manufacturers in recent years, one really you could say started by Ferrari. The Reloaded by Creators’ scheme, 50 years. Pictured here clockwise from top; the incomparable Alfa ES30 SZ; the diminutive Lancia which will purchase, restore and sell notable classics from the Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth brands. “The sums Appia; the late model Fiat Spidereurope; the desirable raised will then be used to finance new scouting activities to Lancia Fulvia Coupe; the last of line Spider S4. add important new pieces to FCA’s historic collection,” the These are very popular cars and vary markedly in automotive giant said in a press release. availability. The divisions goal is to restore the cars to ‘as new’ condition. It’s a great selection and we Each will come with a certificate of authenticity, and while no prices have been mentioned, they’ll almost certainly be wonder what’s next, Which would you have? John very expensive. The scheme will kick off with five cars:

1989 Alfa Romeo ES30 SZ 1959 Lancia Appia Coupé 1981 Spidereuropa Pininfarina (Fiat 124 Spider) 1973 Lancia Fulvia Coupé Montecarlo 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider (S4)

Enthusiasts are hoping for several good things to come from this, including possibility of remanufactured parts and a positive impact on values. Not that these models have been decreasing of course!

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206

Autosport International & Performance Car Show

A visit to he Autosport show is always a great way to start the year. Thanks to Viv Stephens I was able to get in to the Press day when the crowds are nothing like as big as at the weekend, though sadly the indoor Action arena isn't in operation. Around the show, aside from the BTCC Giulietta, there were some terrific car to be seen, the huge Ferrari display alone being just breath-taking. The F1 cars were great—sadly no new Alfa Romeo Sauber, but we can’t have it all! Celtic Tuning had their Giulia QF on show, the BRSCC Alfa Series a 156, and the BTCC stand celebrating the 60th anniversary the 1994 Championship winning Alfa 155 reproduction. Great stuff. John

Above, the simply sensational LaFerrari FXXK Evo. A track day only car = sold out. Stunning. £2.5M Above; Ferrari’s F1 machine.

Above, the timeless shape of the Lancia Stratos Above; BRSCC Racing Alfa 156 - they will run AROC sunstrips this year. Above; Lamborghini Huracan, from Lamborghini Leicester!

Below, Celtic Tuning’s Giulia Quadrifoglio Bottom right; iv Stephen’s company Niche Vehicle Network has a had a big hand in this, a gas turbine generator/4 electric motor beast based on an Ariel Atom.

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206

HMS Racing Giulietta Unveiled at the Autosport Show

The covers came off at lunchtime at the show, the car surrounded by the racing press and fans alike. Team owner Simon Belcher and driver Rob Austin pulled the black cover off, exposing the beautifully prepared Giulietta. What immediately caught the eye was the paint finish, a lovely bright white and the green is a lustrous metallic with hints of yellow/gold. Look closer and you could see the quality of the fit and finish of the wing extensions, sills and bumper covers. I’m yet to see a TCR Series (wo be WTCR in 2018) Giulietta, but form photos this looks an even more purposeful design. At time of writing there’s one built car as shown, still being fettled, with a second shell in build. There are moulds to produce plenty of the aforementioned wings and bumpers as you can imagine will be needed in this the closest of motor racing contests! HMS Racing, formerly Handy Motor Sports, has campaigned the similarly liveried with some success, with Rob Austin winning at the last round in 2017. With this car, a lot of painstaking effort has been put in to perfect he bodyshell, itself a good 40kg lighter than the old Japanese machine. BTCC is largely a ‘silhouette’ formula, i.e. cars share the same steering, suspension, gearboxes and you can even opt for an unbranded 2.0L engine off the shelf, which is what HMSR have done. Sadly no Alfa motor in it. There are fierce regulations to keep performance equalised, but with a lighter shell, any excess pounds can be loaded exactly where the team wants in the car, which should greatly assist its handling. Aerodynamics are vital too, so a lot of effort has gone into that with the Giulietta. (Honda choosing to use the ’estate’ version of the old Civic was not just a marketing exercise - there were aero advantages.) It was great to learn that Rob himself is an Alfista. By all accounts it was his nagging that got Simon and the team to select the Alfa. It’s taken well over a year to get the car together, with the assistance of the Alfa UK Dealer Council. Duo and Northgate are long terms sponsors, but you’ll see a raft of smaller sponsorship decals on eth car - importantly, including AROC on the roof of course! With our Club helping to fund things we’re able to offer members the chance of winning free tickets and a superb hospitality package at rounds of their choice, worth over £1,000 per person. Details are in the February edition of the AROC magazine. Importantly, you MUST be a full paying club member to have a chance of winning. It’s been over 10 years since we’ve seen an Alfa Romeo in Britain's top saloon racing series. The Ex WTCC Super Touring 156s just couldn’t cut it then, the control tyres simply not working with Above; Rob Austin with his new steed. the cars’ set up. Of course we will never forget Gabrielle Tarquini’s (Photo HMS Racing) championship winning season in 1994, but wouldn’t it be great to Top photo courtesy of Alfa Romeo Championship see an Alfa at the front again? Let’s hope so. John Assoc., others by John G.

CLUB MEMBERS CAN REGISTER FOR A CHANCE OF FREE TICKETS NOW AT AROC-UK.COM !!

10 Race weekends, 30 races, frantic action in every one! 2018 BTCC Calendar AROC will have a presence at every race, In our Region we will be supporting the Donington Park and Rockingham rounds in particular. ALL rounds are Watch for Donington & Rockingham covered LIVE on ITV4. With the HMS Racing Alfa, it’s now essential viewing!

Rounds Date Circuit / County

1,2,3 7/8 April (Indy), Kent

4,5,6 28/29 April Donington Park, Leics

7,8,9 19/20 May Thruxton, Hampshire

10,11,12 9/10 June , Cheshire

13,14,15 23/24 June Croft, North Yorks

16,17,18 28/29 July Snetterton, Norfolk

19,20,21 11/12 August Rockingham, Northants

22,23,24 25/26 August , Fife

25,26,27 15/16 September Silverstone, Northants Donington Park in April will be amazing. Here you an see Rob getting a ‘tap’ in the old 28,29,30 29/30 September Brands Hatch (GP), Kent Avensis. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen again!

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206 Number of UK Registered CARS (inc. SORN)

DOOMWATCH ALFA MODEL 2017 (Q3) 2016 2015 2013 2010 2007

Alfa 156 4,423 5,648 7,720 12,948 25,607 36,454 Alfa 147 9,221 11,087 13917 19,190 25,081 25,365 This is a slightly depressing feature we run every few months. In past year’s it’s been focussed on Classic Alfa Romeos where their names TOTAL ALL 108,038 108,665 110,161 111,478 113,967 112,104 can be readily identified from DVLA shared data, (Spiders, GTVs, ALFAS inc Giuliettas for example can’t be done as they span many model SORN variants). We have tracked cars like the Alfasud, 33, 164 quite closely, and they all follow a sad, if logical, decline as cost of repairs makes them impractical to own. Despite Alfa UK’s sales woes, the brand had a great Now, there’s obviously a direct link to our Club. We estimate that year in Europe, Alfa Romeo the strongest growing with 3,500 members and an average of above 2 Alfas per brand there with 85,700 cars sold. That is over 20,000 more than in 2016. In Germany, il Biscione membership (given partners/families) that over 10% of all Alfas are achieved the highest profit (+ 40.5%). Sales in Italy, owned by Club members—and de facto, Alfa enthusiasts, which is France and Spain grew by a quarter. The Giulia was great, but with a steady decline in the number of older cars and a still sold 24,000 times and the Stelvio 17,000 times. It’s to seriously increase amount of new ones, maintaining that healthy looking up! number may become more and more of a challenge. BELOW - AROC Alfisti cherish all models, even the When it comes to totals, despite the arrival of the brilliant new Giulia, ARNA! Alfa UK only managed to sell just under 5,000 cars last year, and the overall decline in registered and SORN Alfa Romeos continues. Alfa’s biggest selling cars of the last 20 years are shown. The newest 156 is now nearly 12, so unsurprisingly their decline has really accelerated in the past 4 or 5 years. The 147 that was sold through to 2010 is just starting that slippery slope. This is all reflected in AROC’s membership profile. The 159 has replaced the 156 as the cheap, practical and good looking car of choice. In particular. What will further impact numbers? Well - there’s a stricter MOT Standard coming in from May 2018. Cars must have all of their standard fit emissions devices in tact; that means EGR valves and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). 156s and 147s didn’t have the AROC East Mids Chairman Bryan’s 156 2/0 TS— owned form new. An absolute beauty in Fantasy Blue latter, however, the required emissions levels are becoming more strict so tired engines will find it harder to pass. DPF and EGR removal is popular on 159s, but DPF cases that have obviously been split and rewelded will be failed. The better cars will probably be re-fitted, but Marcus Lee’s 147 GTA. you can be pretty sure the baggier ones will just be broken. The Busso engined 147s Let’s look positive though. The Stelvio has landed, and it’s gaining are sure fire future clas- plaudits. Alfa Romeo was the fastest growing brand in Europe in sics. Numbers have been 2017, with sales up 5.5% - the market as a whole up 3.3%. More and nice and static over recent more classic Alfa Romeos like 105 series coupes and Spider are being years as people look after restored as values have risen so well. The 916 GTV and Spider is a them. clear AROC member favourite and the 939 Spider, in particular, looks to be following suit, the Brera to a degree. Busso V6 cars are now really sought after. We’re seeing evidence of former 147/156 and 159 owners buying Giuliettas and to lesser extent MiTos too. Rest assured AROC management team will be doing everything possible to ensure the Club thrives and gives maximum support to owners. John

Curbo is Go!! Back to the Curburgring Friday 13 April

Curborough Circuit Track Day is BOOKED!! We love this track, and after quite a gap we’ve secured the circuit for our own private use again. Places are limited but more generous than in previous years. The hire cost will be divided by the total number of drivers - so 10 drivers £69.50 each. We hope to get several more!

It’s terrific fun, great for expert or novice. One car on track at a time for 3 laps, taken as fast or slow as you like. (There’s no formal timing.) You get to have as many goes as you like—we are there from 9:45 to 5pm with a 1 hour lunchbreak. Bring a picnic for that. It’s not hard on cars being such short bursts. It’s a comparatively short track - figure of 8 shape - but the faster cars can hit 100 on the main straight. Cars other than Alfa Romeos are allowed, we just ask is that you are an AROC member. (Note - the full day is at your own risk.)

You can bring passengers and spectators are free. It’s great for photography, as I hope you can see here with shots of Mark Gunston’s 4C LE and Dave McFarland’s GTV V6 in action back in 2016.

TO BOOK just drop me an email. I will require a £30 non-returnable deposit to formally secure it. You can PayPal that to me - email me and I will give you the details. It’s BRILLIANT fun - do not miss this great opportunity. John

*** STOP PRESS - FEW SPOTS REMAINING ***

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206 Suds UK’s most popular No, not those… the soap ones! A good quality car shampoo makes cleaning a car a car colour is... pleasurable thing. Hopefully you will have read my “one

bucket method” car washing feature in the February AROC According to 2017 sales data, the most popular colour sold is magazine. In that I mentioned a few high quality car Black, with white down to third, and grey into 2nd. shampoos, here are w few more details about them. (The It’s possibly no surprise that black and white are ‘free’ colours secret to that method is hose-washing a wool wash mitt in a number of manufacturer ranges nowadays, with all others as you go, scooping on a lot of soapy froth to the paint. at a premium. In a bold and perhaps surprising move, Alfa Here are 4 great products to use to top-up your car’s gloss. NOTE—if you are just cleaning recently changed that making the traditional Rosso the ‘free’ before applying sealant or wax, just use the cheaper ones listed (Meg’s or Autoglym), or the colour. Market analysts state most people tend to go for safe fancy coatings the others leave will just be wasted. colours these days, though Orange, Bronze and Yellow are ◄ Chemical Guys Glossworkz. It costs about £15 for 500ml, but is super- making a come-back. Here’s the full list…. concentrated - you use a tiny capful (10ml) in half a bucket (all you need

with the 1 bucket method) - I think you’ll get loads of washes out of it. Now, 1. Black (20.3%) the trick with this one is the amazing shine it applies after rinsing off. It’s one of very few shampoos where you don’t need a finishing detailing spray 2. Grey (19.7%) afterward to give that extra ‘bling’. Definitely the most glossy - it has 3. White (19%) genuinely amazed me. The beading is mighty too. 4. Blue (16%) Meguiar's Mirror Bright Shampoo. ► 5. Silver (10%) Meguiar's introduced its classic-look range last year. The 6. Red (9.9%) packaging may look vintage but the products are bang up to 7. Green ( 1.1%) date. This one is a very effective cleaner, though the suds 8. Orange (0.8%) are not too long lasting. It is a lower-price product at around 9. Bronze (0.5%) £18 for 1.4Litres bottle, (i.e. £6.42 for 500ml). You need to use at 2 or 3 10. Yellow (0.4%) times as much product compared to the premium products here though. ◄ AngelWax Enigma Shampoo. This is the most expensive in the list at around £19 for a 500ml bottle. Like the Chem Guys shampoo above, it only needs 1 tiny cap full for half a bucket. It foams very strongly but its key feature is it contains Silicone New Boss for Alfa; Tim Kuniskis Dioxide, or Ceramic components. These will help build up a protective finish on any paint surface though it’s specifically designed for their superb Enigma Whistle. “All Change!” …..Tim Kuniskis Ceramic Wax (around £40 for a 30ml pot that will do 4 to 5 cars.) I’ve been replaces Reid Bigland (what a great name) using this on my ceramic-treated Giulia and it has a super high-foam and a at FCA as international leader for Alfa lovely silky finish and great beading. Excellent stuff. Romeo and Maserati. Bigland replaced Autoglym Pure Shampoo ► Harald Wester in May 2016 but now aka Professional Shampoo in 5 Litre size This is the cost- concentrates on the North American effective one I’ve been using for about 3 years now. Carl from our local market. Kuniskis is from the American AG Franchise put me on to it when I was looking for a snowfoam. Pros division covering Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and use this for that as it is efficient, high foaming and cheap! 5L for around SRT but now goes International on the development of FCA's £19 (that’s value!), 500ml around £6,95. You need 3 or 4 times as premium car brands. much as the premium ones here, but for dirt shifting it is still a weapon Back home, UK boss of FCA is now Arnaud LeClerc as familiar of choice. Great as a surface prep, you’ll need a QD afterwards for bling. faces have been ‘moved elsewhere’. (Mr LeClerc will be Bilt Hamber Auto Wash. (£11.99 300ml) Another one well recommend- familiar to many in the UK for his frequent appearances in the ed - it’s a super high concentrate but I’m yet to try it, It’s on the list! 1980’s Sitcom, “Allo Allo”.) Essentially, choose any of these it’s hard to go wrong. John

ALFISTI - AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter Feb/March 2018 - Issue 206 Our Alfas 939 Spider LE Jason Hood

Local Members’ Cars Jason has owned his red Giulietta for a few years now, and it makes a great daily driver. The Alfa bug has absolutely got him now and Giulia Veloce a second one joins the family! He bought this beautiful special edition 2008 Spider LE in Ian Reeves January. It’s in the super-attractive white with full black leather and those big 19” 10

Ian brought his lovely new Giulia Veloce to spokes. It looks fabulous! The LE was our December meeting as one of its first available in black, red or white, white being outings having recently collected it from Chris the most rare. Jason is very much looking Variava’s. Here we can see the bright forward to the spring when he can enjoy some Misano Blue paintwork, unlike in last edition 2000 GTV hood-down motoring. Mind you he won an where it was covered in snow! AROC Beanie at our New Year Meal raffle so Bruce Peers may get an early excuse to do that!

We’ve not seen Bruce at one of our meetings in a while, but his delightful Bertone Coupe was captured here at the Bicester Scramble meeting at the Bicester Heritage Centre (funnily enough near Bicester) in early January by felloe Bertone owner Matt Cox. Bruce has owned this much-modified car for many years now, and it looks as fabulous as ever with its gold ‘period’ alloy wheels. We hope you bring it over to one of our meetings again soon Bruce!

Stelvio 2.2 Speciale 939 Spider 2.2 LE Alex Pope Dave Atkins

Congratulations to Alex as yet another AROC Jason’s new acquisition above goes very East Midlands Section Member becomes an nicely with this one. Dave Atkins’ 939 Spider official Club officer - Alex now installed is somewhat unique - i.e. it’s a car he’s not officially as the club’s new, well, first, Stelvio sold after 14 months! In fact he’s owned Registrar. He joins John, Paul, Duncan, Viv, this lovely example in Alfa Rosso with Black Salvatore, Matthew and Dave C as Board leather for a full 6 years at the end of members (first 4) and/or Model Registrars. January! This, we believe, is a definite record Great stuff! Alex got the Register launched for Dave. With Alfa not producing a Spider on Facebook at the end of January with a little for many years now (not counting the rather help from Dunk who looks after those. It will specialist 4C variant), these are now into the be an interesting job to organise things as the ‘Modern Classic’ genre, just about, the oldest car is attracting a many people new to brand, ones being over 10 years old now. And it people who will not understand Alfas history looks great! and many nuances - let alone the club itself. Meantime, in the weeks Alex has owned hi Stelvio it has really come into its own, not only 1750 GTV coping brilliantly with its powerfully torquey Matt Cox engine and full time four wheel drive in ice Matt has got his Bertone in bits. In the off- and snow, but also carting 2 young kids and season the front and rear suspension has all the associated detritus they entail! been dismantled and mixture of powder We look forward to seeing a nice load of the coating and 2 pack epoxy coating is to be impressive new machines at AROC’s big applied Matt is also taking the opportunity to gatherings this year, and Alex is well placed to strip anything from the chassis that is loose organise things as a certifiable Alfista! and is treating that as well. Rupert the dog is helping out here too, as they always like to! - SCOOP! -

Spot the deliberate error…..

You may have seen a couple of typos in the printed version of Alfisti last month, e.g. a 1240hp 4C. Anyway it seems the same person has been doing some work on the side for Alfa UK main website….

(Guilia… Oh dear….)

Alfisti no.207 out in April