Iniezione The newsletter of the NorthWest Alfa Romeo Club November, 2019 Multi-Faceted Maryhill A great weekend tour to Maryhill covered a LOT of bases! ven though I've yet to own anything Alfa Romeo, I've dabbled with recent NWARC events via friends in the E club. Hearing details about the Maryhill weekend during the club Brew Cruise resulted in me penciling the event on my calendar. As the trip date grew closer, I official- ly signed on and readied my - uh, Porsche - for the action. Well, I washed it anyway. My 20 year old son Ian agreed to co-pilot for the adventure. Saturday morning of the trip proved overcast with evidence of overnight rain - guaranteed since I’d washed my car. We threw some overnight bags in the trunk and headed over to the Starbucks in Issaquah, the official start point for the fes- Connell ’ tivities. Washington State law requires that all car events begin in a Star- Ian O bucks parking lot, so the club was in compli- ance. After much milling about, chatting Connell ’ with folks and checking out the Dan O cars in attendance - a few new Giulia sedans, at least one Stelvio, a 4C, one '75 Spider, then add in a Subaru WRX and Connell ’ my Porsche Boxster - the drivers’ meeting commenced. Da- vid James, the tour organizer, dispensed all the required info, Ian O and we lined up the cars for the mass start into the first turn, after. In any case, we're off! the smell of victory in the air. Well, more like a casual follow- The group drive over Snoqualmie Pass on slightly wet the-leader through the parking lot and finding I-90 shortly roads, then broke through into sunny skies on the other side of the mountains. The drive was punctuated with a In this issue… stop and regroup at a rest area off I-90, then anoth- er in Yakima at the Gear Jammer truck stop. We * Maryhill Weekend ….... pp 1, 4-5 * Membership Update ……… p 12 followed by jamming our own gears to Maryhill, just * President’s Column .............. p 2 * Calendar ……….......……... p 16 * Convertibles Only ……..….... p 3 * Track Tips from Prova ... pp 7, 9 * Drivers’ School/HPDE …..... p 8 Next club events… * Festa di Amici ………..…..... p 8 * Convertibles Only ……... Nov 12 * The Italian Job ……………. p 10 * Drivers’ School/HPDE … Nov 17 Connell * Owned Since ae 14 ,,,,,,...,. p 11 * Festa di Amici …………... Dec 8 ’ * Classified Ads ………….…. p 11 * New Years Day Drive ….. Jan 1 Ian O (continued on page 4) President’s Column By Fred Russell The President’s Drive of a Different Color Panhard. That’s a conversa- love the drives our club takes. The places, the cars, the tion that will get colorful. people are always different and always fun. One thing I’ve Joined by AROO VP Chris I gotten used to is being up front and usually leading the Bright, we talked cars, the way. As fun as it is to see all those Alfas in my mirror, the road, and told stories. October drive to Goldendale to see the Maryhill hillclimb was Crackers were served with one I didn’t lead - not one bit! Awesome job done by David cheese that had been cut by and Karen James all weekend! a dirty knife and applied by With my new-found freedom to follow, I was like an Alfista greasy fingers. Wine tasted kid in a candy store. I’d fall back, then further back, then race better once you brushed the to catch up to the car in front of me. As we travelled up into debris out of the cup found Snoqualmie Pass, I’d take an exit just so I could zoom down on the floor. Can it get any better? the next entrance and see the Alfa GIulias or 4C from the By the time I got to the Car Show, only 15 cars remained. right side. It was so childish, but heck, isn’t some of that the Of those cars, one was a red 1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6… and fault of the Alfa Romeo DNA? it had won best 80s car! I invited the couple to join us for our After the pass and a stop to stretch our legs, we headed up morning race viewing or for tonight’s dinner. About that time, and over Manastash and Umtanum Ridges and into Yakima. I started getting calls form club members who were planning I was sample testing an app for club drives known as Rallista. for dinner and wondered what became of me. I jumped in my I had put the route in prior and as we drove it perfectly told car and headed 12 miles to Hotel Ponderosa in Goldendale. me where to turn and how long until the next stop. This Quick turn-round and I was ready for our group dinner. means that I not only didn’t have leadership stress, I didn’t The joint was hopping, considering the 20 NWARC folks have any follower stress either. I was enjoying the drive shared their space with another 2 folks from a sports car club simply for the scenery, feel of the road, and the auditory from Oregon, with what appeared to be a high school home- treats of tires, engines, wind and giggling driver. coming and their dates filling what room was left. The sports The dry scrubland of eastern Washington started to get car club prepared awards and trophies for each of their peo- more treed as the line of Alfas heads up into Status Pass on ple. Not wanting NW folks to feel left out, I gave them each Hwy 97 on our way to Goldendale. I got a call from James atta-boys for a varied mix of achievements like Most Cars Parker, an Alfista in Oregon who plans to meet us at the Passed or Missed Congeniality. Maryhill Loops Road. Thanks to our The next morning, we all congre- leader’s perfect planning and my nav gated at the viewpoint along Hwy 97 tool, I give him the arrival time. With- to watch the vintage cars race up the in a minute of my promise, we pull in Maryhill Loops Road. The viewing and there is Mr. Parker, albeit not in distance is rather big but it’s still fun. his Alfa 4C but in his Lotus Evora I wondered if I looked that slow when 400 waiting to jump in behind as we I drove up the hill, especially when a drive up the twisty 2 mile road that is Nissan Cherry in full rally setup blast- normally closed. ed up the hill sounding and looking good. The GTV6 owners from Idaho The starter chats with each car to Fred Fred Russell give them a safety gap. I stall as joined with us for a while! A few of long as I can chatting about all things history, then when the our group headed home from here making their own plans. gap is probably pretty big, I start up rather briskly, the Lotus Our group return happened quickly as we headed up High- behind me. The Sport mode earns its keep on the 25 turns way 97 to Yakima and then west on 12 to get a fun lunch in and the sound from the tires was like angels on high. The the sun at Bron Yr Aur Brewing. The afternoon meant I got to historical significance of the first paved road in Washington watch Alfas follow up the wonderful bends of Hwy 410 using new construction practices means very little as you’re through Chinook Pass. We made a couple of photo op stops, enjoying how the car feels. before gathering for a final time in Greenwater for ice cream While others headed for the Car Show at the Maryhill Muse- and a chance to say goodbye. The route was great, the app um, I said I’d catch up, allowing me to visit with some of the worked okay, and the mix of events with fellow Alfisti was a racers. In a picturesque spot at the bottom of the hill were a wonderful reminder why it’s great to be part of the best Alfa few scattered trailers. Inside one was the owner of a 1925 Romeo club there is! Amilcar bantering with the owner of a French blue racing - Fred Russell Iniezione page 2 November 2019 Next Club Meetings Board Members President Fred Russell November 12 Convertibles Only (425) 308-6621 [email protected] o mark the beginning other marque. Plus, the Vice President of the rainy season in shop has a constantly chang- David James the Northwest, our ing mix of contemporary and (206) 849-3211 T [email protected] November meeting will be classic cars, so you never Secretary hosted by Convertibles Only. know what you will discover Joanie Vivaz Owner Les Hurlbert will dis- when you visit. (206) 420 8161 [email protected] cuss the care and maintenance of convertible As usual, light refreshments will be provid- tops and automobile interiors. Les has spe- ed; bring your own or arrange to have some- Treasurer Ken Case cialized in tops and interiors for 30 years and thing delivered if you’d like more substantial [email protected] has done more Alfa Romeo tops than any fare! Committee Leadership Convertibles Only Activities Directors Judy & Bill Gehring 3430 Fourth Avenue South 425 822-4231 Seattle, Washington 98134 [email protected] 206-282-5603 Chief Driving Instructor Mirko Freguia 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm 206-795-0861 Membership Chairs - David James Paul & Kristy Affolter 206-523-8534 [email protected] LindsayGeyer [email protected] Newsletter Editor Jon Inge 206-355-3111 [email protected] December 8 Festa di Amici Holiday Party Webmaster ur Club Meeting in December will a club, so check out page 8 now! See you Earl Krygier 206-349-3913 take place at the annual Festa di there.