Alfantics articles...
Alfantics articles...
by Sherry Thackeray
A dozen cars bearing a dozen couples took part in the Spring Backroads
Ramble the weekend of April 20-21. The weather prediction was a little
threatening as we gathered in Arlington, but not enough to scare away a
164 (Steve and Kin Remington), a Milano (Harlan and Garnet Hadley), a GTV6
(Mark and Barb Jones), three Generation
4 Spiders (Mike and Christy Craig,
Randy and Josie Grant, and Dennis and Tricia Broud), four 1984-1990
Generation 3s (Vic and Nancy Rini, Dave and Carol Metzger, John and MaryJane
Surina, and ourselves), and the day's gem, a 1962 Giulietta
Spider piloted by its original owner, Russ Baer, and Diane Swintek. These
cars garnered stares and thumbs up every mile of the way--while generating
copious grins for drivers and navigators
alike! Pulling up the rear as sweep
vehicles (thankfully not needed) were Travers and Colleen Daniel, whose
two Alfas deferred for the day to their Explorer, and our friends
Bob and Sonia McCormick, whose red Miata was well-suited to the tour.
We headed a little West and then South down to Barboursville, with the Spiders' tops optimistically down. Lunch was a casual affair at the picnic grove of Horton Vineyards; several club members took advantage of the opportunity to buy fine wines. The Surinas, who live in Stafford, joined us at the Vineyard for the day tour.
The farther South we went, the better the roads got! But unfortunately the weather did not keep pace. A light drizzle kicked in shortly after lunch, and soon we had the tops up and the wipers madly slapping. Thankfully, the downpour lasted only half an hour, and for the remainder of the trip the sky was clear and the roads quickly dried. Just when we were on the most "back" of the backroads, after 235 miles and more than five driving hours, a huge, stately home appeared to our left: the Spring Grove Farm Inn. Hosts Emily and Joe Sayres greeted us warmly and showed us to our delightful, antique-furnished rooms. After cocktails on the veranda, we dined on a variety of elegantly prepared food in the inn's sunny atrium. The conversation was boisterous and vibrant, and the innkeepers remarked that we all seemed like very old friends--even though some of us had just met that morning! But we had certainly bonded over the miles since then. Folks stayed up chatting late into the night before retiring to cozy beds. After a wonderful breakfast at the Inn, we split up. Some visited Appomattox Court House, where the Civil War ended. The Rinis went to visit their daughter at James Madison University. The Hadleys joined us to tour Fred's Car Museum, host to a bevy of cars form the 1900s to the 1970s.Thanks to the participants and our wonderful hosts at Spring Grove Farm ( www.springgrovefarm.com ), this weekend was a smash hit. If demand warrants it we will do it again, utilizing slightly different roads, next year. In the meantime I'm happy to share information with anyone who wants to follow the route or visit the Inn; and Brewster and I are already laying plans for next fall's Backroads Ramble!
Yes I did it, I Admit It, Even if You Were My Victim!
Were you my first victim? If you own a red 1980s Spider Veloce, with a
good bit of work done toward restoration but a dented nose, parked on P
Street in D.C. April 10, you were. That's the first chance I had to slip
one of the little business cards that
Jack Chesley designed for the Club under a car's wiper blade. The next time the card came in handy was more memorable. I happened
to be on a date at the National Arboretum with the Club Secretary when wenoticed in front of us our very twin--another red with black interior
1987Graduate! They were stopped by
the roadside so we went up to say "hi." Itturned out this couple had recently moved up from Florida, and was
keenfor tips on mechanics in their
new College Park area. We were able to helpwith this and brief them on the Club, and we passed them a card. We're including the cards for the second month in a row in thisissue. If you haven't yet, please cut them out and keep them in yourwallet. You never know when you'll come across another Alfa driver.
Themore folks who join the National
Club, the better for our chapter, which
gets funds based on the number of folks in our region. I hope you agree,getting more people involved is good for us--and good for them! If you already have given out a card or two, or if you have a chanceto this month, please drop me a line and tell me who you "hit." And
alsointriguing--please let me know
if you find a card on your car!
Our current Spider "Aurora," bless her ticking little valves, is a work in progress. She is also a testimony to the benefits of club membership. The car was offered to club members at a dirt-cheap price (due to her comatose state) by past chapter president Bill Oliveri. Doug Mitchell at Crown Auto, a long-time Alfantics advertiser and friend to many in the Club, did a great job for a modest price in discovering its main issue (bad ignition) and replacing that. He has since done significant other work to get the car through inspection.
When a bunch of red lights started coming on and the voltmeter read way high, I chatted with technical guru and former Alfa technician Chris Hall at the April dinner meeting. Chris confirmed it was likely the voltage regulator. I ordered one of these from another loyal advertiser, International Auto Parts in Charlottesville, along with their performance air filter. Both parts arrived promptly and are making Aurora a happy car.
During the backroads ramble, I was chatting with John Surina, who has a near twin of our car. He shared some great tips from his experience, including how to tighten the outside mirrors.
It all reminds me how lucky I was in many ways to discover this club upon buying my first Alfa six years ago! --Brewster Thackeray, Editor
The first weekend of June offers Club members two opportunities to
give their cars an "Italian tuneup"
(i.e., drive 'em good and hard). Jack Rugh
and Terry Winter will host the Second Annual PrettyBoy Rally (named for
the reservoir) Sunday, June 2, at 9:15 a.m. in Maryland's Oregon Ridge
Park. The objective of this time-speed-distance (TSD) rally is to
follow a specified route while maintaining
a specified average speed on each section
of the route. Performance is measured by timing the passing of
cars at a set of checkpoints whose locations are not known in advance to
the rallyists. In this honor system rally, checkpoints are unmanned and
rallyists mark the time-of-day as they pass each checkpoint. Penalty
points are assessed for deviations from "perfect" times of checkpoint
passage, computed from the measured distances and specified average speeds
in the instructions. The entrant with
the smallest number of penalty points
wins. In case of a tie, a winner is selected on the basis of a quiz
on the sights along the rally route. Please register for the rally as early as possible, by phone
at 410/467-4087 (evenings), or e-mail
rugh@jhu.edu
. Rain cancellation will be posted
by 6 pm, the day before the rallye, on the answering machine at the
above phone number and on the rally Web page at
www.ece.jhu.edu/~rugh/pbr/
.
The day before the PrettyBoy, Club member Dermot McDermott is helping to organize what promises to be an exciting and rewarding day at the track on Saturday, June 1.
The S2000 Club (Honda roadsters) and Club Vitesse (Dermot's own gig) invite you to a track day at the Jefferson Circuit, in Summit Point, W.V. "The 1.1-mile, seven-turn track was designed with training in mind and the event is open to all responsible drivers from novice to expert," Dermot says. "We will have three groups based on experience, performance potential, and driver comfort level. Instructors will be on hand to advise you on negotiating the track safely and quickly. The day will consist of three morning and three afternoon sessions resulting in a minimum of 90 minutes track time.
"The event is open to all cars that will pass a safety inspection, and I hope to have a mix of old and new. No irresponsible behavior will be tolerated, and failure to obey rules will result in expulsion with no reimbursement. This is not a racing school and safety is the prime directive. It promises to be a wonderful experience with great cars and people, and stories to tell."
The cost for the day is $225 per car and driver including morning coffee and lunch. Convertibles must have a roll bar and helmets are required; the latter can be rented if needed.
If you are interested, please contact Dermot ASAP at 301/758-3341 or 301/986-4647. Early registration is critical; space is limited.
Alfantics is the official publication of the Capital Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC). Local membership and a subscription to this newsletter is included in the annual AROC membership fee of $60.
Permission is granted to other AROC Chapter Newsletters to reproduce any original material herein, provided full credit is given to the author and the Capital Chapter. Pictures may be available from the editor in digital format.
Articles, letters and photos should be submitted to the editor, Brewster Thackeray; brewthack@aol.com; 100 Battle St. SE, Vienna, VA 22180.
Authors should be aware that acceptance for publication in Alfantics implicitly grants republication rights to other AROC Chapter newsletters. Alfantics reserves the right to edit or reject any submitted items. Classified ads for Alfa-related items are free to members of $5 for non-members. Commercial rates are available from the Treasurer.
The deadline for classified ads and contributions to the newsletter is the 15th of each month prior to publication. Articles may be sent to the editor by e-mail or on a diskette in a common format.
DISCLAIMER: While it is a service of the Capital Chapter of AROC to disseminate technical information, any techniques or modifications published in Alfantics should be weighed against the conventional or generally accepted practice. The mentioned product, service, or procedure in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement by this Chapter, its Officers, Alfantics, AROC, or Alfa Romeo, Inc. Alfantics, its editor or contributors assume no liability for the accuracy of any technical information appearing herein.
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