Alfantics articles...
Alfantics articles...
By Charlie Drake, President
Those who attended the June Chapter meeting were the first audience for an
idea that your chapter officers had been mulling about for some time now:
"Meet your advertisers." In the ensuing months, we will bring most (if not
all) of our current patrons to the monthly meetings in an attempt to get
people acquainted with the various services and backgrounds that they offer.
This month, Giovanni "Johnny" DiFatta and his lovely daughter Gabrielle
were guests of the chapter.
Johnny and his brother Tony, along with the long-in-service Paul Schneider (as well as Gabrielle) run DiFatta Brothers shop on Belair Road, just outside of Baltimore. Johnny says that he and his late brother Salvatore started their training 26 years ago back in Sicily.
Johnny claims that he can "tell something is wrong just by listening to a car." A portentous claim indeed, but one that must bear fruit because they have a long and faithful following. In short, if you are in the area, and in need of service (or parts), give them a call.
Sunday, June 2 found 10 cars in attendance at the Second Annual PrettyBoy rally, hosted by Jack Rugh and Terry Winter. It was a beautiful day, and yours truly had brought a video camera to get some realtime footage. Well, folks, all that I can say is that I took some at the beginning, a little more at the rest stop, and the remainder at the end. We didn't have time to shoot any of the incredible Northern Maryland horse country scenery, because
we were too busy driving and following directions. But I'll show what I have at the July meeting, along with the film "The Italian Job" (see page 3!)
Thanks again, Jack and Terry, for a job well done! That time-speed-distance rally format really requires constant vigilance as well as concentration! See a recap by Jack above. Now... just how Carole and I missed the first red checkpoint while only going 20 MPH is beyond me.
The National convention looms on the horizon. We have the distinction of being a rare chapter, with two individuals on the Board of Directors (Gene Kessler and Beth Bishop). They will be going; let's wish them Godspeed. Alfiesta 2002 looks like it will be a good one.
"The Italian Job"
Member Pat Graziosi had a novel idea for the upcoming July meeting at Pulcinella's.
Pat will bring his copy of the film "The Italian Job" for us to view. This
is a very good suggestion, as we will be in the true summer months, and these
call for something light to break the "harrummppf, harrummppf" of a normal
meeting. The film stars Michael Caine and has some terrific racing scenes
involving (what else?) Alfas and Mini-Coopers! We will have a (very) abbreviated
meeting before the showing at 8:00 PM. The film is under 1.5 hours long.
So, Please come and join us July 1st! Full details on this film can be found
at:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2706/italjob.htm
Charlie Drake
By Jack Rugh, Event Organizer
The 2002 Prettyboy Rally was held on June 2, in warm, sunny, breezy weather that was great for top-down motoring. There were seven official entries, and with an observer and the organizers' cars the fleet comprised nine Alfas and one Fiat.
Direction-following-wise, it was a tough day for three of the competitors. Some visited fire houses in off-course towns to get directions back to the rally route while others attempted cell-phone consultation from out-of-service areas. In addition, one of the checkpoint signs in the second TSD section apparently sank slowly in tall grass so that it was missed by all competitors.
After the rally a picnic was held at the start/finish location, Oregon Ridge Park, as the lost competitors drifted in.
Using a scoring system of one penalty point for each 10 seconds of error at a check point, with a maximum penalty of 60 at any single check point (including the lost sign in tall grass), the official results follow. Scores of remaining competitors have been withheld, but ranged up to the maximum penalty of 360 points!
First - Emily Woodward and Brian Cavanaugh, '93 Spider, 9 points
Second - Bob and Mary Ann Rowan, '84 Spider, 27 points
Third - Bill MacFarland and Lisa Lunghofer, Fiat Spider, 47 points
First - Bob and Mary Ann Rowan, '84 Spider, 64 points
Second - Bill MacFarland and Lisa Lunghofer, Fiat Spider, 70 points
Third - Emily Woodward and Brian Cavanaugh, '93 Spider, 84 points
First - Bob and Mary Ann Rowan, '84 Spider, 91 points
Second - Emily Woodward and Brian Cavanaugh, '93 Spider, 93 points
Third - Bill MacFarland and Lisa Lunghofer, Fiat Spider, 117 points
By Brewster Thackeray, Editor
Sherry and I test-drove an Austin Healey in Herndon the other day, a '63 3000 Mk II. Please don't think us unfaithful; it's just that after running with two of these that crashed the party at the recent Italian Car Tour, we needed to see how driving a 40 year-old Brit would compare to a far newer Spider.
Overall we were pleasantly surprised, but considering the car's low ground clearance, terrible MPGs, and cost, agreed we'd wait a while before pursuing one. Especially since I refuse to give up having an Alfa to make it happen!
But next door to the AH seller was a great looking '63 Giulia Spider. We couldn't help pulling over to introduce ourselves. The owner, Mr. DeSantis, a custom furniture maker, has owned his white car for 27 years and drives it regularly. It's survived a fire and more, but he's both enjoying and restoring the car. He belonged to the Club a while back, so we gave him a newsletter and urged him to re-up.
I had to tell Bob Kleinfeld, who not only owns a similar vintage car in red but lives out that way. Bob was surprised to hear about this car, but all of two days later he saw a Giulia in Reston Town Center. Bob ran over to say hi, and in the way of the small world, it was the same car and driver!
* * *
Aurora, the red 1987 Spider Graduate that has been our project car since February, is coming along nicely. She drives well, feels good, and if her body isn't perfect yet, that is just as well. I don't have to worry about her so much.
For an interesting contrast, I have been babysitting John McGough's blue Veloce of the same year while helping him hunt down a buyer for this exceptionally clean, 18,000-mile car.
After advertising the Veloce nationally and hearing from interested parties in several states, including California, I was glad to have a chance to share it with two interested members of our local club (neither claimed it; a Californian has). But what I thought was coolest is that one of our members who looked at the Alfa has as his current daily driver a Porsche Boxster. A Boxster! Easily costing, and to many folks worth, three times what the nicest Spider is. But he took the Veloce out, put it through some paces, and connected with it.
As I said, he decided not to buy John's Alfa, but just the fact that someone who's been driving a new Porsche finds a 15 year-old Alfa intriguing is a real tribute to the marque.
Our Chapter's two AROC Board members are expected to attend the National Convention in California over the July 4 weekend, but that's quite a hike for most in this club--especially if you didn't know about it until now! (3,500 miles in the next 10 days? Let me grab my case of 20W50!)
If you can wait until September, there will be a smaller but also
multi-regional event somewhat closer to home: The Ohio Valley Fall Fest,
hosted by the Ohio Valley Alfa Romeo Owners Club.
The event will be based at the Dayton Marriott from Sept. 13-15.
Friday night, participants will be welcomed with an Italian theme. Free food and beverages will be shared with all.
Saturday there is an autocross in the morning, a rally through the local countryside in the afternoon, and an Italian buffet dinner.
Sunday will boast a concours and flea market at the Viemeister Estate in Yellow Springs, concluding with awards and door prizes.
Costs are modest: $20 registration per family ($30 after Aug. 15), $10-15
per car or driver for autocross, rally, and concours, and $28 a head for
Saturday's dinner.
"We hope to provide an Alfa event supplemental to other national and regional
events at an affordable price and in a very casual, laid-back atmosphere.
Please come join us," say the organizers.
Registration forms and other information are available on their website,
www.ovaroc.com.
For further information contact Georgianne Gaz, 513/396-7940, or georgegaz@aol.com;
or Bob Santoro, 513/752-8138, or alfacars@aol.com.
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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