Alfantics articles...
Alfantics March 2003 Stories
Spring Backroads Ramble Returns to Spring Grove Farm April 5
by Sherry Thackeray, Vice President
Last year's Spring Backroads Ramble was a great success
-- so much so that we are delighted to have the opportunity to return both
to some of the loveliest backroads in Virginia, and to the best bed and breakfast
we know -- Spring Grove Farm in Appomattox.
During an intense flurry of scouting, we identified some
of the finest Alfa roads in Virginia, and are ready to go! Mark your calendar
for April 5, for a day of great Alfa driving -- and if you so desire, a most
memorable full weekend with a stay at Spring Grove Farm.
Look forward to varied and scenic paved roads, in fine
to excellent condition, with curves that will make you glad you left your
Cadillac at home! (Driving an Alfa is not mandatory for this tour, but it
sure is highly recommended.) We've planned a pleasant drive that is not a
race and that any club members and their cars should enjoy. We have mapped
out a route that will take about five hours and cover roughly 200 miles on
the way to Appomattox, the historic town where Lee surrendered to Grant on
April 9, 1865.
On Saturday morning, we will meet up at the Alfa Base,
2117 North Dinwiddie St., Arlington, Va., starting at 9:00 -- by which time
all supplies should be in the cars, gas tanks filled, etc. We will have donuts
and juice for participants, and will hit the road promptly at 9:45.
We will take one extended break for a picnic lunch (be
sure to pack one!), and will likely make another short break or two for photos,
petrol, stretching, looking at historic markers, etc. We plan to reach Appomattox
by 5:00 p.m.
At this point, if you absolutely have to head home, we'll
share directions to get you there not far past dark. But if you don't have
to go--STAY!
The Overnight in History Option
For several years, Brewster and I have been on a mission,
seeking the ultimate bed & breakfast. We have looked for a place so special,
with such charming hosts, gracious grounds, and ideal, warm rooms that nothing
could compare -- a place we could readily recommend to all others willing
to make the road trip. We have found it. Last year, we shared it with this
club, and it is safe to say that all Ramblers concurred.
We are eager to once again share Spring Grove Farm with
our fellow adventurers in this club, with inn owners Emily and Joe Sayers'
full and enthusiastic cooperation (they'll even let you work on your car
in the barn!) So as you look to the weekend of April 5-6, start fantasizing
about: A gorgeous 1840s plantation, saved from ruin by dedicated students
of architecture and restored to and beyond its former glory. Guest bedrooms
with warm beds, modern plumbing and amenities, plush robes, jacuzzis in some
rooms, even a CD player with a custom CD to play as you sit by the fire.
Common rooms with pianos, plush, welcoming furniture, and an extensive collection
of antique clocks. A freshly-made, four-course dinner, served in a dining
room straight from a 19th century tavern. Gorgeous grounds. Warm
hosts. And within a brief drive, the history of Appomattox Courthouse, where
the Civil War ended, and other attractions!
We have made a tentative reservation for all 10 rooms
at the inn for Saturday, April 5. We need to confirm this no later than March
15. Last year we sold out the inn, so don't dilly dally if you want to spend
a weekend driving scenic roads, enjoying history, eating like royalty, and
staying in a great B&B! Anticipate double occupancy room costs of $110-200,
depending on amenities (see the rooms and learn more at www.springgrovefarm.com),
and including a full breakfast, plus $25 a person total for the full dinner.
E-mail twothacks@aol.com, or call us (Sherry
and Brewster) at 703/807-0798 evening, or 202/955-6327 days, to reserve your
place.
Upon arrival at the inn, settle into your rooms or explore
the grand property, including a Christmas tree farm! At 7:00, dinner is served.
You will be delighted by the wonderful homemade food. Enjoy a glass or more
of wine -- no further driving today!
The remainder of the evening will be a pleasant time to
relax in common areas or your room. Play a tune on the piano, or if you lack
that talent, sit in front of the player piano and fool everyone.
At 9:00 Sunday morning, a hearty country breakfast will
be served in the sunny parlor. After breakfast, there are five whole hours
for exploration. If history is your thing, there is nothing like visiting
the perfectly restored village where the last shots of the Civil War were
fired before Lee surrendered to Grant on April 9, 1865. Stonewall Vineyard
is just up the road. Fred's Car Museum, despite its modest name, holds a
wide variety of cars, including a 1930s Packard, and is open from 1 to 5.
Other options in the area include hiking and antique hunting.
At 3:30 p.m. those so desiring will meet back at the Inn
to convoy home. Anticipate a drive under four hours to get home by dark and
in time for the Simpsons.
The Joys of Modern Motor Oil, ABS, and Front Wheel Drive
by John Kay, President
Naturally, any club President in the Washington area
must be having thoughts about snow. One of mine was that it is quite nice
not to be afraid of a skid, in the recent conditions*. On our narrow street,
local effort led to the creation of a narrow cutting between snow walls for
a one-lane street, with tributary cuttings into residents' driveways.
The only way to turn round was to nose into a driveway
and skid turn, by using excessive throttle on the front wheels (if that's
where your driveshaft is) on the way out to avoid putting the tail into someone
else's snow bank and staying there.
The other thing that I noticed was that, when snowmelt
had cleaned the hood, what was left was a maze of small birds' footprints.
I learned to drive on snow outside Hamburg, Germany. There
was not so much snow, but it lasted very long and the temperature was very
low, so low in fact that the occupying power provided "warming chambers"
for the residents to use on their way home to frozen residences. The White
halftrack proved to be a solid vehicle, but frightening for the troops being
carried inside. The din was awful; they could not see out; and it was like
riding on a ton of bricks. But it was better for the driver than the alternative,
which was often a Hillman (UK) light pickup truck, which gave the driver
no help at all.
The really great change in winter driving seems to have
been in the composition of motor oil. I imagine that few people now think
anything of it when they put the key in the ignition and the car starts.
In the relatively recent past, the troops would be summoned
from bed thirty minutes early to parade with crank handles at the ready.
The method was to insert the crank handle and then stand on it to move all
that mechanism through the frozen oil. Even as late as the 1950s, many people
put catalytic heaters under the sumps of their vehicles to insure winter
starting.
As to club activities: three speakers have been found
to talk about different modes of propulsion: electric, mixed, and fuel-cells.
The talk on electric vehicles will be in Silver Spring on May 5; the other
dates have yet to be fixed.
On eating places, Mon Ami Gabi in Bethesda has a very
nice back room; the atmosphere is agreeable, and the place is available for
the first or second Monday in July. We must reserve soon, they say, claiming
that July is their busy season. The largest car park in Bethesda is just
opposite (though the
pedestrian crossing to the restaurant can be frightening).
In Laurel, which at rush hour has more traffic on US 1
than there is on K Street downtown, we can eat at the Olive Garden. Two people
have noted to me that it's part of a chain. Maybe, but on the bright side
it is located just at the south end of town with masses of parking, a varied
menu, a private room, good prices, and reservability.
No reply yet from Pipestem in West Virginia (no doubt
closed for the winter). I have my eye on them, and the West Virginia tourist
office, which has a nice piece on the Dolly Sods, an extraordinary flat mesa
covered with blueberries, divided between three jurisdictions (federal, state,
and local) that needs less driving to get to. I shall share further information
about upcoming driving tour opportunities as it comes together.
February Meeting Minutes
by Bob Kleinfeld, Secretary
Unlike January's meeting, held under the threat of snow,
February's meeting garnered about 20 Alfisti at Ristorante Vicino in Silver
Spring. Following the usual social niceties and consumption of comestibles
and potables, President John Kay called the meeting to order.
Last month, John (doubling as President and Treasurer)
reported that the chapter was losing funds each month. He had better news
this month: Pete van der Vate of Precision Import Service called to say he
hadn't been billed for at least $1,000 in back advertising charges, and would
be sending $1,000
on account. There's apparently another $700 due from other advertisers as
well, so our bottom line should be healthy.
Gene Kessler has accepted the post of Treasurer, relieving
John of the burden of carrying two offices.
Attendees agreed we should try to have speakers at each
meeting. This could bring more members out of their winter lairs as well
as being just plain informative and interesting.
A show of hands revealed that Gene Kessler (a Director
of AROC) and four or five others in attendance plan to attend the 2003 Convention
in Fort Lauderdale on the July 4 weekend. Bring your sunscreen. If others
planning to attend contact the officers, an effort can be made to coordinate
a convoy. It would be good to know who can make it. John and Mike Hemsley
stressed what a joyous occasion the National Conventions are for all Alfisti.
John asked people to write about some of their more interesting
(hair-raising?) driving experiences for submission to Alfantics editor Brewster
Thackeray. Don't worry about writing a masterpiece; the newsletter staff
will edit and polish your contribution.
At the chapter Christmas party, John was approached with
the suggestion that the a future driving tour include a stop at a craft fair
in Maryland scheduled for April 27. Unfortunately it was noted this is the
date of the regional Italian Car Tour.
Kevin Sims of the Lamborghini Club is once again organizing
that tour. In 2002, the Alfa Club had an outstanding showing and really dominated
the field; let's repeat that accomplishment this year! This event also brings
out dozens of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and de Tomasos, so it's a good way
to get your first major fix of automotive exotica for the season. Invite
all your Italian car-owning friends.
Vice President Sherry Thackeray made a call for donations
of Alfa books and paraphernalia that can be raffled at the Italian Car Tour.
Sherry then reported that this spring's Backroads Ramble on April
5/6 will follow a slightly different route from last year's, and will again
feature an overnight stay at Appomattox.
Sherry issued a call for assistance in planning a driving
tour to Montecello and International Auto Parts sometime in the fall. She
is also considering organizing a non-driving event, possibly a wine tasting.
Finally, the Alfisti calendar includes an SVRA event at
Summit Point on May 17/18. AROC's 2004 convention will be in New Hampshire.
Alternative sites for future meetings were discussed.
Frank Smith showed a map of the metro D.C. and Baltimore area on which he
had marked the home locations of regular attendees in an attempt to determine
a location that would be convenient to the greatest number of chapter members.
A convenient meeting location needs to reflect the entire chapter membership.
Because the national convention this year will occur the
weekend before our regularly scheduled July meeting, John suggested holding
the meeting on July 14. Since that date is Bastille Day, it would be appropriate
to hold the meeting in a restaurant with a French aura. Bob Kleinfeld suggested
a bistro in Bethesda, Mon Ami Gabi, that John promised to look into for suitability
and cost.
The meeting adjourned with many members loitering in the
street to view the assemblage of Alfas, including John Bernheimer's Milano
Verde and Ernie Cohen's 164L that are for sale (see "Swap & Sell," page
11), parked in front of Vicino's. Both looked quite sharp in person.
Building an Alfa Fit for a Grandson
by Bob Kleinfeld
So you're an Alfa nut and an engineer, and you've owned
a bunch of Alfas, plus a couple of XKEs and an Austin Healey 100-4. You're
a Friday at the Track (FATT) instructor at Summit Point Raceway and you make
12 to 15 track events a year. You've been in the Alfa Romeo Owners Club for
24 years and have attended seven national conventions. And now you've got
a grandson! So how do you get your infant grandson off to the right start,
at least in automotive terms?
This was the question facing Frank Smith when his grandson
Chris was only months old. Considering his background and Alfa lust, Frank
did the only logical thing. He designed and constructed a gasoline-engine
car with independent front suspension, roll cage, and radio controls. Need
I even
mention that it's Alfa red? And carries an Alfa badge on its nose?
Starting with a used vertical-shaft Briggs and Stratton
lawn mower engine that he rebuilt, Frank used a belt drive to mate the engine
to a forward-neutral-reverse transmission with a horizontal output shaft,
using a chain drive to bring power to the solid rear axle. A centrifugal
clutch meant that Chris wouldn't need to shift, rather an important consideration
since Chris was only 13 months old when he first took the wheel.
Everything mounts to a chassis of 1.25-inch square tubing.
Frank fabricated a seat frame and upholstered it in foam-backed, contoured
vinyl. For safety, he built a roll cage of one-inch electrical conduit, with
padding in all the right places. Of course, he took pains to incorporate
a regular automotive seat belt into the design too.
To atone for using the solidly-mounted rear axle, Frank
designed and built a fully independent front suspension consisting of upper
and lower wishbones made from 0.5-inch steel tubing with coil-over shocks.
(The shocks are dummies, but don't tell Chris.) The front suspension is adjustable
for toe,
caster, and camber, just like the real thing. For a real touch of class,
Frank used a polished aluminum and walnut steering wheel.
Since Chris couldn't be relied on to steer with accuracy
and prevent unintended dashes, Frank used a piece of all-thread and a knob
in the right-front suspension to set the car's turning radius. Ever thoughtful
about teaching his grandson the right way to drive, he included springs between
the pitman arm and frame to impart steering "feel" while averting disaster
because the turning circle was fixed by the knob and all-thread. As Chris
matured, Frank connected the pitman arm directly to the tie rods and
removed the all-thread, thus allowing true steering control.
Due to the age of the driver, Frank incorporated an ingenious
form of radio control based on model airplane parts. Charging a recycled
propone tank to 125 psi with compressed air, he used the radio control to
operate a solenoid valve that, in turn, regulated the amount of air released
from the
tank. The compressed air operates paddles that bear against the rear tires,
thus providing braking force and limiting the speed at which Chris could
"drive." Does this count as dynamic stability control?
Frank's only fear was that Chris might become upset by
the engine noise. Instead, to Frank's delight, his normally happy and laughing
grandson adopted a very serious look when strapped into the seat. He only
cried when the vehicle ran out of gas. Since then, three other grandkids
have had their turn and loved the machine too.
It wasn't until Chris was three years old that Frank eliminated
the knob and all-thread so Chris could steer the car. He promptly ran into
the neighbor's Pontiac, at which time Frank realized that he had forgotten
to add Chris to his insurance policy.
Frank built everything but the engine, transmission, and
wheels/tires from scratch. It's a design and construction tour de force that
simply has to be seen to be believed.
Winning Back an Old, and Much-Missed, Love
By Brewster and Sherry Thackeray
Chapter 1: Chasing Lost Love
How often in life do you have the chance to reunite with
a much-loved beauty you never should have allowed to get away? Much less,
find that sweetheart virtually unchanged (or if anything slightly improved)
from when you parted? The problem with owning interesting cars is it's always
hard to say
goodbye. Such was the case when we sold our 1991 164L, Marlena. We'd purchased
the car from her original owners in Ohio with only 48,000 miles on her clock.
During our two-year, 22,000 mile ownership we customized the car with all
black paint (her lower cladding was originally gray), and added
jazzy 164S wheels and a CD changer.
Still, selling Marlena made sense in 2001. Sherry's 50-mile
daily commute was a lot of wear and tear for a semi-exotic car with no warranty
and an unquenchable thirst for synthetic oil. Marlie's power steering rack
had a problem that took two skilled mechanics months to diagnose and repair.
It
seemed pressing that we buy something new and reliable, so we sold her in
June 2001, to a local fellow named Adam.
No more than two months later, Adam posted our Marlie
on the e-Bay online auction site, where she sold (to our surprise) for a
couple of hundred dollars above the respectable amount we'd gotten. We wrote
and introduced ourselves to the new buyer, Mark Milburn, in case he had any
questions about
her proper care and feeding. He shipped Marlie to his home in sunny San Pedro,
Calif., near Los Angeles. He had bought two cars on e-Bay that week, putting
himself in a bit of a bind, and acknowledged he didn't know whether he would
keep the Alfa or not.
Shortly after purchasing the car, Mark made one half-hearted
attempt to sell it, but then changed his mind for a while. He sank a good
bit of money into replacing the front sub-frame, which had somehow gotten
bent, revisited that finicky steering rack, and installed a set of red performance
springs from
International Auto Parts that lowered the car and improved handling. He also
replaced the motor mounts, put on new brakes and rotors, and found an oil
additive that quenched the car's thirst.
But, having several other cars to play with, Mark did
not put many miles on Marlena. In fact she had only 75,000 miles, 5,000 more
than when we had parted, when he re-listed her on e-Bay in January, 2003.
Financially and space-wise, the timing was decent for
us; we had sold our '91 Spider Veloce a couple of months before, and were
down to just one Alfa. But the timing was otherwise awful, as we were headed
off that week for a six-day vacation in St. John. The auction would end on
Sunday afternoon, while we were at an isolated beachfront camp.
Fortunately, rustic Maho Bay Campground knows that many
people cannot live without Internet access these days. They sell 15-minute
sessions on an ancient machine with a dial-up modem, in a gloomy little room,
for $3. We logged on Saturday and were surprised to see Marlie had met her
reserve
at a very modest $3,900. We understood Mark to have a total of more than
$10,000 in the car, so he was risking quite a loss. He'd assured us by e-mail
that she had no major issues, and she sure did look as sharp as ever.
On Sunday, we logged on a half hour before the auction
ended. The price sat at only half what we'd sold her for. An online auction
isn't over until it's over, but with reserve met, and others not knowing
the car as well as we did, things looked good. With two minutes to go, allowing
extra seconds for the ancient computer and Caribbean phone line, Brewster
put in a generous bid. Another bidder bumped us up eight seconds before the
hammer fell, but we came away safely winning this auction. The final price
was
above blue book, but still a major bargain for we who knew this 75,000-mile
car.
Mark was agreeable and quite accommodating for a seller
who was taking a loss. It was just time to move on, and he'd resolved himself
to it. What a gentleman!
We paid for the car through an online credit card service,
PayPal, and made arrangements for airfare. Sure we could have shipped Marlena
for about $700, but a bargain $99 airfare on JetBlue made a cross-country
ramble tempting. We took vacation time and scheduled ourselves for nine days
on the
road, beginning February 8.
We'll chronicle the 3,025-mile cross-country adventure
next month, in Chapter 2.
Meanwhile, we invite everyone to welcome Marlie back into
the Capital Chapter at the March dinner meeting at Pulcinella's!
Do it Yourself Network Shows its Good Taste
by Gavin Corn
Those lucky enough to receive the Do it Yourself Network (DIY) have a wonderful
opportunity to watch a step-by-step resurrection of a 1969 1750 boat-tail
(Duetto) Spider. Showing their good taste in classic vehicles, restoration
and repair experts Kenny Boatman and Ron Ananian (the Car Doctor from WOR
Radio) selected a well-worn Spider for a "better than new" ground up restoration.
DIY captured the entire process on film. While the program has already aired,
DIY regularly rebroadcasts their programs. Also, at the time of writing this
article, I am attempting to convince a friend who receives DIY (and who owned
a 1600 Spider) to record the "engine restoration" episode for the Capital
Chapter. With luck we might be able to share it at the April meeting.
During the program, Boatman extensively covers the process
of restoring an Alfa. Beginning with an assessment of the Spider's condition,
Boatman proceeds to remove and tear down the 1750 engine. Boatman places
special emphasis on issues peculiar to the Spider, covering unique issues
of wear, and discussing the need to methodically inspect, organize, and label
the disassembled parts.
DIY then follows the engine to the machine shop where
it is cleaned and rebuilt to factory specifications. Again, DIY focuses on
unique Alfa features. For example, they detail Alfa's use of cylinder liners,
uncommon to most vehicles, and explain how Alfa cylinders can be replaced,
if necessary, without reboring the engine.
Once back in the shop, Boatman carefully rebuilds an unbelievably
clean and shiny engine with new and renewed parts. The parts themselves are
things of beauty, but when completed, the whole is truly greater than the
sum of the parts!
In a separate episode, DIY covers the refurbishment of
the Spider's suspension and brakes. Boatman provides step-by-step instructions
on the removal, cleaning, and replacement of components such as the springs
and shocks. He also rebuilds the brake system, including the parking brake.
Perhaps the best feature of DIY's program is their website where you can
pull up more detailed instructions on the rebuild. Also included are precise
photos, like those in this article, and a helpful bibliography of restoration
sources. The instructions on the web are linked to a printer friendly version
that can be downloaded for future reference. The web address for the DIY
Alfa restoration project is
http://www.diynet.com/DIY/show/0,1329,DCR,FF.html.
Air times for the program are listed on this site.
While DIY does not sell videos of their programs, I hope
to have obtained a recording of the DIY engine restoration program by the
time this article is printed (unfortunately, the suspension program has already
aired). I encourage everyone who receives DIY to keep your eyes open for
this program, and I, for one, will ask my cable company to start carrying
DIY!
Membership Directory Forthcoming
Our Chapter President has received from the National AROC
a recent member list. We plan to print a list of members, cars, and contact
info in the next newsletter. The club publishes this information nationally
every few years, but our hope is to foster increased connections and interaction
by Chapter
members in the interim.
If for any reason you do not want to be listed, or if
your contact info or cars have changed since November 2002, please advise
me by March 15 at 703/807-0798 or brewthack@aol.com. Thanks!
Windshield Service Works, Member Attests
By Alex Druash, "Miscellaneous" Correspondent
Whenever I come across a good service I like to pass it on to others in the
club!
NOVUS has developed a high tech WINDSHIELD repair that
can make cracks up to 12" long, as well as "star" breaks, "disappear." NOVUS
injects an epoxie under high pressure that directly fills the void in the
crack itself. You can actually watch the crack disappear, as the process
takes place. The cost is reasonable. (I had an 8" crack, and a 3" star repaired
for under $90, far less than a new windshield. The car went right through
inspection!) NOVUS will consider a significant club discount if 4 or 5 cars
could be done at one time. A Saturday meeting point near I-66, in No. Virginia
would be ideal. If you have an interest in this type of repair, e-mail me:
CafeBlueMilano@hotmail.com.
Upcoming Events
Il Calendario
MARCH MEETING
Monday, March 3
Pulcinella's Restaurant, McLean
Directions: Pulcinella's, 6582 Old Dominion Blvd., McLean, VA; 703/893-7777
>From the Capital Beltway (495) take exit 44 (formerly Exit 13) to Georgetown
Pike East. At the light at the top of the hill, take a left and cross over
the Beltway. Make an immediate right onto Rte. 696b, Balls Hill Rd. At the
next light take a left onto Rte. 738, Old Dominion Blvd. Pulcinella's will
be on your left, shortly after going through the next traffic light.
SPRING BACKROADS RAMBLE
Saturday, April 5-Sunday, April 6
Overnight road trip to Spring Grove Farm Inn in Appomattox, VA. It is also
possible to join the drive as a daytrip. See details, Pages 1 and 6. Contact
Sherry or Brewster Thackeray for information, 703/807-0798; twothacks@aol.com
APRIL MEETING
Monday, April 7
Squire's Restaurant, Baltimore
REGIONAL ITALIAN CAR TOUR
Sunday, April 27.
Details will follow in the April newsletter. For now, mark your calendar
and plan to join the fun, driving with Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and lots and
lots of lovely Alfa Romeos, and enjoying lunch with their owners!
2003 DINNER MEETINGS:
Monday, May 5 (Vicino's)
Monday, June 2 (Pulcinella's)
Monday, July 7 or 14
Monday, August 4
Monday, October 6
Monday, November 3
This month's goofy web site: Build your own VW bus!
http://www.halfabrain.co.uk/selecta/selecta.htm
It's time to say goodbye to snow
So dig your Alfa out and go!
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 $45.
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
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for Alfa-related items are free to members of $5 for non-members. Commercial
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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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Talk to jack
if you have comments
last updated: Mar 2003