Alfantics articles...

Alfantics October 2003 Stories

October Promises TSD Rally, Tour,

Rockville Car Show

Our monthly dinner meeting will be at Vicino's this month. Harlan Hadley, who recently served as a judge at the Radnor Hunt Concours (see Page 4), will be our speaker, telling of his experience. As always the dinner meeting is open to all members and guests, and folks are welcome to arrive before
the official 8 p.m. start time.

TSD RALLY OCTOBER 12

For the past several years, Jack Rugh has treated the club to a TSD Rally. Time, speed, distance--that's the TSD, all elements being relevant to placing high among the entrants. This year, another Chapter member, Bob Rowan, has undertaken organizing this enjoyable event. It will be held on Sunday, Oct. 12,
starting near Annapolis. The meeting location is the Park & Ride lot at Exit 16 from Route 50, the Davidsonville Road Exit, about 10 miles west of Annapolis.
Registration starts at 9:00 a.m., and cars will head out by around 9:30. Bob notes that gas or food will not be available near the start, so fill up on both in advance! The drive will be about 60 miles and 1.5 hours. At trip's end, participants can stay for lunch at Pirate's Cove restaurant, on the waterfront in Galesville.  For more information or to register, contact Bob Rowan,
410/421-5021, or rrowan@fm.umaryland.edu.

FALL ITALIAN CAR TOUR

Kevin Sims of the Lamborghini Club has been building the regional Italian Car Tour into a great and popular event each spring. More than 20 Alfa owners took part this spring, enjoying the opportunity to drive and dine with each other and drivers of Ferraris, Fiats, Maseratis, DeTomasos, Lancias, etc.
Kevin has decided to give a Fall event a try. Mark your calendar for Sunday, Oct. 26. The tour is to begin at the familiar starting line, Criswell Chevrolet/Lamborghini, Gaithersburg, but end at a different
location, a hotel where there will be a buffet lunch catered by Red Hot & Blue, a barbecue joint.
Kevin has shared the following details: it starts at 10 a.m., with cars departing by 11 from Criswell. The roads will be different from the Spring tours. Cost is $38 per person. If you are interested, either contact
him directly, at lamboeast@aol.com, or 703/791-3635. Or, the Thackerays will have updated information and can put you in touch with Kevin; TwoThacks@aol.com or 703/807-0798.
It happens our chapter member Bob Lubran lives very near the starting line for the Italian Car Tour at Criswell's, at 115 Leekes Lot Way in Gaithersburg. He has generously invited club members to stop by his house, starting about 9 a.m., for coffee, bagels, etc. Bob can be reached at kentlands115@hotmail.com or 301/527-9405.

ROCKVILLE SHOW OCTOBER 18

On October 18, catch the Rockville Car show! Always a great time. Details on back cover, and in September's issue.

WINE TOUR

October got busy! Chapter President John Kay's annual vineyard tour has been delayed until Saturday Nov. 2. Details to follow.

FERRARI CLUB EVENT

Last year the Ferrari Club invited us to join in a great event in Maryland. We must have behaved, because Mark and Jean Blace, members of both clubs, have invited us back! It starts with breakfast at 9:30, a rally from 11 to 2, and then a lunch at the lovely Old Field Inn in Prince Frederick. Contact
the Blaces at 410/414-3996 or blacefamily@chesapeake.net.

NOVEMBER TRACK DAY

Looking ahead to November: Bill McFarland shares that there are already three Italian cars (a Fiat Brava, Fiat Spider, Alfa Milano) going to the November 7 "Friday at the Track" school, at Summit Point's new Shenandoah Circuit. If anybody else wants to sign up they can be confident that they
won't be there alone. November 7th is the last FATT of the year at the new course (see
http://www.bsr-inc.com/SCHEDREC.HTM). If you haven't been to a FATT before,
Bill advises you might want to read up on the driving school at:
http://www.bsr-inc.com/FATT.HTM. And if you have been to a FATT before, the
only information he could find on the new Shenandoah circuit is at
http://www.dcsportbikes.net/modules.php?p=modload&name=News&file= article&sid=65 Bill would be happy to coordinate a list of people interested in going. Plan on registering yourself using the directions on the FATT website. Contact him at: 240/631-2894 or bmacfarl@fastmail.fm.

What a Lovely Picnic!

There were a plethora of nifty Alfas and the fun people who drive them at the Mellors' house in Vienna on Sept. 6.  Paul Davidson brought his stunning Sprint Speciale, which Harlan Hadley, a judge at an upcoming concours, gave him points for showing at Hershey. Jack Rugh drove up in the factory fresh (even the paint) 1973 GTV of which he is the original owner. Barb Jones came in a red 164S--but not the one she's owned since new. Realizing she couldn't find a new car she likes better, she tracked
down a much lower mileage replacement many states away. Jay Hinton and Megan Caverly drove another Italian make, a vintage Lancia berlinetta. Of course, there was also a neat collection of Milanos, 164s, and Spiders of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.  The food was tasty and bountiful. Kudos to the many fine chefs and presenters in our club! Bill Oliveri's Chinese dishes balanced out many traditional and innovative Italian ones. Members were sorry to miss John and Kathleen Kay as John was ill,
but we're glad to report he says he's well along the road to recovery. Thanks to Brad and Maggie Mellor for hosting this wonderful annual event once again, even though it fell on the eve of their major home
renovation and expansion!

Driving a New 166 -- on U.S. soil, no less!

by Sherry Thackeray, Vice President
I love my 164L. But it kills me that our friends in Europe are enjoying the next generation of stylish, state-of-the-art Alfas while we can only dream what they are like.  Well, my dream became a reality up in Radnor, thanks to a very kind gentleman who is part of a team working to import these Italian beauties. This metallic blue beauty was a 1999 166 sedan, with about 50,000 miles -- driven both in Italy and the U.S. -- already under its belt. The 166 is Alfa's largest sedan, and it appears larger and lower than the 164. It's styling is a logical extension both of the 164 it replaced in 1999, and its smaller sibling, the 156. The shallow, rounded coves that run the body length are a contrast from the more angular ones on the 164. The headlights are small and set far apart, making the front end look quite wide, while highlighting the prominent Alfa grille in the center.
The taillights are narrow and fluidly shaped. 17-inch wheels and lowered springs increased the sporting stance of this large and powerful sedan.  What could it be compared to currently on the U.S. market? Probably a Jaguar S-Type or BMW 5-series would be its logical competitor. Inside, the car feels special, much like the 164. Seats are a nice, soft leather. Reflecting the exterior, the dashboard and other interior moldings are much more softly angled than the older car's. The rear seat headroom is much improved. Unfortunately in my opinion, Alfa chose to move the power windows from the center console to the door, as appears to be the trend.
The car drives wonderfully. It's 3.0 liter V6 looks like the one we've known and loved for more than a decade, chrome pipes and all, but it puts out well over 200 horses and really makes this car sail. Handling and responsiveness were outstanding. The six-speed gearshift was smooth and crisp.
Having seen the car before in Europe, and now sat in and driven it, I believe there is at least as much a market for it, in perhaps the $40-50,000 range, as there was for the $30,000+ 164 a dozen years ago. With a good dealer network, more!
It was impressive to see this new car -- acutally a four year-old design -- getting a huge share of attention among the glorious classics at Radnor, especially from Alfisti.
The folks in Pennsylvania are looking into importing several Alfa models. They have lined up a firm to give the cars two-year warranties. It's promising, though prices and other details remain to be set.
Personally, I'd rather have a smaller 156 or a new Spider. But for a stylish executive, I can't think of a better chariot than this new 166!

California Dreamin'

by Brewster Thackeray, Editor
Driving down the California coast, from Jenner (North of San Francisco) to Los Angeles late last month, I missed my Spider as much as I ever have. The rental Mustang convertible didn't measure up. I mean, sure it had a power top and windows, functioning A/C, and a nice stereo. It was even tomato red.
But it couldn't corner worth a darn, its A pillars were far too wide and its rear haunches too high for visibility, and it had a lazy automatic transmission. Just not the best car for some of the finest Alfa roads in the world.
But at least I did get to see some the Alfas on the road, their drivers having the fun I coveted. There was a whole flock of them along a roadside in tiny Felton, including a lovely purple Berlinetta and a silver
GTV6. A little silver '70s Spider was parked alluringly at a rest stop by the Golden Gate Bridge. A fellow who looked like a bearded UCLA professor cruising along the 405 near LA in a red Kamm-tailed Spider. The best, though, was a Giulietta Spider, also red of course, that blew past in the other direction on an ever-green shaded road near Napa.
I've driven Route 1 along the Pacific in two Mustangs, a Chrysler Sebring, a '95 Thunderbird, and during college, my bumper sticker-covered 1984 Cavalier hatchback. But someday, I look forward to being that guy other folks are passing in the Alfa. There couldn't be a better place for it! Give me a month off, and I will buy a Spider in Seattle, drive it to LA, then scoot back across the country... or, maybe, stay out west!


Upcoming Events

Il Calendario

OCTOBER DINNER MEETING
Monday, October 6
Vicino Ristorante Italiano
Silver Spring, Md.
Speaker: Harlan Hadley will share his experiences as a judge at the Radnor
Hunt Concours last month.
Meeting is 8:00 p.m. but many arrive earlier.
Directions to 959 Sligo Ave., Silver Spring, Md.; 301/588-3372
>From the Capital Beltway, take exit 31 South, onto Georgia Avenue South.
Sligo Avenue is the 6th street on the left, after Route 29 (Colesville Rd).
There is a left hand turn lane and traffic light at Sligo Ave. Sligo Ave. is
just before the underpass forthe Railroad/Metro Bridge. At the light, take a
left onto Sligo Ave. Vicino's is on the left.

TSD RALLY
Sunday, October 12
See Details, above

ROCKVILLE CAR SHOW
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003
Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center Park, Rockville, Md.
Rain date: Oct. 25
Car registration: $10. Cars must be 1978 and earlier, not customized. The
show is free to spectators.

ITALIAN CAR TOUR
Sunday, October 26
Gaithersburg, Md. start point.
See details, Page 1.

CHAPTER WINE TOUR
Sunday, Nov. 2

FERRARI TOUR
Sunday, Nov. 2 (see above)

NOVEMBER DINNER MEETNG
Monday, Nov. 3, location TBD

FRIDAY AT THE TRACK
Friday, November 7
Summit Point's Shenandoah Circuit
See details, Page 7.

SPRING BACKROADS RAMBLE
Friday-Sunday, May 21-23, 2004
Appomattox , VA
For inn details, see www.springgrovefarm.com. To register and reserve,
contact Sherry or Brewster, 703/807-0798 or TwoThacks@aol.com.

Moe's Alfa jalopy does great on the curves
Though its rusted out frame rails are stressing his nerves


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last updated: May 2003