April Meeting Curborough Sprint Day Auto Italia Day

Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK
East Midlands
Section
Formerly Central & East Midlands
April Meeting
George & Dragon, Thringstone
Wednesday 15 April
* NOTE DATE CHANGE *
Our friends from the local Autoglym franchise
are coming over to the 15 April meeting at the
George & Dragon bringing bargains galore,
including trade sizes of the various liquid
cleaners They’ve also got brushes, microfibre
cloths and drying towels, spray bottles, you
name it, everything to keep your Alfa tip-top.
Please bring CASH as the reception on their
card machine isn’t great at Thringstone.
Curborough
Sprint Day
Wednesday 29 April
Sunday 26 April
The first big outdoor Alfa Romeo gathering of
2015 returns to a very popular venue. The IWM
Duxford is an aviation fan’s paradise, with huge
display hangars, static aircraft features, and
extensive restoration areas, plus a ground warfare
museum too. Make sure you take advantage of
the AROC members’ ticket discount available via
the club’s website www.aroc-uk.com - another
member benefit of course! AROC members will
still be able to pay at a discounted rate at the
gate, but you must have your membership card
with you.
Our Section Convoy Runs to Alfa days are always
popular, and for this one we will meet at the
McDonalds Services near A14 Junction 4
(Rothwell) departing at 8.30am prompt. Please
arrive in good time if you wish to enjoy a breakfast
there before the off.
It’s a straightforward run to the venue then
along the A14 and M11 (past the speed
cameras!), and we expect to arrive in very good
time for the event and to be able to park (roughly)
together. There will be some parking by model too
if you fancy, with Duncan from our Section
organising the MiTo Register parking, for example,
and there will also be a special line up of 916
series cars, celebrating the model’s 21st
anniversary. Please follow directions on arrival if
you want to take part in those area displays.
The Club Shop will be there too, all stocked up
for the new season with merchandise including
shirts, jackets, fleeces and new design brolly.
The huge American Hangar is undergoing
refurbishment but the planes will all still be on
display. The B52 is expected to look superb
outdoors in particular.
At time of writing over 220 advance tickets have
been sold, so we could well be on for 600 Alfas
present again as the Club had when last there in
2011. See photo above. It promises to be another
super season opener anyway.
In other news, please note that we’ve changed
our April meeting night at the George & Dragon to
the 15th. Any change to our ‘second Wednesday
of the month’ meeting rule only happens very
rarely and all local members have been contacted.
We’re announcing yet another new event inside,
thanks to Dave Atkins, the Gliding Centre Open
Day at Husbands Bosworth where we’ve been
invited to form an Alfa Romeo display just as we
regularly do in September at Leicester Airport.
Should be another cracking day. Also, Alan
Lathwell has firmed up on the 17 May visit to
Hallaton Bottle Kicking Cider Co. For both of these,
please let me know if you’re going.
Spring has sprung at last…
Cheers!
John
Inside:
George Cole has kindly booked another Sprint
Experience Day for us at this excellent circuit.
Our 10 car slots went to members several
weeks ago, but if you’d like to come you’ll be
very welcome, and it’s free! Just us Alfisti there
incidentally. This time there are five V6
engined Alfas on track, so lots of noise too!
Auto Italia Day
Brooklands, Sat 2 May
Spring Italian Car Day is always a very
enjoyable event with a host of cars promised at
this fabulous old venue. Pre-booking is advised
(£13 per adult, saving £3 on gate price) at
www.brooklandsmuseum.com, so you can use
the fast-track entrance. Do get there early too
to guarantee best parking with the Alfas, or you
could end up in the mixed area.
Photo from our April 2014 meeting
Alfisti is edited and produced by
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Fox Run
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March Meeting

Alfasud Model Feature
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New Alfas at Geneva Show
e-mail: [email protected]
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MiTo Junior
See our website for latest news and more:
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Our Cars . . . and more
John Griffiths
@AROCeastmids
AROC East Midlands Section Secretary
Tel: 0774 8881317
www.AROC-UK.com/EastMids
Brian Smith at Curborough in 2014
ALFISTI / EASTMIDS
It’s FREE!!
■ Alfisti Issue 174 ■ April 2015
Alfisti’s production sponsored by
March Meeting Night
At The George & Dragon, Thringstone.
Well, what another terrific attendance on a cold damp evening. More than 30 of
us gathered for the March meeting, including two returning members; Graeme
Clark and Joe Jackson, Graeme bringing them over in his superb new Giulietta in
Luna Pearl. We were also delighted that El Presidenté, George Cole, came over too
all the way from Grantham in his 147 and also to see Andy Wallington, our south
London exile! We’re really looking forward to the next meeting at the G&D, now
moved to 15 April, when we can enjoy the start of things outside with our cars and
with the chance to buy Autoglym car cleaning and detailing products at great
prices.
Back to the March evening, and star turn belonged to Paul Jones, AROC 4C
Registrar and Brand Manager for Alfa, Chrysler and Jeep at Chris Variava
Nottingham. Paul gave us a fascinating presentation on Alfa Romeo and the
company’s plans to come, then handling a host of questions too. Excuse me if I
don’t give everything away in print, it’s a bit of a case of ‘you had to be there’, but
I’ve popped a few things in the panel below. Suffice to say, in 30 years of being an
Alfa Romeo owner now, I have never seen such a defined, structured and
believable set of plans for the brand’s future. Sure, there’s still time to wait, but
some great things are in store… John
George (centre) with Alan
Diesel Dave with Andy Wallington
Paul’s presentation….
...focussed on the plans for Alfa Romeo through to 2018. If you’ve read and
ingested FCA boss Sergio Marchionne’s announcements from May of last year,
you’ll know the basis what’s happening; creation of a nine model Alfa Romeo
range by 2018, featuring lightweight supersports (4C), berlinas, SUVs and new
coupés. After managing with a two car range for best part of five years, it still
sounds barely believable. Paul stated that there are plans for the new berlina
(the Giulia name is still not confirmed) to spawn Sportwagon AND a coupé in due
course, and that we will learn a great deal more on Alfa Romeo’s birthday - 24
June - when the Group has promised the big ‘product reveal’. We will have to
wait for the Frankfurt motor show in September then to see the real thing(s).
Substantial changes are also planned for Alfa Romeo’s dealer network, with
work commencing imminently. With the FCA group’s American MOPAR operation
taking over parts and accessories across the beoard, big things are planned for
Alfa Romeo in this area too. As VW Group has learned with thing like the VW
Camper, Karman Ghia and Beetle, there is money to be made from the ‘classic’
community.
In short, it was really great to hear, and delivered really well. Thanks again go
to Paul from all of us there.
Alfa Romeo at the Geneva Motor Show
Get your £59,500 ready!
Alfa Romeo used the Geneva show to launch the European version of the sensational 4C
Spider. It keeps the enclosed headlamps and has a tidier rear bumper arrangement. A dual
-mode Akrapovič exhaust will become an option from April. At a significantly higher price
than the basic coupe, a lot of formerly optional features are now no cost options, including
reversing sensors and cruise control. There are 2 packs available, one for carbon fibre
interior trim items and a the other ‘Racing’ pack with 18/19” wheels, sticky sports tyres
and suspension mods.
Two more Alfa editions too, a MiTo Racing (expected for Europe only) with special tan
leather seats and dark multi-spoke alloys, and a highly-spec Giulietta Collezione, with
gorgeous 2-tone leather seats, 17 alloys with dark 18” 8C Spider style alloys an option.
The U-Connect Nav system is also available. Pricing will be interesting when the car arrives
in UK, signs are it will prove popular. All engines are available, plus the introduction of the
120bhp version of the 1.6 JTDm. We can expect more special editions of both cars.
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
The Alfa Romeo
AlfaSud
John’s first Alfa - a 1979 Alfasud 1.5 Ti,
complete with very much ‘of-the-time’
Pirelli wheel covers back in 1985!
Latest in our features on classic Alfa Romeo models
The Alfasud was quite simply an amazing car. Sporty, practical and with
character by the bucket-load. It’s a fact that many Alfa Romeo fans today
were brought into the fold by way of this car.
It was a revolutionary car for Alfa Romeo, born out of need for the country.
A front wheel drive car, actually built by a new subsidiary company of Alfa and
based in the poor southern region of Italy as part of the labour policy of the
government of the time who owned Alfa Romeo. The car was designed by
Austrian Rudolf Hruska who created a unique engineering package clothed in
a body styled by the maestro Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car was built at a brand
new factory at Pomigliano d’Arco, not far from Naples, hence the car’s name,
Alfa Sud (Alfa South). Pomigliano is producing Fiats and Alfas to this day, but
at a FAR, almost unimaginably, higher quality, Interestingly this was actually
the site of an old factory owned by Alfa Romeo that manufactured aero
engines during WW2 for Savoia Marchettis and the like!
The Alfasud was first shown at the Turin Motor Show in 1971 and was
immediately praised by journalists for its crisp modern styling. The 4-door
saloon looked like hatchback, though that feature was not to arrive until
1981. It made small saloon cars of the time look ancient overnight. Initially it
featured an 1186cc Boxer 4-cylinder engine, giving the car an aerodynamic
low bonnet line plus a low centre of gravity. It also benefitted from an (of the
time) elaborate suspension set up with MacPherson struts front and a beam
axle with Watt’s linkage at the rear. Surprisingly, given the car’s light weight, it
also featured four wheel disc brakes, inboard mounted at the front for low unsprung weight. The rears did very little work and were prone to seizure
however. Controls were unorthodox with lights, horn, indicators, wipers and
heating fan all operated by pulling, turning or twisting just 2 column stalks!
People talk about ’decluttering’ nowadays - this was button removal in ’72!
At the end of ‘73 a sporty 2 door Ti version (Turismo Internazionale—famed
race classification of the time) was launched with twin-choke carb an
attractive 4 headlamp grille, a very trendy upturned rubber boot spoiler and
front air dam. It looked superb! A 5-speed ‘box also appeared all giving the
diminutive car a top speed of 100mph - very fast for its time. The press went
MAD for the car’s handling too – cornering as if on rails with sublime balance.
Its raspy engine note was unique too, with a 4 branch manifold helping to give
all manner of crackles and pops on over-run, and multi-choke carbs giving
wonderful induction noises. It was utterly addictive for enthusiasts.
Alfa added more 4-door versions including SE, L (Lusso), 5M and Super,
plus a bigger capacity 1.3 version. A 3 door estate (Giardinetta) also
appeared for Europe in 1975.
In 1976 the sharply-styled Sprint coupe appeared, similar in design to the
Alfetta Coupe. This featured a hatch, but no folding rear seats (!), and a more
powerful 1286 cc engine which also went into the Ti saloon. In 1978 the
Sprint and Ti got a new 1350cc and 1490cc versions too. The Ti received
‘Series 2’ revisions at the end of 1978 with wheelarch extensions, new rear
spoiler and seat trim. Significant revisions were made to the saloons and Tis
in 1980 with plastic bumpers, new instrument panel, head and tail lamps.
Engines were upgraded in power again, with 1490cc version gaining twin
weber carbs and giving 95bhp. A true hatchback soon appeared then on the
saloons too. 5 and 3 doors were available in UK in SC spec and there was a 5
-door twin carb Gold Cloverleaf version, complete with headlamp wipers! In
1983 the Ti was further modified to 105bhp in the Green Cloverleaf 3-door
and Sprint Green Cloverleaf form, the latter gaining side body mouldings,
speckled green seats with mesh headrests and green carpets. Eye-catching!
Despite the Alfasud’s advanced design they suffered build quality issues
and gained a terrible reputation for rust. AR GB made sure many were Dinitrol
or Ziebart rust protected, but often the problem was already there with badly
protected body shells from the off. There are various theories proffered – a
poorly skilled labour force building them badly, body panels with zero inside
protection, poor quality Russian steel... the truth probably covers all factors.
In 1983, the Alfa 33 replaced the Alfasud saloons and Tis, basically a major
re-body on closely similar running gear but with simplified braking.—outboard
front discs and drums on the back, with front anti roll-bars dropped. The first
versions were sadly nothing like as good to drive as the ‘Suds. The Sprint
coupé soldiered on, a 1712cc 118bhp engine arriving in 1987 that had real
poke. Veloce versions gained a rather cumbersome body-kit (very much ‘of
the time’) and 33 running gear. Production finally ended in 1989.
In close, the Alfasud is a truly fabulous thing – often voted as ‘the car of the
70s’. Despite the rust and build-related maladies you just never find anyone
who owned one who didn’t love it. Today under 300 remain in the UK, roadregistered and on SORN, and quite rightly their values are now beginning to
rise. If you ever get opportunity to ride in one, or better still drive one, PLEASE
grab it. It’s a truly tremendous, unique experience,
I will never forget my ‘79 Series 2 1.5 Ti, my first Alfa, followed by 2 more
’Suds. It was just so joyous to drive, so full of spirit. Oh to have it back… John
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
Bryan Alexander’s wonderful Sprint Trofeo—a limited edition version of an early
series Alfasud Sprint with twin-carn1.5 95 bhp engine, named after the European
AlfaSud Trophy Race Series. One of 2 RHD Trofeo models left in the UK!
Left—Wayne Bell’s late model
Alfasud 1.5 Green Cloverleaf with non-standard alloys. Below,
the clean original Alfasud Sprint
1,5 Veloce of Peter Vaughn
contrasts with the Zender bodykitted late model 1.7 Sprint to its
right.
The Silver car is the last version
of the 5-door Berlina, the Gold
Cloverleaf. Bottom rigt an early 4
-door Alfasud Super,
Above, the Europe-only estate version
‘Giardinetta’ or ‘Little Gardener.’ (Don’t mention
Austin Allegro Estate!)
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
Our scenic navigational drive across
North Leicestershire
After a very enjoyable run across the south of the county last year, we
switched to the north this time. The route was a combination of things
from my own experience, previous runs with Brian Smith and some
additions from Alan Lathwell. Anyway Alan and I did the recce in some
glorious sunny weather the week before, and though the distance ended
up a tad over original plan at 80 miles (that’s maps for you!), it was still
expected to take the target 2 1/2 hours given it included some long fast stretches.
With route guides produced including ‘Tulip’ turn instructions, distances in miles
and kilometres, we were all set…
Sunday 29 March was the morning of the clock change with us all losing an
hour’s sleep, still, all was planned as a relaxing day so there was no need to rush to
get to the start point, the Donington Park Services. Very sadly after days of dry
weather, we were hit full in the face by a weather front, and by 9 is was very windy
and beginning to rain. Danielle Kisby who runs the club shop was navigating for
Matt Yousuff and had kindly brought along several of the new AROC brollies - which
proved very handy at the start.
After a hearty breakfast, cars were released at intervals from around 10am.
Simon and Jason Drury were first off in Simon’s gloriously riotous 3.0 GTV, in which
they plan a our of Italy in June. They will hear them coming! Haha.
We were delighted to great new members Steve & Nikki Weston in Steve’s late
model 2.4 156 (Nikki has a Giulietta too but was on navigator duty, Also, John and
Wendy Baker in their Brera 2.2 S which had been on the NEC show stand last
November. On the classic Alfa front, Dave and Chris Atkins were giving their 1970
Giulia 1300Ti a first ‘AROC’ Run (what a time-warp machine!) and Peter and Linda
Farley were not about to be beaten by a bit of damp with their ‘57 Giulietta Spider
either! Nick Everard brought his super GTV6 along too with son Hugo following
close behind in his 147. We were also pleased to see Steve Ball and Nadine down
from Derbyshire in their 156 GTA Sportwagon. These were the masterminds
behind past Peak Alfa Runs; our threat of giving them a ‘challenging’ set of
instructions as their dastardly ones had been didn’t materialise though—we’re too
kind. Ha ha!
So, including my ‘course car’, we had 20 Alfas along which was great. The route
took in some wonderful places like Bredon on the Hill, Melbourne and Ticknall,
working down to Packington then back up past the George & Dragon at
Thringstone, where Alan and I got many passing photos, before heading off to
Bradgate park, Rothley, Quorn and Charnwood before hooking back to Shepshed
then round through Sutton Bonnington to Kegworth, round past the north side of
East Midlands Airport / Castle Donington and finishing at the Donington Grand Prix
Collection.
At the finish we waited for everyone to gather, being hit by a heck of a rainstorm,
before enjoy a lunch in the café and a tour of the superb exhibition area.
Though not a perfect day for driving Spider. It was still enjoyed by all, and not one
person got really lost—despite my deliberate miss-matched ‘left-right’ direction!
Thanks to everybody for taking part - The Fox Run will return!! John
Photos above, clockwise from top: Cars at the finish - Brian Smith’s Brera & Simon
Drury’s GTV; Peter Farley’s Giulietta; Nick Everard’s GTV6; John Baker’s Brera; Colin
Davenport’s Spider starts a line up at the start.
Photos above, clockwise from top left; Dave & Chris
Atins in the Giulia 1300 Ti; Grame & Shona in Spider V6;
Simon and Jason Drury in GTV V6 (You could still hear it
the other side of Thringstone!) Father and son, Nick and
Hugo Everard in GTV6 and 147 respectively; Duncan and
Lynda Langford in MiTo SBK.
All photos by John G - lots more on our website
www.aroc-uk.com/eastmids
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
Above from top: Colin Davenport pressing on in his Spider S4
John’s Giulietta at the photo stop point (G&D car park!) Sadly pub
wasn’t open then!
Keith & the Krog’s in his SZ - goes without saying he was pressing
on!
Above from top: It was a tad damp at the finish!
Matt Yousuf enjoing his MiTo Cloverleaf—as always!
Part of the extensive racing car displays at The Donington
Collection.
Above from top: Graham Clarke enjoying his Giulietta
Jason Hood in his red Giulietta
The wonderful Alfa 179 from 1980, Andrea De Cesaris’ mount.
NEW EVENT - Glider Centre Open Day, 7 June
Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
AROC East Midlands invited to form an Alfa Display
The Leicester Aero Club have asked us along to support the day, similar to the
popular event we attend at Leicester Airport, which takes place this year still
on 6 September.
The glider stunt displays at last year’s
Leicester Airport event were simply
spectacular, swooping so low directly
overhead… Imagine being on board!
We will publish more information in the next edition, but expect a fascinating
day where there will be opportunity to enjoy a pleasure flight in one of the
spectacular gliders.
If you’d like to attend, please let John know so we can organise the correct
space. Importantly, you will need to give your car registration number. All Alfas
are welcome, we just ask that they are clean and smartly presented as it is
designed as a public display.
SECTION GIULIETTA LINE-UP planned for
13 May Meeting at George & Dragon, Thringstone
Back when our Central Midlands Section was re-launched in 1995 (Central is
now part of East Midlands Section & vice-versa) the most popular newer model
among the membership was the Alfa 155. A few of us now will remember the
occasional line-ups we made of those for photos. With Alfa’s rather restricted
range of new models (OK, very restricted), we’ve decided to try and capture a
similar thing. SO - if you have a ‘new’ Giulietta, please bring it over to our May
meeting and we’ll make a special line of them in the paddock area for a photo
‘shoot’.
All other Alfas are of course welcome, it goes without saying, and we’re also
going to have a ‘blag-a-ride’ where you can request a passenger spin in
another’s car. For example, if you’ve not experienced what a TCT gearbox is
like, or a Bertone Coupe, or a heard howling Busso V6, this is your chance.
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
Though not by design, but the last Section Giulietta
line up was at Coventry in 2013. Loads more between us now...
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
On the cheap . . .
MiTo - Back to Basics
Now, we’re always advised by
the Detailing product suppliers
not to use household cleaners,
reason being many contain
aggressive detergents that can
strip away wax protection, or
even abrasives for shifting
’baked on dirt’ - washing up liquids being a great example,
how I cringe when I hear about people cleaning their car with
fairy liquid! Hands that do dishes aren’t as soft as your paint!!
Anyway, son David discovered an interesting tip on the fabled
‘Detailing World’ forum - Flash All Purpose Cleaner. It would
appear that many pro-Details swear by the stuff for shifting
dirt under bonnet or from muddy feet in foot-wells, or general
door shuts. Importantly it needs to be diluted with water 10:1.
Loaded up in a trigger spray bottle and you’re away. It even
smells good too!
I’ve just had a good go with it on my Giulietta and have to
say its worked superbly in the drivers foot-well that had
numerous muddy marks on the plastic trim, pedals, rubber
foot mat and foot rest. A good spray-dousing and follow up
with a microfibre (one I’d
used for dusting that was
due for a wash anyway.)
It brought it all up to a
great clean, then I
finished off by dressing
plastic with Meguiar’s
Interior Detailer spray
that’s a nice low-gloss.
Good as new. AS I keep
saying DON’T use
dressing on your pedals
and floor matts though or
you’ll be slipping over
everywhere! (How about
that, a Detailing Corner
and I didn’t mention
AutoGlym once! ….
Oops.) John
Alfa reintroduce entry models
Alfa Romeo culled its lower priced MiTos in the UK
around 18 months ago as part of a range re-jig,
however clearly there have been second thoughts.
The Progression trim level has been brought in,
starting at a base price of £12,760 (before any offers,), with the also re-introduced 78bhp
1.4 8v engine (a really solid, gutsy unit incidentally), £13,770 with the hugely characterful
105bhp TwinAir, and £ with the multi-award winning 85bhp 1.3 JTDm. On top of this, the
Junior arrives, a model at one point we thought would only be in Europe. In 1.3 JTDM form
the base price is £15,415 and in 105bhp TwinAir guise £14,870. (The 78bhp unit is
unavailable on the Junior.) The Junior revives the name originally seen on some Giulia
Coupe models in the 1970s - named after
a race team incidentally. The Monika was
also used on 145 and 146 ‘run-out’
models before the 147s introduction.
White trim details are an smart
addition, especially the 17” multi spoke
alloys, and inside the theme continues
with splashes of bright trim and a QV style
leather steering wheel. All in all it makes
a very attractive, and clearly ‘fun’ car. It’s
good to see the introductory models back.
Used Alfa Romeo Spotlight
For the best AROC Member deals,
call Alfa Sales on 0115 855 3060
431-461 Nottingham Rd, Basford, Nottingham, NG6 0FB - Dozens of used Alfas in stock, here are a few highlights chosen by John G...
£11,945
Very popular version of the 159 with refined 170bhp JTDm engine.
£16,695
Features full red leather trim and the superb 9 speaker BOSE hi-fi
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
£13,995
Good saving over list price for an ‘as new’ latest version Alfa.
Sensational Launch Edition model in the
£25,995
amazing matt grey. Diffuser, spoilers, big
pipes, TCT, paddle shift, 240bhp, 0-60 6.0 secs…. Superb!
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
AROC East Midlands Section Events 2015
Date
Activity
Wednesday 15
April from 7pm
Meeting night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone. Our local
AutoGlym franchise will be there too with bargains galore!! Starts from 7pm
PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE - Now 15 April, not the 8th.
Sunday 26
April
AROC Spring Alfa Day - Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Section convoy drive meets at
A14 services near J4 (Rothwell) to depart at 8.30 sharp. See cover
Wednesday 29
April, 9.305pm
Curborough Sprint Experience - we’re going back! El Presidenté, George Cole, has
booked this fabulous circuit for us to enjoy again. A full days action 9.30am to 5pm. Car
track spaces now gone - spectators free.
Saturday 2
May
Auto Italia Brooklands. The excellent multi-marque event close to the capital. Special
Alfa Romeo parking area. Plan to get there early to guarantee a good parking spot.
Weds 13 May
from 7pm
Regular Meeting night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone. We’re planning a ‘Blag-aRide’ night at this one where you can request a passenger ride around the local lanes.
***NEW***
Sun 17 May,
from 11am.
Visit to The Bottle Kicking Cider Company, Hallaton. Starts 11am at the Cider
Makers’ property, followed by a tour round the new village museum. Cost for the Cider visit
to include nibbles, is £5 payable on day. Limited to 16 places, you MUST book via John.
Tues19 May
from 7pm
Classic Car Meeting at Beedles Lake Golf Centre, Nr Leicester. Meeting up with the
Leicester Region of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. 170 Broome Lane East Goscote,
Leicester LE7 3WQ All Alfas welcome, classic or modern, and others Classic makes.
Sun 31 May
AutoKarna car show - Wollaton Park, Nottingham. Park in general parking area - head for
Chris Variava Alfa/Chrysler/Jeep at around 1pm where all members will be made welcome.
***NEW***
Sun 7 June
Glider Club Day - at Husbands Bosworth Glider Club. Similar (but different) to the
Leicester AeroClub day on 6 September, we will have a display area just for Alfas and
chance of glider flights for a charitable donation.
Weds 10 June
from 7pm
Fun Concours Night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone, from 7pm. Our ever popular event where all Alfas present are automatically entered and everyone gets to vote!
Sunday 21
June
AROC National Alfa Day - Gawsworth Hall nr Macclesfield. Section convoy drive meets at
Donington Park Services, M1 J23A, departing at 8am sharp for a scenic drive to the event.
Sunday 29
June
Summertime Classics. Auto Italia event at Stanford Hall near Lutterworth. This year ’s
event promises an extra special Concours contest too with some terrific cars displayed.
Weds 8 July
from 7pm
Summertime Spin at our monthly meeting night the George & Dragon, Thringstone.
(We will defer the Fun Concours night to this date in event of rain on the June night.)
Friday 31 July
Classic Car Night - Melton Mowbray. Around 50 Classic Cars gather in the town
centre from 5pm ‘til Dusk. Classic Alfa Romeos (over 25 years old or thereabouts) can
simply join in with the rest of us parking up nearby. We will converge on a pub afterwards!
Weds 12 Aug
from 7pm
Barbecue Night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone. Josh, Paul and the team will
be putting on a special BBQ for us at a very fair price. There’s a covered outdoor area too
in case of summer showers! More details in the summer.
Sunday 16
August
MITCAR (Midlands Italian Car Day). Deene Park, Northants, NN17 3EE.
The 15th edition is at a new venue again! Just £10 per car. See our website for more.
Sunday 6
September
Leicester Aero Club Open Day - at Leicester Airport, Gartree Road. Including special Alfa
Romeo parking, aircraft displays, chance for free pleasure flights. Free admission.
Weds 9 Sep
from 7pm
Twilight Drive at the George & Dragon, Thringstone. Our last outdoor evening of
the season will take in a scenic drive at dusk.
Weds 14 Oct
form 7.30pm
AGM & Alfa Quiz at The George & Dragon in Thringstone - starting at 7.30pm
We will be electing our committee, reviewing the year’s events and looking forward to
2016, all followed by a fun multiple choice quiz with nice prizes.
TBC Oct
Karting Night - Details later in the year
Weds 11 Nov
Meeting night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone from 7.30pm
13-15 Nov
Classic Motor Show - NEC Birmingham. AROC stand featuring historic Alfa Romeos and
something new. Our Section members will be helping on the stand as normal.
Weds 9 Dec
Meeting night at the George & Dragon, Thringstone from 7.30pm
Gazetta
News Snippets
NEXT GIULIETTA GOES REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Alfa Romeo boss, Harald Wester, at
Geneva motor show spoke of rear-wheel
drive, saying "II really like the idea of being
the only ones to offer a C segment sedan
with rear-wheel drive", thus confirming that
the new Giulietta will have it. The reference
to "other" refers to the German premium
brands, who have or are converting to
front-wheel drive or 4x4 in the segment.
No word on dates - probably earliest 2018.
Wester also spoke about hybrids, which
was started in the Group by Ferrari of
course!
IS YOUR EMAIL ADRESS UP TO DATE?
AROC central is getting a significant
number of bounce
-backs from
inactive email
addresses. John
gest the list to
help with local
broadcast
messages , so If
you’ve not updated your address you could
miss out on things, like notifications of
events and date changes. To update,
simply drop a note to John at
[email protected] and he’ll sort it.
SECTION FUNDS & BANK ACCOUNT
Just a note of thanks to our Chairman,
Bryan Alexander, who has jumped through
numerous hurdles to get a new online
business account set up for our Section
with HSBC. Now any support we have from
AROC Central (for things like stamps for
Alfisti) can be paid in electronically there,
and we’re not juggling funds in personal
accounts. Our Section is never run for
profit of course - but we do have funds
generated through certain events like
MITCAR to cover expenses like stationary,
prizes, signs etc. We of course rely heavily
on our supporters like Chris Variava,
Engine Services, Goodyear/Dunlop,
IntaServices… Anyway, many thanks
Bryan! John
Oops...
Parking for tortoises???
More to be added during the coming months. Please keep an eye on our website!
The Small Print: Alfisti is published primarily for the enjoyment of members of the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club East Midlands Section.
Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham supports the cost of Alfisti’s printed production carried out at cost rate by a Section Member’s company.
Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club UK ltd cannot endorse or recommend services or products advertised in its publications. Any opinions published in
‘Alfisti’ or its sister website, Twitter account or other broadcasts are personal ones. Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club Ltd registered Number 01106134.
Please contact John Griffiths if you have any queries about the Club or our active local Area Section. See cover for contact details.
ALFISTI - April 2015 - Issue 174
AROC East Midlands Section Newsletter
GTV 3.0 V6 - Martin Lindus
Paul Balchin Giulietta
New member
Paul met us at the finish of the Fox
Run in his Chris Variava supplied
Giulietta 170 JTDm Veloce. It’s a very
high-spec ex-AR UK Management car
with leather, Xenons, Bose, Brembos
etc. Basically a really lovely car. Its his
first Alfa too - and he really likes it!
Good on ya Paul.
Martin has owned his GTV for 15 years now, and it is another one we term ‘a
keeper’. Over time he’s made some subtle upgrades. among which are
modified brakes, a very growly Wizard exhaust and Q2 Limited Slip Diff. It’s
often now used for
enjoyable runs to
Europe (he and
Jacqui having a
place in France),
which included the
trek to Milano for
Alfa’s Centenary,
plus the odd track
day where even at
16 years of age it
performs superbly. A
true modern Classic.
(The GTV too.)
159Ti Sportwagon - Steve Bestwick
156 2.4 JTDm Veloce - Steve Weston
500 Abarth Cabrio Competizione - Chris Atkins
Giulietta Distinctive - Graham Clark
After a dalliance with a remarkably cheap 156 Sportwagon, Steve has got this
very smart 159 as a daily driver, sending this picture of the car “earning its
keep” up in
Northumbria
recently. It’s a
170bhp 2.0
JTDm, has “a
few miles” on
it but drives
great by all
accounts. It’s a
tad dirty here,
but in white
looks terrific.
White roof bars
too which are
very unusual.
Yes, it’s not an Alfa, but it could have been MUCH worse as Chris /Dave Atkins
had potential idea of buying a non-Italian car to replace Chris’s 3rd Giulietta 1.6
in a row! In the
end the Abarth
won out. The
Competizione has
a very high kit list
and a bonkers 1.4
T-Jet engine with
160bhp and a
proper, er, ‘Girl
Racer’ exhaust
too! A great car
we’re sure Chris is
going to love
driving.
Steve and Nicki joined us on the Fox Run at the end of march, choosing to
bring Steve’s 156 - Nicki runs a Giulietta. It’s a very tidy car, and really set
off by the ‘Ti’
alloy
wheels,
recently
obtained via
eBay for just
£200! With
175bhp as
standard
these are
rapid cars
too with a
great 5cylinder
‘thrum’.
Graham has recently re-joined AROC with partner Joe Jackson. Graham
previously ran a
1.6 JTDm
Giulietta Veloce
to over 130,000
miles with no
issues, so no
wonder he got
another one! In
Luna Pearl with
some lovely
extras in the form
of 18” alloys and
Brembo brakes,
the Alfa looks
quite superb.
- SCOOP! -
ES30 SZ - Keith Krog
Keith, pictured centre here with his and Alan Lathwell on his left, has owned his
might 3.0 SZ since new, buying the car brand new in Switzerland, complete with
winter tyres! It is still one of the lowest mileage examples in the country and in
superb condition. Keith is planning a few bits of under bonnet tidying, for
example the sound proofing under the bonnet never wants to stay attached, but
other than that
‘Il Mostro’ (The
Monster as the
Italians call it)
needs very little.
It’s a very
special car and
a definite
‘keeper’. Values
finally rising,
with an as-new
one with under
400 miles
fetching
£85,000 at a
recent auction in
the Midlands!
Unusual news from the world of motoring
Car washes can be a risky business . . .
Scoop is not entirely
sure you should clean
a car interior like
this…
(Back to the Job
Centre…)
Alfisti’s production is kindly sponsored by Chris Variava Alfa Romeo Nottingham
Alfisti no.175 will be out in May