Alfas Vicino Il Mare

2007-02-03T09:52:00.000-05:00

Alfas Vicino Il Mare Has Moved!

New Blog For Hampton Roads Alfa Romeo Club

2007-01-30T20:12:00.000-05:00

To all ALFISTI in the Hampton Roads Area:

I have moved the club blog to the MAARC server. All the posts you see here have been transferred there, but I will no longer post any new club information here.

For all you long time readers, plus any others of you that have stumbled over this site, please note the addresses for the new club blog (both will get you there - just click on them):

http://alfasbythesea.com

http://hr.mid-atlantic-aroc.com

It was fun - but now it's going to be better!

Ciao,
Rick Triebwasser

Advice for Cheating Wife

2007-01-24T19:07:00.000-05:00

Dear Abby,

I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision. I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs...phone rings but, if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, "Just some friends from work, you don't know them." I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she always walks down the drive. I can hear a car driving off, as if she has gotten out of the car round the corner. Why? Maybe she wasn't in a taxi? I once picked her cell phone up just to see what time it was. She went berserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again and why was I checking up on her. Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Alfa Romeo Spider next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole street when she came home.
It was at that moment, crouching behind my Alfa, that I noticed that the oil pan on my engine seemed to be leaking a little oil. Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it to a specialist?

Thanks, Bob

British Car Show Same day as Wine Tour

2007-01-22T21:03:00.000-05:00

AACA Annual Swap Meet

2007-01-22T20:58:00.000-05:00

2007 VA Wine Tour 20-22 April

2007-01-17T04:58:00.000-05:00

Ok, now that winter has finally arrived, it’s time to think of spring!

Entering it’s second decade - this year’s Virginia Wine Tour will be held on 20-22 April in Charlottesville. Complete event details will be posted when finalized, but will generally follow the same format as in year’s past. Don’t miss this great annual MAARC event!

Room reservations are available now at the English Inn under the "Alfa Romeo Car Club" special group rate of $89.99 a night. See info below to reserve yours:

Group Name: Alfa Romeo Car Club (Group #: 042017c)

English Inn of Charlottesville
2000 Morton Drive, ph. (434) 971 9900 or 800-786-5400

All rooms are $89.99 + tax. (Standard King and Standard Doubles)
Full hot breakfast included

Check in Friday April 20th Check out Sunday April 22nd

Cut off date for group rate: March 20th

Happy New Alfa Year!

2007-01-01T07:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, 2007: one year closer to Alfa coming back to the U.S. (or maybe not)!

Regardless, the faithful Alfisti march on - and we are having our January meeting on Monday, the 15th, at Johnny Carino's in Hampton (7pm as usual). One main topic that will be up for discussion is where we will be having our February meeting. If you have a candidate for a Southside restaurant-meeting place, please have all relevant info ready for presentation at this month's meeting.

Exit 263a off I-64 in Hampton 7:00pm - January 15th.

Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant
2100 Power Plant Parkway
Hampton, VA 23666
757-827-5715

164 vs. Impala

2006-12-26T01:42:00.000-05:00

164 vs. Impala

Party Pics Posted!

2006-12-17T14:06:00.000-05:00

Check out the fun at this year's MAARC Holiday gathering in Manteo!

Photo Album

AROC 2007 Detroit Convention

2006-12-11T19:00:00.000-05:00

It looks to be a good one. Dates August 1-5.

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthread.php?t=34413

http://www.motorcityalfa2007.org/

Looks like some people already registering.

More info:
Motor City Alfa
Detroit, Michigan
August 1-5, 2007

Getting Started in Reverse?
After the December issue of Alfa Owner went to print, the convention web site went up and is: motorcityalfa2007.org (not the .com suffix published). Uh-oh. To make a long story short, we posted and wrote about the .com site for five months, then it finally came up as (you guessed it) .org. To make matters worse, someone bought the .com domain name within hours of our site going up, and filled it with spyware. Sorry about that. Please pass this notice on to all your AROC friends so that they will visit the correct web site and not stumble into something nasty.

Meanwhile, motorcityalfa2007.org is filled with photos, descriptions plus a convention overview in PDF format for download.

This is the first of a bi-weekly series of convention information letters. The next one will have a registration form attached. If you do not wish to receive this info, drop a line to the e-mail address listed at the end of the letter.

Revving to Red Line
Detroit is throwing a party disguised the AROC National Meet.
There will be a grand concours at an even grander estate with long rows of 1930s Alfas.
The race course and its 14 turns will be tested by a number of historic Alfa race cars.
An Alfa Parts Market will include truckloads of rare 750, 101. 105 and 102-series restoration parts from major collections.
Tour a building where dozens of classics are being restored for Pebble Beach and Amelia Island, then over to a place where mangled GTAs are resurrected and given life anew.
The hotel specializes in hosting car club national meets.
Woodward Avenue of cruising and muscle car fame is but a few blocks away, the beer will be chilled and the convention logo features some crazy naked chick.
AROC, get ready to party in the Motor City.

AROC Concours
The AROC concours will be Saturday at Meadow Brook. The elegant manor is 88,000 square-feet with 110 rooms for hosting parties of 850 friends–just the right size for our Alfa group to tour. The featured model of the AROC concours is the 1966-1969 Duetto and 1750 long-tail spider, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Graduate (1967). So of course on the field will be the Alfa Romeo Duetto driven by Dustin Hoffman in the movie.
Even if your car is not perfect, enter it in the Street Class at the concours because you will want to have photos of your Alfa the day it was at Meadow Brook.

Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance featuring Alfa Romeo
The 29th annual Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance takes place on Sunday, August 5, 2007. Begin with a large circle of Alfas: The 8C Reunion. These most famous and celebrated of Alfa Romeos will gathered from around the globe, along with other historic Alfas among Meadow Brook’s typical display of over 200 classic automobiles.
The really cool part is that we obtained 500 special AROC passes available to the first 500 convention attendees to register for this event. The complete “Sunday at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance/Alfa 8C2900 Reunion/AROC Alfa Corral” package is ten dollars. Yes, only ten bucks. Show your AROC convention ID and receive VIP treatment.

Rally and Driving Tour
Choose the gimmick rally or ask for a ‘touring’ version and enjoy the scenery along with pages of commentary. Either way, the rally/tour wraps around blue lakes and winding lanes dotted with 40,000 square-foot homes. Anything less and that could be the gate house or gardener’s quarters you are looking at. Who knows, you might spot Aretha Franklin out mowing her lawn or Elmore Leonard writing the next novel on his front porch (but don’t bet your Meadow Brook ticket on it).

Autocross
AROC autocrosses in Detroit are professional grade, the crew accustomed to handling 100 cars on any weekend. We run them for other car clubs as well as AROC chapters at their national conventions. An overall champion will be chosen after runs in matching spiders to reveal the best AROC slalom driver. Jim Steck will select a few drivers to test his latest turbocharged Alfa/high-tech lightning bolt. If you ever consider trying your hand at autocrossing, this will be the day to strap on a helmet and just do it.

Shop ’til You Drop
If hotel testosterone levels reach danger level, grab five friends and head to the designer, fashion house and boutique strip on Old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham. Not in the mood for dropping $4,000 for a dress for the banquet? Shift over to Somerset Collection in Troy with Neiman-Marcus and dozens of good friends from Saks and Coach to Nordstrom. More casual but with over a 100 stores to choose from? Great Lakes Crossing is on the way to Waterford Hills Race Course up I-75. All that is needed is a precisely timed exit ramp maneuver. The credit cards are already smoking in anticipation! And the Avis car/gift-hauler barge rental shop is just across the street from the hotel. Vroom!

Is there more? Much more! Tap the keys to visit motorcityalfa2007.org. The site is still growing and PayPal with online registration will soon appear. The hotel link on the web site has the AROC discount rate code already embedded. It would be a good idea to register now, before all 500 Meadow Brook Concours tickets are long gone. And in a few days, the full-color “crazy naked chick” convention logo shirt will be available so you will be dressed to party!

Pass this on to all your AROC friends. Questions or comments can be sent to motorcityalfa@aol.com

See you at Motor City Alfa!

Dave & Andy

Steve

Post Party time

2006-12-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

Anybody got any pictures of party to post? I think a good time was had by all and the gift exchange was a hoot. Thanks again to all who worked to make the party a success.

Have a Happy Holiday Season!

Earth to Skip...Monthy Meeting November 20th!

2006-11-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

Ok Skip - you made me feel bad (but not too bad).

Next monthly meeting at Johnny Carinos, Monday, November 20th - exit 263a off I-64 in Hampton 7:00pm.

Johnny Carino’s Country Italian Restaurant
2100 Power Plant Parkway
Hampton, VA 23666
757-827-5715

Final Reminder for MAARC Holiday Party Reservations!

2006-10-27T07:11:00.001-04:00

Alfisti - it's that time of year again!

There's less than a week left for you to get your room reservations for the MAARC Holiday Party in Manteo on December 2nd.

The group rate expires November 2nd and is good for $49/night for both Friday and Saturday nights, December 1-2. Chances are we will have group drive-downs for both days.

There are plenty of rooms left - see reservation info below. Hope you can make it!

Reservation Info:
The Elizabethan Inn
814 N. Main Hwy
Manteo, NC 27954
Phone: 800-346-2466 or 252-473-2101
Mention "Alfa Romeo Club" for the group rate.

Sunday Schedule Change!!!

2006-10-14T11:52:00.000-04:00

Due to a family medical emergency, the Concours/Pot Luck Lunch at Tom & Robin Gonnella's has been cancelled. Sunday's HR Weekend events will now begin with the drive to Fox Hunter's Grill, beginning from Hardee's on Rt. 143 at 2pm. The concours judging will take place in the parking lot at the Fox Hunter's Grill and the voting/awards presentation will be done during dinner.

Click on the link below for a map of the Hardee's on Rt. 143 (corner of Merrimac Trail & 2nd St.). Thanks for your understanding - we are hoping this is the last schedule change we will have to make on the ever-changing event!

Map of Merrimac Trl & 2nd St
Williamsburg, VA 23185, US

RSVPs for HR Weekend Dinners

2006-10-11T17:44:00.000-04:00

For those attending Friday and Sunday dinners this weekend, please notify Steve Patchin (Friday at Harold's) and/or Rich Minor (Sunday at Fox Hunter Grill). We are attempting to collect some type of head count for dinner reservations. Just click on the appropriate name to send an email! See - I've made it soooo easy for you!

Ciao for now,
Rick

Monthly Meeting this SUNDAY!

2006-10-09T09:26:00.000-04:00

This is a notice or a reminder for HR club members that this month's meeting will be held this Sunday at Fox Hunter's Grill north of Williamsburg at 4 pm. This is in conjunction with the Hampton Roads Weekend events. You can find the directions by clicking HERE.

If you are not participating in the rest of the weekend's events you can still meet here for the dinner and meeting. Please inform Rich Minor if you are attending so he can get a reservation count.

MAARC Combined Holiday Party - December 2 in Manteo!

2006-10-07T03:26:00.000-04:00

The combined MAARC holiday gathering in Manteo, North Carolina was so much fun last year we are going to do it again this year! Practically everything will be the same, but for those who missed it, here are some quick details:

Party runs from 7pm - midnight on Saturday.
Party is BYOB with the club picking up the tab for the Italian dinner buffet.
Evening highlights are the Chinese gift exchange and the Roger Medlin Award presentation.
This year you will be able to reserve both Friday and Saturday nights at the group rate for those desiring a longer stay.

We have a block of 25 rooms reserved at The Elizabethan Inn in Manteo for Saturday, December 2nd. Please book your reservations no later that November 2nd! When reserving, mention that you are with the Alfa Romeo Car Club. All rooms have a flat rate of $49.00 + tax for the night. You can also receive the same rate for Friday night as well if you would like to come early. The hotel has a very large swimming pool, a sauna, jacuzzi, and there are refrigerators in all rooms. BOOK EARLY FOR THE BEST ROOMS - CUT OFF DATE FOR THE GROUP RATE IS NOVEMBER 2nd!

Reservation Info:
The Elizabethan Inn
814 N. Main Hwy
Manteo, NC 27954
Phone: 800-346-2466 or 252-473-2101

New Final Hampton Roads Weekend Schedule

2006-10-05T04:55:00.000-04:00

Alfisti:

Below is the final event schedule for the HR Weekend. NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE DUE TO THE NOR'EASTER FOR THE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED WEEKEND. PLEASE DISREGARD ALL PREVIOUS EMAILS AND SCHEDULES. For those attending Friday night and/or Sunday night dinner, please notify Steve Patchin and/or Rich Minor so they can provide reservation numbers.

Friday October 13 Event:

Friday at 7pm, Dinner will be held at Harold's Restaurant, 4445 Virginia Beach Blvd 757-499-1378, I-264 Exit 17 north to Pembroke Mall area, right turn onto VB Blvd.
Located next door to Barnes and Nobles going east just past Town Point Center Hilton Garden Hotel

Saturday October 14 Events:

Sat 8:30-10:30 am - Coffee Bagels Brunch and Tech Sessions at Duncan-Patchin's 3792 Strathmoor Circle House, VB, VA 23452, 757-306-1374 or 353-0338 cell. Skip and Steve will conduct Alfa Romeo related tech sessions. Also, see the “Work in Progress” of Strathmoor House remodeling project. Directions to 3792 Strathmoor Circle Located off I-264 Exit 18. Take Rosemont Rd north across Virginia Beach Blvd. (US-58) past Burger King, turn left on Malibu Palms Dr (becomes Lampl Ave). Turn right at third street Casselberry Lane go to you see the Alfas in driveway on left.

Afternnoon Events
Sat 11:00- 12:00 pm - Tour Vintage War Bird Aircraft at Fighter Factory’s Virginia Beach Airport/ Hangar complex, 757-721-7767, located 1341 Princess Anne Rd 3 miles south of Pungo traffic light (Indian River Rd/PA RD intersection).
Sat 12:30-5 pm - 6th Annual Harvest Wine Festival Tour at Moonrise Winery / 134 Moonrise Bay Landing, Knotts Island, NC 27950 phone 252-429-wine. http://www.moonrisebaywine.com/ Food, Wine Tasting and Blue Grass Music Festival is $25.
Evening Events
Sat 5:30-6:30 pm Car display “Saturday Night Fever” at Jenro's Coffee House 1085 Independence Blvd , Virginia Beach, VA Phone - (757) 460-0444
Sat 6:30 pm – until Pizza and Desserts at Rick and Andy's 4040 Mason St, 757-363-9781 or 757-567-1955 cell, Located real close to Jenro’s.

Sunday Oct 15 Events:

Sunday 10:30 am to 1:30 pm - MAARC Concours at Robin and Tom's 63 Rivermont Dr Newport News. 757-599-3266. Pot Luck Lunch.
Sunday 2-4 pm - a drive starting from Hardees Rt. 143 Williamsburg Rich Minor 757-254-1412 cell.
Sunday 4 pm - dinner Fox Hunter Grill 804-966-8333 on Chickahominy River north of Williamsburg. http://foxhuntergrill.com/index.htm

Richmond Italian Street Festival

2006-09-23T04:35:00.000-04:00

The Richmond Italian Street Festival is next weekend (30 September - 01 October). This was a very nice festival we participated in last year. We did a group drive up on Saturday and were parked on a nicely shaded street next to a historic church.

This year the event organizers are offering free food and beverage coupons for car display participants. This is good for either Saturday or Sunday or both days. Please send me an email ASAP if you plan to attend so I can do a group registration. Please note which day(s) you will be attending and which car you will be driving. I would like to get this turned in no later than Tuesday.

CLICK HERE to view the event flyer. Hope you can make it!

Rick

Hampton Roads Weekend 2006

2006-09-14T11:52:00.000-04:00

Steve wanted me to "post something quickly" about the Hampton Roads Weekend. Well, here it is (final details to be determined at this Monday's club meeting):

Laid Back Pasta Eaters FYI for planning:
Hampton Roads Weekend Oct 6-9 (Columbus Day weekend)

Friday night dinner at Harolds
Sat AM Coffee Bagels and Tech Session at Duncan-Patchin's Strathmoor House
Sat mid day Vintage Aircraft Factory Hangar complex/air field tour downtown Pungo out in the old Princess Anne county and country road tour to Knotts Island
Sat Afternoon Wine tour Moonrise Winery Knotts Island, NC $5 We can picnic lunch if we bring our own as Owner Katie no longer does box lunches.
Supper location can be back at town center complex or wherever as Jenro's and Rick and Andy's place real close to each other and town center only about 3 miles from Jenro's
Sat evening Car display/show Saturday Night Fever at Jenro's Coffee Shop 3 PM to 9 PM
Night cap desserts/pizza at Rick and Andy's
Sunday morning MAARC Concours at Robin and Tom's in Newport News/Hampton
Sunday mid day drive up Peninsula
Sunday afternoon 4 PM Dinner Fox Hunter Grill on Chickahominy River north of Williamsburg.

Work in progress so some more details about Sunday breakfast/brunch/lunch plans as well as final Saturday plans forthcoming.

Please canvas out of towners for how many rooms we could book. We need to reserve 10 kings to get $119 daily rate for weekend. All other Hilton rooms booked for soccer tournament that weekend. Let Alfisto Steve know ASAP.

Hotel info:
Hilton Garden Inn VB Town Center w/ Great American Grill
252 Town Center Drive @VB Blvd across from Pembroke Mall
VB 23462
Attn: Libby Ross 757-326-6200 her direct # 757-448-2105/2104 Room Block reserved under "MAARC"
King rooms only @$119 group rate w/min of 10 rooms $139 otherwise.
Soccer tournament has all other rooms booked.
Will check out Crown Plaza and Econo Lodge nearby on Bonney road, but to get group rate at Hilton need 10 king rooms reserved. Red Carpet Inn and Holiday Inn Exe Inn farther down toward Norfolk.

Harold's Restaurant next to Barnes and Nobles
VB Blvd.
VB 23462
499-1378

Within walking distance of hotel:
Pembroke Mall across VB blvd.
Columbus 12 Movies and Pembroke 8 movies
*Harold's Restaurant (Friday nights dinner meeting place)
Planet Music
Barnes and Noble
Chesapeake Bagel Factory
Max and Ermas
D'Mustard
Red Star Tavern
Zushi Japanese Bistro
California Pizza Kitchen
Ruth Chris Steakhouse
Bravo Cucina Italiana (no separate meeting room)
Funny Bone Comedy Club
Coldstone Creamery
P F Chiangs Chinese
The Cheesecake Factory
Romano's Macaroni Grill
Kelly's Pub
Jason's Deli
Gordon Biersch Brewhouse (possible south side dinner meeting place with separate room holds 50)
Keagans Irish Pub
Silver Diner (past Harold's so longest walk).

Attenzione Graylyn Rally Participants!!!

2006-09-11T19:17:00.000-04:00

All Graylyn Rally participants: NEW START POINT FOR THIS FRIDAY'S RALLY TO WINSTON-SALEM.

The Smithfield Gourmet Bakery on Main Street does not open until 8 am - so that is officially out as our rally start point. Fortunately, the same people run another bakery just to the south of Smithfield at the junction of highway 258, 10 and 32 on Benn's Church Blvd. They are open at 6:00 am and have great doughnuts and all the good stuff of the place on Main Street. Click here for a map: Benn's Church Deli & Bakery. The address is 14526 Benn's Church Blvd., phone: 357-9776. Please shoot for a 7 am or earlier arrival time at the bakery as we would like to get the rally underway sometime around 7:15 - 7:30. This is going to be an 'untested' run, so there is a high probability for some wrong turns and just living la vita loca in general.

Also, you should have received your official Concours de Graylyn letter and yellow dashboard pass from Bert Neily. If you didn't get it in the mail today, keep an eye out for it.

Wee . . . are we having fun yet?

Italian GP: Last F1 Breakfast this Season

2006-09-11T18:49:00.000-04:00

A small but devoted group of Alfisti was on hand for the Italian GP and the last F1 Breakfast of the season. An Alonso DNF and a Schumacher retirement announcement were the highlights (insert appropriate expletives as necessary).

From Ragtop to Rich's...

2006-09-11T18:41:00.000-04:00

Checking out Rich's new top.

Skip's New Wheels...

2006-09-11T18:40:00.000-04:00

One of a kind wheels - that's the way to show club pride!

Alfas Vicino Il Mare

New Blog For Hampton Roads Alfa Romeo Club

Advice for Cheating Wife

British Car Show Same day as Wine Tour

AACA Annual Swap Meet

2007 VA Wine Tour 20-22 April

Happy New Alfa Year!

164 vs. Impala

Party Pics Posted!

AROC 2007 Detroit Convention

Post Party time

Earth to Skip...Monthy Meeting November 20th!

Final Reminder for MAARC Holiday Party Reservations!

Sunday Schedule Change!!!

RSVPs for HR Weekend Dinners

Monthly Meeting this SUNDAY!

MAARC Combined Holiday Party - December 2 in Manteo!

New Final Hampton Roads Weekend Schedule

More Graylyn Pics Posted!

Richmond Italian Street Festival

Hampton Roads Weekend 2006

Attenzione Graylyn Rally Participants!!!

Italian GP: Last F1 Breakfast this Season

From Ragtop to Rich's...

Skip's New Wheels...