Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club

MAARC Cinquecento, 14-16 August

2009-07-02T05:39:00.002-04:00

ATTENZIONE ALFISTI - Kevin Harper has set up a nice club drive up in the mountains; details are below:

Aug 14-16 – The MAARC Cinquecento Miglia Drive – Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Car Club 500 mile tour in the mountains of NC/SC. Starting point will be in Morganton NC, which is about 2 hours west of Greensboro and the ending point will be in Gaffney SC which is about 1 hour southeast of Charlotte. The drive will last three days with approximately 4-4 ½ hours of driving each day.

Each morning we will break into groups of 4 or 5 cars, and leave the hotel in 5 minute intervals. I will try to break the groups up into driving styles for maximum enjoyment.
Everyone will have route notes which will include the directions and points of interest along the way.

The groups will be broken down as such:
Nuvolari Group – I am a direct descendent of Tazio Nuvolari and Alberto Ascari.
Roger Goodfellow String back Group – I enjoy a nice drive in the country in a nice sporty car. My speed is limited by how sick I make my significant other.
Flower group – I not only like to stop and smell the roses I like to inspect the bees.
Buddy Palumbo Group – aka Sweeper group – I enjoy a nice drive in the country, and though I am not the fastest I do possess tools, parts, skill, and compassion to fix broken chariots along the way. I always start last.

Schedule of events
Aug 13th - Arrive in the afternoon at the Hampton Inn in Morganton, NC. For those arriving early there is a Fatz restaurant just down the road available for dinner. Cost for the Hampton will be approx 100 USD, breakfast included. – For those arriving on Aug 14th we will leave the next day at approximately 10am.

Hampton Inn Morganton
115 bush Drive
Morganton, NC 28655
828-432-2000

Aug 14th – Breakfast at the Hampton from 8-10 am
Drivers meeting and leave the Hampton at 10am
The drive will be from Morganton to Balsam NC. Total drive time will be 4 hours and 26 minutes and cover 147 miles. There will be a short cut for those who wish which will cut out 28 miles and an hour driving time.

This drive starts easy, for 20 miles or so. Gets pretty twisty around the Lake Lure area, eases up for a bit and the gets real twisty as we go through the Pisgah National forest.
Dinner and the hotel will be at the Balsam Mountain Inn. Cost of the Inn is ~145 USD and up. Breakfast is included, but not dinner.

Balsam Mountain Inn
68 Seven Springs Drive
Balsam, NC 28707
828-456-9498
800-224-9498
www.balsammountaininn.com

Aug 15th – Breakfast at the Balsam Inn from 8-10 am
Drivers meeting and leave at 10am –
This drive will be from Balsam to the Franklin, NC. Total drive time will be about 4 hours, and there are no short cuts.

This drive starts twisty and remains so for most of the day, with a few breaks along the way. It starts in the Pisgah National Forrest goes toward the Dragon’s Back in Fontaine and then through the Nantahala national forest. You will have the option of doing the unofficial Dragon’s back if you really, really want to, but you will be tired and possibly seasick.
The lodging will be at the Hampton Inn in Franklin – Room cost from 88 USD

Hampton Inn, Franklin
244 Cunningham Rd
Franklin, NC 28734
828-369-0600 Voice 828-369-0700 Fax

Aug 16th – Breakfast from 8-10am – Location Hampton Inn
Drivers meeting at 10am and we may leave a little late today
This drive will be from the Franklin to Gaffney, SC, You will drive though 3 states on this day, NC, Georgia, and SC, with a final return to NC. This day starts on the twisties and then changes to easy country lanes as it follows the Cherokee trails. In the middle of the twisties is a nice stop in the Highlands of NC.

The end point will probably be Cowpens Battleground National Park. Cowpens national Park is close to Gaffney which offers easy access to interstate 85 for returning to our homes. Gaffney is about 1 hour south west of Charlotte.

So you want to Join us…
What do you need to do?
First, all hotels reservations are your responsibility. Tell each one that you are with the MAARC (Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club) group.

Send me, Kevin Harper e-mail kevinharper1@gmail.com or KLHarper@mebtel.net , your mobile telephone number and which group you best fit in. If you feel you are split between 2 groups please let me know also. This will help me split the groups up. The reason for the mobile numbers is not so that I can sell them to a telemarketer, but so we can make a list and keep up with lost people.

I will send you a confirmation e-mail. I will also send out specific route instruction around August 7th so you will know the route beforehand and of course these will be available at the event.
I would suggest sign up by August 1st, you can push it later, but hotel availability and rates may not be there.

You are more than welcome to join us for a single section of the tour also.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Dixie FiatFest 26-28 June 09

2009-06-21T12:17:00.001-04:00

June 26 - 28, 2009
Winston-Salem, NC
Sponsored by the Carolina chapter of FLU

An eventful three day weekend in the western Piedmont of North Carolina.

Itinerary:

Friday June 26, 2009
3-5 pm Event registration (lobby of Hawthorne Inn) Packet pickup for those who preregistered
6 pm Dinner at Old Salem Tavern (Open menu with Entrees $15-$24)
8 pm Go kart racing at Grand Prix Greensboro ($45 per person)

Saturday June 27, 2009
8 am Event registration (lobby of Hawthorne Inn)
9 am Line up for Fiat Mini Miglia rally
9:30 am Driver/navigator meeting
10 am First car off
1 pm Meet at Denise’s house for cookout ($6 per person)
3 pm Tour to Dick Bear’s metalworking shop or Classic Automotive Restoration Specialists
7 pm Italian buffet at Winston’s Eatery

Sunday June 28, 2009
8:30 am Breakfast buffet at Winston’s Eatery
10:00 am Autocross (Wake Forest's BB&T field) ($20 per person)

Autocross pizza lunch ($6 per person, drinks not included)

Sign up Now online
For registration and to purchase prepaid events go to http://www.flu.org/carolinaflu/

APEX Tech Session 5-30-09

2009-06-21T11:45:00.000-04:00

New Chrysler Concorde ; )

2009-06-02T15:13:00.003-04:00

New Living Will Form

2009-06-02T12:15:00.000-04:00

I, __________________________, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it or lawyers and doctors interested in simply running up the bills.

If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

______a Glass of Chianti

______a Glass of Pinot Grigio

______Bruschetta

______the Keys to my Spider

______a Shot of Limoncello

______an Adjustable Spanner

______Grappa

______the Latest Issue of Alfa Owner

______a Pizza Margherita

______Pat Braden’s Alfa Romeo Owner’s Bible

______a Cappuccino

______an eBay Listing of all Alfas For Sale

______Tiramisu

______Sex

it should be presumed that I won't ever get better.

When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day. At this point it is time to call the Fat Lady to come do her thing at my memorial service, and ask all of my friends to raise their glasses to toast the good times we have had.

Signature: ___________________________

Date: ___________________________

Fiat to acquire Chrysler assets

2009-06-01T17:17:00.001-04:00

Courtesy of the BBC:

US car group Chrysler has secured court approval for a consortium led by Italy's Fiat to take over its assets.

The move, which is backed by both the US and Canadian governments, should enable Chrysler to exit bankruptcy protection in the near future.

Under the terms of the deal, Fiat will control 20% of Chrysler, while 68% will be owned by a union trust, and the two governments will share 12%.

Meanwhile, rival General Motors has also entered bankruptcy protection.

Government loans

Under the terms of the Fiat-led deal, creditors holding $6.9bn (£4.3bn) of Chrysler debt will receive only $2bn. However, 90% of them backed the deal.

BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION

US bankruptcy protection is called Chapter 11

It gives US businesses time to rearrange their finances while continuing to trade, protected from their creditors

After filing, it is up to the judge to decide who gets paid and how much, balancing the interests of all parties

The judge holds hearings where all the parties give their views

His ruling can be appealed

Meanwhile, the Canadian and US governments have agreed to provide about $8bn in loans to the new Chrysler.

Fiat is not paying anything for its 20% stake, which will give it access to the US car market. It has the option to increase its shareholding in Chrysler in the future.

In return, Chrysler will be able to take advantage of Fiat's expertise in making smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in its existing US factories.

Bankruptcy judge Arthur Gonzalez said in his written ruling that the only alternative to the sale would have been the "immediate liquidation" of Chrysler.

He added that the deal best protected the "public interest", and that the involvement of the two governments was necessary because "the marketplace alone could not offer" an alternative.

Judge Gonzalez turned down hundreds of objections to the deal, including one from a group of Chrysler dealerships who fear they will now be shut down.

US President Barack Obama said the move "paves the way for the new Chrysler to successfully emerge from bankruptcy as a new, stronger, more competitive company for the future".

Chrysler, which is the smallest of the three US carmakers after General Motors (GM) and Ford, filed for bankruptcy protection on 30 April. It could now emerge from bankruptcy protection as early as later this week.

Piero Speaks!

2009-05-16T18:38:00.001-04:00

Ferrari to take ball and go home.

Kimi to Quit?

2009-05-16T18:34:00.002-04:00

Kimi may quit F-1

How to read those collector car ads

2009-05-04T15:55:00.003-04:00

Description	Meaning
One owner	Hertz
Ideal for enthusiast	Total restoration needed
Mechanic's Special	Needs major overhaul
Good mechanics	Bad body
Good body	Bad Mechanics
Marriage forces sale	It can be done in a Spider, they did, and must get married
Stored two years	Engine seized, small maple growing through chassis
No dealers	No body knows anything about these cars
Collector's item	Price is over-inflated
Good tires	That's all that is good about it
Excellent condition	Buyer beware
Divorce forces sale	Spent more time and money on car than wife
Company car forces sale	I've got a better job and getting a decent car
Baby forces sale	Can't pour any more money into this thing
House forces sale	Neighbors complaining
In need of total restoration	In pieces
Lack of time forces sale	Spent more time than it's worth
Dismantled for restoration	I can't put it back together
Slight accident damage	Total write off
OBO (or best offer)	I may come down 50 bucks
Offers	I haven't the nerve to put a price on the car
Daily Driver	High mileage and million things need fixn'
Genuine mileage	Disconnected speedo-cable
Good driver	Looks terrible
Runs strong	same as above
Owned by lil' old lady	from Pasadena
Will bargain	I'll get mad, you won't buy the car and I'll hit you
Will consider trade	Anything to get out from under this dog
Some rust	You can brake like Fred Flintstone

Tech Session in Raleigh - 30 May 2009

2009-04-09T19:04:00.006-04:00

WHAT: TECH SESSION
Apex Vintage, Inc
(Cecil Boyd and Team)

Tour of facility - new and exciting projects
Alfa Four cylinder valve adjustment demo
Bosch Tester Overview
Open discussion/forum

WHEN: Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Apex Vintage, Inc.
8613 Barefoot Industrial Rd, #C
Raleigh, NC 27617-4758
Phone: (919) 781-1871

Complimentary fresh brewed coffee and bagels provided by the Mid-Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club
Please notify Don King by May 26, if attending!

View Larger Map - Print Map

Alfa Romeo at Geneva

2009-04-02T11:03:00.003-04:00

2009 Va Wine Tour Map Info

2009-03-26T11:49:00.003-04:00

For those of you with GPS units, or just a well-worn road atlas, here is some useful info for this year's Vintage Virginia Wine Tour. Don't forget, it's the responsibility of every Alfa owner to get lost at least once during the weekend - and to drive down at least one dirt road, if possible!

The English Inn
2000 Morton Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903
GOOGLE MAP LINK

International Auto Parts
4567 Seminole Trail
Charlottesville, VA 22911
GOOGLE MAP LINK

Sweely Estate Winery
6109 Wolftown Hood Road
Madison, VA 22727
GOOGLE MAP LINK

CrossKeys Vineyards
6011 East Timber Ridge Road
Mt. Crawford, VA 22841
GOOGLE MAP LINK

Pollak Vineyards
330 Newtown Road
Greenwood, VA 22943
GOOGLE MAP LINK

Vintage Virginia 2009 - Wine Tour Itinerary

2009-03-26T09:14:00.004-04:00

Please note: Cost for Friday reception, Sat/Sun Picnic Lunch, and Saturday Pizza night is $25/person. All additional wine tasting fees are noted below.

Friday April 10th-
6:00-‘til Wine & Hors d’oeuvres Meet and Mingle Reception
English Inn - Meeting room - Dinner on your own

Saturday April 11th-
9:00-11:00 Visit International Auto Parts (10% discount)

11:00-12:00 Drive back roads to Sweely Estates Winery (Acorn Hill)
Contact: Anita LeGault (540-948-9005)

12:00-1:30 Private Bud-Break Tour of Vineyard & Winery w/ vintner
Tasting of Sweely Estates Wines. Cost: $15.00 (does include glass).

1:30-2:30 Picnic at the Winery – Reserved Terrace – vintner’s room available if we have inclement weather.

2:30 - 3:30 Drive back roads to CrossKeys Vineyards
Contact: Rebecca (540-234-0505)

3:30 - 5:00 Taste CrossKeys Vineyards Wines
Cost: $5.00 (does include glass) – premium tasting available for $2.00 extra per wine.

5:00 – 6:00 Drive back roads back to English Inn

7:30 P.M. Dinner at English Inn, Pizza, salad, dessert
Soft drinks provided - Bring your own wine/beer.

Sunday April 12th-
11:00 –12:00 Drive back roads to Pollock Vineyards
Contact: Nick Dovel (540-456-8844)

12:00 - 1:00 Taste Pollock Vineyards wines
Cost: $5.00 (does not include glass).

1:00 – 2:30 Picnic lunch at the winery

Upcoming Charlotte Events, MAR-APR 09

2009-03-22T10:16:00.005-04:00

As many of you may know by now, Barry Ward has taken over from Amedeo as Direttore of the Charlotte Branch. He has provided the following details on upcoming events:

Wednesday, March 25th - Monthly Meeting at Lowes Motor Speedway, 6:30pm
Saturday, March 28th - Motori Italiani: a very nice concourse event held at 131 Main Restaurant, located 9886 Rea Rd. in the Blakeney Shopping Center 11am-3pm. The restaurant provides all entries with a 15.00 food/drink voucher. Registration is $15 per vehicle and can be collected the day of the event. Contact: kfielden@carolina.rr.com
Sunday, April 5th - Annual Food Lion Auto Fair at Lowes Motor Speedway: “Euros at the Fair” 8am-4pm. Entry fee is 15.00 For entry material call Larry McElreath at 704-697-9531.

Wine Tour Reservation Reminder

2009-03-05T20:26:00.004-05:00

Alfisiti:

Time is running out to reserve your room for this year's Virginia Wine Tour 10-12 April.

The group rate listed below will expire 10 March and unreserved rooms will be released. There are plenty of rooms left - so act now!

If you need some inspiration, just click on one of the Va Wine Tour Driver Cam videos on the right sidebar of the MAARC Blog, or click HERE.

Reservation Info:

THE ENGLISH INN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
2000 Morton Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Telephone (434) 971-9900 or 800-786-5400

Group Name: Alfa Romeo Club
Rate: $99/night standard room, $109/night king suite

http://www.englishinncharlottesville.com/

3rd Annual Giro di Campagna, CANCELLED

2009-03-03T16:24:00.005-05:00

The Giro is a 2 ½ day, 2-night “get-away” weekend for Alfisti sponsored by the National Capital Chapter, AROC. This year's event, previously scheduled for 17-19 April, has been cancelled. See the Capital Chapter website for more details: http://www.alfaromeonews.com/news.htm

FOR SALE: 1971 Alfa Romeo GTAm

2009-02-27T16:24:00.004-05:00

For those of you who cashed out of the stock market and are looking for a good investment, JP Saleeby is selling his '71 GTAm. Check it out here: www.AlfaRomeoGTAm.blogspot.com

Small Bore Driving School, 16-17 May 2009

2009-02-27T15:44:00.003-05:00

For 2009, we are back again with one of our most popular events, our Small Bore Driving School, held in conjunctions with a Vintage Sports Car Club of America (VSCCA) race weekend. The Alfa Club is known for its trademark " laid back pasta eaters" approach to driving schools. The VSCCA drivers bring their own laid back approach to motorsports with their fleet of interesting old sports and racecars. As in past years, the two clubs share the track. The Alfa Club conducts a driving school that is interspersed with the Vintage Club's practice, qualifying and race sessions.
This year, the VSCCA will be coming back in full strength after a successful event last year and with the added attraction of our return to VIR's North Course. We will have half the track time and the VSCCA will have the other half. Unfortunately, this means that we are unable to offer a novice run group, but will run only intermediate and advanced groups. Participants should have two or more previous track events. (For questions on this, Call or write Steve Margolis 919-785-0220 or qwerty1750@hotmail.com).

Two years ago, we pioneered our small-bore theme to a very enthusiastic group of participants. In response to concerns that we'd been hearing from some of our participants, we created our small-bore school, which limits the student run-groups to cars with nominal displacements at or under 3.5 liters. Although some of our best friends drive cars with big motors, the displacement limit keeps the run groups just a bit mor homogeneous, reducing speed differentials, particularly at the ends of the long straightaways. (Please note that there is no displacement limitation for the instructor cars.)

This format aims to return us to the tenor of our early schools, where the grids were predominantly made up of Alfas and other small bore cars. So bring your old Alfas, Porsches, BMWs and Datsuns. Bring your new Minis, Miatas (OK, MX-5's), and Z-cars. Bring them all and come mix it up in the paddock with an eclectic mix of vintage racing cars. Join us too for the Saturday evening banquet. (Again this year we've made the banquet optional in an effort to keep costs down for the basic event.)

Early Registration (by May 3, 2009):
Non-member Student $330.00Member Student $315.00 (AROC, Tarheel Sports Car Club & Triangle Z Club)
Late Registration (after May 3, 2009):
Non-member Student $350.00Member Student $335.00 (AROC, Tarheel Sports Car Club & Triangle Z Club)
Saturday Evening Banquet (Optional): $25 per person

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

VISIT THE MAARC HPDE BLOG FOR MORE DETAILS!

MAARC Blog Goes Three Wide

2009-02-25T22:36:00.002-05:00

The MAARC blog has been revamped for (hopefully) the last time. The object was to put the most useful club information right at your fingertips for easiest access. I still have to pretty it up some, but I never seem to get around to prettying up anything once I get it working OK. Sort of like my Alfas!

Anyway, check it out - you may be somewhat impressed, or amused.

Brit & Euro Car Show - 3 May 09 (Williamsburg)

2009-02-16T07:33:00.006-05:00

Doug Wilson from the Williamsburg British Car Club has invited us to participate in their annual British and European Car Show in the Williamsburg Winery on Sunday, May 3rd. For those who haven't attended in the past, this is a very nice, well run car show with NO MUSTANGS ALLOWED. That means at least one Alfa will win something! Many door prizes are handed out and there are free winery tours. For once, this date does not conflict with the VA Wine Tour as it often has in year's past. Definitely worth a day trip!

Check the link for a registration form - $20/car early and $25 at the gate.

British & European Car Show Website

FOR SALE: 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider

2009-02-16T07:00:00.006-05:00

1974 Alfa Spider--Very nice driver. 74,600 miles(?).

Clean body and interior. Excellent engine and transmission and other mechanical-- Euro cams and Weber intake with twin weber 40DCOE, Centerline springs, KYB Gas-Adjust shocks, adjustable upper control arms, ANSA exhaust. Rare style BWA wheels. $6250.00 Details call 434 386 9698 or e-mail rickrey1@verizon.net. Lynchburg, Va.

Detailing Seminar - 7 March 09 (Williamsburg)

2009-02-15T12:39:00.004-05:00

Larry Emmons from Emmons Coachworks has offered to host the Hampton Roads Alfisti in a Detailing Seminar at his home in Williamsburg starting at 9:30am, March 7th. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out how to use the latest products and techniques to get the most shine out of your beloved Alfa! The seminar will be followed by lunch at Giuseppe's Italian Cafe. If the spirit moves us, we may throw in a drive somewhere (anywhere)!!!

For everyone interested in attending, please provide your names to Rick.

Hope to see you all there!

die Weinstrasse - 21 March 09

2009-02-15T12:31:00.003-05:00

Not to be confused with the Virginia Wine Tour - Corsa Rossa is having their own wine tour event around Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain in NC on March 21st. The event starts at 9:00 am at Winston's Eatery. Sounds like a lot of fun!!! Check out the website link below for full details:

die Weinstrasse

2009 Virginia Wine Tour 10-12 April

2009-02-14T08:27:00.009-05:00

Alfisti:

Time to book your room for the Annual Virginia Wine Tour! This year's event will be over Easter weekend (10-12 April) and as usual, we have a block of rooms reserved at the English Inn in Charlottesville. You must get your reservations in by 10 March to get the rates listed below!

Reservation Info:

THE ENGLISH INN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE
2000 Morton Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Telephone (434) 971-9900 or 800-786-5400

Group Name: Alfa Romeo Club

Rate: $99/night standard room, $109/night king suite

http://www.englishinncharlottesville.com/

Hope to see you all there!

MAARC OBX XMAS 6 DEC!

2008-12-03T03:23:00.002-05:00