Event Report
ARDC at the Auto Italia Brooklands Autumn Event – 3 October 2004
9.00 am and we roll up to the gates, pay our money and are met with the gracious sight of “the cute, the foxy Ruth from Auto Italia”, sporting a 348 no less!!
TonyB’s the first on the scene, raring to go as usual, the marshals take us up to the banking and we claim our patch.
One by one the ardc alfisti begin to arrive, all sporting their ardc passes, brings a tear to my eye!!
For the first time we welcomed Austen, Giovanni and Mrs G, GianniV6, TonyGTA, Oscar166, Pietro-tella, MagnumSP and welcomed back Remapped!
The car parks began to fill with all kinds of exotica, from Bizarrinis and Isos to Daytonas and Lamborghinis. We eagerly began to investigate, finding owner after owner equally, if not more passionate about his or her car.
AROC in their masses ascended on the left flanking of the banking, seeming to outnumber us 50–1!! Lol, they really are a big club huh?
One elderly chap approached us and was shaking with excitement, he was almost bursting with pride, and began telling us how much he admired his red 1.6 147.
The Integrale Club pulled up, hardcore and standard versions, side by side, each owner feeling like the proverbial dog (or cat, depending on your outlook!!)
Both TonyGTA’s shining example of the Red GTA, and Shannow’s brother’s Nuvelo Blue Autodelta J12 drew the crowds to our area, with folks even expressing an interest in our little club!! Of course the fine display of highly polished 156s was a feast for all eyes!!
After a group pit stop (bacon rolls and coffee all round) we indulged again, this time in the fine metal on display, the collections were just awesome; it really was like a big candy shop and us lot just running around from one car to another like big kids; massive grins on our faces, each trying to tell the other about their favourite car, trying to out do each other with knowledge and obscure facts (sad, sad lot!!).
Then the hill climbers were called, no need to tell you TonyB was straight in there, Remapped too. They had a couple of goes each before it was stopped; by now the track was wet and the officials didn’t want anyone knocking their Bellas! Of course tony tried out his skills and differing methods of getting Bella up the hill as quick as possible, Remapped with the extra torque of the diesel really turned heads (they’re even talking about it on Piston heads!!).
Despite the rain trying to wash us all away, we didn’t let it cool our passion, moving from one childhood dream car to another, drooling and shaking with excitement as we went. We had a warm reception from Jano and the Autodelta guys who were revealing the “Red Devil” Autodelta 156 3.7 GTA.
The car is awesome, arguably better in red than the original AD black version. The funny thing is that AD have actually beat Alfa to producing a facelift GTA! Of course this version is a little more aggressive than your average Alfa, and so would the driver have to be.
All in all it was another great day out, a good chance to meet the ardc massif.
We must say a big thanks to Simonmgv8, Austen, Pino Mechanicco, GianniV6, DaTonyB, DaMissusB, MartynD, Turkey, Turkey’s missus, David C, TonyGTA, Pietro-tella, Oscar166, Remapped, Giovanni, Mrs Vanni, MagnumSP, Mrs MagnumSP, with a special hi to Brett328, Sarin3.7, his 3.7 dude pal, Jano and of course Ruth from Auto Italia.
Join us at Brands Hatch on the 7th November to watch and meet the ARCA championship teams battle it out in the final race of the season.
See you at the next meet, alfisti!