January 2000

In this issue: Richard Hipwood's Formula 1 photography!

January Rendezvous

On Tuesday January 11th we gathered in Kernersville on the second Tuesday of the month. Same time, Same Place and Same Fun. In the car park were five stunning red Italian cars. Steven Jones of Greensboro drove his Ferrari 328 GTS, Steve Karapetian drove his Ferrari 308GT4, Bob Snow of Graham drove his Ferrari 348 TS, Dan and Teri Emmi of Winston Salem drove their Ferrari Testarossa, and Tim and Susan Simmons of Greensboro drove their Alfa Romeo Veloce CE. In fellowship were also Jim Clarkson in a misty blue BMW 3.0 CSI, Jack O’Brien, John Harrill, Blake Frazier, Thor Mirchandani, Richard Hipwood, Don Ferree, Jeff and April Berg with new born daughter, Bill Marvin, Jim O’Brien, and John Hauser. We had three Alfa Romeo Giulia owners present : John Harrill of Greensboro, Don Ferree of Greensboro, Jim O’Brien of Concord.

We started out viewing Richard Hipwood’s photographs from the 1970s Grandprixs he attended while living in Germany as a Captain in the Airforce stationed in Hahn Germany.

Two movies were on the agenda: We watched Juan Manuel Fangio’s 1957 classic F1 race at the Nurburgring where he drove a heavier and outdated Maserati 250F to victory in passing Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorne in their Dino Ferraris after makeing up a 45 second deficit.

Then we watched Claude Lelouch's “Rendezvous”. Car and Driver described the film as better than any chase scene ever filmed , because it’s real. “To make this 9 minute film, renowned French director Claude Lelouch first mounted a camera on the nose of his Ferrari, then drove flat out through the streets of Paris at dawn. The streets weren’t blocked off, the truck drivers and street sweepers having the bejeezus scared out of them are real Parisians, and the guy driving the car isn’t a stunt man. Rendezvous is sort of mini Cannonball done with a French sense of taste and scale. Lelouch runs lights, uses pedestrians as apexes, and generally has a wonderful time. The sound of the screamin engine (do not miss the tires) is stirring enough, but the sight of Paris rushing by as Lelouch tops out the car on the Champs Elysees makes this a must see piece of auto cinema.”

A special thanks, a card and Corsa Rossa Sweatshirt went out to Mark Godfrey for his generous support of our October European Festival through the donation of 22 volumes of Phil Hill’s Yankee Champion as class awards. We also passed around his Magnificent Montery photos and text as it appeared in the December issue of Alfa Owner. We also welcomed Jim O’Brien member of MAARC who attended his first Rendezvous and who owns 6 Alfa Romeos. He bravely drove 1 1/2 hours to join us.
Ciao! John Hauser

Formula One Photography by Richard Hipwood

While stationed in Germany in the 70's, Richar had lots of opportunity to visit all the great tracks of Europe, where he actually raced himself on occasion. Richard brought his camera to the tracks, and we'll let this selection of photographs speak for itself.

Ferrari Tech Session

On February 19th FCA will conduct a tech session February 19th at Krause & England in Raleigh. The Emmi’s will lead the way from Winston Salem to the Snow’s in Graham for breakfast and then on to Krause & England for the Tech Session and Tour. Call Dan & Teri Emmi (336) 760 2603

On your way from Clemmons, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and points west of Graham to the Krause & England Tech Day on 19 February, you are all invited to the Snow's home for a colazione to start the day right. From here we can caravan to the Krause & England shops, normally about a 45-minute drive. Beth & Bob Snow will have plenty of good food prepared to fuel your trip. Arrive anytime (as early as you want but 8:00 - 8:30 would be great) knowing we should leave here around 9:30AM.

I talked to Peter Krause this week and the plans are for him to hold a 2 to 2-1/2 hour tech session starting around 10:30. After the tech session, he has a drive planned, culminating in lunch somewhere in the Chapel Hill area.

Here are the directions to the Snow's house:

• At exit 145 (BMOC exit) from I85/40 turn right onto NC49 toward Liberty.
• Follow NC49 south for 1.8 Ferrari odometer miles.
• Turn left at the yellow flashing light onto Monroe Holt Road.
• Proceed 0.8 Ferrari miles, turning right onto Lacy Holt Road.
• After 0.6 miles, turn onto Knightdale Drive.
• The Snow's are at 2431 Knightdale on the cul-de-sac.

Alfa Romeo Track Event

March 4 & 5th MAARC will continue the tradition with its Drivers Education program at Roebling Road Savannah. There are four classes:

• Touring - pace car, no passing, speeds up to 60 mph.
• Novice
• Intermediate
• Advanced

Ronnie Petterson.	Jackie Stewart.

January Formula One Gathering at John Hauser’s House

On Wednesday 26th January 7PM we'll all meet at Hausers's for Grand Prix racing! The 1967 Nurburgring German Garnd Prix will be shown. The mightiest grand prix circuit in Europe at the time. 16 miles of excellent racing per lap through the Eifel mountains. See Brabaham, Surtees, Iyxk, Hill, Clark, Hulme, Gurney and all your favorites of the late sixites battle it out. Authentic Italian Pizza will be on hand from Bella Capri, a West End neighborhood Italiant Restaurant.

DIRECTIONS: The house is white with a green roof and a wrap around porch up on a small hill at the corner of First Street, West End Boulevard, and Piedmont Avenue. From Business 40 West Bound exit at the First and Hawthorne exit. Turn right up First Street and travel two blocks and it is on your right. For more information call John at 336 631 8760.

MAARC Wine Tour - Vintage 2000

Our group will once again attend the Hampton Roads Branch of the Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club’s annual wine tour in and around Charlottesville this April 14th-16th. Call 1-800-786-5400 for reservations at the English Inn of Charlottesville. Our Group number is 041400 for the group discount of $68.50-74.50 for double occupancy.

In 1999 Thor and Amy drove a Ferrari and Bill and John drove an Alfa Romeo from Winston Salem. In 2000 we hope to have a larger turnout from Corsa Rossa.

VIR Open House

VIR Club will be holding it's LAST Open House on January 29 and 30. Contact Blake Frazier (336 854 0391) for more info. Check out more VIR events on the Drivers Ed calendar at http://www.trackschedule.com.

Can't Wait till Spring Sports Car Daze

• Porsche as the featured manufacturer
• Vintage Stock Car Fun Race
• Professional Instructors
• Experience a lap around CMP from the passenger seat of the new 355hp Turn 1 Motorsports Stock Car with a professional driver
• Stock Car Fun Race for vintage stock cars
• Event will be posted shortly at www.trackschedule.com with on line applications available
• Cost: $195.00 a day or $350.00 for the weekend limited to 125 cars per day.

Hill Climb

Corsa Rossa will attend the annual hill climb in May. We will stay at the little Switzerland Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway. For more information call Jack O’Brien.

Corsa Rossa's European Car Festival

Click here for more info and pictures from the 1999 European Car Festival!

More clues to Rick's Fiat Conundrum

We've got a few more pieces to the puzzle: Engine number is 43000326 0A. The lights are Carello and the gauges are Veglia Borletti.

As you may recall, Corsa Rossa has received several e-mails from Rick Howard regarding an Italian sportscar he purchased. The information provided by the seller was very sparse. It is registered as a "1969 Fiat Prototype". The serial number is 124AS0017087, which looks like it could be a Fiat VIN, possibly on a 2.4 liter Dino. As can be seen in the pictures, the car has many features that suggests it is a Fiat Dino of some kind. However, there are a lot of things that cloud the picture. (One is of course the fact that the car is a targa top!) Does anybody know what the car in the picture is? Send an email to corsarossa@geocities.com or leave a message in our online mailbox.

The general lines are reminescent of the Pininfarina designed Fiat Dino Spider.	The outline of a Ferrari horse, which in all likelihood was applied by an owner. No Dinos (Fiat or Ferrari) displayed the prancing horse, until the Dino 308 GT/4 was "re-branded" Ferrari late in its production run.
The all-alloy engine has the Dino logo. At the time the engine capacity is not known.	Steering wheel looks like it comes from a Ferrari Dino, as Fiat Dino units sport the Fiat emblem. The instrument layout is different from the traditional Fiat Dino layout with tach and speedo mounted centrally, surrounded by four smaller instruments.
Dual headlight and grille are reminsecent of Fiat Dino...	as is this side view.
"Design by Giugiaro" emblem. In 1969 Giugiaro was still with Bertone, where he actually designed the Fiat Dino coupe in 1967. The Dino coupe does not sport such an emblem. Ferrai Dino and Fiat Dino Spider were of course designed by Pininfarina.	Another view of the "mystery Fiat".
A good view of the targa setup. The wheels are consistent with Fiat Dino of the era.

So what is the car in the pictures? Many speculations have been voiced, ranging from a rare Giugiaro prototype of some kind (what?) to a Fiat Dino "chop job" with added Ferrari elements (by whom?). Maybe you have the answer to this mystery!

European Car Festival Shirts for Sale

Contact Steve Karapetian at (336) 766-1785 or leave a message in our online mailbox.

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