July 2002

July Rendezvous

We had 18 enthusiasts to rendzvous with four Alfa Romeos, three Austin Healeys, one MG, a BMW 3.0 and several other interesting cars. Mel was congratulated on his recent adoption of a Maserati and was presented with a Maserati pin from fellow Maserati owner Bill Dymond. John Parker was recognized for finishing his Alfa Romeo Veloce restoration and starting a restoration on an Alfa Romeo Milano Platinum. John Harrill is starting back on the restoration of his Alfa Romeo Guiletta. Byron Dutcher was given a rousing hand of APPLAUSE for his efforts with Scuderia Triumph. Jerry Anderson was acknowledged for his and Carolyn's jaunt to lake Tahoe and back in their 58 Austin Healey. Richard Hipwood brought a bevy of Alfa Romeo and Formula One racing pictures he took in Europe in the 1970s. Our guest speaker this month was Kirk Sanders who gave a talk on the great race. See below!

June Rendezvous

Candelaria and Herman Zapp visited us at our monthly rendzvous on the second Tuesday. They gave a talk on their drive from Buenos Aires to Anchorage in a 1928 Graham Paige. Their adventures kept us spell bound. Their tales of building a boat to take their Graham Paige 3000 miles along the Amazon, crossing a river with the car straddling two canoes, traversing deserts, the Andes, jungles, a variety of cultures and having a child enroute made for a most wonderful evening.

The Great Race

Kirk Sanders and his uncle competed in the great race from Texas to Anaheim California. The 8 day, 2500mile time speed distance rally led them to 3rd p lace in the rookie division. They competed in a 1937 Ford two door coupe with a 1939 engine.

Next year the race will start in North Carolina and will end in California 14 days later. It was decided that we should begin lobbying immediately with all the clubs and city hall to host the start here in the land of racing red....and racing green ....and racing white, and silver, and so on.

This must indeed be the year of long-distance driving: At the August Rendezvous Lee Davis will speak on local dealer Flow BMW+Minis winning Mini Cooper S and its 6000 mile drive across the United States competing in the one-lap event.

Alfa Romeo Mini Miglia - Fare Un Giro!

On June 15th we drove the Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Mini Miglia from Winston Salem to Virginia and back. The Mini Miglia combined a tremendous 90 mile hilly, twisty and scenic drive, great food, and fellowship. At 10am we met at Reynolda Village to start a 2 hour drive through the Sauratuan Mountains with the finish at Reynolda Village in front of the Vineyards. The drive was a beautiful and interesting route that wound its way through Bethania, Tobaccoville, Rural Hall, and up to Fransisco and around Hanging Rock, Pilot Mountain, Sauratown Cliffs, the Dan River, Town Fork river and back through Germanton by the winery and on to Reynolda Village and Gardens.

We flagged the twenty one cars off in 30 second intervals. At the Start we had Norm Wiginton and his son in a Alfa Romeo Spyder, Steve and Nora Joiner in an Alfa Romeo Spyder, Kaye and John Parker in an Alfa Romeo Spyder, Tim and Burt Simpson in a spyder, Carol Wooley and John Hauser in an Alfa Romeo Spyder, Bob and Linda Wright in an Alfa Romeo Guilia Spyder , John Harrill and his daughters in an Alfa Romeo 164, Teri and Ron Weddle in an Alfa Romeo Milano, and Jim Clarkson and Lee Davis in an Alfa Romeo 164. In addition to the nine Alfa Romeos we had Piers Clarkson and friend in a Porsche 928, Jack O'Brien and Blake Frazier in a white 57 MGA, The Simmons in a white MGB, the Dewalders in a white MGB, Byron Dutcher in a red Triumph TR 6, Eric Freed and Ted Brinegar in a Jaguar XKE, Bob and Sandra King in a Porsche, The Moores in a Porsche, Thor Mirchandani and Ann Peoples in a Mercedes 280SL, Bill Dymond in a Mercedes and Rodney Trask and Steve Jones in Acura Type Rs that ran very quickly with Jack O'Brien's MGA Special. The 21 cars arrived shortly after 12 :30 for lunch at the Vineyards. First place went to Ron and Terri Weddle in the Milano, Second place went to Jim Clarkson and Lee Davis Alfa Romeo 164 and Third place went to Eric Freed and Ted Brinegar in the XKE. The awards were Alfa Romeo Corse Cloisone Quatrafoglios.

At two o'clock we drove a 19 minute tour through Grayland, Buena Vista, the West End, West Highlands, downtown, and Old Salem ending at The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts . After a tour many of us headed to Lasagna, Brescheta, a great salad and local wines from the nearby Raylan and West Bend Vineyards followed by Gelato from Ollie's. We raised our glasses to Jack O'Brien for a rally well done.

On Sunday morning we had a last blast to Ollies Cafe and Bakery with the Weddle's Alfa Romeo Milano, Carol Wooley's Alfa Romeo Spyder and Thor Mirchandani's Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale parked along side the tables while we enjoyed steamed Lattes and fellowship. Viva Alfa Romeo!

Highlights of Spring Driving in the Piedmont and elsewhere

Hampton Roads Annual Wine Tour was a huge sucess ducking rain at every opportunity. Corsa Rossa had three cars to drive north to Charlottesville for the annual MAARC's wine tour. Bill Craig and Blake Frazier in an Alfa Romeo, John Hauser and Carol Wooley in a Healey, and the Kisers in a Porsche. Upon arriving in Charlottesville Carol and John took a run along the creek behind the English Inn where they were welcomed by about 7 deer of varying ages.

A highlight was the trip up to the Morris residence for an Italian dinner at the Mountain Top. On the way home near Walton's Mountain after leaving the First Colony Winery John and Carol encountered a bus accident that required they turn around. They decided to press on using the scenic Virginia map. Little did Carol know but the heavy line on the map was the route of a road that often was one vehicle width wide and which frequently allowed for no turn arounds and switched from tarmac to gravel to dirt. At one point Carol had to assist a family of geese up the road because there was no way to go given the steep road sides and the narrow width of the road or cart way. The by way made its way past beautiful ante bellum river plantations, one lane bridges, dark and cool forests. There were periods of 30 minutes at a time the green Healey did not see another vehicle on the road. A most excellent drive to top off a most excellent weekend.

The MAARC Alfa Romeo Extravaganza was a blast. Corsa Rossa had 6 Alfa Romeo to head east. Bill Craig drove his spyder veloce, Barrie Harper drove her 164, Kevin Harper drove his spyder, John and Karen Harrill drove their 164, Jim Clarkson drove his 164, and John Parker drove his spyder. After a super tech session at Don Sander's Alfa Garage by Dana Loomis and Michael Minzer on the 1600 and 1750 Guilia Supers we left for Ron and Teri Weddle's for the concours and a great Italian feast. One highlight was driving Don Sanders Fiat 600 from the garage to the concours and back. The little buzz box garnered a lot of attention especially from the truck crowd. Bouncing and flying past the horse farms of Durham and Orange counties was a most memorable drive.

In the spring Corsa Rossa fielded six Alfa Romeos, one Ferrari, a Triumph, an MG and two Porsches to compete in the Moonshine Run time distance rally organized by Jon Saylor, gray eminence of Triad Rallying and co-inventor of this most excellent event. Jim and Karen Harrill in their Alfa Romeo 164 finish in sixth place.In June Jim and Piers Clarkson joined the Ferrari Club of America for some spirited driving. Jim and Piers joined 15 Ferraris for the Virginia Tour which was centered on the Charlottesville area.

Corsa Rossa’s European Car Festival 2002

This year the festival will take place on Saturday October 12th 2002 10am-5pm. In attendance will be cars from all over Europe including Ferraris, Maseratis and Lancias of Italy to BMW, Porsche and Mercedes of Germany, to Aston Martin, MG and Lotus of Britain to Saab and Volvo of Sweden as well as many other marques. There will be both competition and road cars on display.

Registration will begin at 10am and end at 12 noon. This years honored marque, Austin Healey will be on display on the lawn at Reynolda House with the other marques on display in Reynolda Village and Gardens. All European cars are invited to participate. Cars are to be parked according to their manufacturer. There are twenty manufacturer classes and those cars not fitting into one of these twenty classes will be placed in the special interest or competition classes. Additional classes may be added prior to the show depending on preregistration.

Registration is $10 per car. All proceeds go to the Childrens Art Fund at Reynolda . A dash plaque will be given to each registered car. Awards will be presented to a car in each marque with 5 cars preregistered. The will be a special event price for Admission to Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Directions:

The festival offers a unique, beautiful and historic setting at Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens and Reynolda Village. Live music will be performed in Reynolda Village. The Village houses the former support buildings and dairy for the Estate. The village offers restaurants such as the Blackhorse Cafe, Reynolda Village Soda Shop, the Village Tavern and the Vineyards, all with outdoor seating. The shops contain everything from clothes, sportswear, antiques, books, music, toys, gourmet cookware and fine foods to jewelry and much more. Lodging can be arranged at the Brookstown Inn in Old Salem, (336) 725 1120.

Awards Classes