ALFA ROMEO 115th ANNIVERSARY

Jul 9

You only turn 115 once…

The most storied and beloved of all the automotive makers reached another round-number milestone. As per tradition, the celebrations were hosted by Museo Storico in Arese, working together with the collaborating clubs to help keep the Biscione spirit alive and kicking in its native hometown - even if most of its manpower has moved elsewhere.

Representatives of 82 Alfisti clubs were present for the day, equally divided between Italian and foreign ones - further proving the love for Alfa speaks an international language. After the record attendance registered for the Alfa Romeo 75 40th anniversary, expectations were pretty high for another great day on the Holy Grounds of the Alfisti. Fulfilled maybe not by setting just another high point in the history books - with some 350 cars present and over 1.300 visitors, a full house at the Bistro, in the parking lot, and even on the museum’s lawn and racetrack - but definitely by the great variety and quality of cars present, with the oldest being a very rare and seldom-seen-in-public 1926 RL SS.

Having arrived at the Museo Storico still high from the Mille Miglia raid I followed in Simon’s 4C Spider, the first thing I noticed was another couple of 6C veterans that wouldn’t have looked out of place in period pictures with Nuvolari at the wheel. The only thing missing on this 6C 1750 and 6C 2300 pair were the scars and dust - part and parcel of the Mille Miglia adventure - as their owners from Scuderia Sant Ambroeus and Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo are keeping them clean and spotless. So maybe it’s not Mille Miglia for them, but a certain Concorso d’Eleganza…Still in the Mille Miglia spirit, the day started at Museo Storico with a regularity race on the racetrack -a hard task for any bona fide Alfista to not just go fast for once, but keep a constant average speed. Seventy Alfisti took on this unlikely challenge and reportedly were just as happy keeping a steady pace on board their Alfas as if they were driving flat out.

The conference of the day saw the clubs meeting with the Museo Storico’s curator Lorenzo Ardizio, liaison officer Michela Cangemi, and marketing director Adriano Luati, where ideas for the future were outlined -as well as the Turin headquarters’ intention of a closer collaboration with the Alfisti. A course we can only agree with and applaud.

Another busy area put to the test during the day was the Bistro - if the Museo Storico provides food for the soul, it’s in the restaurant that guests’ more worldly needs are taken care of. Tasty Italian cuisine (along with special “colour-coded” dishes to go with the temporary monthly colour-themed displays) and, obviously, the typically stylish Milanese bar kept the Alfisti fed and happy in between the activities.

The main undertaking of the day -an organisational feat on its own - was the flash mob on the lawn: 115 different Alfas nicely laid out to form the script “Alfa Romeo 115.” The most important models in the brand’s history were represented, starting with pre-war ones and the 1900 and Giuliettas of the ‘50s industrial transformation, all the way to the newest member of the Alfa family - the Junior. A purposeful arc that few other marques in the world can match: from the utilitarian Matta and F12 van to the ever-gorgeous 8C Competizione and Spider. Another way to reflect on how the Alfa Romeo niche is, in fact, a small reflection of the entire world - just as the Alfisti come from all over the world and all walks of life.

The day concluded with a much-needed refreshing toast - with no end of good wishes from the Alfisti, to which I’m adding one more: may Alfa live to see another 115 of these celebrations!