[NSW] Auto Italia - March 30 2014

[GG105]

I would like to thank the Auto Italia organisers for the enormous amount of work they put into the event to make it happen for all of us. This year they had to cope with restrictions on lawn usage so their task became even more onerous.

That said, having been attending for over 20 years I have seen this event develop and grow and the move to the Old Parliament House lawns has been a game changer for AI.

In the old days the owners of Italian "Exotica" looked down their noses at the event and we saw few of them, of recent years this has changed. So where is AI now?

Today, all of the "Exotics" receive pride of place in the centre despite the fact that the vast majority of them are less than ten years old. Based on what happened today IA is rapidly becoming a case of:

Look at how much I spent on my late model Masferrlambo and
A competition to see who can rev the arse out of an unloaded engine and make the most noise

In the meantime the Alfas, easily the most numerous cars at the event each year were consigned to obscurity down the driveways reflecting their position in the food chain position in the view of the organisers. Is there some special reason that Fiats 500s, old and new, always seem to have a special place in the display?

And this was further reflected in the awards, a special one for Maserati Mistrals? For goodness sake, there was only one there.

Guys, if you want to treat the ordinary Italian car enthusiasts, you know the keepers of the flame, the people who QUIETLY go about preserving and celebrating the heritage, the people who are the backbone of all of this like plebs, thats fine. If you want to turn IA into a a Look At Me Sound Off, thats fine too.

Just let us all know where we stand so we can decide whether to bother driving 600+ kms return each year to support the Canberra economy. Just remember there aren't really so many of us.....

[Nate Dog]

Jesus mate,
Was it that bad  ?
Didn't make the drive as steering rack has play but intended to. Was a glorious day.
Im sorry you had such a crap time...

[LukeC]

Hear, hear!

I too have been going to AutoItalia for around 20 years on and off. From way back in the Grevilia Park days when it seemed that it was used for a large part by people to bring out their tatty old rusty Alfas and Fiats to try and flog in a defacto Italian car mart...

I dont want to bag out the organisers of AutoItalia. I did not help, even though I live in Canberra. I hang my head in shame... In my defence, I have been drowning in other Alfa related stuff for several months.

I totally agree with the poor placement of Alfa Romeos down the Boondocks... I took and paid to display two cars. On arrival with the second (my own), was told there was not enough room by the marshall and would have to park my car nose to tail (like in a paid budget inner city car park right down near the exit where the vehicle was poorly exhibited). At lunch I was rung on my phone and told that I COULD NOT park my car here and would have to move it. $10 for parking it seems...

Yes, AutoItalia attracts the a large number of the great unwashed to see a gathering of exotic/expensive Italian cars. But those who are true enthuisiests go to see vehicles that reflect preservation and restoration of all types of classic Italian vehicles, not to see the just new Masferrlambowackamobiles.

And: I dearly would like to know whether the revving "competition" was an officially sactioned part of the event event!? POOR TASTE AND TOTALLY LACKING IN CLASS/TASTE! ...There is a place for this: It's called Summernats! Next year... OFF THE ADGENDA, no ifs, buts or maybees.

Luckily, the weather held out well enough not to spoil the day. Like misty rain in the morning, and bucketing down shortly after the wrap up.... Poor ducklings driving their new Masferrlambowackamobiles home and take them to the carwash.

Great to see the TZ1 and love them or not, the ES30s.

Trying to be constructive.

[Fetta GTV]

I don't think they where planning for the number of Alfa's that turned up.
I got there at about 8.45 and got a spot behind the central water feature but that space for Alfa's soon ran out and they where shunted somewhere else.
They did have new conditions that no cars where to be parked on the grass which reduced the space way too much.
I thought the bikes revving their guts out was bad in previous years but this new idea of bouncing brand new cars of the limiter is just wrong, what ever happened to mechanical sympathy.
I guess when you have not been looking after your baby for the last 20 years you really don't care to much about it.

>:(My rant over

[Garibaldi]

Hi Guys, I was planning on going and in the end decided not to. Based on what you have said I'm glad I didn't.

[YellowSpider]

I drove from Sydney on Saturday, slept in my Campervan and then visited the show on Sunday.

I concur, it was disappointing to see many of the Alfa's relegated to non prime spots. I spotted a Duetto sad and forlorn under a tree.

I did not driveand exhibit my Spider because, heh heh, it's in the workshop!

Anyway, here are some of my pictures https://picasaweb.google.com/107443527745610324651/AutoItaliaCanberra2014?authuser=0&feat=directlink

[giulia_veloce]

Hi Marxalfa,,and anyone else interested.

I heard Auto Italia was a good event again,as usual.
I heard my Junior Z was in a good spot also.
Made it there and back with a big smile on the drivers face.

My weekend Friday ,Saturday + Sunday.
Made it to Grafton,rained most of the way there.
Then had to travel another 100 odd kms to diagnose a blown engine on an  Ford Escort.
Had a huge dinner + socializing with fellow competitors.
Woke up Saturday and started the rally.Another good day of navigation rallys.
Saturday arvo,got told about the cancelled Sydney to London rally which will only be to Perth,at this stage.My navigator John Henderson + my other spare navigator Jeff West (probably the best 2 navigation navigators,,,,,,well,,someone has to have them,in an Alfa Romeo) are competing in a Volvo in the Sydney to London,who both were pretty upset at this stage.
Dinner Saturday night with all fellow ralliers,placed us second in maters category.Gotta be happy with that.
Sunday morning,after a rescore,placed us 1st in Masters.
Sunday was a good morning rally,then drive 600 odd Kms home.
Provisional results from this morning puts us in 1st place outright in Masters category in an Alfa Romeo.
3 days of driving the 105-2000 in all sorts of conditions was great.
Added another 2220 kms (1388 miles) to the speedo,all on club plates.

Maybe some of you might enjoy some Classic Navigation rallies in your Classic Cars.
Its not hard on the car at all,but depends how you want to drive it.

A great weekend for me again.
A great weekend at Auto Italia.
Cant be at 2 places at one time,so I chose the rally.

Robert

[marxalfa]

hey rob, yea sunday was a great day, we drove down in a group of about 15 and collected a few along they way including some fiats, lancias and a merak, we ended up arriving in canberra with a 25+ convoy definitely was a site to see.

they estimate about 250 cars on the day which is fantastic considering the forecast rain and approx 12,000 spectators, just a great day to chat with old friends meet new people and enjoy the sun and scenery, you tend to forget about all the other crap.

glad you had a blast and finished well in the rally man they sound like some fun.

heres some pics for those that missed out...ive yet to add mine although i seem to have more from the drive...guess was too busy enjoying myself 
https://plus.google.com/photos/108184291709933879181/albums/5996533570665234753?authkey=CM3HsZmDj5KQpAE
http://s1252.photobucket.com/user/amp23962/library/ANDREWPAYNE-PC/Pictures/Auto%20Italia%20Canberra%202014?sort=3&page=1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/di_facinelli/sets/72157643152900833/with/13508841495/
http://instagram.com/nofrills100

[marxalfa]

here are my pics from the day...
https://imgur.com/a/2z9LL