Europe Trip ... Part 3

[Victor Lee]

Thank you Brad for posting for me when my internet connection got a bit weird.  Apologies for not posting recently, but we've had late nights and early mornings and not much time for other things!

MONDAY:  SPA, BELGIUM to MULHOUSE, FRANCE
There was 26 crews in this rally and 8 Australian crews, all from Victoria.  The other crews were mainly from the Belgium Alfa Club.  In this rally the cars ranged from 105 spiders to a new 8C.
How hard could it be? 500kms?  Piece of cake!  Be there just after lunch...wrong!
When you're coming into villages every few kilometers to drop to 50kms, your average speed is severally affected!  By early afternoon, it was obvious that we were not going to make our viewing of the museum or dinner at that pace with 200kms to go!  So we got Miss GPS involved for the fastest route.  We got there with only an hour to freshen up.  Using the intended route notes, there was NO WAY we would have made it.

We couldn't understand how the locals did it.  But then we found out that they only stop for fuel (unlike us who took morning tea, lunch break, and arvo tea); and as Graeme put it, must've pissed into milk bottles and brought their own sandwiches!

The Schlumpf Car Museum - in one word: WOW!  See pics - but it was incredible.  EG: Not one but two 1952 Ferrari GP cars but two.  There is a heavy emphasis on French cars, but impressive all the same.  We dined within the museum itself (apparently only done for VIP's!!!), whilst other functions are held in the other catering area.

[Victor Lee]

TUESDAY:  To Lake Gardia, Swizterland

A "shorter day" ahead sees us heading into the Swiss alps.  Once again, not the direct route but through some scenic countryside.  You cannot help but think of the beautiful scenery ala the classic film The Sound Of Music!  A quick jaunt through the top of Italy sees us on SS337. 

This is a state "highway" through the mountains with some widths only two cars wide.  Approaching another card at speed was a challenge at the best of times but when you get tooted because the oncoming driver had to pull his arm in, then that's close.   The day finished with dinner on a ship cruising the lake.

WEDNESDAY: To Milano , Italy.

Welcome to Italy and it's traffic!  We were advised that the RIAR (Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo) will be holding a track day at the Monza track.  Nope, someone stuffed up and Porsches were running around instead.

We made our way to the hotel, which will be our home for the next 5 nights in the suburb of Assago in the southern part of Milano.  This was a bit out of the city but there was free parking for all our cars.

[Victor Lee]

THURSDAY 24th June: The Big Day!

We departed in convoy to the Alfa Romeo Museum.  At the gates, there were hundreds of Alfas trying to get into the car park.  It was like a big club day.  There were trade stands and of course official AR Merchandising.   Italian organization soon became apparent.  Alfisti were getting through the pedestrian gates but there were two staff handing out promo material.  So it took a while to get in. 

Having never been to the museum before, I found it interesting to see it.  It wasn't dusty and warehouse-like as I imaged, but you could see the lawns had been freshly cut!  Another problem was lack of bottled water in the Milano heat and toilet facilities.  The food queue line was a 100 metres the last time I looked.
We overhead a volunteer complaining that they were surprised on the numbers of Alfisti who came to the museum to pay "homage" to their marque. 

We didn't hang around for the birthday cake at 2pm (which we were told later was a fizzer) so the Oz Alfisti went into Milano central to take in the sights.

[Victor Lee]

FRIDAY: To Mille Miglia Museum.

The guys went to the Mille Miglia Museum and the wives went to Milano central for shopping.  Who could ask for a better compromise?  It was interesting to see the history of this classic event with posters and vehicles.  The museum is housed within the compound of a 1000 year old ex-Benedictine monastery, so it had lots of character.  I didn't understand one whole section dedicated to the Beatles though.   After an enormous 5 course lunch at the Museum, the others went onto view another museum the Nicolas Collection, but the Oz Alfisti went back to the hotel for some R&R.


SATURDAY: To Milano Exhibition Centre (Fiera Rho)

What happens when you get over 3000 Alfas converging onto one closed gate?  A typical Italian traffic jam!  The gate people were not told by their powers to be of the event!  When the gates were finally opened, and cars were let in, it became the biggest display of Alfa Romeos I have ever seen!  That took over an hour.  We had nice chats with other Alfisti on the freeway off-ramp during this time.
Inside the Exhibition Hall, there were tables set up for sit 2500 Alfisti and 2500 standing.  Lunch was a buffet, which we were skeptical if this would work.  In the end they pulled it off.  We left after lunch but before the unveiling of the RIAR Statue.
The Oz Alfisti went to another Alfa display called "100x100centoalfapercent'anni", where 100 best examples were displayed.  If only the exhibition hall wasn't so hot, this would have been an enjoyable display.  The cars themselves were an excellent selection.

SUNDAY: Alfa Hugs Milano

All registered participants received a red flag to put onto their roofs of their cars when a parade of Alfisti cars "hugs" Milan for the helicopter photo shot.   The Oz Alfisti piked out on this one after the experience of the previous day.  In fact no one from the rally participated!  We made our way to Lake Como instead for a pleasant day sightseeing.

So ends the Alfa Romeo 100th anniversary celebrations!  Whilst we might whinge about the organization of the Italians, would we do it again?  YES!  To be part of it was really something special.  As the stickers that they handed out on the actual anniversary says:  "Io C'ero!"  ...  I was here!


Tomorrow everyone goes their separate ways.  For a few of us, our journey continues for a few more days as we go to St Moritz and Interlaken (via the Stelvio Pass of course)!

[stustustu123]

Cheers for the lovely photos & updates on your trip!  I have fond memories of visiting the Museo in 2003 but unfortunately didn't have a lot of time to take it all in.  Would love to go back again soon for a better look.

[Frank Musco]

G'day Victor,

Good onya mate, thats grouse. Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures.

Cheers Musco.