Our next Monthly Meeting will be April 22, 2015 at Macaroni Grill,
7245 E. Gold Dust, Scottsdale at 6:30 p.m.
The only way to get The Alfa Rumor will be by email. Send your name and email address to
[email protected]
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President/
Rick Mahrle
602 256-4433
[email protected]
Vice President/
Robert DeMarco
480-823-2744
[email protected]
Treasurer/Secretary:
Terry Greenslade
602-765-0061
[email protected]
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
Informazioni
The Alfa Rumor is published monthly as the official newsletter of the Arizona Alfa Romeo Owner's Club
(AAROC). AAROC is a local chapter of the national Alfa Romeo Owner's Club and is dedicated to the
enjoyment of Alfa Romeo Automobiles and the advancement of the Alfa Romeo marque. Subscription to
this newsletter is included with membership to the national Alfa Romeo Owner's Club and expressed
affiliation with the Arizona Chapter. Classifieds, contributions, and criticisms are welcome and should be
addressed to the editor by mail, phone, or email.
Technical information, data, or suggestions in this publication are the opinions of the contributing
authors, and, as such, their accuracy or correctness cannot be warranted by AAROC or the national
organization. All owners should determine the suitability of any modifications: the club will not assume
liability for any consequences.
Meetings
General meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM. The meetings are held at an
appropriate Italian restaurant (see the latest newsletter or club website for details). Board meetings, open
to all members at the discretion of the board, are held two weeks prior to the general meeting.
Website
The Arizona chapter now has a website located at:
http://clubs.hemmings.com/azalfa/
The website contains general information about the club and a copy of the yearly events calendar.
2015 EVENTS CALENDAR
Newsletter Editor:
Dick Botkin
602 618-8230
[email protected]
Trustees:
Joseph Frischknecht
[email protected]
Fred Firschein
[email protected]
http://www.huntcal.com/cal/view/AAROC/aaroc
April 18
April 22
April 25
May 09
Copperstate 1000 Sendoff and Car Show
General Dinner Meeting
Dolly Steamboat Apache Trail
Commemorative Air Force Museum
On the Cover: Alfas @ Casa Grande Ruins, April 11th. Below: Foodies in the
Park. March 21st. Photos by Russ.
Russ Staub
480-357-0818
[email protected]
Mark Kirchner
602 248-8451
[email protected]
Jay Fuller
602 410-0776
[email protected]
Bill Greenslade
602 765-0061
[email protected]
Webmaster:
Joyce Himes
[email protected]
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
st
Presidential Bondo
(All the Filler Fit to Print)
The Alfa is polished, mechanically checked, fluids
filled, and ready to take off on the 25th annual
Copperstate 1000. Remember to come out to see
the start of one of the country’s best vintage car
rallies on Saturday, April; 18. Gates open at 9 a.m.
and the cars will be leaving Tempe Diablo Stadium
starting at 12:30 p.m. There are four Alfas
registered for the event, so make sure to come and
check them out, along with the other 90 entirely
cool machines that will be on display on the baseball
diamond. There is no cost to come in and look
around.
We had another great turn-out for our March
monthly meeting. Remember that the meeting this
month is on Wednesday, April 22 (the fourth
Wednesday of the month). I will be absent due to
the Copperstate, but carry on.
Make sure to sign up for the Lake Trip on April 25.
It should be marvelous. You do not want to miss it.
There will be a lengthy report and lots of pictures
from the Copperstate in the next issue of The
Rumor. And, for any of you who are going on the
BEAT Tour, please take photos and write up a story
for us.
Ciao
Active Rumors/Notes from
the Editor
On March 21 we congregated at the Firscheins’
community park in East Mesa (a road trip for some
rd
us!) for the 3 Annual Invitational Cookoff. Great
th
food, Great Friends. On April 11 we went to the
Casa Grande Ruins to learn about the original
settlers of the Valley of the Sun, and two Great
Horned Owls who now call this ancient place home.
th
Coming up on April 18 is the Copperstate 1000
sendoff and car show. Our own PREZ is an organizer
and participant in this prestigious collector car
th
event. On April 25 we will travel the old Apache
Trail to board the Dolly “Steamboat” for a riparian
adventure. (Ok, it’s on Canyon Lake, but that was
formed by damming up the Salt River.) Who says
Olio and Water don’t mix? May 9th will find us at the
Commemorative Air Force Museum in Mesa. Check
the AAROC calendar for details on all of these
events.
The May issue of Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car
featured Rick, Russ, Bill, and Arno and their 4
generations of Alfa Spiders in a very very nice article.
Good job guys! The AAROC and National Alfa club
got some ink as well. Pick up a copy from your
newsstand, or subscribe. It is a great mag. I get
ECOPIES on my IPAD. I signed up for a 3 month
subscription for $3.99, got the May issue and all
back issues to April 2011! That is bang for the buck.
Our general dinner meetings at the Macaroni Grill in
Scottsdale are still the biggest events (by
attendance) each month. The tables were full again
in March. Laughter, stories, news and tall tales
nd
abound. Don’t miss the fun. Join us on April 22 , at
the Macaroni Grill, Gold Dust and Scottsdale Rd., at
6:30 pm until they run out of Chianti.
Arrivederci
Ahhh! Springtime in the desert; wildflowers, gentle
breezes, balmy temperatures, songbirds, the
awakening reptiles, and ALFA road trips! There is no
shortage of Alfa things to do, for sure.
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
2015 Invitational Cookoff
By Fred Firschein
March turned out to have the perfect weather for a
drunken picnic. The combination of food, drink, and
fine company brought out a large group of Alfisti for
an alcohol based lunch.
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
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Dick Botkin – ‘86 Spider
Bob & Traci DeMarco – ’83 Spider
Bill Greenslade – ’67 Guilia Super
Alan Headly – ‘64 Guilia TI
Russ & Jan Staub – ‘74 GTV
The caravan (more like a mini-van) headed left
around 9:15 AM and headed south on Highway 87
towards the town of Coolidge and arrived at the
Casa Grande Ruins National Park around 10 AM. We
were fortunate to catch up to the tour group and
listened intently to the history of the ruins. For
those of you who have not been there, the ‘Great
House”, at 4 stories high and sixty feet long is the
largest known structure of the Ancestral People of
the Sonoran Desert as they wish to be called today.
The grounds include the well-preserved remains of
the Hohokam farming village where they had access
to the Gila River before the water was diverted and
had a thriving society of several villages.
Anticipation. Photo by Tina
No I am not saying we just hung around consuming
liquor. We did have a large assortment of hot dishes,
bubbling crock pots, with the contents enhanced by
a dose of the cooks’ favorite adult beverage.
I want to thank all those who helped make this a
well attended event by bringing the great dishes
that we all enjoyed.
A Grand Alfa Run: Casa
Grande to San Tan Flat
By Bob DeMarco
A small group of AAROC members consisting of five
Alfa Romeos (when was the last time that
happened?) met in the Southeast Valley at the
Starbucks off the 202 San Tan Freeway at Highway
87 (Arizona Avenue) for a small trip around the San
Tan Mountains. The participants and their ponies
included:
Phoenix, Arizona
Our Docent kept the crowd’s attention
Photo by Russ
After the tour we spent some time in the visitor’s
center and were fascinated by the artifacts and
information on life as it was back in the 1300’s. Then
after a few pictures and some pleasant conversation
the group was getting hungry so on to lunch. Upon
leaving the ruins we headed due east on highway
287, made a left hand turn onto Attaway Rd and
then up to Hunt Highway in the outskirts of the town
of Florence. A quick left onto Hunt Highway and a
small jaunt through the village of San Tan Valley and
we arrived at San Tan Flat, an Arizona cowboy
restaurant.
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
YOUR AD HERE
Classified ads for Alfas and Alfa parts are still
free for members. Just email your ad and any
photos to me at [email protected] .
Wanted: 1969 Spider. Contact Don Dickinson
at [email protected] or call at 503 320-7169.
Blast from (somebody’s) Past
A perfect Arizona Spring Day. Photo by Russ
San Tan Flat – they are known for their ribs and
burgers and they did not disappoint the group. The
burgers were delicious and they had a very
extensive selection of local and brand name beers
on tap. The restaurant has a very rustic interior and
an expansive outdoor seating and entertainment
area including a stage where local country artist play
in the evenings in front of bon fires and picnic tables
fill with patrons from far and wide. After lunch we
continued our stimulating conversation and went
out front for more pictures and bid adieu around 2
PM and headed back towards home. It was a
pleasant day indeed and was nice to see only Alfas
and yes they all made it safely and without incident
with the exception of DeMarco’s front headlight
cover breaking off unbeknownst to the driver.
Phoenix, Arizona
Alfas Don’t Rust in the Desert. Photo by Fred
Fred sent in this photo of a “barn find” near the
Olive Mill in Queen Creek. Looks like it outlived the
barn and the Ford parked next to it. Anyone need
another project? Arno? Jay?
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
2015 Invitational Cookoff
No one had more fun at the cookoff than Joe. Photos by Tina and Russ
Our hostess and host. Thanks Tina and Fred. Photo by Russ.
Bill and Bob swapping stories. Photo by Tina.
See all of the cookoff photos on the AAROC Website.
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
Run to Casa Grande Ruins
“Who invited Cinderella?” Photo by Russ
Our Hostess and Host, Traci and Bob
Thanks for a great day. Photo by Russ
Aka “Current Resident” Photo by Russ
More Casa Grande Ruins photos on the AAROC website. Check it out.
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015
The ALFA RUMOR
The Arizona Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club
If you wish to join the Alfa Romeo Owners Club, please complete and mail the following application. Benefits include close
camaraderie with other Alfa enthusiasts, a one-year subscription to the national club magazine (the Alfa Owner) and, as a
bonus, a one-year subscription to this newsletter.
ARIZONA ALFA OWNERS CLUB
Membership Application
Name:__________________________________________________________________
Address:________________________________________________________________
City State, Zip:___________________________________________________________
Chapter Affiliation-Arizona
Do You Own an Alfa Romeo?
What Kind(s)?_______________________
Please enclose a check in the amount of $68 (dues) to:
ALFA ROMEO OWNERS’ CLUB
PO Box 92155
Portland, OR 97292
Phoenix, Arizona
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA ALFA ROMEO OWNER’S CLUB April 2015