ALFA FEST 2024
Is Romania a Latin or a Balkan country? Judging by the massive Alfa Romeo takeover from last weekend in Transylvania, we'd say that the Romanians' love and determination for the biscione is equal to their troubled history that has kept them away from automotive culture, as during the communist years passion was replaced by survival instincts that persisted even in times of prosperity.
But today Romania hosts one of the most ravishing Alfa Romeo events in Europe - AlfaFest - must I say a one of a kind automotive endeavour dedicated to its members, wrapped as a 4-day-tribute, happening every year since @AlfaClubRomania's establishment in 2009. Back in the day, a group of 8 friends who shared an automotive bliss for Alfa Romeo decided to establish a car club centered around shared values and a passion for the Italian carmaker. 15 years later, the club is expanding the metaphor of what being an alfista means, with its premier event - Alfa Fest - becoming the yearly meeting point for Romanian alfisti, with its fervour and enthusiasm one would expect to experience when celebrating a family holiday, and not just a simple car owners get together.
The event has gathered no less than 100 Alfas and their owners on the winding Transylvanian roads and river gorges from Mureș county, following the racetrack at Transilvania Motor Ring, getting thrilled at the longest alpine coaster track in Romania and ending the show with a superb private dinner in the Bethlen Bahnea newly renovated castle. They did not miss neither the 30th anniversary of the GTV, nor the 70's anniversario of the sweetheart of Italy, or the Italian Republic Day, as three of the Alfas present improvised the Italian tricolore almost 2000 km away from Rome.
Alfa Club Romania has been offering for over 15 years the most beautiful demonstration of automotive and human culture, where Latin, Balkan and Slavic lifestyles meet from all over Eastern Europe. And I think that's the core of Romania. It's eclectic. And that’s one, big strength.
Photos by Content REcreators - Radu Fugarescu & Claye
