ALFA ROMEO 111TH
A giant Biscione making its way over the old banking at Monza, and then like an unarrestable force of nature onto the F1 track. I didn’t fly a drone over the Temple of Speed, but this is the mental image I’m taking home after attending Scuderia del Portello’s meeting organised in collaboration with Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo on Italy’s most famous circuit. A giant Biscione might be seen from somewhere above, whose scales at ground level are revealed to be Alfas, new and old, in all possible colours and shapes, all shiny and proud. Over 400 of them.
In what turned out to be the second largest Alfa meeting after the Centenary celebrations in 2010, the 111th Anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s birth, the organisers pulled off the not so easy under the current circumstances feat of bringing together several Italian owners clubs, alfisti from all over Europe and racing glories from Alfa’s history, both in flesh and in the metal. Known for its “Dynamic Museum”, Scuderia Del Portello lined up an impressive display of competional hardware: from the Tipo 33 “Periscopica” and F1 183T to the latest addition to their legion - an endurance race prepped Giulia Quadrifoglio, while RIAR - guardians and guarantors of the originality of historic Alfas - had the honour of showcasing the oldest car for the day, a 1924 RL Targa Florio.
The grandeur of the event, the sheer number of Alfas present seemed almost too much to take in at once, if it wasn’t for the same inclusive character typical of any alfisti meeting. Making new friends, knowing people from behind their social media monikers and even seeing up close the likes of Bruno Giacomelli (driving his own Spider, given to him by Alfa Romeo itself for his services as F1 driver, a car he admitted will never sell) was just the natural thing to do here, all the while ex-AutoDelta mechanic and test driver Carlo Facetti received a honorary award for his life long career working on Alfas. For those looking to enrich their automotive knowledge, two books were presented - “Alfa Romeo 156” by Ivan Scelsa and “Lo chiamavano il prete, andava come il diavolo” on Mauro Pregliasco’s rally adventures by Carlo Cavicchi, with the ex-pilot himself holding an introductory speech.
Outside the paddocks the entire spectrum of Alfa ownership universe was put on display: from vintage police “Panthers” to modified Mitos and everything in between. Out of this complete panorama we couldn’t have asked for a more suitable pair of Alfas to take on the Monza than the ones our friends from Lambri Motors (some of whose cars we had the pleasure to feature previously) brought out for the day: a 75 Turbo Evoluzione for our Luca Danilo Orsi and a 75 Turbo ASN for myself. First time on the old Monza banking, driving in the quintessential Alfa type car - the family sport saloon - if not one of the most iconic ones and regarded by many as the last “real Alfa”! If this wasn’t a date with history, I don’t know what else could qualify as such.
Maybe next year’s event? Sure, the bar was set high this year, but in 2022 Scuderia del Portello will have a special celebration of its own: its 40th anniversary. And so the story goes on!
Photos by Luca Danilo Orsi
