wonderful track time

["Joe Cantrell" <agiyo@xxxxxxxx>]

I must chime in with my trackborne Alfa epiphany of last weekend.  You will
recall that AROO celebrated our 30th anniversary with a series of events all
of which were, roughly speaking, perfect.  It was just lovely.
Then for the track event/concours on Sunday, Doug Klein brought out the
Lightweight Sprint, recently restored by Bill Gillham, which was featured in
this year's Concours Italiano.  I do believe that may be the most beautiful
car I have ever seen, and I was not alone in that sentiment Sunday.  We do
not have it on our website yet, but if anyone wants a jpeg of it, e-mail me
and I'll send you one.  I wish a monitor could convey the depth of that red.
In any case, Fast Tour Laps have become an extremely popular part of our
track days.  Cars go out in groups led by professional driving instructors
who show their lines, braking points etc. and it is open to Spiders w/o roll
bars; you get over an hour of track time for $20.  Well, Doug borrowed my
brain bucket (appropriate '50's term) and took the Sprint around a few laps,
then pulled in and handed it over to me.  What an experience!  We have all
read about the 1290cc motor's willingness to wind, but this puppy went over
8,000 with no sign of reluctance, stayed right with a healthy 2 liter GTV,
even on the straights, and while I am no Nuvolari, I was unmistakably in The
Presence.  Cherokee (appropriate for my ethnicity) war whoops all the way
around the track, and handling which reminded me how was designed to corner:
ease off and the tail moves out gently, more throttle and it moves through
neutral to slight understeer.  So sweet and the sound was perfect, too.  The
little 155 Cinturatos obviously don't corner like my Spider's 205 V rated
tires but it showed me conclusively that faster is not necessarily more fun,
just different.
That little car is the first I have ever seen draw APPLAUSE from the
grandstand when I pulled in to give it back to Doug.  Man, oh man, oh man.
What an amazing heritage we share.
Oh, and the Sprint won Best in Show in the Concours.
Ciao tutti,
Joe

------------------------------