Alfa-Porsche Challenge at ButtonWillow, CA

[Jay Negrin <jmnegrin@domain.elided>]

Hi all, with a special hello to Wille in the far, cold north;

Not to rub salt in a wound, but I was at ButtonWillow Raceway last Sunday, to
watch the vintage races, including the Alfa-Porsche Challenge.  The organizers
also let the Alfas run their own Club Challenge race. 

 The Alfa-Porsche Challenge was, sadly won by the owrld's widest 912.  Driver
was Walt Maas, a professional driver from many years ago.  No doubt he is/was
very good.  Two of the Alfa drivers, close behind him the whole way, said that
they wopuld have been quicker,but he was definitely in the way.  THAT is
racing, and the first one to the checkered flag wins, I guess.  SEcond in the
race was Alan WArd, of Ward and Deane Racing.  Close behind him was Peter
Giacoppi (sp?) in a VERY rapid Giuiletta Spider (w/a a 1750 motor, I believe).
Rooting for the "home team", as I was, it is hard to remember what was going
on further back in the pack.  I seem to remember some good dicing, but I have
no details.  Sorry.

I also got to meet a few people whose names have only been in the black and
white of my monitor.  Yes, fellow Digesters.  One gentleman, Alan Lambert, had
driven his Spider to the track, raced all weekend, then packed all his stuff
back into his car (and the Spider can hold a LOT of stuff!), then drove home
to the coast, which must have been a four hour drive at the minimum.  Kudos to
you Mr L.

As I said, not to rub it in, but the weather was superb (summer refuses to let
go, this year!); the Alfetta ran flawlessly up to, and home again, from the
race track.  All in all, it was a fine weekend, which could only have been
made better if Alfa had beaten the P****che brigade.  As they say in Chicago,
"Next year, my friends.  Next year!"

Jay Negrin
ARO Southern California

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