my dream Alfa,and Alfie throws snow...........

[Milanogold@domain.elided]

Greetings Alfisti!
      It's been a fun week here in the Washington,DC area;10 inches of snow 
at the house this week.Of course, I've been working crazy hours this 
week;snow and rental cars don't mix.(One jackknifed tow truck w/ car 
attached,both dented.......and 2 more dented cars.)Obviously this week has 
been eating into my Alfa Digest time, just finished 12 of them..............
       I've got to throw my two cents into the "dream alfa" thread.My second 
choice would be a "Fred DiMatteo edition" spider;first would be my Milano 
(Alfie) and Lazarus, my Alfetta Velocissima;and if they were available,a 1900 
Boano coupe,an 8C 2900 with the roadster bodywork (GORGEOUS!!!!) and an 
AeroMacchi AM202 fighter plane powered by the Alfa built RL1000 motor.
    With regards to the surprise snow here in the Washington DC area this 
week;I drove Alfie (87 Milano Gold, 138 k miles) to work the first day of the 
storm.I drive 30 miles one way to work over a parkway which is primarily 
hills and curves.My snow driving experience is incredibly limited;being 
raised in the deep south (GA) where snow shuts the city down and everyone 
rolls over and goes back to bed....I've driven in snow once in my life before 
this,and that adventure resulted in a towing bill...........
    My drive to work was over unplowed roads with snow coming down at a fast 
pace.I took it slow;around 30mph and had no problems whatsoever getting to 
work.The car was very predictable in its handling;It really surprised me to 
find that the car's handling characteristics aren't much different in snow 
than they are when it's dry.Starting off from a stoplight was a bit tough a 
time or two but once it's rolling it was very stable.Being a "snow driver in 
training";the car instilled a lot of confidence and was actually enjoyable to 
drive in the snow.I had a number of surprised employees on hand at the office 
when I showed up at 7:30 for work as usual..I recommend an Alfa as a winter 
car wholeheartedly;great heater,well balanced handling, and gets lots of 
grimacing stares from my employees who thought they were going to goof off 
for the day............

Getting ready for the next snow storm,
Terry and Sharon Akins
Alexandria,VA
1987 Milano Gold (Alfie the snow goat)
1979 Alfetta Velocissima (waiting for me to finish the seat covers)
1999 toyota Camry (my company car for the missus, the automotive equivalent 
of Valium)
1989 Toyota Celica GT (HER car)
an incredible selection of dented rental cars

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