Re: alfa-digest V9 #42

[George Graves <gmgraves@domain.elided>]

Yes, I caught that as well. By the way, the NordAuto (Alfa driver) who 
took the lead from the BMWs was Fabrizio Giovanardi, not Gandolini.

Throughout the entire season thus far broadcast by "The NASCAR Channel" 
the announcers have made NO secret of the fact that they are anti-Alfa 
Romeo. I don't know exactly why. Some of the other comments made were 
things like "Well, this result is something that NOBODY likes to see: 
Alfa Romeo first and second again." Or "The only people who could 
possibly be happy with this finish are Alfa-holics."

Other types of left-handed compliments to our favorite Marque: "These 
cars, being front wheel drive might have the power on the straights, 
but their getaway is not as good as the rear-drive BMWs" This last 
while the Alfas are rocketing away from the starting grid leaving the 
BMWs and Volvos in their wake. Not to mention: Oh, look, Larini's Alfa 
has fallen back some. Looks like the gearbox trouble that we've been 
hoping for might have materialized (I didn't. In that race Larini came 
in second).

Sure is biased commentary. US commentators would never do that. of 
course American commentators don't get as breathless as do their 
British cousins when narrating motor races either. Listen to the 
British commentators when ABC carries a Formula 1 race and contrast it 
with David Hobbs and company do it for Speed Channel (er NASCAR 
Channel). Frankly Speeds coverage is so laid-back that I think the guys 
are drinking - which is OK, at least they're entertaining, informative 
and not nearly so frenetic.

George Graves
'86 GTV-6


On Monday, November 18, 2002, at 07:10  PM, alfa-digest wrote:


> Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 16:15:27 -0500
> From: adoherty@domain.elided
> Subject: As if winning races weren't enough....
>
> In between watching the Raiders thump the Patriots last night, I 
> watched a
> certain amount of the TouringCar races in the Czech Rep. Anyhow, as 
> the Alfa of
> Gandolini (?) overtook the BMWs into first place, there was a quick 
> camera shot
> of a silver 156 wagon pulled to the side with steam emanating from 
> under the
> hood.... British git commentator: 'Ohh, quite a heart-wrenching site 
> for
> Alfisti, as they all know Alfas can be raced quite successfully, but 
> regular
> Alfas are a breakdown waiting for a place to happen....' A close 
> paraphrasing.
> And just when you thought sweeping all the races was enough.... And to 
> complete
> the conspiracy, the same git later opines that once BMW get their 
> engine sorted
> that it will end the dominance of the Alfas. You could almost hear the 
> axe
> grinding in the background.
>
> AD
>
>
> - --
> Adam S. Doherty
> Howard Hughes Medical Institute
> University of Pennsylvania--School of Medicine
> 360 CRB
> 415 Curie Blvd
> Philadelphia, PA  19104   USA
>
> Phone: 215-898-7806
> Fax: 215-898-8780
> Email: adoherty@domain.elided
George Graves
'86 GTV-6
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