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30-06-2010, 20:59
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Final set
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01-07-2010, 20:38
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Here's a little report of my trip.
On Friday I left my home town early in the morning with Mel Bonkers to go to the Centennial. The plan was to travel through Germany to meet somewhere down the road our Belgian friends who travelled from Antwerp to Milano. The journey was very smooth and fast and already after 5.5 hours we reached Switzerland. The roads were pretty quiet, but not quiet enough to try top speed. The fastest I drove in Germany was 240 km/h before being forced to release the throttle again. Because we were so much ahead of schedule we decided to go over the passes Amzamz advised. So in stead of Monday we did Susten Pass, Grimsel Pass and Passo della Novena. And what a journey that was. For car enthusiasts this is heaven. We saw a lot of classic Alfas on the passes as well. Like us enjoying the drive to Milan in the best possible way. On the last pass we travelled together with an Alfa Romeo 75 and an Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV6. In the afternoon we arrived in hotel Ascot in Milan. With a very good but public parking garage in front of it. Our Alfas could stay there without any problem. As some of you know I am an administrator of AlfaOwner.com. And at the hotel we met up with the other two administrators (and owners) of the site. Of course we weren't the only members of AlfaOwner.com and we had booked an Italian restaurant at the other side of the city center. Travelling to the restaurant was planned to do by public transportation. Too bad they were on strike. So 23 Alfa owners had to travel by foot or by cab to the restaurant. Most of us decided to walk. The food was excellent in the restaurant and we had a good time. Saturday we were going to the actual Centennial. Meeting point was at the exhibition center Rho just outside Milano. We going to park there, get our centennial packages and enjoy lunch. My expectations about the organisation qualities of Italians were not set very high. But I never ever expected it was going to be that bad. Saturday was total chaos and paying for the event was a total rip off. Despite that we had a fabulous time all together. Simply because we were in Milan, the weather was great and last but not least we were with 8,000 other Alfisti who brought 3,500 Alfas to the event. When we parked at the Rho we went for our lunch. I had expected that most enjoyable food was probably already gone. But it was even worse. There was no food left at all! Probably 1,000 Alfisti had lunch and the other 7,000 were left without lunch. Thankfully we were still among so many other Alfisti. Enjoying all cars all the time. In the afternoon we should suppose to bring our Alfas to the center of Milan. Driving in groups from 80 to 100 Alfas. Nobody told us when to leave. Nobody gave us directions on the spot. So we started to get 3,500 Alfas through a two car wide gate. You can imagine what chaos was created. We stand for hours on the parking lot. With still no food (only had breakfast) and no drinks. There were no stands at all where one could buy drinks. When we arrived at the first roundabout nobody had a clue where to go. The printed directions didn't mention the correct exit. I took the roundabout four or five times so we had seen all signs that were there. The other Alfas, including the Italians, had no idea where to go. Which resulted in all five exits where used by the Alfas just to get out of there. So we all approached Milan from all possible angles  This resulted in Alfas coming from all directions which was a non planned but very cool site.We were supposed to park near the head entrance of the Castello Sforzesco. The castle of the famous Visconti family. The serpente (drake) in the Visconti family weapon is the same as in Alfa's logo. Which means there was no better place to enjoy our Alfas. In front of the castle Alfa parked some vintage Alfas and believe it or not: parking was well organized over here. All regular parking spots were for Alfa parking only and two lanes of the road around the park were transformed into parking spots. In the evening we enjoyed meal in a good restaurant near our hotel with very tasteful Italian food and the wine I selected was also very nice. Mel and I shared our table with two of our Belgian friends, the other two admins plus three other AlfaOwner members. After dinner we went to the Duomo to sit down on a terras to drink extremely expensive beers and to enjoy the activity in Milan. The sunday program was about driving around Milan using the ring road. Starting point was going to be at the Rho again. The nine Alfa owners who had dinner the evening before all agreed: this was going to be a real disaster. So we changed plans and seven of us decided to go to Maranello in stead. Nobody (except me) of our group had been there before. So we all had a fabulous time over there. One of us even rented a 458 Italia for a 10 minute experience. He was allowed to drive himself so I guess the smile is still on his face. On Monday we had scheduled to go home again. And what a great experience that was. The number of Dutch Alfas that attended the meeting was quite large, and on our way home we have seen several Alfas. We even met a GT Veloce and a Junior Z twice. Once in Switzerland at a gas station and later on in The Netherlands. These two Alfas from the sixties must have been flooring it to get the same average speed as we managed. I was travelling 200+ when allowed and obeying the speed limits at the rest of the time. So I guess the classic Alfas were speeding a bit from time to time I also saw an amzamz equivalent: a Dutch classic Alfa from the twenties was being brought home to The Netherlands. Not on a truck but being driven the complete distance.
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03-07-2010, 22:34
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Hans, I was curious to know how was the trip... thank you very much for this sight! The photos are fab and the what you wrote gave me the perspective of the meeting.
Now I'm going to my corner and cry! How was it possible for me not to be there!? Not to meet you and all the friends from AO.com!?  I'm really sad for this... I try not to talk about it because it makes me sad not just for the centenary but not to meet you all there!!! That's even more important and what would make this moment truly special. On the other hand... I'm truly happy for you that could go and enjoy it!!! 
__________________
Hugo Sá aka Throttleman
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04-07-2010, 12:25
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Sounds like a fantastic trip even with the lack of organization. At least now you have something to talk about when you are old.
"Do you remember at the Alfa Centennial......."
__________________
Rijk 
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18-07-2010, 21:24
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Another picture of the centennial.
Look at the temperature and average fuel consumption during the event (1 L / 2.9 KM = 6.8 MPG)
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