Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C

In August we travelled to Road Atlanta for the Ferrari Challenge as our monthly outing. There we met Englishman Peter Giddings owner and driver, mechanic Mikes Jones and the 1935 Alfa Romeo Tipo C 8C-35 #50013 just in from a race in Austrailia. Peter Giddings bought the car from an estate in England 4 years ago and did a pain staking restoration which involved locating some of the parts that had been removed while the car was in storage . 50013 is the only complete, original , surviving Tipo C 8C-35 in the world.

This car was a Scuderia Ferrari works car and was raced at Monza, Modena, Brno, Tunis, Monaco (twice), Budapest, Nurburgring (three times), the Coppa Cieno (Livorno, Leghorn), Lucca . Sunday morning prior to the Ferrari Challenge Races in Atlanta and to the Formula One Race broadcast from the Nurburgring on Speedvision, 50013 was was featured in a program dedicated to the competition cars in Enzo Ferrari’s life. At the Road Atlanta Track an hour after viewing the program, Peter Giddings who raced the car and Mike his mechanic were very friendly and spoke with usin person and in great detail about the restoration, the car’s history and the pleasure of driving it at speed.

We were told the car’s greatest success was when it was driven by the great Tazio Nuvolari to a miraculous victory at the Coppa Cieno. Nuvolari had retired his Alfa Romeo Tipo C 12C-36 after only 2 laps with a broken transaxele. Nuvolari retired and arrived back in the pits on foot and had Pintacuda in his works 8C-35 (this car) pulled in. By the time Nuvolari got away in this car which did not fit him he was 7 laps behind the rest of the field. Driving in the same spirit possessed by Fangio at the Nurburgring in 1957 he caught his team mates and the rest of the field including the entire Auto Union team and finished with an unbelievable victory.

This car is featured in the Video Racing Red when Nuvolari won the Vanderbilt Cup in New York and in the four volume video series on Ferrari in the Formula One Video.

Other successes of this magnificent Alfa were the Tripoli Grand Prix with Nuvolari in 1st, the Hungarian Grand Prix with Nuvolari in first, Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix with Pintacuda in 1st, and the Vanderbilt Cup with Nuvolari in 1st.

In the autumn of 1936, 50013 was acquired by Swiss privateer, Hans Ruesch, who raced the car at Shelsley Walsh, and then the Donnington GP with a first place and a new lap record with co driver Dick Seaman. The car was also raced at the South Afican Grand Prix taking fastest lap, Chimay with a 1st place, Finland with a first place and a fastest lap of 110.520 kilometers per hour, a first at Bucharest, Monaco, Brooklands, Crystal Palace, 1st at the Sydenham Tropy, 1st at the Bremgarten GP in Switzerland, Milan Italy, the Eifel GP, and 1st at the GP des Frontieres at 130.90 kph.

In April 1938, Ruesch loaned the car to Buddy Feathersonehaugh to run at Crystal Place were the car was rolled. The next owner was Robert Arbuthnot who at Brooklands in the Campbell Trophy set a new class lap record.

After the second world war in 1947 Dennis Poore purchased 50013 and won the first British post war race at 139 kph at Grandsden Lodge and then at Bo’Ness for a new record. Poore set new records at Shelsley Walsh, Prescott, Merston, and came in 2nd at the Brighton Speed Trials and 1st at Ibsley and at Goodwood.

In 1951 50013 Dennis Poore won the British Hilllclimb Championship and three VSCC Seaman Trophies. Poore retired the car in 1955.

After 40 years of in activity the car was purchased by Peter Giddings from the Poore estate and began a lengthy restoration. Today Giddings shares 50013 with enthusiasts from the Pacific to the Atlantic as well as on and off the track. We were certainly fortunate to be among those to see and hear this beautiful Alfa and meet Mike and Peter who are the stewards of this wonderful piece of automotive racing history.

European Car Show at Reynolda House

If you have not already volunteered for parking or registration at our October 17th show please call Jack O’Brian 336 724 1417 or John Hauser as soon as possible. We do need more volunteers. The preregistrations are 49 as of September 19th. Please spread the word and come to the monthly meeting at Sagebrush Tuesday October 13th. Hauser has organized the awards, Clarkson will MC the awards, Karapetian is handling the T shirt production and recruitment of competition cars, Hauser and Berg are covering registration, Calkins is handling the dash plaques and registration packets, Clarkson and Karapetian will handle the newspaper and radio interview, O’Brian and Hauser are handling the signs, publicity with area clubs and at car shows. O’Brian needs your name for parking so please ring him.

September Meeting

At the September meeting were Mike and Bob Moogk, Thor and Victor Mirchandani, Blake Frazier, Jim Clarkson, Tom Jones, John Hauser, Jack O’Brien, and Jeff Berg. Tom Jones brought his slides but I not make it with the slide projector. John Hauser raffled off a William Turner Print of Phil Hill in a Ferrari TR at Arnage in the 1958 LeMans Race. Jim Clarkson won the print. Topics of discussion were the European Car Show Oct 17th, the Mountain Run Oct 2nd and 3rd, the Alfa Romeo Extravaganza Sept 19- 20 in Raliegh. Thor Mirchandani is heading up the caravan to Raleigh.

Steve Karapetian, Clemmons

September Drive

On an early Saturday morning I organized a drive from Winston Salem up highway 52 to highway 8 up to Danbury and Haning Rock and then north on 8 to 89 and up to Frisco and then south on 66 back to 52 and then on to Winston Salem with beautiful vistas and plenty of hairpin turns and switchbacks. I especially enjoyed the exhaust note of Steve’s Ferrari. Five cars made the drive. Many thanks for the splendid morning.

Blake Frazier, Greensboro

September Event

The Alfa Romeo Extravaganza hosted by the Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club on the weekend of September 19th and 20th in Raliegh was a big success. Corsa Rossa members attending included Thor Mirchandani, Bill Craig and Jim Clarkson. Congratulations for placing in the Concours judging goes out to Bill for placing second in the 1975 - 1989 Alfa Romeo Spyders class and Jim Clarkson for placing second in the Alfa Romeo Post 1990 Sedans class.

Peter Krause gave a Tech Session Saturday morning, the Concours was held at Bruce Sharer’s house followed by an awesome supper. Sunday was the rallye and then the North Carolina Museum of Art Tour led by Roger Medlin. The was strong interest expressed in the upcoming European Car show at Reynolda House.

Attending at the show were in excess of twenty cars including a 1964 2600, one Alfeta, seven GTV6s, nine spyders, five 164s, one GTV, one Milano and a few others. If you missed it this year, you definitely want to be there in 1999. Thanks go out to the Mid Atlantic for such a wonderful weekend.

Thor Mirchandani, Winston Salem

Inns to stay at for the Corsa Rossa European Car Festival Weekend at Reynolda House and Village

There are several nice places to spend the night in Winston Salem other than the nummerous chain Hotels and Motels off Interstate 40, Downtown and Highway 52.

The 10am start for the show on Saturday is to accomodate those driving more than an hour. The show is on Saturday to encourage participation in the Austin Healey Club’s rally after the awards ceremony and the after rally festivities at John Hauser’s house. All MAARC and Corsa Rossa members are invited to the after rally supper and festivities whether you participate in the rally or not. We would like to see you give the rally a drive. Robert Yokley will be running the rally and it will finish near John Hauser’s home in the historic West End of Winston Salem where many of the Inns are located. Be sure to make reservations since Furniture Market is that weekend!

Colonel Ludlow Inn

This inn is comprised of the Benfamin Joseph Sheppard House built in 1895 and the Jacob Lott Ludlow house built in1887. The Inn is locatedat the corner of Summitt and West Fifth streets six blocks from Hauser. The telephone number is 336 777 1887.

The Mickle House

This victorian Bed and Breakfast has a wonderful ambiance and is located at 927 West Fifth Street. This 1892 home is seven blocks from the after rally get together and offers an elegant parlour, two beautiful guest rooms, apatioand boxwood gardens, swings, rockers as well as a geneous continental breakfast of juice, fruits, freshly baked breads and muffins and pastries. Call Barbara Garrison at 336 722 9045.

Lady Anne’s Victorian Bed and Breakfast

Lady Annes is where some of the MAARC stayed for the Italian festival in 1996. This is 7 blocks from the after rally festivities located at 612 Summitt Street and is also decorated in period Victorian furnishings. There are five rooms and the Piedmont room has an unbelievable view. Call Shirley Kirley at 336 724 1074.

Henry F. Shaffner House

This inn was built in 1907 and is a beautiful example of German Fachwerk architecture. Step back in time to turn of the century elegance amidst tiger oak paneling, nine ornate fireplaces and a very comfortable atmosphere. The Inn is located at 150 South Marshall street just off the Marshall street exit of Business I 40 between downtown and old salem about 1 mile from the after rally festivities. Call 336 777 0052.

Brookstown Inn

This 1837 Textile mill has been converted to a beautiful inn and is located at 200 Brookstown Avenue in Old Salem and is about 2 miles from Hausers. Call 336 725 1120.

Manor House at Tanglewood Park

This historic home of the Reynolds family is 10miles west off I 40 at Tanglewood. Call 336 778 6370

Augustus T Zevely Inn

Located at the heart of old salem at 803 South Main Street. Call 336 748 9299.

This information was E mailed to the MAARC and the sub chapters as well as to several British and German Clubs. Please make your reservations.
John Hauser, Winston Salem

Corsa Rossa and Formula One

On a Warm summer evening two Ferraris and seven members of Corsa Rossa got to gether at the last minute to sit outside and watch the F1 race at Monza.

At Spa neither Ferrari nor McLaren scored a point. 13 cars collided at the start and a restart was necessary. Coulthard later slowed in the rain in a curve and was run over by Schumacher who was lapping him. Angry Schumacher drove his Ferrari for 2 miles at about 100 miles per hour back to the pits on three wheels to confront Coulthard. Hakinin did not finish either. At race end the Championship was still in Mika Hakinin and McLaren’s favor. A wonderful finish culminated with Jordan achieving its first win and its first one two with Damon Hill in first and Ralph Schumacher in second!

Then came Monza and Ferrari’s 600th gran prix. Schumacher was on pole with Villenuve in the Williams in second position. The McLarens were in 3rd and 4th. A poor Ferrari and Williams start saw the McLarens darting around the front starters. Schumacher worked his way up and while turning fastest laps Coulthard blew his engine. Then Schumacher passed Hakinin in a curve. Hakinin goes off with a spectacular save but eventually goes from second to third to fourth.

On the podium was a historic double one two for Ferrari and the Schumacher family with finish with Schumacher in first, Irvine in second and Jordan’s Ralph Schumacher in third. Two races remain. Hakinin and Schumacher are tied with 80 points in the drivers championship and McLaren leads Ferrari in the constructors championship 128 to 118. It just does not get much better than this!

John Hauser, Winston Salem

Woolly Worm Rallye

The Triad Austin Healey Club is sponsoring its annual fall Woolly Worm Rally October 17th. This is their 10th year. This is not a Time Speed Distance Rally as the one we participated in this past March and June but a fox and hound rally. The rally will take about one hour. The Healey Club will start the cars off for an odometer check at Reynolda Village and start the rally at another location. Robert Yokley will start the participating cars after the 4pm awards at the car show. The rally will end up near my home in the West End. If you are interested in participating in the rally please call Robert Yokley of the Triad Austin Healey Club a 336 996 3825. He will start the rally after the awards ceremony has concluded.

I would like to invite all members of Corsa Rossa, the Mid Atlantic Alfa Romeo Club, and the staff at Reynolda House and Tom King’s office at Reynolda Village and anyone participating in the rally to come to my home at 1008 West End Boulevard for an after the show dinner and party. We will have Greek food from my neighbor Nick Kefal a Greek Chef , a variety of breads from my neighbor Gordon Sparber who owns a French Bakery and other interesting dishes. Donations will be accepted in the racing Helmet but are not expected. We will serving dinner at 6:15 and would like to hear from you if you are coming. You do not have to RSVP.

John Hauser
336 631 8760
Winston Salem

Balsam Mountain Drive

Steve Karapetian has organized the Fall Drive and we will be staying at the Balsam Mountain Inn. If you plan to go please call and make your reservations for Friday and Saturday night by calling 800 224 9498 and as for Merrily Teasley the owner and Innkeeper.

Steve and Miriam Karapetian are heading west from Winston Salem with Jim and Dorothy Clarkson in their Ferraris early Friday. They will stop in Asheville to enjoy the cafes early Friday afternoon. Bill Craig and his wife will drive to Balsam later in the day in either their AlfaRomeo or their Porsche as will John Hauser and Carol Loree in a Healey. If your are interested in travelling with either group call Steve at 336 766 1785.

We will drive on Saturday from Balsam Mountain on highway 23 east to Waynesville and then 209 north through up to Hot Springs. Fill your tank there are almost no gas Stations in route to Hot Springs after leaving the Waynesville area. Highway 209 runs between the mountains along a river where people must park on the side of the road and take swinging bridges to their home on the other side of the river. This is a very unspoiled and beautiful area. Bring your bathing suits. The springs are used to fill Hot tubs along the river in a quiet and relaxing setting. After a visit to historic Hot Springs a destination for relaxing since about 18o5. We will then return on that ever so twisting road along the streams back to the Balsam Mountain Inn for a delightful dinner in their Gourmet Resturant.

Sunday after breakfast we will drive to Waynesville and head south on highway 276 to Mount Pisgah on to Cruso and on to Looking Glass Falls and eventually Brevard. This road runs high on the ridges and the drop offs are spectacular as are the two waterfalls we will visit along the way. From Brevard we will either go west to Chimney Rock and then north on the twisting highway 9 to Black Mountain and then home on I 40 or turn around and head back 276 to the Parkway and up to Asheville and home on I 40 depending on what the group would like to do.

Balsam Mountain Inn

The Inn sits high on a ridge above Balsam Gap. The three story Inn’s first visitors arrived at the depot below which at the time was the highest railway station east of the Rockies and then rode in carriages up to the Inn. Corsa Rossa will trace the carriage route from the station up to the Inn.

Joseph Kenney and Walter Christy of Athens Georgia began construction of the Inn in 1905. They completed the neoclassical Victorian structure in 1908. In 1990 Merrily Teasley purchased, closed, restored and then reopened the Inn in 1991. The restoration followed the US Department of the Interior’s guidelines for restoration of historic buildings. This comfortable Inn blends the hardwood floors, beaded board walls, Victorian trim, antique wicker, decorative iron beds, claw foot tubs, and 100 foot high porches and huge stone fire places with modern plumbing and mattresses to create a wonderful step back in time without feeling like one is visiting a museum. Warning...there are no telephones, faxes, televisions, radios in the Inn other than the telephone at the front desk. The rates run $90 -$95 for a room with a king bed or 2 double beds, $105-$115 for a room with a king bed and a sitting room, and $130-$150 for a 2 room suites with a king bed or two double beds in each room with a two night minimum on the weekend. There is a charge of $15.50 for each additional person after the initial two in a room. This includes a gourmet breakfast.

If you plan to go call Steve and make your reservations right away if you have not already done so.

Ezekiel Thunderbolt, Winston Salem