The Three Rivers Alfisti will be supporting the Rally Accross America effort with two upcoming events: 

• July 11, 2020 “Over the River Tour “
• August 29, 2020 "Staggerwinging with Catz"

All of the proceeds from both of these events with be contributed to the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix charities. Be sure to register ASAP!   We will be posting more information on these events with details we get closer.  Below is an article from Hagerty Insurance that explains more about the Rally Accross America.

Jeff Peek, Events, Hagerty Community
23 June 2020

Lilly Pray has a passion for cars, and now she’s channeling that energy into an organized drive that will give back to the community. Lilly, a nurse in Boulder, Colorado, serves an ambassador for Rally Across America, a grassroots organization whose goal is to raise more than $1 million for nonprofit groups across the U.S.
​
As a frontline medical worker and car lover, the fundraising tour is right in Pray’s wheelhouse, and it all started with her dad. Malcom Pray Jr. was a successful car dealer and well-known collector who gave generously to the Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Red Cross, USO, and other local charities in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“My father taught me how to drive classic cars,” she says of Malcom, who passed away in 2013. “If I wanted to spend time with my dad, it was in the garage with him, as well as attending a lot of auctions and concours events.

“I’ve been a concours judge for many years, and it is probably how I made my dad the proudest when I started judging at Hilton Head Concours 19 years ago. He instilled in me a great sense of giving and giving back to my community,” she says.

Lilly Pray began working in the medical field in 1987, first as volunteer, which led to a career as a firefighter/paramedic. She became an RN in 2010 and volunteers as a victim advocate for the Boulder Police Department.

“My brother died in a car crash in 1986,” she says of Malcolm Pray III. “It was a life changing event. My life motto has been always to ‘help the weaker hikers on their journey.’ So as an EMS provider, and now a RN, I guess I’m still helping the weaker hikers and holding their hands in whatever way I can.”
​
She jumped at the opportunity to help Rally Across America, which hosted its inaugural drive on June 7, with proceeds going to the Connecticut Foodbank. A total of 41 cars took part, with each driver donating the suggested $100.

Lilly says the idea began with her friends Frank Taylor and Wendy and Jim Petty, who organized the drive as a way to recognize and give to 501(c)3 nonprofits in their area that have greatly suffered during the COVID-19 lockdown. Pray happened to be in Connecticut at the time, so she immediately registered her 1987 Porsche 911. Since Rally Across America hopes to have ambassadors in every state (and average eight drives per state), she took the lead for Colorado.

The first drive that Pray is organizing is set for June 28, beginning and ending in Boulder. Her chosen beneficiary is the Denver-based Morgan Adams Foundation, which raises funds for pediatric cancer research. “The MAF holds the best four-hour concours in the world,” she says, “and they had to cancel their annual major fundraiser on August 24 due to the ongoing events with COVID.”
​
She has planned two other drives for July 26 and August 16. They will follow a route “into the foothills of the mountains—an easy 60-mile drive lasting 3–4 hours.” As a registered nurse, Lilly is well aware of the possible negative ramifications of any gathering, so social distancing guidelines will be observed. “We just want to get out in our cars and help the nonprofit community,” she says.

She’ll be driving the 1959 Porsche Convertible D that she has owned for 25 years. If you’re sensing a Porsche pattern here, you’re onto something. Lilly’s daughter is named Portia.

Pray says Rally Across America events are planned in six states so far, including one later this year, organized by Barn Find Hunter Tom Cotter, that will travel country roads from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Virginia International Speedway and include a parade lap on the track. Details are forthcoming.

“Driving cars makes me happy,” Lilly says. “My car friends really are my family, and there is nothing as fun as gathering for a family reunion—whether it’s at a concours event, a 1000-mile drive, or a short day-run with friends.”
​
Rally Across America ambassadors are being sought in every state. If you’re interested in becoming an ambassador or joining a ride near you, contact Lilly Pray at LillyPrayRAA@gmail.com.

Here are the links to both of our club events.  Sign up for one of both! 

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club 2020 National Convention hosted by the Alfa Club of the Rockies was postponed until July 2021.

Along with just about every other organization in the world, AROC has looked for ways to keep our membership engaged with the cancellations and/or postponements of National and Chapter events.

Those ways have consisted of Chapter level Zoom meetings, Detroit Chapter's Zoom tech sessions, posting of those tech sessions on the new AROC YouTube channel, AROC Chapter Presidents Zoom with the AROC Board, and now a new type of virtual event is on the way with the intention for all AROC members to have an opportunity to engage with other members.

The name of the event is COncorso Virtuale Italiano Dell’automobile 2020.  AROC Director Doug Zaitz came up with the title name for the event that kept it related to the COVID-19 virus causing all the schedule changes.  AROC Director John Justus began putting the online car show together along with input from AROC Director Arno Leskinen

AROC National is going to present a web based “virtual not a concours” car show. This will be available for all AROC members who would like to display their Alfa(s) in an online virtual concours setting. AROC members will then be asked to vote on a Winner for each class and a Best of Show overall winner.

The voting will be done online, like our Board of Director elections, and the awards will be presented at the AROC Virtual Convention w/Business Meeting & Board Officer election on July 25. 2020 and the results will also be announced in the September issue of the Alfa Owner.

Alfas through 1995 – 4 classes

• Open class – Spiders, roadsters, GTCs, convertibles
• Closed class – Alfas to 1995 - Closed - Sprints, GTVs, Milanos, Berlinas, Supers, coupes, sedans
• Competition-prepared class – race, rallly
• Preservation class – 1995 or older, semi / non-restored but still driven

Modern - 5 classes

• 8C class – includes coupes and Spiders
• 4C class – includes coupes and Spiders
• Giulia class – includes all levels; base, Ti, Ti Sport, Ti Carbon, Lusso, Quadrifoglio, etc
• Stelvio class – includes all levels: base, Ti, Ti Sport, Ti Carbon, Lusso, Quadrifoglio, etc
• Competition-prepared class – race, rallly

Other - 2 classes

• Commercial class – includes police, taxis, trucks, vans, etc
• With Character class– those with special paint schemes, modifications, or strange locations
  

• One entry per member per class
• Member submitting chooses the class to enter (this will be reviewed by agents of the Event Czars to ensure proper or appropriate class)
• One Photo under 2 MB. It is up to the entrant to determine the content and angle of the photo to best represent their Alfa. Photo-shopped pictures are discouraged.
• No objectionable or obscene photos and no copyrights violations.

Eligibility:
Open to any current AROC member and their immediate family.

Entry Information needed:

• First & Last Names
• AROC Membeship #
• Primary Chapter
• COVID-2020 class you are entering (see Class list above as these are NOT standard AROC concours classes)
• Year, Model, and special edition on the entered Alfa – 40 characters max - Ex: 1978 Spider Nikki Lauda
  
• Comments with information about the Alfa Romeo you are submitting – 75 characters max
• One photo per car and smaller than 2 MB. It is up to the entrant to determine the content and angle of the photo to best represent their Alfa. Preferred photo format is a 4 x 6 photo. Do not post unapproved photos copyrighted by others.

Below you will find answers to questions already asked by AROC members and hopefully this will help you with while entering your Alfa in the COncorso Virtuale Italiano Dell’automobile 2020.

How many photos can I have?

• One photo per car per class.  Several members with multiple Alfas have entered multiple classes.  One Spider went in Open, one Milano went in Closed, one 4C Spider went in 4Cs, and one Giulia Quadrifoglio went in Giulias.

Can I change a photo?

• No, you cannot change a photo, but you can tell us to delete an entry and re-enter that class with a new photo. Send your request to covid-support@aroc-usa.org.

What does Open class contain?

• Any Alfa with a fold down top or no top: Spiders, convertibles. 
• Spiders with removable hardtops are Open. After market sunroofs on Berlinas are not.

What does Closed class contain?

• Any Alfa with a non-removable hardtop. 
• Coupes - include any model with letters “GTV” in the model, Sprints, Jr Zs, TZs, Speciales, Montreals, etc
• Sedans - Berlinas, Supers, Milanos (75s), 164s, etc

What would be in Preservation class?

• Barn finds
• Entries that have visible rust
  
• Body work needed
  
• Alfa Red paint that faded to a whitish pink
• Spiders with fogged rear windows

What is NOT photoshopping?  

• Cropping the porta-a-potty out of the side background
• Resizing the photo so your Alfa is more prominent
  

What is photoshopping?  

• Solarizing the photo
• Making it a chalk photo
  

Compiled by, Marsha Hicks
Kentucky Alfa Romeo Society

As we practice social distancing during this hard time, many of us are looking for
some entertainment. I thought it might be fun to talk about some movies that have Alfa Romeo cars.

Of course, The Graduate, featuring a Duetto, is probably the most famous. And there is a new movie out, available on Netflix, A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story. (Spoiler Alert: Fangio won his first World Championship with the Alfa Romeo team in 1951).

Here is a list of movies (in alphabetical order, not in order of favorite cars!).

Let me know if you know of others!

~Cindy Banzer

Make plans to join us this January 16  for the Post Holiday party at the Doubletree Hilton in Cranberry Twp. PA from 6pm - 10pm, Thursday January 16, 2020

Check out the Alfa Owner October issue with a jam packed full series of articles about the Cortile Della Corsa 2019 AROC Convention hosted by our Three Rivers Alfisti Club.

Reporting is by Dave Hammond and Bob Abhalter.  In some cases, I've linked back to the convention pages so you can see all of the schedule details in case you don't recall when reading the articles.

Below please find the award winners for Time Trials, Autocross, Karting, the Rally, The PVGP Showfiled winners and the Certificato d'Oro winners!

The 2019 Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club Convention is going to be a unique event in the annuls of AROC Conventions. Alfa Owner has covered most all of the plans that make this years convention consistent and familiar with past AROC conventions. In this final installment, we’re going to cover some of the reasons why you should probably come early and stay later than you would at previous conventions because this one has some events that have never happened before.

The theme of the 2019 convention is the “Cortile della Corsa”, the “Courtyard of Racing”. In the entire history of the club there has not been a convention who’s theme has paid homage to Alfa’s Racing History.  Holding it in conjunction with the longest running racing event on city streets in North America seems apropos.

The Convention takes place in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, the “PVGP”. It’s the nation’s largest vintage street race with 10 days of racing, car shows, parties, parades and motorsport events. The 2019 celebration is the 37th annual race through the streets of Schenley Park. 18 holes of Golf Course with 17 individual car shows. All segmented by country and marque.  Just over 4000 cars. Attributed as being the 8th largest car show in the world. But the cars shows are more like a tailgate party for the race, albeit with judging going on at many of the shows.  

The PVGP is also a charity event - with a mission to produce a world-class vintage automotive event to raise funds for autistic and intellectually/developmentally disabled individuals in the Pittsburgh region. Because of the generous support from volunteers and sponsors the PVGP has donated $5.5 million since 1983, including a record $410,000 last year.  You should know that $6 from each night of your stay is going to support the PVGP charities.  

The PVGP was founded in 1983, with the help of volunteers from the Sports Car Club of America and the Vintage Sports Car Club of America.  Entrants then and now race on what has become known as one of the most challenging vintage courses in the country. It’s on city streets. It’s an off-camber, mid-crested center, four story high bridges, 300 foot deep ravines, lichen encrusted stone walls with hairpins and serpentines  that make it a white knuckle drive for even experienced drivers.  It’s challenging. As David Hobbs once told me, “I raced there, not under my own name of course” No-one from the modern era of racing wants to be compared to Fangio or Nuvolari. But they still want to drive here.  And you get to enjoy the entire spectacle on Sunday from Turn 9 on the course.  

Turn 9 on the race course is the VIP area for Cortile participants.  It’s the site of the tree-lined and shady Westinghouse Pond. Designed in the 1930’s, the bronze monument and the surrounding landscape, including the pond, trees, and black granite benches surround the the sculptures: The bronze “The Spirit of American Youth,” the figure of a young man taking inspiration from the life of Westinghouse, described by art critics as “the finest portrayal of American boyhood.” The center portion of the monument depicts Westinghouse between a mechanic and an engineer.  

On Sunday afternoon, you’ll enjoy the views as the racers come straight at you, jockeying for position as they enter into the near hairpin apex directly in front of the statue. If they've set themselves up correctly, you’ll see them pass as they exit up through the green tunnel of trees. If not, you’ll hear the groan of gears as the transmission has to once again take a follower position.  Sunday is race day.  Sunday is “Wine on 9”. The wine tasting is courtesy of Bob Mazza at Mazza Vineyards. You may just meet Bob and his 4C taking in some laps at Time Trials on Thursday.   Bob has created a special gift set of bottles just for the the Cortile della Corsa Convention that you’ll be sampling during the opening ceremonies and parade that starts right at Turn 9.  That’s why you should stay later than you do at most other conventions! It’s Vintage Racing at it’s very finest. It’s what you parents and grandparents watched in the 1920’s and 30’s and you won’t see it anywhere else in the country quite like Pittsburgh!

Why should you arrive early?
Wednesday starts with a Downtown Parade. The day begins with a morning parade with Alfa Romeos leading the multi-marque event.  No where else in the country has there been an Alfa Romeo parade of cars into a major city with a police escort! The Alfa Romeo parade culminates in a display at Point State Park. Point State Park is where the Headwaters of the Ohio River start with the convergence of the Allegheny River from the north and the Monongahela River from the south: It's the "Three Rivers" for which Pittsburgh is famous! For those not displaying a car it’s a great site to visit in the public park.

Point State Park was the home to the French Fort Duquesne and later the British Fort Pitt.  It’s the site where The Seven Years War got underway.  It was the First Global War ever fought and involved every European great power of the time and spanned five continents, affecting Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines. It was started when a 22 year old Lt. Colonel George Washington ambushed a small French force just south of Pittsburgh on May 28, 1754. You can read about the Forts inside the rampart Museum, right at The Point.  

Pittsburgh is a walking city. Lots to see. Be sure to check out the other three PVGP Car show locations just a few blocks away in historic Market Square and in the glass “cathedral” of PPG Plaza and the US Steel Building Plaza.  You can also just register for a  “Just Ducky” Duckboat Tour, see the shows, and even more of the city, from the water.  Speaking of, stay hydrated! Because Wednesday night is the PVPG’s Tune Up Party, dubbed the first or second best society page party of the year since it’s inception and Alfa Romeo has a featured spot!

Friday night is a strolling dinner reception at the historic Pittsburgh Golf Club. The Club, established in 1896, boasts a rich history. Andrew Mellon, Henry Clay Frick and Philander C. Knox were among the Club’s early members. A strolling dinner is a variety of delicious courses that will be brought out by servers as you are mingling throughout the facility and balcony of the club. 

The Alfa Romeo race drivers are invited to bring their race cars up from the paddock, just over the hill, for the evening celebration allowing you to meet them and check out their cars while they check our yours.  Friday is when we are going to pre-stage all of the Alfa’s so we look great for the 250,000 people that will wander about the park on Saturday and Sunday where Alfa Romeo is The Spotlight Car for the 2019 PVGP.  We’ll make any needed adjustments to parking that evening.  It’s also a great opportunity for those without an Alfa to get an idea where the public parking is for the next two days.  All of the PVGP Events during the weekend are free admission to the public, much like the entire park has been since it became public in 1910.  

Saturday, is Alfa Romeo judging, but it’s also judging for the Cortile Italian Car Show.  There will be a multi marque award winners for the Cortile announced at noon in the clubhouse and the winners will be asked to move their cars to the Winners Circle, around the 17th hole. Enjoy lunch inside the air conditioned historic landmark and drinks at the cash bar.  The Weekend pass for people displaying their cars is $150 which includes some great goody bags stuff, parking and lunch for both days for two people.  Additional lunches, and for those not driving an Alfa is $35 person. But that gets you lunch on Saturday and Sunday and a VIP Pass to “Wine on 9” Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon, you’re probably going to want to wander around the other 17 car shows at the PVGP and stop every once in a while to watch the qualifying.  


Be sure to check out British Car Day with over 750 cars.  It’s only there on Saturday.  The race track runs right through the car shows so you’ll be able to see the cars on the track.  You may even want to wander over to the Mini Track Rides and book some time to go around the track with some race drivers.  S

Saturday night is the banquet back at the DoubleTree Hilton host hotel, but don’t have too much fun, because you want to arrive early enough on Sunday to take a shuttle down to the PVGP Paddock and get back to the VIP Area at “Wine on 9” by 11am for the opening ceremonies! Then it’s time for an afternoon of vintage racing from the best viewing spot on the track.

Pittsburgh native Tony Sikorski sculptures will be featured at the the 2019 Alfa Romeo Owner's Club Convention to be held at the Doubletree Hilton in Cranberry Twp, PA.  Tony is working on some special pieces just for the Cortile della Corsa event. He will have his art work on display in the art room at the Convention and also at the Cortile Italian Car Show tent at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix.

Tony Sikorski, after winning a scholarship at the Ivy Art Institute of Graphic Design in Pittsburgh, began his advertising career in 1963. In 1976, he started his own business and has since created graphic designs and illustrations for numerous well-known companies throughout the United States. In addition to his accomplishments in graphic arts, Tony has had a love affair with the automobile for as long as he can remember.

The 1930's, Formula 1, and old racing cars have found a special place his heart. Using corrugated cardboard as a medium, he began creating one of a kind sculptures in 1995 and has recently been using wood as a medium. Tony's award-winning corrugated classics have been displayed at numerous invitational motor sports art exhibitions.

Along with that, his ability to capture power, speed, and motion of the automobile has resulted in sculptural commissions in both corporate and private sectors, and his work has also earned feature presentations in Car Collector, Robb Report, Mobilia. Automobile Magazine, AutoWeek, and Classic and Sportscar Magazine.

Notably, Classic and Sportscar magazine esteems Tony Sikorski as one of the top 20 motoring artists of the past 20 years. The list of Tony's awards in automobile design grew considerably in the previous decade. In 1995 and again in 2002), he placed first at the Midwest Concours d' Elegance in Cincinnati Ohio.

The Gilmore Classic Car Museum's Concours in Gilmore, Michigan, honored him with the Award of Excellence for three consecutive years (1996- 998), Sikorski won the coveted John Burgess Award: Best Show at the Daimler Chrysler Meadow Brook Historic Races.

Remembering the achievements of the 90's and moving into further creative endeavors in this new millennium, Tony continues to enjoy notoriety in automobile design. In May of 2000, he was invited to the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance Invitational Artist Exhibition in Rochester, Michigan.

Honors came again in 2001 as Tony received the Struthers MacMinn Award: Best Show at Meadow Brook. In 2002, he won the Stanley Wanlass "Spirit of the Automobilist" Award at Meadow Brook. Continuing in that true "spirit of the automobilist" and still enjoying a love affair with the automobile, Tony is currently working on new and creative projects.

Tony Sikorski’s Latest Sculptures Explore The Stunning Shapes Of Automobiles For 2016 Pebble Beach Concours
August 9, 2016 Automotive Fine Arts Society,

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Aug. 08, 2016 – Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS) member Tony Sikorski will test conventions of automotive art with his sculptures at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Pebble Beach, California. A master of crafting automobiles in a never-before-seen way, Sikorski is known for simplifying the shape of the automobile into pure design elements and then adding unique twists.  <READ MORE>

By Enrique Zuniga for Alfa Owner magazine
edits and additional details by Bernard Martin

Here's where you will find a list of the DRIVING events that will be going on at the 2019 Alfa Romeo Owners Club Convention.  With a theme entitled "Cortile della Corsa", the "Courtyard of Racing" promises to deliver some unique and memorable driving experiences.

Alfa Romeo is the SPOTLIGHT marque of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix (PVGP) and Wednesday is the day in which the city of Pittsburgh stops to celebrate this magnificent annual tradition.

The map here depcits the parade route into the city.

Downtown Parade
Downtown Pittsburgh, only 20 miles from the convention hotel, is the place to be on Wednesday! The day begins with a morning Downtown Parade with Alfa Romeos leading the multi-marque event.  No where else in the country has there been an Alfa Romeo parade of cars into a major city with a police escort!  This is a very unique opportunity for only 40 Alfa Romeo's!  For those entering their Alfa, the cost is only $10 per car.

Downtown Car Show
Celebrations continue with the Downtown Car Show, which will have 40 Alfas on display at Point State Park. Point State Park is where the Headwaters of the Ohio River start with the convergence of the Allegheny River from the north and the Monongahela River from the south: It's the "Three Rivers" for which Pittsburgh is famous!

While there, note that this is a great opportunity for a quick visit to Fort Pitt Museum. Your entry payment for the Downtown Car Show display includes entry into the Fort Pitt Museum.

There are three other mixed marque downtown car shows that the PVGP is holding with celebrations at PPG Plaza, Market Square and US Steel Plaza.

Tune Up at Heinz Field
The day culminates with the evening PVGP Tune-Up Party at Heinz Field. Registration for this event has not yet opened so be sure to the check back on the PVGP Website or updates.

All vehicles that are parking in the Car Showcase must be preregistered and can begin to park at 5:00 pm. Enter from General Robinson Street – there are no other entrances. The bars will not open until 5:30 pm and the food will not be served until 6:15 pm but you are welcome to move in starting at 5:00 pm – please do not show up early, the street will not be closed and we are not permitted to block the street until 5:00 pm.

Time Trials
Track Day is always a special for all club members and this year it will take place at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex (PittRace), a 20-minute drive from the convention hotel. The track opens at 7 am and closes at 8 pm, but since it is in an urban area where noise restrictions apply, competitive driving hours are from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. (Please note that convention plans to have all track activities concluded before 5 pm.) Spectators should note that there is a very comfortable second floor air-conditioned VIP room that overlooks the track below.

Time Trials are open to all cars (race cars, street cars, Alfas and other marques). There will be timed practice sessions in the morning, with the final Time Trial laps taking place in the afternoon. This is a fabulous opportunity to place your car on a fun, 13-turn, 1.6-mile road course, with elevation changes. Drivers arrive early in the morning to set-up their cars and attend the mandatory driver’s meeting. Cars and drivers are classified ahead of the event and placed into groups according to horse power as well as driver experience, but these groups may be adjusted after the first practice laps. Driving a car on a track is just great fun. Drivers may share a car

Autocross
The Autocross is also taking place at the track. It is open to all cars. Taking part in both the TT and the Autocross will not be an issue, even for those sharing a car. This is a traditional autocross, with AROC car classifications. Autocross laps around the cone-marked course take about 60 seconds, mostly in second gear, but are a blast to experience.

For those who have never driven a course or simply wish to learn the basics in a calm, non-intimidating setting we have created a Novice Only Group.  Novices’ times will not be announced and will only be recorded if the driver wishes so.  Experienced drivers will not be allowed in this group.  The Novice Group setting has proven very rewarding for those always wondering about autocross, but unsure about trying it out.

Important: All drivers who sign-up for Time Trials and/or Autocross will be contacted to go over all details regarding AROC car classifications and safety guidelines. Please note that due to the preparation that organizers must complete, drivers must be registered for these events by the first week of June.

Karting
Go-karts may be rented in 10-minute sessions to drive the track’s 0.82-mile circuit. There is a

Parade Laps
As is our tradition, the track will open around noon for all to drive a few laps around the course, but this year we are offering an “Enhanced Experience”.

All drivers and assengers will gather to hear an explanation about the track and how racers typically drive on it.  Attendees will understand what the red and white markings around the curves are for, what is an apex, what is the line, and what is meant when someone says, “you must slow down to go faster”.

Cars will drive the track in pre-arranged groups according to vehicle powerplant and driver experience.  Cars will take their laps following in single file behind a pace car driven by an experienced driver, familiar with the concepts presented.