45 old Alfa Romeos with over 80 Alfisti visited the Alfa Romeo heaven par excellence over the long weekend from August 17 to 19, 2018, the Eldorado for lovers of the Milanese manufacturer: The Alfa Blue Team, Axel Marx's collection and the Museo del Tempo are magical names for Alfa Romeo enthusiasts!
The base camp was set up for three days in the venerable and noble Castello di Casiglio in Erba.
First Alfa Team Blue ...
On Friday afternoon, the tours started at the legendary Alfa Blue Team near Milan. An Alfa Romeo paradise opens up in a disused foundry. Gippo Salvetti, elected Alfa Blue President for life, welcomes the Alfisti.
The "sightseeing tour" leads from one Alfa Romeo delicacy to the next, Axel Marx knows countless details and anecdotes about each model.
Dinner in these hallowed halls has to be dispensed with - the large number of participants takes its toll - but culinary delights await in a nearby pub (what an anachronism).
... then the Marx Collection ...
On Saturday, a visit to the Marx collections is on the agenda. Once again, one highlight follows the next - there are models that can only be seen at Axel Marx or at the factory museum in Arese.
Highlights are certainly the Alfa Romeo 2000 Sportiva, the Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Brianza, the Alfa Romeo 1900 Pininfarina or the entire range of Zagato models.
Before the "Aperitivo" and the "Pranzo", a "Sorpresa" awaits the participants on Saturday evening: Zbigniew Maurer has arrived to chat from the sewing box as an Alfa Romeo designer, but also to give the audience an understanding of the brand's philosophy.
Afterwards, the banquet is laid out in the hotel park and the balmy summer evening ends long after midnight.
... and finally the Arese factory museum
On Sunday, a visit to the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese is on the agenda.
With his profound knowledge, Axel Marx can also tell us important things about the models here, while Thomas Suter explains the racing models on display.
Alfa Romeo is an emotional brand, as the memories of the excursion participants show:
Participant feedback: Daniel and Laurin Reinhard
Everyone always has fond memories of their first car, and if it was a real little Alfa Romeo with the euphonious name "Alfasud Sprint Veloce 1.5", then it's a great memory anyway. My father was worked over so that he would finally switch from the German Golf to the little Italian Alfasud. There was great joy in the family with the Sud ti 1.5.
The club president's question as to which car I would like to drive at the weekend was answered very quickly: to enjoy the "sputtering" of the four-cylinder boxer engine and the go-kart feeling in tight bends again, definitely something for the mind!
So I drove to Italy in the Alfasud, not with my girlfriend as before, but now together with my fifteen-year-old son. The weekend didn't go quite so perfectly, however, as the locking mechanism on the passenger door and then the driver's door broke within a short space of time. The two doors were then held closed with rubber tensioners. However, this did not affect the driving experience in any way and once you were in the car, you didn't want to get out anyway.
The final drive along the old Gotthrd Pass road "Tremola" will remain a fond memory for a long time to come. As in the early years of my youth, the fever came up again and only the old stagecoach with its 5 hp prevented an absolute new best time. On behalf of "zwischengas", a big compliment to the organizers and many thanks.
Participant feedback: Christa Saredi and Reyn Kooyman
The stories about the origins and development history of the A(nonima) L(ombarda) F(abbrica) A(utomobili) by real experts were extremely exciting and positively charged the emotions for our SS.
The detailed explanations of individual models sometimes overwhelmed us a little, but we were totally impressed by the fantastic collections of the Alfa Blue Team and Axel Marx.
Participant feedback: Karin and Gerd Zeyher
We saw magnificent and impressive Alfa Romeos (including the Alfasud)! Although there are (hopefully) many more weekends ahead of us, we've had the most brilliant and unforgettable car weekend we've ever had and - we're sure - will ever have. We realized once again that we are fans of the right brand (despite everything the company management has messed up).
After the hymn of praise for the cars, a second one for the people who made these days possible and organized them excellently (time schedule, road book) and who, as knowledgeable and anecdote-rich guides, "forced" us to listen, so to speak: Thomas Suter with his team and Axel Marx.
Participant feedback: Reiner and Rosi Mörch
After a few years of abstinence, Rosi and I were there again. It will be difficult to maintain the standard and perfection of this ride, let alone surpass it. It was just great! Hoping to see you again soon.
Participant feedback: Ruedi Baerfuss
First of all, a big compliment and many thanks for the great work that was done for the ride. It was a great trip with top-class automobile gems, a very good hotel and accurate road books. The glorious, almost too hot weather also helped, of course. I thought the number of participants was at the upper limit. Here are a few keywords:
Alfa Blue Team: A bit disappointing compared to my last visit in 2007. The risotto meal in the ABT hall at that time, two meters next to a Tubolare, remains unforgettable. The guided tour by the young Salvetti was not a highlight either. What's more, a few very special vehicles were missing due to Ferragosto. However, the subsequent meal in the nearby Irish restaurant was excellent (albeit too plentiful).
Marx Collection: The cars at his home have become even more upmarket. Only the very best models have the right to stay there. It's like a top chef who constantly and lovingly cooks his work of art so that it becomes ever richer and more aromatic, une vraie réduction. When will the day come when even a rarity like the 2600 Zagato is sent to Mezzovico? On the other hand, I have not yet fully grasped the philosophy of the collection in Mezzovico. But the collection is certainly impressive.
Museo Storico: A nice conclusion with a few absolute top cars (e.g. Le Mans 1938).
Participant feedback: Jürg Badertscher
After these three days, I realized that as a long-time and enthusiastic Alfista and Alfa Romeo collector, you never stop learning. What we saw during these days was simply sensational and can hardly be surpassed. Not to mention the interesting background information that brought us even closer to the Alfa Romeo brand. It is nice to know that the "Cuore sportivo" continues to be cultivated and lived with great enthusiasm.
Participant feedback: Heidi and Udo Lork
Everything went great, full sun, no accidents or dropouts. Great organization, the Swiss are better than the Germans. Even the dinner went well with the huge menu selection in advance. Everyone got what they chose beforehand. My respect to Axel Marx, he took three days for us plus many days of preparation. An event/excursion that sets standards that will be difficult to top for subsequent events.
Participant feedback: Stefan Mettauer and Gabriel Muffler
First of all, many thanks again for the great organization. For me, the trip started with the journey. We traveled over the Simplon Pass on a warm Thursday evening.
There was hardly any traffic. So we were able to concentrate on the beautiful landscape and the car. When we arrived at the hotel, it was a pleasure to see the Alfa Romeos arriving one by one. Everyone's heads turned when the sound of the next participant's engine could be heard.
