By Tom Ducibella
Photos mainly by MaddyJ, with a few from Sasha Velic

About 30 Alfisti signed up for the rendezvous at Glynn Motorsports (GMS), the technical center of Alfa Romeo mechanical experience and used parts in New England, on Saturday, Cinque di Maggio. Cars filled the spacious GMS parking lot from various corners of New England on a rain-free day (at least on Boston’s North Shore) that grew increasingly sunny as the afternoon wore on.

Much to the benefit of those who came, GMS had three knowledgeable Alfa answer-men to cover everything from transmissions (is your shifter having trouble with second or reverse?) to cams (how much valve overlap will your SPICA handle?) to suspension (Frank Maldari’s GTV-6 was getting re-bushed). Paul Glynn was not only his usual answer-man technical self, but also test-drove “symptomatic” cars even while most people were having lunch (he ate last).

With models spanning about 40 years, Paul, Michael Wrigley, and Ian Anderson were addressing individual questions rather than doing a specific-topic tech session. The lifts were occupied by an early 70s Bertone-designed GTV, Frank’s GTV-6, and a '69 Spider Veloce (with its Pininfarina-designed “Duetto” body with the more powerful 1750 motor; US models introduced the SPICA fuel injection system). These three cars epitomized the innovation, technical advances, and stunning design that kept Alfa Romeo at the forefront of the sports car market for so many decades. Having said that, we must include Rod Burdick’s Sprint Speciale, driven from Rhode Island, and, for those of more modern taste, the 164S brought by Sasha Velic.

For new owners as well as those with years of ownership experience, GMS is a unique New England Alfa asset, and our annual event is a wonderful opportunity to get technical info from the experts, in contrast to Alfa lore which is rampant and not always spot-on.

Several new Alfa owners decided to join AONE, with one (Richard Askin) having just purchased a Giulia sedan from The Netherlands (it's somewhere on the Atlantic right now). Over the afternoon, members dispersed into groups in the parking lot, shop, and lunchroom, where they enjoyed a delicious gourmet wrap full lunch supplied by Off The Vine Tuscan Grill (Rowley, MA).

• You can see Maddy's images below, plus many more taken at the event, in higher resolution at Maddy's Photobucket page — use the password "velocissima". (Maddy is Paul Glynn's niece and ran the office at GMS in its previous incarnation.)

(Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view, and then
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