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A picture-perfect summer's day greeted the many Alfisti attending Thompson's 3rd annual vintage race festival. Although the Alfa race car turnout was less than anticipated, the Alfas and passengers attending the corral After their Alfas were parked in the corral, spectators set off to enjoy the race action from the many unique vantage points this revived race track offers. From checking out the cars at full song on the straight, and smelling those hard-at-work brakes at the end of the straight, to the cars entering and leaving the oval, all the way up to the top of the hill. I doubt there is a track anywhere with so many exciting vantage points! Getting up close with the cars and teams in the paddock garages is always a thrill for race fans of all ages! I always seem to run into several folks who not only knew of but attended races at the previous designs of this, the oldest enclosed road course in the country! And how about those air conditioned bathrooms! During the track lunch break, we were treated to five parade laps around the course as part of the corral gathering. Although far from racing speeds, it was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get a driver's-eye view of the track, certainly bolstering our appreciation for what the drivers must accomplish to be competitive! Following the parade laps, folks wandered back to the corral and were treated to Jim and Patti DeWaele's world-famous Ginger Lemonade along with some scrumptious snacks! Word is we are working with the local licensing beaureau as well as the National Copyright Office to include their very own recipe in this article, which is currently sealed in a mason jar under Funk and Wagnall's front porch (one would need to be a Laugh-In fan to appreciate that). [News flash! The legal hurdles have been negotiated and you can click here for the recipe!] I am always amazed at the rarely-seen Alfas and owners that show up from time to time (more often would be nice)! Those who traveled quite a distance to enjoy the day were Jim Lehman and Cindy Speaker (each in their own Spiders) from upstate NY and Vinnie and Janet Fierro from Maine. I don't have addresses on the entry list and many did not add their Alfa models, so the roster belowis a bit incomplete in that regard. A perfect day spent with so many wonderful people and their cars! Hats off to the folks at Thompson Motorsport Park! [And hats off to Gene Durso, John and Jim DeWaele, Tom Letourneau, Dan Donovan, and the other AONErs who did such a splendid job organizing the Alfa Car Corral! —Ed.] Alfa Car Corral Participants Jim and Patti DeWaele - 1973 GTV |
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(Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view, and then
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Alfa Car Corral
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See the original event announcement
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numbered in the forties! With a big vintage weekend happening at Mid Ohio, and just a week after the AROC Convention in Nashville, a lighter-than-usual race grid was understandable.
