Congratulations to member Robert Feltoon on his car being featured in the February 2014 issue of Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car Magazine!
Category Archives: From the President
Alfa Romeo 4C Reveals Manufacturing Secrets, Weighs Just 895 Kg (1,973 Lbs) – Carscoops
The all-new and highly anticipated Alfa Romeo 4C signals the Italian brand’s rejuvenation and its return to the United States this autumn after a hiatus that lasted close to two decades. Alfa’s new small sports car will be built at Maserati’s plant in Modena, just like the 8C Competizione supercar before it.
Designed from the beginning to have a supercar-rivaling weight/power ratio of less than 4 kg/hp, the Alfa Romeo 4C has a total dry weight of just 895 kg (1,973 lbs), which makes it lighter than a city car and one of the lightest production cars in the world. To achieve these figure, engineers used aluminum, steel, lightened SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound) and carbon fiber.
Alfa Romeo says the secret of the 4C’s lightness and dynamic behavior lays in the use of 10 percent carbon fibre, which represents 25 percent of the 4C overall volume.
Carbon fiber was chosen for the structural function monocoque that makes up the central, load-bearing cell of the chassis, as the material offers the best weight/stiffness efficiency. The monocoque weighs just 65 kg (143 lbs).
Alfa Romeo has managed to transfer carbon fiber “pre-preg” technology inspired by the Formula 1 to standard manufacturing, with the carmaker saying it is the only brand capable to assure a production of over 1,000 pieces per year.
Aluminum is used for structural parts such as the roof reinforcement cage and the front and rear frameworks. The metal is also used in the hybrid-type front brake discs with aluminium bell and cast iron ring gear, reducing the weight of each disc by up to 2 kg (4.4 lbs).
For the body, Alfa Romeo is using SMC (Sheet Moulding Compound), a low-density and high resistance composite material, which has allowed a 20 percent weight reduction of the body in comparison with the traditional sheet steel.
The bumpers and wings are made of PUR-RIM (injected polyurethane), a material that’s 20 percent lighter than steel and is suitable for creating very complex design elements, such as the 4C wing. Even the car’s windows are made of glass that is 10 percent thinner than the one normally fitted on cars.
Alfa says each 4C is road-tested for 40 km (25 mi) by an experienced test-driver, a practice commonly used for expensive supercars. A maximum of 3,500 cars a year will be built, 1,000 of which are destined for European markets.
European deliveries of the Alfa Romeo 4C will begin in the second half of September 2013, with the U.S. version to be released in November 2013 in Los Angeles. First U.S. deliveries are scheduled for the end of the year. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
By Dan Mihalascu
via Alfa Romeo 4C Reveals Manufacturing Secrets, Weighs Just 895 Kg (1,973 Lbs) – Carscoops.
2nd Annual Hellertown Italian Car Show
The Hellertown Italian Car Show was a great success despite Friday’s storm, threatening clouds early in the morning, and concerns about wet grounds. We had a strong showing from the club as well as the friendly FIAT folks, some Lancia kids, and Ferraris; not to mention a late showing of a DeTomaso Pantera and one prominent club member who had the audacity to show up in a Jaguar (he had the good sense not to bring it into the show). Just kidding around of course!
The day was cool, the setting wonderful and the company was great as always with these multi-car events. We had catering on site and the food while simple was delicious.
Our host, Mike Space.
Charlie’s Giulia Super
Ed’s 1750 Roundtail
José’s 89 Spider Quad
Mike’s 73 GTV
Bill’s GTV
Greg’s 69 Spider (the first US Spider with fuel injection-WOW!)
Thanks to the Delaware Valley Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club and Fiat Lancia Union members for bringing their great cars, to the town of Hellertown for letting us rip up the pavement a little on the way to and from the show, and to our host, Mike Space for bringing us all together for a great time!
EVENT: 2 June 2013 – Rose Tree Park Sunday
Sunday June 2, 2013 from Noon to 6:00 pm
Rose Tree Park, Rt 252, Media, PA
Since 2010, the Italian American Heritage Festival has drawn thousands of people coming from a greater than five state area to enjoy a day in celebration of Italian heritage and culture. In 2012, an estimated 10,000 people joined us for a beautiful June Sunday of excellent food, top-rated entertainment, and activities designed to involve attendees of all ages. Proceeds from the festival benefit Philabundance and the Rose Tree Park Summer Concert Series.
There is no cost to include your car in the show. Cars will be assigned field positions. All cars must be in place by 11:30 am
DVAROC should be well represented at the event. Fielding your car will also provide excellent free on-grounds parking.
Mark Your Calendars: The 2013 Tech Session at Nick Falcone Enterprises!
It’s Official: the 2013 DVAROC Tech Session will be held on 27 April 2013 at Nick Falcone Enterprises in Bala Cynwyd. This event usually attracts a lot of members and is always great fun! We’ll provide coffee and something to munch on.
Meet us around 10AM!
Nick Falcone Enterprises
161 Rock Hill Road
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Spring Tour 2013
Alan and Jack will be taking us on a fantastic drive through the Delaware Valley on Sunday May 19th culminating on a delicious meal at the renowned Black Bass restaurant.
DIRECTIONS:
Following are directions to the meeting/starting point, at “Shops at Makefield Village” (same as 2011), located on Makefield Rd, .4 mile north of Woolston Dr.
Please be at the meeting/starting point by 0930 Sunday AM. RJs Bagels will be open!
Please gas up prior to start of tour AND keep your cell phone charged and turned on- If you have a problem en-route on Sunday morning- call either Alan, cell 215-630-5904 (preferred because Alan knows the area), or Jack, cell 215-933-9790.
Route from HWY I-95:
Rte I-95 (from North or South) to exit for Rte US 1North
Follow US 1 North to exit at Fairless Hills (first exit past Oxford Valley Mall)
Follow Fairless Hills exit ramp to stop light, then left turn at stop light onto Stony Hill Rd (toward Tyburn Rd)
Follow Stony Hill Rd to stop light at Woolston Dr
Left turn at stop light onto Woolston Dr then right turn at next stop light to first road on left (Makefield Rd)
Left turn onto Makefield Rd- go .4 mile to “Shops at Makefield Village” on right. (If you get to stop light at Big Oak Rd, you’ve gone too far- turn around!)
Here’s a video from our last Tour:
Alfa Romeo Back to the USA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ADrXZsroPWE
Report: Chrysler Expects Alfa to Outsell Fiat
Report: Chrysler Expects Alfa Romeo Will Outsell Fiat – Rumor Central.
Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States market has been a long and drawn-out process, one repeatedly lengthened by postponements, product changes, and financial hardships. But parent company Fiat is putting all of that in the past; the company even went so far as to say Alfa Romeo’s future will be bigger — and more profitable — than Fiat’s.
It doesn’t take a long memory to remember that Fiat’s re-launch in the United States was a treacherous one, as the diminutive 500 hatchback initially struggled to gain traction. After selling just under 20,000 units in 2011 (well short of its goals), the brand moved 43,772 units in 2012, a much better showing. Here’s hoping that Fiat and Chrysler learned enough about the hurdles of launching Fiat, because Chrysler Group’s head of network development Peter Grady recently said that Alfa Romeo will outsell its sibling.
The reasoning behind that claim is pretty valid: while Fiat will stick with the 500 and a handful of variants (Abarth, Turbo, C convertible, X crossover, and L family hatchback), Alfa Romeo will start with the long-awaited 4C sports coupe later this year and go from there to a more diverse portfolio of cars. Those cars, as we’ve reported, include the Giulia sedan, a crossover, a roadster version of the 4C coupe, a rear-wheel drive BMW 3 Series-fighter, and a Spider convertible developed in conjunction with Mazda’s MX-5 Miata.
Can Alfa Romeo outsell Fiat after all? At this point we’re still cautious, focusing more on Alfa’s ability to return to the U.S. at all than its long-term future. But it’s obvious that Chrysler/Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is standing behind the storied Italian brand — he said that Alfa’s one of only two Chrysler Group/Fiat SpA brands that have true global appeal. The other, of course, is Jeep.
Read more: here
Reedman-Toll Fiat: 4C Launch Discussions
This Saturday, March 30th, Riccardo Salvia of Reedman-Toll Fiat will be talking about the 2014 Alfa 4C Launch.
Event starts at Noon.
1700 E. Lincoln Hwy Langhorne, PA 19047
Here’s why we all need to be there:
1. Reedman-Toll has offered the use of their facilities for club events. This is a great opportunity to get good exposure for the club and our cars. While the club spans a large geography, Reedman-Toll’s location is central to most of our membership.
2. Alfa’s pending return will have a significant positive impact on the club. New Alfas means new members, new club activities and new opportunities. We must let Alfa know that the Delaware Valley club is important to the return of the marque. The first and easiest touchpoint to access Alfa directly outside of the ongoing National Club effort is through the local dealer network.
3. THEY HAVE A TEST TRACK ON PREMISES. And we aim to use it!
2013 DVAROC Club Patches
We’re looking at patch designs for the 2013 Alfa season.
Here’s what we have so far:
Current 2013 Patch Proposal
Last year’s patch:
Obviously there are few updates from last year: Delaware Valley AROC text is now entirely at the top. The lower AROC now reads Alfa Romeo. The year is updated to 2013, and finally, the color has been changed to green.
Guess what? We’re open to suggestion. I mean, we’re openly soliciting feedback or new designs. So members, pull out your vintage A.W. Faber 0.5mm drafting pencils and start sketching up some creativity!
Send your feedback to mike@dvaroc.org please.