The Alfasud Register

Since I could not be there (don't ask!) I have relied upon 'spies' who report sightings of  a total of 9 Sud variants during the day and John Griffiths kindly sent me some pictures.  Among these I recognised Gary Orchard's brown Sprint, John Hill's Yellow Ti, and  two red Sprint GC's belonging to Kevin Dark and Eddie Boutland.  Here are some I didn't recognise - owners step forward please! (Thanks for yours Rob and yours David, two down, two to go!) I understand that the owner of the black Ti is Steve Ginn and he it was awarded the 'Members' Choice' Trophy.  Congratulations!

The Italian Festival at Stone, Staffs (twinned with Bagnacavallo) turned out to be a really good day out. Italian market, cookery demonstrations, food a-plenty, opera singers and lots of Italian cars and bikes - must have been well over 200. Just 4 Suds - all familiar - Mick Colvill's mighty twin V6 engined special based on a TiX, Colin Melcalfe's black 1.7 engined Ti Green C, David Armstrong's restored red Ti Green C and my Sprint Veloce 'Trofeo'. 

A very large turnout of all the major Italian marques even though the weather was definitely not 'flaming June'!  At least we were spared the heavy rain a bit further north.  I counted 11 Suds altogether, most taking advantage of the Register Model Parking line-up and John Hill and Gary Orchard in the Concours.  Congrats to Gary who won the Sud category with his lovely Sprint Veloce.

A very enjoyable day at an interesting venue, well done to Colin and the Yorkshire Section.  I left the Trofeo and the 156 sulking in the garage and gave the V6 Spider (and me - top down!) an airing. Parked next to Lee Baldwin's 1.7 16 valve Sprint and soon ran into Jonathon Trinder, Brian Taylor and David Armstrong.  The rain stayed away too, despite the forecast!  I counted 7 Suds - here are six of them - I just caught sight of the seventh, a white one, as it was leaving!

Well, despite weather decidedly worse than the forecast, there were a record number of cars - about 225 in total.  The special Sud area was soon filled and overflowing - 16 plus Lauren's Sud engined Nova and Mick's mighty twin V6 engined special TiX.

Colin Metcalfe, Secretary of the Register chose the winner of the Sud Trophy, a very original white 4 door Super belonging to James Gillings.  In the true MITCAR spirit this was chosen despite the presence of some beautiful Suds, all of which had won trophies and awards in the past. These included his own nero Ti with 1.7 motor, Jonathan Trinder's rosso 1.2 Ti, John Hill's giallo Ti. Peter Robinson's rosso Sprint Veloce and a certain Sprint Veloce 'Trofeo'.

Other pictures on the MITCAR website http://www.mitcar.co.uk/