How Time Flies

After more than eighteen months, many things happening in the Alfa field, but Sprint is still waiting for the commencement of work. Laszlo has the door panels lying at home and the engine and g'box are in the garage waiting for action. The starter motor and generator have been gone for revision but the revision man could not save them. So they will go in the exchange pool circuit.The Giulia has meanwhile seen it all in 2010. Firstly a big service and the brakes fully inspected and repaired. One of the front right cylinder has a tendency to hang with skew braking effect. Not desirable if you need to cross the Alps.After the service she rode like a charm and was ready for the Easter drive in the Betuwe.It was the big test for the 24th SCARB buitenlandrit to Milan. Where we would take part in the Alfa Centennial celebrations.I appreciate the Giulia even more after this fantastic cross Europe journey. What a wonderful little Alfa she is! Minor problems with the fuel supply. New pump and filter, by blowing the pipes have since done their job and everything went back to normal.2011 brought more focus on the Spider. Mille Miglia with a group of Alfa 916's and a P Boxster. My Spider can really keep up well with modern traffic and hummed as usual to go there.Some work had to be done since the end of 2010 season.During a Spider Tour in Limburg, someone (I will not name) rear ended the Spider. Perfectly repaired at the local bodyshop, new bumper and a new windshield.During the last trip in 2010 collapsed one of the intake manifold rubbers. Ordered a new set of solid machined manifolds from Alfaholics. Some problems arose with the sealing between carb and manifold gaskets. The paper gaskets showed to be insufficient. Brought the Spider to Erik Stevens in Puth for a service and to replace some steering balljoints, fix the manifold leakages and give it a tune up. Runs like a charm again and was also ready for the ride to Sirmione on Lake Garda. (More on the MM later...)On the way back, we had a scary moment when we had the rear break out suddenly at an exit to the A61 near Hockenheim. Nose into the guardrail, slightly damaged nose but nothing to worry about. Probably had the first rain in weeks had something to do with it?So now the spider has some more work to be done to.Hopefully now some time for the Sprint??