Alfa pix - 1
It's not an Alfa, but you gotta love the Stovebolt!
This is the famous HWM "Stovebolt" racer now owned by Simon Taylor. On the left is a photo from a 1995 R&T feature on
the car. On the right is a 2003 shot from Laguna Seca, just minutes before Simon took the car out for his Friday practice session.
So, you're asking about now, why is this terrific car on the Alfa page? Certainly not because HWM originally used Alfa engines
(They were Alta motors, not Alfa). Not even because the car was built by HWM's legendary mechanic Alf Francis. No, it's here because
the Stovebolt has a legitimate Italian connection and because the Stovebolt is an example of what happens when a bunch of really good
hot-rodders and tuners go to work on an already fine racer. Switching the 4-cylinder Alta engine for a 265 cube Chevy was just a start.
About the Italian connection, Simon shares that "in 1950 Stirling Moss had his first Formula 1 race in it, even though it was merely a
2-litre Formula 2 car, and he finished a sensational third to the works Alfa Romeos of Farina and Fangio ... that was in the Bari Grand Prix.
Then a few weeks later Moss had the first bad accident of his career in my car: he was leading, holding off the pursuing Ferraris, when a
back-marker moved across on him and put him head-on into a tree. Among other painful injuries, he knocked out his front teeth on the
cockpit edge. In 2000, when I told Stirling I'd bought the car, he said, 'Have a look in the undertray, boy - you'll probably find my teeth.'"
Left photo: Simon Taylor, on the left, chats with John "Bat" Masterson and a friend. Masterson, center, is a former Stovebolt owner. Right photo: Simon applies
the Stovebolt's Chevy power at the 2003 Monterey Historics.
Banks Family challenges legendary Belgian race track,
finishes 8th in the Spa Six Hours
Top Photo: Max Banks (left) and his brother Andrew in the pit garages at Spa. Above: The brothers qualified
their GTA Replica 26th,
but stormed through the pack of 91 cars
to win the Eau Rouge Trophy and finish 8th
overall. Take a look at the entry list on
their website and you'll see what a huge victory this was. We're
pleased
to report the SNO stickers seen on the corners of the
GTA's windshield gave them the winning edge.
They'll probably claim it was careful preparation and
driver skill, but we know
the truth. Check out the following
Alfaholics link for more race photos and a complete story: Alfaholics Spa Six Hours Full Report.
World's fastest 4-cylinder Alfa is SNO-equipped
The crew of Bonnie, the world's fastest 4-cylinder Alfa, gathers on the lawn at Concorso Italiano, August 19, 2005. Note the Scuderia
Non Originale sticker, placed by engine-builder and driver, Jim Steck (third from right). In 2006 this car ran 221 mph on the Bonneville
Salt Flats. With Steck at the wheel, it set a new world record for B/GMS, with an average speed of 217 for the timed mile. In 2008,
Bonnie blazed to
222.620 before engine problems shut down their attempt at a record run.
There's more about Bonnie at:
www.autocomponenti.com and a nice story at VeloceToday.
Bonnie's turbocharged engine produces nearly 600 horsepower. To lend a little perspective, a stock 1600cc motor tested at about 96 hp at the
Magnaflow Dyno Day in 2005. My 1750 engine, back when it was young and strong, dyno'd at 130 hp (flywheel hp for all 3 cars). A full-race
GTA, "back in the day," was good for about 165 hp, approximately the same as my 2-liter motor makes now.
Max Banks' road-going GTA replica with 198 hp twin-spark engine. Bet you wish you had after-hours access to the Alfaholics parts supply.
Peter Nitoglia's Vintage 2.5 Challenge GTV.
On the greens at Concorso Italiano are the '67 GTVs of Richard Lane (left) and Gary Williams. Both have 2L motors and are almost twins.
Except that Gary's has fewer relays, a different interior, different wheels, bigger carbs, and more SNO stickers.
Brian Berger's 1978 Alfetta GTV with incredible Autocomponenti turbo engine. Wow!
Jim Steck calls 4SFED his "street" Alfa. Oh my! Jim we need more pictures and details.
Steve Smith's 1959 Sprint as of August 7, 2005, after its second shakedown run around the neighborhood. The car was stored
for more than two
decades, but after a cleaning and inspection the engine fired right up. The carbs got new gaskets, but no
retuning, yet it starts and idles with a
twist of the key. It has a 1750 engine, genuine Shankle 8L cams, and other upgrades
befitting the car of a former Alfa Romeo dealership mechanic
and parts manager. Ed Note: Now that we have two Steve Smith's in
in SNO, this one will be NorCal Steve unless he hates the name enough to
quit helping me with various Alfa projects.
Above are shots of Steve's car on its shakedown run around the City of Santa Clara after its long rest. Below: At Concorso Italiano.
This fine Junior Zagato belongs to Tom Sahines.
Tom Sahines with his GTV at the 2005 Concorso Italiano.
The GTV and Giulia Super of SNO Founding Member Richard Lane show two distinctly different cars that still maintain the Alfa family look.