Jim's Alfetta projects

19/07/2026

Another successfull adventure in Claudia! Over 10 days we've covered 901 miles, including 60 miles of competitive regularities and 4 tests, plus a lot of motorway time - thank goodness for the radio! She hasn't used any water this time so that issue has healed itself, but she does have a taste for oil... 1.5l in 1000 miles. It doesn't smell of burning oil in the way my 156 did, but a concern never the less. No more big outings in the diary for this year and only the handbrake to sort as urgent. Who says Alfas aren't reliable?!

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

What's it like using a 1980 Alfetta as a daily? Does it lose its novelty value and become a faff? Well, no!

11/07/2026

The results are in! The two crews were very close at lunch, but the Ivory car kept their cool in the afternoon to win the intra-family battle, although the test times for 3&4 were identical! A great day out though, both boys did exceptionally. We then took Claudia 3 hours on to Devon for the week!

11/07/2026

We've made it to lunch on Rally for Ages, our two junior navs still keen and enthusiastic, not too hot!!! No results yet though...

10/07/2026

After 150 long hot miles, it appears we have resolved the overheating problem. However, the hot starter motor problem reared its head, thanks to the trucker who push started us on the A14... My excitement about the carb return spring was also short lived as it turns out I need one per carb...

02/07/2026

All in all a good night's spannering. 3 jobs on the list. 1. Fit a secondary return spring on the carbs for Rally for the Ages next week, 2. fix the horn, 3. fit the numberplate lights I found in Holland. Home alone with dogs, they're not allowed in the garage with the door open as they bu**er off so rigged up a gate.

1. I bought a secondary return spring from Alfaholics last year but couldn't really work out how to fit it, so didn't. Henry and I are competing on Rally for the Ages next week so one needed fitting. The one I had is for Weber carbs, mine are Dell'Ortos, so modification was required. I cut the arm down to one hole and hooked the spring onto the throttle lever. Too easy.

2. The horn has been intermittent but now hasn't worked in weeks, again a scrutineering fail next weekend plus and MOT fail, so may as well get to it. Toot toot! Ah... Toot toot... hmmm... toot toot! Tonight its worked all night, couldn't get it not to work.

3. I've been running a universal number plate light fittered by Nick at EJM Motorsport 3 years ago and I've not managed to find the proper ones. 105 series look the same but don't fit. At Spettacolo Sportivo this weekend I found the correct ones!! They didn't have bulbs but I was sure I had some I'd bought for the last lot. Sure enough they were in the drawer of 'bits to fit one day'.

On a roll, I'll leave it there!!

29/06/2026

After an amazing weekend we are home. Claudia didn't miss a beat other than the handbrake challenge, despite sitting out in some crazy rain storms. We found some rare parts, drove the track, and had loads of great chats with Alfa Romeo friends. I'm not sure we need to go every year, but we'll definitely go again.

27/06/2026

This weekend Dad and I are in Holland at Spettacolo Sportivo, the largest Alfa Romeo event in Europe. We've driven here in Claudia, and so far its been great. I did notice lots of resistance driving on the ferry yesterday, and it turns out the handbrake had stuck so I've fixed that, else she's ticked along nicely, even during our 25 min track exploration session! 150 miles so far, more fun tomorrow!