Welcome to the Chicago Alfa Romeo Owners Club
We are the founding chapter of what has become a national organization. In spring of 1958 a group of like minded people got together to socialize and solve problems that they might be having with their Giuliettas. We have progressed from there. We are no longer just a bunch of Giuliettas. Any model is welcome from 1910 until today. As long as it has a cross and serpent on it, it’s welcome. We get together on the third Thursday of the month( unless otherwise noted) to socialize at Avanti , located at 1900 Elmhurst Road in Mt Prospect at 6:00 pm. We also have a wide variety of event throughout the year to try to cater to everyone’s interest. Some of these are include but are not limited to:
- Tours
- Tech sessions
- Driving events at local race tracks
- Autocross events with the Miata club
- Go carting
- Model car nights
- Trivia nights
- Picnics
- Dinners
- Car shows and concourses
- Cars and coffee events
- Shop tours
- Events with other chapters
- National Alfa Romeo Owners Club conventions
And other unique events that you’ll just have to show up to find out about. We are also open to new events, if you have any ideas, let us know.
Ready to experience the thrill of the track—without the pressure? Join us for the CAROC and Lotus Corps Carl Grabowski Driver’s Education & Lapping Day on June 13th, and discover just how fun (and accessible) performance driving can be.
📍 Location: Blackhawk Farms Raceway, 15538 Prairie Rd, South Beloit, IL
⏰ Time: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🚗 Open to Everyone
📍 Location: Blackhawk Farms Raceway, 15538 Prairie Rd, South Beloit, IL
⏰ Time: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
🚗 Open to Everyone
Steve Crowley received this video from some club members that attended our convention in September. Nice car. Nice people. Club member since 1960. Thank you for attending our event.
Prez Says…
IT’S TIME!!! The weather is finally changing. Time to start firing the Alfas up! I changed the oil on the duetto, and fired it up for the first time yesterday. It ran great, to the end of the driveway. The brakes seemed “ a little light”. With some creative foot work, I was able to get it out to Besic Motorsport to bleed the brake system. The great thing about my car is it’s not difficult to work on , but a 10 minute job can take 3 hours. Mike found the problem with brakes. I didn’t have any. There was a hole in the reservoir that was very visible. The plastic reservoir separated at a seam and all the fluid drained out. I had a new reservoir, and when we tried that, it leaked to. We managed to find one in mikes used parts bin that would actually hold fluid and problem was solved. My cars finally goes, and stops! Alfas will always challenge your creativity. We are very lucky that we have several very talented mechanics in the area. My cars finally goes is now ready for summer. We have plenty of great events this summer. Our track day in June starts the club events. Our June meeting is at the Autobarn, there will be article about that event out shortly. Another nice thing about that event is that we will be displaying an Alfa Romeo Memorobilia collection that I just acquired from a west coast member that has collecting for a very long time. Some of it is historical, some of it is hysterical. July we have a tour up to the historical area of Woodstock. It’s big claim to fame is that the town square was used in the movie “Groundhog Day”. August brings us our club picnic. This year we are dedicating the picnic to the memory of Dennis Sbertoli and would like to see everybody come out for it. We’ll have an article out about it soon as well. Also in August we will be having a swap meet at the Giulietta Studio, so all those Alfa pieces you didn’t know what to do with can be sold, and you can buy other Alfa parts that you don’t know what to do with. it's gonna be a great summer. Come on out and join us for the events, or even just the meetings. The more, the merrier. I’ll be STOPPING by!
Il Duce
Steve Crowley
IT’S TIME!!! The weather is finally changing. Time to start firing the Alfas up! I changed the oil on the duetto, and fired it up for the first time yesterday. It ran great, to the end of the driveway. The brakes seemed “ a little light”. With some creative foot work, I was able to get it out to Besic Motorsport to bleed the brake system. The great thing about my car is it’s not difficult to work on , but a 10 minute job can take 3 hours. Mike found the problem with brakes. I didn’t have any. There was a hole in the reservoir that was very visible. The plastic reservoir separated at a seam and all the fluid drained out. I had a new reservoir, and when we tried that, it leaked to. We managed to find one in mikes used parts bin that would actually hold fluid and problem was solved. My cars finally goes, and stops! Alfas will always challenge your creativity. We are very lucky that we have several very talented mechanics in the area. My cars finally goes is now ready for summer. We have plenty of great events this summer. Our track day in June starts the club events. Our June meeting is at the Autobarn, there will be article about that event out shortly. Another nice thing about that event is that we will be displaying an Alfa Romeo Memorobilia collection that I just acquired from a west coast member that has collecting for a very long time. Some of it is historical, some of it is hysterical. July we have a tour up to the historical area of Woodstock. It’s big claim to fame is that the town square was used in the movie “Groundhog Day”. August brings us our club picnic. This year we are dedicating the picnic to the memory of Dennis Sbertoli and would like to see everybody come out for it. We’ll have an article out about it soon as well. Also in August we will be having a swap meet at the Giulietta Studio, so all those Alfa pieces you didn’t know what to do with can be sold, and you can buy other Alfa parts that you don’t know what to do with. it's gonna be a great summer. Come on out and join us for the events, or even just the meetings. The more, the merrier. I’ll be STOPPING by!
Il Duce
Steve Crowley
Andretti Karting Night
For our April meeting we went to play at the new Andretti Karting in Schaumburg, Illinois. We had a great turn out. Lots of new faces that we hope will keep coming to club functions now that they’ve met us. I was even able to win in the group I was placed in. After racing, we all spent the rest of the night bench racing and getting to know each other. We haven’t gone carting in a very long time and it was a fun time that was had by all. Steve…
- Dennis Steibel 1st, Aiden Cavaliere 2nd, Mark Treschl 3rd
- Steve Fezley 1st, Fred Marano 2nd, Bella Fortuna 3rd
Thanks for joining CAROC last night for a fun filled evening of burning rubber and bashing bumpers. We hope you all had a wonderful time, and great to see a nice turnout!
Congratulations to our top finishers in the 2 groups. From this day forward, you will be known as the "Busso 6!!" See attached picture and make sure to save it for the future. Documented pictures of being in the presence of the Presidential Fez have been known to significantly increase in value over time! Marco…
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CAROC Member Name Badges Available NOW
The Chicago Chapter is offering personalized AROC name tags to all members and spouses. There has been interest in badges for use at events such as the annual banquet, picnic, tours, monthly meetings and other events. The badges will assist in putting a name to familiar faces, and will be particularly useful for new and prospective members and guests.
Purchasing name badges is optional and will be made at a member’s request only. The cost is $12 per badge and sourced from a local supplier. We have negotiated a reduced rate of $10 per badge for the club’s first order which we hope will be enough to meet the supplier’s discount quantity. If you are interested in ordering a badge, it is a benefit to you and the club to place your order by Friday, March 10, 2023. We can obtain the lower price and have the badges available by the end of March. The badges are 1” x 3” with either a magnetic or pin fastener and appear as in the sample below. Please contact Greg Korak with any questions, and with your orders stating the first name, last name, and fastener preference (magnetic or pin) at greg.korak@gmail.com. The pin fastener is $1 less than the magnetic. Your badges will be available at the next event you attend (or we can send them to you).
Alfa Romeo Launches Classiche Heritage Program To Look After Its Most Iconic Cars
This move will ensure that icons like the 33 Stradale live on for decades to come.
Alfa Romeo is a brand steeped in history, with beautiful creations like the 33 Stradale, Spider, Montreal, Giulia, and 8C, to name a few.
The Italian brand is preparing for the future with the launch of the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale, a new crossover with a bespoke hybrid drivetrain. Recently, it also launched a new brand identity and will now focus on being a luxury automaker, slowly moving away from its sporty reputation.
But Alfa Romeo is not quite ready to let go of its past. READ FULL ARTICLE
This move will ensure that icons like the 33 Stradale live on for decades to come.
Alfa Romeo is a brand steeped in history, with beautiful creations like the 33 Stradale, Spider, Montreal, Giulia, and 8C, to name a few.
The Italian brand is preparing for the future with the launch of the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale, a new crossover with a bespoke hybrid drivetrain. Recently, it also launched a new brand identity and will now focus on being a luxury automaker, slowly moving away from its sporty reputation.
But Alfa Romeo is not quite ready to let go of its past. READ FULL ARTICLE
Crowley 2L
Alfa Romeo: what's all the fuss about?
Roadster Salon, a great way to spend a Saturday
Many thanks to the guys at Roadster Salon for treating us to a couple hours at their shop on Saturday, September 29th. Ray and Robert were most accommodating in showing us their various works in progress including many Fiat 124s, ALFAs and a handful of Brits. It would seem the Fiats are their specialty but I saw some striking ALFA restorations.
In the early 1990's John Marchica started a small detail shop in Barrington called The Auto Spa. Auto Spa prospered and grew into a full fledged restoration shop. They do pretty much anything from interiors, cut and sewn on site, mechanical, electrical. You can even have your ride modernized to include the latest techno-gadgets such as a satellite controlled speedometer. Fortunately for the car guy world, John passed his passion for Italian aesthetics and design on to his son Ray. Since John’s passing in 2012 Ray and his wife have taken over and oversee every aspect of a restoration.
READ FULL ARTICLE | VIEW Gallery
Art and the Automobile 2018
A week ago, I ventured out to the Art and the Autmobile show in Palos Park, one of the southwest suburbs of Chicago. The drive into the area is a surprising change of scenery. Leaving the arrow straight roads of a mostly brick and concrete grid behind, you find yourself surrounded by greenery on roads that gently curve every so often. The claustrophobic effect of a flat, dense, urban terrain, gives way to lush greenery, and some actual hills believe it or not.
I had to start it off with this Alfa Romeo Duetto pictured below. In short, this car is the kind of perfection that anyone looking to build, restore, modify, resto-mod, whatever label you want to give it, should strive for. I had a chance to chat with the owner of this Duetto, Steve, who was happy to chat with me for a while about the car. It took many years, and much effort for him to end up with the car you see today, and he is clearly proud and happy with the results. Steve's vision for the Duetto, was not necessarily an all original restoration, but instead something of a resto-mod.
Thanks for reading.
View archived notes from the Prez
A week ago, I ventured out to the Art and the Autmobile show in Palos Park, one of the southwest suburbs of Chicago. The drive into the area is a surprising change of scenery. Leaving the arrow straight roads of a mostly brick and concrete grid behind, you find yourself surrounded by greenery on roads that gently curve every so often. The claustrophobic effect of a flat, dense, urban terrain, gives way to lush greenery, and some actual hills believe it or not.
I had to start it off with this Alfa Romeo Duetto pictured below. In short, this car is the kind of perfection that anyone looking to build, restore, modify, resto-mod, whatever label you want to give it, should strive for. I had a chance to chat with the owner of this Duetto, Steve, who was happy to chat with me for a while about the car. It took many years, and much effort for him to end up with the car you see today, and he is clearly proud and happy with the results. Steve's vision for the Duetto, was not necessarily an all original restoration, but instead something of a resto-mod.
Thanks for reading.
View archived notes from the Prez
FCA to Buy, Restore, and Sell Classic Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias, and Abarths
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) may want your classic Italian car. The automaker has just launched a new initiative, Reloaded by Creators, that aims to buy, restore, and sell some of the most significant vehicles from the company’s history. Focusing on Italian brands (the company has shown no interest in your slant-six Plymouth Valiant), the project aims to bring Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias, and Abarths back to life while building the company’s own collection of historic cars.The Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio
Enzo Ferrari, during his employment at Alfa Romeo, encouraged his friend Ugo Sivocci to follow him there. Together they joined with two others - Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Cam-pari - to form the four legendary Alfa Romeo factory race car drivers.
Of the four, Sivocci was quick, but rarely won races. It seemed he just had bad luck. Out of frustration, in advance of the 1923 Targa Florio, he painted a lucky symbol on the hood of his RL: a green four-leaf clover on a white diamond background. He won the race, and believed now that his luck had turned due to his "Quadrifoglio".
Later in the year, he was tragically killed while practicing for the Grand Prix at Monza in the newly designed P1. Ironically, he had not yet had an opportunity to paint his good luck Quadrifoglio on this car.
Alfa Romeo recognized this tragic loss by retiring his car's number - 17 -which has never appeared on a factory race car since.
The four corners of the white diamond where said to represent these four famous piloti. With Sivocci's un-timely death, one point of the diamond was removed, creating the triangle, which remains to this day as an integral part of the Quadrifoglio badging, appearing on competition cars for the last 95 years.
All-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Wins Three Awards from the Texas Auto Writers Association
The all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was crowned "Car of Texas" and also took home honors for "Performance Sedan of Texas" and "Most Drives" at the Texas Auto Roundup hosted by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Enzo Ferrari, during his employment at Alfa Romeo, encouraged his friend Ugo Sivocci to follow him there. Together they joined with two others - Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Cam-pari - to form the four legendary Alfa Romeo factory race car drivers.
Of the four, Sivocci was quick, but rarely won races. It seemed he just had bad luck. Out of frustration, in advance of the 1923 Targa Florio, he painted a lucky symbol on the hood of his RL: a green four-leaf clover on a white diamond background. He won the race, and believed now that his luck had turned due to his "Quadrifoglio".
Alfa Romeo recognized this tragic loss by retiring his car's number - 17 -which has never appeared on a factory race car since.
The four corners of the white diamond where said to represent these four famous piloti. With Sivocci's un-timely death, one point of the diamond was removed, creating the triangle, which remains to this day as an integral part of the Quadrifoglio badging, appearing on competition cars for the last 95 years.
All-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Wins Three Awards from the Texas Auto Writers Association
The all-new 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was crowned "Car of Texas" and also took home honors for "Performance Sedan of Texas" and "Most Drives" at the Texas Auto Roundup hosted by the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Make Your Ears Love You Again By Letting Them Experience Six Minutes of Bliss
Road & Track published BY TRAVIS OKULSKI APR 5, 2018You might not realize it, but your ears hate you. Listen to this to remind them that they shouldn't hate you.
Your ears hate you. The people you talk to have grating voices and bad opinions. You shove poorly shaped ear buds in them for hours on end to listen to music that should legally be considered trash. They're full of wax that you neglect to clean. They're dying for you to be nice to them. To do something that'll remind them that you need them, that they're loved.
Well, here's the solution: six minutes of Alfa Romeo 155 touring car sounds. That's it. No political agenda. No bass beat that's too loud. No Q-Tip puncturing your ear drum. Just the mellifluous sounds of an Alfa Romeo driving around the hills of Italy at full chat. An orchestra of smooth loveliness that will remind your ears why they listen to all the other crap you force them to hear. And a noise that'll make them want to stay around for years to come.
So, please, listen to this and let your ears experience pure bliss.
