Vinny Lambroia   East Northport, NY     EMAIL
1992 Spider Veloce

I have always loved cars since I was a young boy . I built models ,read magazines I even had a racetrack set up around the Christmas tree instead of trains . Then I discovered European cars in my early teens, I was always partial to German and Italian cars, English not so much.

My first new car was a black 1984 VW GTI, I absolutely loved it . That car began a 25 year run with VW / Audi, which continues to this day (a 2007 black GTI ) yet I always longed for an Italian sports car.
I always said that I drove German because I couldn't afford Italian.

I drove an Alfa for the first time back in 1989- I was in Boulder Colorado , my cousin had a beautiful red series 3 Spider Quad. After spending the day riding around Boulder as a passenger my cousin needed to go to his restaurant to pick up his catering van. That was my chance, I got to drive the Spider back to the house. We were planning on driving it up to Estes Park the next day.

I remember slipping behind the wheel for the first time ,settling into the sumptuous leather seats and reaching for the uniquely placed gearshift knob,engaging first gear and pulling away from the curb heading toward the open highway. Mountains in the distance, top down , sun setting, listening to the throaty exhaust note, ahhh life was good.

As I made my way through the gears I noticed that the gearbox was a little stiffer than my GTI, well - German engineering as opposed to Italian. I thought it was normal. I continued on my journey and the shifts became more and more difficult , by the time I pulled into my cousin's garage I needed two hands to shift gears - boy these Italian cars are temperamental !. I put the Alfa to bed for the night and crawled into bed myself- looking forward to tomorrows excursion to the mountains in the crimson Italian beauty.

When I awoke the next morning my cousin asked how I liked the car -"great " I said - but the shifting is a little "different " than my car - yeah "that's part of the charm" he replied. My cousin went to pull the Alfa out of the garage while I was brushing my teeth. He came back in and announced we would be bringing the Jeep to the mountains that day . He then told me that the gearbox fluid (what was left of it ) was on the garage floor -apparently the gearbox was leaking all the way home !

My next drive in an Alfa was slightly less eventful. I test drove a gorgeous '92 164S- Red with black interior and oh that red stitching ! oh what a car. Bellissima! Unfortunately I couldn't afford the Alfa back then - so I had to be content with my VW Corrado G60. I looked at Alfa's in the classifieds from time to time, looked on E-bay occasionally but never really seriously . Then I met my beautiful wife to be Janet . I thought if I'm getting married I better get my Alfa now ! A chance search on E-bay brought me to a beautiful '92 Spider Veloce - the car had a rebuilt engine and was in great condition - I asked Janet if she thought I should bid on it, she looked at me rolled her eyes and said "your crazy" I took that as a YES and proceeded to place my bid. I followed the car all week mentioned it to people at work sort of half kidding never thinking I would win . When it came down to the final day, I ended up with a crowd of people gathered around my desk watching the final frenzied moments of bidding - at one point I typed in $110,000- what a difference a zero makes! Well needless to say I won (for far less than the $110,000 by the way )

The following week on a rainy Saturday Janet and I ventured to Bensalem PA via LIRR, NJ transit and insane taxi driver, but it was all worth it when we pulled up to the garage and I saw the Spider for the first time sitting there waiting for me. After a brief run through with the previous owner I was aching to get behind the wheel.
We began our return trip to Long Island with the top up, about half way back the weather started clearing , we looked at each other, nodded and lowered the top. The rest of the trip we enjoyed the true Alfa Spider experience - wind in the hair driving ,well at least Janet did.

I immediately joined the NYAROC where I discovered a great group of guys , very friendly , extremely knowledgeable and very very funny (except for Louie). We have plenty of fun events throughout the year and great Sunday morning breakfasts! I am now a true Alfisti!