News: The Alfa Romeo Owners Club GT 2014 flag-off

The Italian invasion done the right way. By Arvind Kumar.

There’s nothing quite like breaking the silence of a lazy Friday morning with the burble of four-and six cylinder Italian engines. Alfa Romeo’s no less. So when Alfa Romeo Owners Club, AROC for short, invited me to cover the flag-off of the 17th Annual AROC GT drive, I gleefully accepted. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The event, which was held from the 10th to the 12th of October, was officially flagged-off at a ceremony in Bukit Jalil Golf and Country Club. There were a total of 18 participants with cars ranging from the older GTV6s, to the newer bloodlines of the Alfa 155s,159s, Spider and Giulietta. I’m happy to report, none of the cars broke down as per ‘popular belief’ and there were more than a few launches involving tyre screeches and plumes of white smoke. And the quality of the cars participating was sublime and pristine to boot.

Participants took part in a range of challenges prior to reaching their final destination at Trader’s Hotel in Muar. Challenges include a rally drive en-route, where contestants will have to follow tulip-markers as checkpoints while enjoying the raspy notes of their twin-spark engines. The more tenacious of the lot also took part in the slalom competition held in the hotel car park.

It was also nice to see the camaraderie and friendly banter among the club members. Joking to each about, you guessed it, breaking down! But it just shows how passionate these petrol-heads are for their Italian beauties. As Henry Ford once said, “When I see an Alfa Romeo go by, I tip my hat”.