As the willing band of marshals gathered in the early morning sunshine the omens were good for the 4th Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival last weekend, organised as always by the AROC Bristol and West Section. Our anticipation rose and the heart of the Old City soon began to rumble to the music of thoroughbred exhausts as some 330 Italian cars and two wheelers streamed into the historic centre of Bristol. Led by over 90 Alfa Romeos, the streets were quickly thronged with Italian classic machinery.

Bristolians and visitors from far and wide turned out in hoards to mix with the enthusiastic vehicle owners and share this celebration of superb style and engineering. The entrants came from as far distant as Germany and Northern England. The oldest entries were Brian Perry's very rare 1926 Ceriano Tipo Roma SS150, (manufactured in Turin) and Mike Hirst's equally appealing 1929 Alfa Romeo 6c 1750 SS. The streets were blessed with an abundance of Alfas, Ferraris, Lancias, Maseratis, Fiats and Lamborghinis plus our first De Tomaso Pantera, entered by Ian Nichols, Tim Wilson's intriguing 1954 Arnolt Bristol Bertone, Pat Lockyer's Stabilimenti Farina Jupiter and Franco Macri's Zimp all superbly supported the event. The Haynes Motor Museum brought along their breathtaking Ferrari 250 and Lamborghini Countach to further enhance the heady atmosphere. We were grateful for the patronage of Alfa Romeo UK who had a Brera, 159, 159 Sportwagon and a GT Coupé on display for the temptation of all those who passed by them.

Stunning cars were plentiful in what must have been the most charismatic, multi-million pound parking lot the West Country has ever seen. The abundance of immaculate Alfa Romeo; GTVs (including numerous entries from the SportsAlfa.com forum), Spiders, Giulias, Giuliettas, SZs, RZs and examples of just about every other model imported since World War Two enabled the Alfa Romeo Owners Club to hold its head high.

Robbie Webb from Maidenhead won the Rummer Hotel 'Favourite Car' award for his superbly beautiful Alfa Romeo 1900C SS by Touring 2 and Paul Gregory won the 'Best Alfa Romeo' award for his gorgeous 1960 Giulietta Sprint Zagato. Tony Castle-Millar’s Oscella Group 6 racing car, won the Castle Combe award for best racing car and Mark Bridger won their Best Bike award for his awesome MV Augusta 750 F4 Oro.
 

The Dick Lovett dealership once again came up trumps with a breathtaking Ferrari  612 Scaglietti. The Lancia line-up was led by several Stratos rally cars in classic rally livery plus the pretty Aurelias of Ryk Heuff and Mike Jennings and David Honeybun's 1947 Aprilia saloon. Cornish builder Ernie Marshall made a welcome return with his unmistakable yellow Lamborghini Murciélago and Mike Bryant introduced a showbiz element with his white, ex Rod Stewart, Ferrari Testarossa. The Best Fiat prize went to Graham Nicholson from Solihull for his immaculate little 1954 500 'Topolino'. Our local independent Alfa Romeo specialist dealers Alfa Net supported the show with their SZ, RZ and Maserati Quattroporte and also generously donated the prizes for the best of each marque. The Castle Combe Racing School, Bristol Pegasus Motor Club, Middle Barton Garage and the Abarth Club copiously supported the motor sport display. Romeo Brown’s bar again allowed their scantily clad waitresses to wash a Ferrari Spider with a sponge and bucket, a spectacle enjoyed by all! Local company Pro Tyre facilitated the display by Bridgestone of a Formula One Ferrari and their F1 Simulator, for which many people queued for ages just to 'have a go.' Fastest time on the simulator was set by Joe Byrne, who won a Formula One factory visit as a result. The collection by Romeo Browns and Bridgestone raised £466.48 for the local St Peters Hospice.

Two-wheeled entries generously flowed from the MV Agusta, Ducati, Laverda and Moto Guzzi owners' clubs. The Bristol Mods classic Italian Scooter club and the Moto Rumi Club enthusiastically supported the proceedings with their glamorous and colourful machines. This year we were graced by a visit from the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Bristol; who inspected many of the displays and were greatly impressed by the diversity of the vehicles and the enthusiasm of their owners.

The “Ladies and Gentlemen; start your engines” feature, was also much appreciated by the crowds, who had the opportunity to hear what these fantastic cars and bikes sound like when the owners were given the opportunity let their engines sing. Grateful thanks must go to Bristol City Council; Markets Division, for their support, help and advice, without which we would have been unable to stage the event. We are also indebted to the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club for their invaluable help with the marshalling on the day.

The prize winners were: The fastest time set on the F1 simulator: Joe Byrne, who won a visit to a Formula One factory. (Prize donated by Bridgestone); The Castle Combe Racing School award for their favourite Racing car was won by Tony Castle-Miller from Middle Barton, Oxfordshire, for his Osella; The Rummer Hotel award for their Favourite Car went to Robbie Webb from Maidenhead (Alfa Romeo 1900C SS by Touring 2); Alfa Net, Bristol's independent Alfa Romeo specialist dealer, donated the following awards: Entrants who travelled furthest to the Festival: Gerdi & Dietmar Tiesmann form Krefeld in Germany with their Alfa Romeo Junior Zagato; Best Alfa Romeo: Paul Gregory, from Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hants. (1960 Giulietta Sprint Zagato); Best Lancia: Ryk Heuff from Cheltenham, (1957 Aurelia); Best Maserati: Claudio Silvestro from Coventry  (Merak); Best Fiat: Graham Nicholson from Solihull (500 'Topolino'); Terry Richardson from Chesterfield (Alfa Romeo Montreal), won the Seamus O'Donnell's prize draw.

Riders Ducati of Bristol donated the following awards: Best Classic Motorcycle:  Roger Webb from Ross on Wye (Gilera 175); Best Modern Motorcycle: Steve Baigent from Swindon  (Ducati 748BP); Best Ducati: Keith Riches from Backwell (Ducati 900SS); The Castle Combe Racing School award for their Favourite Bike was won by Mark Bridger from Honiton for his MV Agusta F4 Oro; Dave Flanagan from Yeovil (MV Agusta 350S), won the Zak's Café draw prize.

by Paul G Hanmore / Photos: Stuart Pugh