This year it’s the 18th edition of The Spa Six Hours event. Down the years this excellent meeting has grown to be one of the most interesting and biggest historic race-events in Europe. Attending the Spa Six Hours for the last 7 years I have experienced the changeability of the weather in the Ardennes so before taking off from Holland I looked at the weather reports and they didn’t look too promising so I was prepared for rain. Arriving Friday morning at Francorchamps it had just started raining but in the afternoon it became dry. Saturday the weather turned out fine but during the six hour race at just after eightin the evening it started to rain and it poured down heavily for the final ninety minutes of the race. Sunday was even worse as it rained almost the whole day.        

Back in 2009, the proposed Alfa Romeo Centenary celebrations in Milan the following year sounded like something to aim for. One of the doubts in quite a few of our older car owner’s minds was the trek, either in the car or by trailer down to Milan and back. I did not mind driving back but did want to arrive with us and the car in decent fettle. A few enquiries pointed me in the direction of the Holland to Italy night sleeper car train which leaves St. Hertogenbosch for Alessandra (Close to Milan) with a very good restaurant car on board.  There would never be too many people wanting this option but that suited me, I did not want to be overrun.  I wanted to enjoy the event as much as anyone else.  As the event drew closer it became apparent that Alfa themselves did not intend putting much at all into the whole affair, however, quite a few like ourselves took the view that we would just enjoy the trip come what may.  I know full well that the days of being treated like royalty when visiting Italy with vintage Alfas is long past and are highly unlikely to return.  So, make the best of what is I say.