To the casual observer, you would think the largest single-make car owners club in New Zealand would be something like Holden, Ford or Toyota, but no. What if I told you, it was Alfa Romeo?
Yes, the Milanese marque responsible for some of the most beautiful and coveted cars ever made has a considerable following in New Zealand, one which has existed for generations. From the early days of the post war years to the present, Alfa Romeo, one of the most bewitching names in motoring has gained a firm foothold on the psyche of many Kiwi motorists.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club of New Zealand, a new book has been released which catalogues and celebrates in extraordinary detail the Alfas of New Zealand, the history, the importers, the dealers, the road tests, the racing and of course the cars themselves and the passionate owners (Alfisti) who drive, race and love them.
Aptly named, “Half Century, Full Throttle,” the book is result of painstaking research, cataloguing and bringing together countless stories, facts and anecdotes of Alfa Romeo and their owners in New Zealand. The idea can be traced back to Alfa Romeo NZ club member Michael Galloway of the Bay of Plenty who pitched the idea at the 2019 and 2020 club AGMs which thought it be a brilliant idea to record the history of the AROCNZ in time for the 50th anniversary of the club in 2024.
From here the idea grew until a group of owners formed “The Steering Committee” and the reigns of the project were eventually taken over by long-serving AROCNZ member Tom Bruynel, with the assistance of fellow committee members and fellow AROCNZ members Rik Bruce, Russell De Luca, John Wilson, John McTavish, Bruce Harrrison and Michael Galloway.
The end result of their labours in compiling, researching, fact-checking and editing all manner of articles, facts and images is 520 pages, around 900 photographs and reprints of hundreds of articles, stories, memories from the last fifty years. Throw in perspective and gripping Alfa yarns from countless owners and enthusiasts and you have what is without doubt the definitive history and guide to Alfa Romeo in New Zealand.
Its all here. Recollections of just about every club run, motorsport event, racing series and events like the famous “May Madness” from different club regions from around the country. There is also a breakdown on the history of just about every production Alfa to turn a wheel in New Zealand. Everything including 1900s, 105s, GTVs, Giulias, Giuliettas, Spiders, Alfasuds, Montreals, 164s, 75s, GT Juniors, SZs, right up to the likes of the 8C Competitzione, Brera, 4C, and the latest Stelvio and Giulia, plus everything in between.
It was also amazing to see that many rare classic Alfas have called New Zealand home. For example, it never really sunk in until reading this book that the Alfa Romeo P3 which won the 1935 German Grand Prix in the hands of the great Tazio Nuvolari resided in Tai Tapu just outside of Christchurch for many years, with its sister car living just over the Port Hills away from it.
Half Century, Full Throttle also provides an in-depth record of every single Alfa Romeo model imported into New Zealand from 1950 and shows the history of who has been responsible for promoting the Alfa Romeo brand, whether it be dealers, franchisees and official importers.
What also stands out is the collection of amazing stories from passionate Kiwi Alfisiti, whether they were in attendance at the very first AROCNZ meeting in Taupo on the 20th of September 1974 like Les Singh, or joined at some stage over the coming decades, the wealth of knowledge and detail produced here from those stories is something really special. With so many amazing stories, I really found it difficult to put this book down.
Motoring Youtuber Luan You and Tarmac Life’s own Matthew D’Souza also put their passion for 147 GTAs to paper for this. Keen readers of Tarmac will know of Matt’s slick looking 147 GTA and the passion they both share, along with hundreds of other Alfisti, something which will emanate strongly to anyone fortunate enough to read these yarns
This is quite simply the most captivating, entertaining, informative and well-presented book I have ever read about any New Zealand car club and it will certainly leave a lasting impression on anyone with even the merest interest in Alfa Romeo, something which will more than likely grow with every turn of the page.
Go to www.arocnz.org.nz to order your copy.
