As I'm sure you're well aware, Alfa Romeo is slowly being reintroduced back to the US market. This is exciting news for enthusiasts. Excluding the limited production and very expensive 8C, the wave of new Italian machines started with the 4C. It's a little carbon fiber two seat sports car. It looks sensational. It's meant to stir excitement, emotion, and interest in the brand. However, a relatively expensive, impractical sports car is not going to sustain Alfa Romeo in the US. For that they need a range of sedans and, yes, even crossovers to remain relevant. Oh, and I suppose profitable. That's important too.
The first substantive model Alfa is launching in the US is the new Giulia sedan. A launch event sponsored by Wheels of Italy on Saturday, March 25th at Luther Alfa Romeo in St. Louis Park to gave people an opportunity to see it in person, take test drives, and meet fellow enthusiasts. The star of the show was definitely the Giulia, but there were some classic Alfas to check out as well. So, after getting to experience the Giulia for myself, how does the future look for Alfa?
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The next MN Motoring Meetup is this Saturday, September 17th. Fall is quickly approaching and the weather is fine!
We meet on the top level of the parking ramp, at the North East end, next to the Eagan Outlet Mall. We'll meet from 8-10am. The outlet mall is located near the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 77 in Eagan. The entrance to the ramp is on Cedar Grove Parkway. The beautiful fall weather won't last long. Clean up your ride and bring it out for some sun (hopefully) and fun! Coffee will be provided. Please remember, the parking ramp is in a residential area. Please be respectful and courteous as you arrive and depart. Thanks! It's already August and the next MN Motoring Meetup is right around the corner!
The next meet is Saturday, August 20th from 8am to 10am. As usual the meet will be held on the top deck of the parking ramp next to the Eagan Outlet Mall. The entrance to the ramp is on Cedar Grove Parkway. The Outlet mall is located near the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 77 in Eagan. Coffee and breakfast goodies will be provided! Please remember, this ramp is in a residential area. Please be respectful and courteous as you arrive and depart. Thanks! The next MN Motoring Meetup up is this Saturday, July 16th from 8am to 10am. We meet on the top deck of the parking ramp next to the Eagan Outlet Mall. The Mall is off Highway 13 and Highway 77. The entrance to the ramp is off Cedar Grove Parkway.
All types of cars and vehicles are welcome. If you're excited or passionate about it, we want to see it! Coffee and snacks will be provided. The forecast at the moment (this is MN after all) looks promising. The ramp is in a residential area, so please be respectful when arriving and departing. Thanks! See you there. This Saturday is the next MN Motoring Meetup! Come join us and bring your car. All are welcome!
We meet on the upper deck of the parking ramp by the Eagan Outlet Mall on the North East end. The mall is off of Highway 77 and Highway 13 in Eagan. There are several entrances to the ramp, but the one off Cedar Grove Parkway is the best. This is a public ramp among a residential area. Please be courteous when you arrive and depart. Thanks! The weather forecast is looking promising! We're just over a week away from the 2nd MN Motoring Meetup. Come join us! Whatever kind of car you're passionate about, we want to see it! We'll have some coffee and some breakfast snacks.
The next event is Saturday, May 21st from 8-10am. The meet is held on the top deck of the parking ramp next to the Eagan Outlet Mall. We meet at the North-East end. The mall is off of Highway 13 and Highway 77 in Eagan. The entrance to the parking ramp is off of Cedar Grove Parway. This is a public ramp among a residential area. Please be courteous when you arrive and depart. Thank you! My first experience with this beast happened about eleven or twelve years ago. I don't precisely remember. I wasn't truly hunting at the time. The creature was small, but it proved to be a fine looking prize. It was aggressive but also cute. It had a modest bark, but demonstrated it's agility and bite. It was energetic. The experience was all too brief, but it made an impression. The memory lingered. Someday little fella. Someday.
Finally, all these years later, it was time to hunt in earnest. The prey I sought was now slightly less numerous, but the decade or so had been good to the species. I located a potential prospect and approached with caution. This was my first encounter in many years. I wanted my prize to be healthy, to show well, to move with the verve I remembered all those years before. This particular one was a bit tired, with a few scars here and there. It confirmed that this was indeed the prey I was after, but this particular one was not to be my prize. I made use of a tracking device. I could see them all over the country. One wore a lustrous red coat, another black. This one looked a bit more muscular. That one had a dingy, unkempt coat. Another looked good, but was in poor health. The prey was plentiful. Fine examples were scattered all across the country. I researched carefully, compiling the specific traits I was looking for. How far was I willing to travel to claim my prize? Months passed as I patiently waited. I spent many nights reading up on my prey. I learned it's preferred habitats. I learned what kind of ailments it was susceptible to. I learned how to keep one healthy, what regimens they need to adhere to, and what kind of feeding they require. I located another specimen nearby. Again, it reaffirmed my feelings, but it still was not quite right. This process continued. It seemed Minnesota might not be the best place to find this creature in good health. I was starting to strongly consider traveling to another state to claim the prey I was after. My experience however, with these beasts and with previous hunting adventures, made me wary. It's difficult to assess these animals from afar. What if it proved to be unhealthy or injured. Was it worth the risk? But then I checked one of my tracking devices. I new one had appeared. Essentially in my backyard. And this was a fine specimen. It was not startled as I approached. I eyed it up carefully. Its sharp, clear eyes gazed back. It had a sleek black coat which glistened under the light rain. It was strong and it good health. This could be my prize. But still I would be patient. I let it be. I kept tabs on it. It did not stray from where I found it. A few days passed. It was still on my mind. My initial assessment had been very positive. It had the traits I desired. I felt good about this one. Another look was in order. I was startled to discover another hunter eyeing the same creature. That is my prey, I thought to myself. I've been hunting for months now and have let one or two slip by. You will not capture my prize. I had to act quickly. I went home, gathered the necessary equipment and returned to capture my prize. My Arrfifteethreeous Cooperess has been captured. The hunt is over. It's now time to keep it healthy and strong. It's a little bit shy, but here are some pictures of it in its natural habitat.
Join us for the first ever MN Motoring Meetup on Saturday, April 16th from 8am - 10am.
We will meet on the upper deck of the parking ramp next to the Eagan Premium Outlet Mall, at the North-East end. The mall is off of Highway 13 and Highway 77 (Cedar Ave). Entrance to the ramp is off Cedar Grove Parkway. This is a public ramp near residential housing, so please be courteous when arriving and departing. Let's welcome spring with some Minnesota Motoring! See you there! Mid March is a trying time in Minnesota. As an auto or motorcycle enthusiast the temptation to hit the road grows as the temperature climbs. The bitter cold of winter starts to loosen its grip. Snow melts. Birds chirp. The road beckons.
Forecast temperatures have you planning that first drive. Even still, patience is required. Roads are still salty and sandy until a cleansing rain rinses the grime away. We find winter trying. The MN roads have it even worse. This becomes apparent as new potholes and cracks make themselves painfully known. At last a day comes when the weather cooperates. Depending on the vintage of your vehicle, the first start of the season can be a source of anxiety. Questions race through your mind. Did the battery tender work? Is the fuel still be good? I did add stabilizer, right? What about the starter? You turn the key. The engine cranks and starts. A sigh of relief. A few minutes to get fluids circulating and it's time for a quick wash. The sun still doesn't hang around for long this time of year. You'll do a full detail later. Finally, the open road again. The sun is shining. The air is crisp and fresh. The actual temperature doesn't really matter. It's above freezing. That's warm enough. Just you and your ride. Possibly someone special riding along. Or likely in their own pride and joy just behind. The windows are down. The wind invigorating. You remember again why you love this. The way your car feels. The way the gear lever goes from gate to gate. The revs and sounds and smells. Each immediately familiar. You feel at ease, at home. The signs of spring are sparse. The trees are bare, the earth still brown. Little patches of green exhale from sun facing slopes. Inevitably an obstacle presents itself. Melted snow meanders across the road. There is no avoiding it. You quickly assess the situation and aim for the smallest, least wet looking spot. You sigh in mock frustration as water sprays on your fenders. You knew it was bound to happen. Clutch in, drop a gear, clutch out, pedal down. You've forgotten about the water already. You're windows are closed again. The temperature drops as the sun descends to the horizon. You pull into the garage and turn off the engine. Lingering for a few minutes, you listen to the clinks and pings of metal cooling. You breathe in the perfume of fuel, oil, and exhaust. You climb out, close the door, and sigh. Everything is right in this moment. You start walking away. Glancing over your shoulder, you can't help but smile. You give her a wink. Tomorrow. Definitely doing this again tomorrow. You check the forecast. Your heart sinks. Tomorrow it will snow. The day after that is even colder. Patience you remind yourself. Spring is coming. This, after all, is Minnesota Motoring. |
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