Zolder Alfa Romeo Challenge May 2006

Max Banks · #1 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 09:37 AM

Came back from racing at Zolder in the Dutch Alfa Romeo Challenge a coupe of weeks back... great fun, serious hardware in that championship. I aggretated 5th overall in the 2 races, first 105 and fastest lap by a 105 by 0.6 secs. Hers a few pics, full write up here:-

http://www.alfaholics.com/racing_and...ment_58_78.php

p.s. SNO boys - note the 2 stickers on the windscreen strip.... doing you American boys proud over here in Europe!

**modena782002** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 06:22 PM

Thanks for sharing Max, looks like you had a lot of fun. Do you mind if I use pic #4 for my wallpaper?

**hagen111** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 08:59 AM

I am not sure if Koen vd Velde in the fast Giulia you were talking about has one or two cars, but I think at least one (Twinspark) of Koen's cars is for sale at www.classicalfa.nl

Max Banks · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 01:32 PM

Sure you can use the photo! Koen's car looked a bit like this one, similar colours etc but not sure it was the same car... I was never allowed to see under the bonnet to see if it was a T Spark or not... his mechanics kept the car under pretty tight wraps!

**hagen111** · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 02:34 PM

The one for sale has a Twinspark:

But apperantly this is not the one he is racing at the moment. Via www.trofeo.nl you can find this pictures of his current race car. Same colour on nose and headlight covers, except for additional red Alfa Romeo stickering on the sides:

Giulia Bianca · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 09:00 PM

Max,

I think I have seen some recent pictures of you cornering at Zolder with a front wheel high up in the air, like the old school GTA's and GTAm's, looked very spectacular, did you have problems with the set-up of the car ?

Max Banks · #7 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 02:45 AM

Yes we did - the fast bump valve on the right rear shock was damaged in qualifying when I hit a particularly big kerb quite hard. After that on any left hand corner with a fast turn in rate the right rear would just drop and pull the left front up in the air. In right handers the car was perfect! The shock has since been sent back to Koni, who confirmed the damage and they are fixing it and sending it back.... lap times would have been siginficantly faster without this problem! Still managed fastest lap for a 105 so can't complain too much!

Here's a photo of the car after the problem arose - i'm coming off a kerb hence why the car is only on 2 wheels, but the problem can be seen even through this kerb hopping.... it does look quite spectacular though... very 60's GTA looking.. but not the fastest way round a corner!

Giulia Bianca · #8 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 03:03 AM

Lap times are very fast indeed !! for comparison a friend of mine (Anton)
did last year abouth 1:54 with a 1600 Gta, FIA historic, on the Dunlop
Racings, they altered the track a bit last winter, don't know if the new track is faster or slower
The picture is taken at my favorite spot on the crcuit, alway's action !!

Max Banks · #9 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 04:38 AM

I was told the circuit is nearly a second a lap slower now, but still that is very fast for a GTA, I guess that your friend is Karl Dieter Anton?, he is a customer of ours, and yes his car is crazy fast... fastest FIA GTA in Europe by some way!

Giulia Bianca · #10 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 04:46 AM

Yep, 2 times European champion, that man can drive, and he has te enthousiasm of a 20 year old, a real racer

Max Banks · #11 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 07:19 AM

very impressive commitment behind the wheel for a man his age.... it was a pleasure to watch him coming over the top of Eau Rouge at Spa last year, we were doing the 6hr night race and he was there doing the FIA Championship race so it gave us some chance to watch the other races that weekend. That car was an octave higher coming over the top... he's not frightened to rev the bugger!

Giulia Bianca · #12 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 07:31 AM

I think fear is not in his dictionary ;-), saw that race, i like his driving style,
spectacular and fast
last year's 6hours was the one with the big accidents, I was there but did not
stayed until the end of the race, saw the wrecked cars behind the paddock,
(mustang and TVR) did not look good
When I see you this year I will come over to say hello, you allso going to Chimay ?

Max Banks · #13 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 03:45 PM

Chimay has been withdrawn for international racers - it will only be for the locals this year. We are competing in a 2hr race in England instead that weekend, due to the fact that Chimay is not really happening. Its a real shame, but it looks like the Belgian Motorracing groups are trying to clamp down and stop "dangerous" races... personally I think its a real pity - I love Chimay more than any other circuit, but I don't think we will get to race there much longer. Very fast road circuit with armco next to the track and spectators dangling over the barriers is not what they want... but what I think where the spririt of racing lies and what gets my racer blood going inside me!!!

Max Banks · #14 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 03:46 PM

p.s. that accident in the 6hr race was horrific - I was on track at the time and it was not a pretty sight.... basically down to poor marshalling we think! Hence this year it will be from 4pm till 10pm, so 2 less dark hours to try to improve safety - another shame I think...

**italcarguy** · #15 (**permalink**) 06-16-2006, 04:56 PM

Awesome pictures and good job. It's always a pleasure seeing 105 series cars beating up on 75's (Milano's in the US).