Last Sunday, in hot, dry and very sunny conditions, the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club (UK) held their annual summer extravaganza, the long-running 'National Alfa Day', in the rolling grounds of Boughton House, a fabulous, historic country house.

Each summer the 41-year-old owner's club organises a huge get-together of Alfa Romeo's from throughout the years, a chance for the 4,000 plus membership to meet up with each other, and to examine a plethora of models that represent almost every bit the marque's long, diverse and rich history. "The club is made up of people from all around the country, AROC official Mark Ferri tells me, "For most the extent of their involvement is a visit to the local section once a month, and this means that it becomes easy to lose sight of the fact that you are a member of a much bigger organisation. Alfisti are, I think by nature, a breed apart, we're proud of our cars and the marque's history. For the membership, it's an opportunity to meet other Alfisti, club members you may know by name from a contribution to the magazine, or perhaps as a name on the club forums. It's always good to look around at NAD and see that you are in fact a part of big friendly family."

The weather is already baking hot, dry and sunny as the cars begin to roll into the vast grounds of Boughton Hall, near Kettering in the English Midlands. Boughton Hall is undoubtedly a fabulous location to hold this event. One of England's finest country houses, it is often referred to as the 'English Versailles'. It started life as a monastery, before in 1528 Sir Edward Montagu, the Lord Chief Justice to Henry VIII, purchased it, and begun additions that would culminate 250 years later in it becoming one of Europe's most famous houses. In the 1690's Ralph, Duke of Montagu, a former Ambassador to Paris and firm devotee of French architecture, built the impressive North front section which has the appearance of a majestic French Châteaux, and which for the second consecutive year provided a gorgeous backdrop from which visitors could admire the array of Alfa Romeos, including the 'centerpiece' classics which had been lined up in the two large, well-tended courtyards.

The mouthwatering line-up of classic models included cars from the Milan marque's earlier days: legendary machines from long-gone eras, all irreplaceable gems basking in front of a majestic country house that seemed to have changed very little in the last couple of hundred years. The early Alfa Romeo sports period was represented by a stunning 1924 RL Targa Florio, the first Alfa Romeo model to boast drum brakes on all four wheels.

A beautiful, concours condition, burgundy red 6C 1750 Gran Turismo with Castagna bodywork exuded marvellous prestige, whilst a black 6C 1750 Gran Sport exemplified the diversity of models featuring the 1.75 litre straight six engine. Alfa Romeo's with one-off bodyworks always attract attention, no more so than with the large 8C 2900, with its sweeping, aerodynamic bodywork gleaming in the sunshine. It is almost incomprehensible to imagine the level of craftsmanship that went into these perfectly executed hand-beaten sculptures.

The adjacent courtyard featured a number of post-war milestones from Alfa Romeo's history. A stunning TZ1 sportscar racer, the eye-catching 2600 convertible model, styled by famed Italian coachbuilder Touring, a Giulietta SZ, two rare Giulia GTC convertibles, and a Giulietta Berlina, which was joined by a perfectly-restored, rather unusual Alfa Romeo 'La Matta' jeep. With only approximately 2,000 examples built, these Alfa Romeo 1900 based off-roaders are real collectors items.
 

Bringing the theme of sport and style excellence bang up-to-date, a gorgeous, deep-blue Alfa 156 GTA sat proudly within their ranks. Boughton Hall actually forms a natural bowl, so the hundreds and hundreds of Alfa Romeos lined up in rows, sparkling in the sunshine snaked away on each side, and the sheer weight of Alfas present could be taken in at almost any angle.
 
There were big turn-outs from models such as the Giulia Super, SZ, Alfasud, Sprint, Spiders both new and old, GTV, 155, 164, a surprisingly large number of 166s, GT Coupe, 147 and 156. Dotted amongst these cars were small clusters of legends, such as the Montreal and Alfetta GTV6 , or unusual models, such as the trio of very rare late Alfa 6 saloons, joined in their aisle by an even more unusual Alfa 90. Oddities also abounded, and two such examples to catch the eye were a bright-orange Giulietta pick-up and a twin-engined Alfa 164.

Alfa Romeo specialists and parts suppliers abounded, with Autodelta's brand new 147 GTA AM styling revisions particularly catching the eye. Drawing on the visually-acclaimed success of their GT 'Super' model, the 'Ferrari Enzo' style front looks have been worked into the 147, offering a second finishing option, as well as allowing greater air-flow to feed the car's new supercharger. "An excellent day," comments a relaxed Autodelta boss Jano Djelalian, "the weather is just perfect, we have caught up with a lot of friends, and all the cars look fantastic. It's been an ideal opportunity to present our 'facelift' 147 GTA AM as well as the new roll hoop covers for the Spider."

Mark Ferri tells me more about the club and this event: "The club, at a national level, organises two national meets each year, one in the spring and a second in the summer. These two meets serve all of the purposes I mentioned earlier and also act as a club showcase. Non members are encouraged to attend, to come along and see what we're like and up to and hopefully they will wish to become involved. Everybody is welcome: from the most standard of standard cars to the most outlandishly modified, everyone has a place under the umbrella of the AROC.

"It gives us a chance to show that those rumours you heard about us being a bunch of bloke with pipe, slippers and cardies is simply not true" says Mark with a laugh, before adding, "The club's award ceremonies are also held during the national day, and these range from the "Spirit of the Marque" to the "Chairman's Choice". In fact the AROC has pulled off quite a coup: outside their marquee was presented a stunning, original Grand Prix-winning Alfa 158 Formula One car. The story of this legendary, all-conquering car, is the subject of a new book written by club stalwart Ed McDonough, and this racer was to be the centre of attention all day long.

This was in fact the second consecutive year that 'National Alfa Day had visited Boughton House, and it seemed a popular new home for the event, although as Mark concuded: "Without exception, every one loves the place. Mind you we've been blessed with fantastic weather on both visits, so maybe this is the reason!"

by Edd Ellison