Group A Alfa Romeo/Alfetta GTV6

[chunterer]

Right it's not as we haven't got enough Group A investigations to deal with but I thought it was about time we opened a thread about what could be argued was the unsung hero of the Group A era.

Was pretty much the car to have in Class 2/B around the world certainly in 1982-85. Many top outfits prepared and ran them to class success such as Imberti, Luigi, and many top drivers pedalled them in sprint and endurance formats such as Lella Lombardi, Giorgio Francia, Alan Jones, Colin Bond, Rinaldo Drovandi, Jon Dooley, Andy Rouse, Gianfranco Brancatelli and Carlo Rossi etc.

I'm particularly fond of the little 'screamers as I owned one for a while!

So memories, images, chassis history, stories, anecdotes all welcome. Let's see how it goes!

[chunterer]

Hmmmm, spectacular developments so far folks?!!!!

[KA]

There were about half-a-dozen appeared in the BTCC weren't there?

The Napolina/John West/Alfa Romeo Dealer Team pair of Jon Dooley/Rob Kirby were probably the longest serving GTV6 campaigners- Dooley was certainly running one in Napolina colours in 82, and I reckon their last GTV6 appearance was in John West colours at the Donington ETC round (and possibly the opening round or so of the BTCC?) in 86 because the new 75s weren't ready. (As I remember, none of the ETCC Alfa teams had 75s in time for the start of the season- certainly none of the regular Italian teams are on the entry list for Donington)

http://www.racingsportscars.com/etcc...-04-06-074.jpg

Did Rouse just do a single season in the Alfa, 1983, before moving on to the Rover? I think I've read somewhere that the Rouse car still exists, although much-modified, in one of the Alfa club series, but can't swear that's true- anyone?

Terry Drury had two- possibly three- red cars- I think they last appeared in 85- after that he moved on to Escort RS Turbos and eventually RS500s. They usually took in Donington and the TT as well as the BTCC season- in the 635 thread, there was some discussion of a Sytner 635 leased by a pair of South Africans at the 1985 TT- (Viana/Bianco)- another pair of South Africans drove one of the Drury Alfas as part of the same deal, with TDR regular Mark Hales also in the car.

There are also probably some GTV6 pics in the Rover thread as well- Snobeck ran Marlboro-backed ones in French Supertourisme, and I think one or two of the French Rover pics I've seen around also feature a Snobeck Alfa

[hadlou]

The Alfetta GTV6 came in DTM from Zolder 84' to Nurburgring 86

Peter Oberndorfer for the team Marko won a race the first year in Hockenheim

you can have some informations here DTM databse DTM official website

[KA]

Browsing through a 'photos from the circuits' thread elsewhere, found Rich Harman's brilliant collections of photos from the 80s- (a couple of his pics of the Rouse ICS Rover appeared in the SD1 thread).

A nice paddock shot of the Jon Dooley GTV6-

http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/j...324SSIT-01.jpg

1984 TT- Jolly Club, Luigi and Terry Drury GTV6s (plus Jags and lots of 635s...)
http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/j...0Paddock/1984/

Lots of 1986/7 TT pics for when we get round to the Alfa 75 thread in some of the later albums as well....

[chunterer]

Good stuff as ever KA!

Yes I think Rouse did 2/3 of the '83 season when Pete Hall handed the car on to him as he didn't feel he was doing it justice!! So just why he thought he would go any better in the title winning Vitesse 2 years later is debatable!!

I also think that it's still running in club racing as you suggest.

I'll dig some pics out and post them at some point as well, just wanted the thread to get well underway first.

BTW I think that Rich Harman image you've linked is Rob Kirby's example? not entirely sure though. There were subtle differenced between the 2 ARDT cars. Dooley's first ran in the last season of Grp 1 and was then converted to Grp A spec. It appeared to run 'lower' and had a sort of side exahust system, whereas Rob's had a more standard system. Jon's car aso ran different wheels to Kirby's - Jon's were silver Compomotive's and Kirbys more the 'mag' style white alloys.

What was most memorable was the total difference in sounds!! Dooley's had a quite distinctive drone (which he once said was reminiscent of a Ferrari Dino!) and Kirby's, the TDR and ETC cars for that matter made the superb high pitched screamer sound when on full song. A superb engine note by any comparison!

TDR did run 3 cars on ocassion, but usually 2 for Phil Dowsett, Paul Smith in '84 and then Dowsett, Smith and Mark Hales in '85 IIRC.

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Good stuff as ever KA!

Yes I think Rouse did 2/3 of the '83 season when Pete Hall handed the car on to him as he didn't feel he was doing it justice!! So just why he thought he would go any better in the title winning Vitesse 2 years later is debatable!!

I also think that it's still running in club racing as you suggest.

I'll did some pics out and post them at some point as well, just wanted to thread to get well underway first.

BTW I think that Rich Harman image you've linked is Rob Kirby's example? not entirely sure though. There were subtle differences between the 2 ARDT cars. Dooley's first ran in the last season of Grp 1 and was then converted to Grp A spec. It appeared to run 'lower' and had a sort of side exahust system, whereas Rob's has a more standard system. Jon's car aso ran different wheels to Kirby's - Jon's were silver Compomotive's and Kirbys more the 'mag' style white alloys.

What was most memorable was the total difference in sounds!! Dooley's had a quite distintive drone (which he once said was reminiscent of a Ferrari Dino!) and Kirby's, the TDR and ETC cars for that matter made the superb high pitched screamer sound when on full song. A superb engine note by any omparison!

TDR did run 3 cars on ocassion, but usually 2 for Phil Dowsett, Paul Smith in '84 and then Dowsett, Smith and Mark Hales in '85 IIRC

The ARDT car could well be Kirby's- I was just going on the caption. I'd have to check race number against a programme to be sure. Dooley's car originally ran the black Napolina livery- did the change to John West sponsorship come in 1985? Am I imagining this, or did Kirby's car carry the John West colours before they were adopted on Dooley's?

At least one of the Drury cars was heavily damaged in the infamous multi-car shunt at Thruxton in 85, along with Sheene's Supra and a couple of Brooklyn Escorts.

Terry Drury also had some outings in a GTV6 himself- the Donington ETC round in 1985, sharing with Phil Dowsett comes to mind,
http://www.racingsportscars.com/cove...985-05-05e.jpg

as well as some early-season BTCC races that year before Hales took over the seat. Barry Barnes had a run in a TDR Alfa that year as well- the Brands European GP meeting round

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by KA

The ARDT car could well be Kirby's- I was just going on the caption. I'd have to check race number against a programme to be sure. Dooley's car originally ran the black Napolina livery- did the change to John West sponsorship come in 1985? Am I imagining this, or did Kirby's car carry the John West colours before they were adopted on Dooley's?

At least one of the Drury cars was heavily damaged in the infamous multi-car shunt at Thruxton in 85, along with Sheene's Supra and a couple of Brooklyn Escorts.

Terry Drury also had some outings in a GTV6 himself- the Donington ETC round in 1985, sharing with Phil Dowsett comes to mind,
http://www.racingsportscars.com/cove...985-05-05e.jpg

as well as some early-season BTCC races that year before Hales took over the seat. Barry Barnes had a run in a TDR Alfa that year as well- the Brands European GP meeting round

Yes Dooley's car ran in black Napolina colours up until midway through 1985 I think when it had a respray to white John West livery to match the sister car of Kirby's. Rob's was white from it's debut at the beginning of 1984. It initially ran with 'Salmon Can' signwriting in 1984 and then John West from 1985.

The 'rivalry' between ARDT and TDR teams was relaxed but sill intense. Drury reckoned his team was the favourite of the UK importer, when it was Dooley who seemed to get on better with them! The red cars had a certain aura about them, and Dowsett got his car running very well indeed up until that immense engine blow up whilst chasing Class A cars in the early stages of the '84 June Silverstone meeting. I think TDR ran 3 cars at the TT in '84?

The TDR cars ran a strange red and yellow scheme from '85 onwards and never seemed to show the form they had done in 1984, when Phil had pedalled his so well. Maybe as you say the damage to the one at the Thruxton '85 round, and of course the huge damage incurred to one of them at the TT the year before meant that if they were rebuilt, such cars never ran the same ever again!

Hadn't realised Barry Barnes had a go in one of them!

[Jesper OH]

Rouse probably did more than 2/3 of a season, as he won the title overall in 1983.

Over the years I have had a go at what teams was behind the various ETCC teams and ended up with the names of Elio Imberti, Mauro Nocentini and Luigi Cimarosti. Here's a nice link to a GTV-site, that will evolve into a book I'm told: http://www.gtv6-156gta.be/LaGTV6comp....html#circuits. I will dig out my notes on the ETCC Alfa's and return.

Jesper

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jesper OH

Rouse probably did more than 2/3 of a season, as he won the title overall in 1983.

Over the years I have had a go at what teams was behind the various ETCC teams and ended up with the names of Elio Imberti, Mauro Nocentini and Luigi Cimarosti. Here's a nice link to a GTV-site, that will evolve into a book I'm told: http://www.gtv6-156gta.be/LaGTV6comp....html#circuits. I will dig out my notes on the ETCC Alfa's and return.

Jesper

I've got notes of some 1983 BTCC results here- Rouse was certainly in the car by round 5 at Thruxton- Hall did start the season in it, but I'm not sure exactly when the swap occurred.

As to the ETCC cars, Nocentini and Imberti ran the various cars entered under the 'Jolly Club' banner, while Cimarosti was repsonsible for the 'Luigi Racing' entries- it's not on a GTV6, but in this pic of the Castagna/Camathias/Lombardi 75 at the 1986 TT, you can see an 'Imberti' sticker on the black trim strip on the front wing, just ahead of the open door
http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/j...907SSTT-05.jpg

[banger_racer]

Iam sure i read some mag possibly trc that one of its staff members was doing up a ex Rouse alfa to go club racing. it was a while ago now tho.

[KA]

Originally Posted by banger_racer

Iam sure i read some mag possibly trc that one of its staff members was doing up a ex Rouse alfa to go club racing. it was a while ago now tho.

I reckon that's where I remember seeing it as well- in one of those regular 'our staff projects' features in one of the mags- think it was still blue, but heavily-modified with lightweight panels, flared arches and a 'big' Alfa V6- probably a 3-litre

Originally Posted by chunterer

BTW I think that Rich Harman image you've linked is Rob Kirby's example? not enteirely sure though. There were subtle differenced between the 2 ARDT cars. Dooley's first ran in the last season of Grp 1 and was then converted to Grp A spec. It ran lower and had a sort of side exahust system, whereas Rob's has a more standard system. Jon's car aso ran different wheels to Kirby's - Jon's were silver Compomotive's and Kirbys more the 'mag' style white alloys.

Just checked, and I'm sure you're right- Kirby's car ran as no32 as in the pic, Dooley's as no30

[banger_racer]

Yeah thats the one KA.

[KA]

Originally Posted by banger_racer

Yeah thats the one KA.

just tripped over a mention of the Rouse car on an Alfa forum- owned by Andrew Brown, who writes for Track & Race Car magazine, and described as being 'under extensive restoration'

[KA]

As mentioned in both tihs thread and the '75' thread, the 75 took over from the GTV6 for the '86 season, however the new car was delayed and missed the early-season races. A few GTV6s still turned out though- notably a couple of Luigi cars at Spa, the Australian cars (Bond/Network Alfa, Ray Gulson etc), ARDT in a couple of early season races (BTCC Round 1 and Donington ETCC) and a few Italian entries at Monza- not sure who this is, but it's obviously one of the '85-season Jolly Club cars...

http://www.monzasport.it/public/gall...o/1986-02g.jpg

The name of Rufino Fontes popped up in the '75' thread as well, with some pics of a 75 Turbo he campaigned in Portugal in 1987- Here's his earlier GTV6, which apparently still survives

http://sportscarclassic.com.sapo.pt/...designVR83.jpg
http://scgtclassic.com.sapo.pt/Cabanelas83_c4.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?i...fino831un6.jpg
http://autosport.aeiou.pt/users/12/1206/39ecbecb.jpeg

[KA]

Fontes was Portuguese champion in the car in 1983- according to a thread on an Alfa forum, it's a Luigi car from 1982, raced by Fontes in Portugal during 1983-4

More pics
http://www.alfanord.pt/pages/290/_46b33f9c49c58.jpg
http://www.alfanord.pt/pages/290/_46b33f9dd8d5a.jpg
http://www.alfanord.pt/pages/290/_46b33f9d78a81.jpg
http://www.alfanord.pt/pages/290/_46b33f9d9dc57.jpg
http://www.alfanord.pt/pages/290/_46b33f9eb342b.jpg

[DAVID PATERSON]

There are two of these for sale atm on www.racingheritage.com.au

[duby miller]

hi all

and what about GTV-6 that took part in rallying ?

[chunterer]

Yves Loubet?

I''m sure Dany Snobeck prepared a few for European rallying too?

KA mentioned an interesting point in another thread, that former champion skier Franz Klammer raced one for Helmet Marko in 1984 or 85? I had forgotten that

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yves Loubet?

I''m sure Dany Snobeck prepared a few for European rallying too?

KA mentioned an interesting point in another thread, that former champion skier Franz Klammer raced one for Helmet Marko in 1984 or 85? I had forgotten that

Loubet and Bertand Balas were probably the best known- think they were officially-backed Alfa Romeo France entries? Loubet's car was run by GEMA Racing in France. but I'm sure Snobeck ran Alfas as well- he was often involved in rallying (Renault 5 Turbos amongst others) as well as circuit racing, both as team owner and driver

Loubet drove a GTV6 for several years in the 80s (1982-86), including several WRC starts, usually the Monte and Corsica, where he went particularly well with a couple of Group A wins and some spectacular top 10 finishes to his name- 5th overall in 1985 and 3rd in 1986, (although the overall positions were aided by the withdrawal of the Lancia team after the Bettega and Toivonen tragedies)

The combination of 1986 Rothmans livery (the car was previously plain red) and Loubet's extrovert handling of the car was obviously very photogenic- I had no problem finding lots of pics of this one...
http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimag...7/gtv6saut.jpg
http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimag...etGTVRoth3.jpg
http://faimg1.forum-auto.com/mesimag...etGTVRoth1.jpg
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6...lfaromenu9.jpg

Klammer's touring car career started in an Alfa, backed by Commodore and Lui- he did DTM and occasional ETCC rounds. The car is apparently still around:
http://www.gtv6-156gta.be/gtv6zolder2005richter3.jpg

[KA]

Just for the hell of it, a few more- there seem to be a lot of pics of Loubet's GTV6 on the web, and some of these are too good not to post....

http://www.forocompeticion.com/galer...oubet%2529.jpg

Earlier shots from 1985 or before- French national events and Corsica. Last one might be the Bertrand Balas car?

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...E%20.jpg1..jpg

http://www.forocompeticion.com/galer...oubet%2529.jpg

http://www.forocompeticion.com/galer...oubet%2529.jpg

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimag...RIGUES%201.jpg

[banger_racer]

Any chance you could post some pics Steveng.

[Richard Davis]

Toy Shop car was blue & driven by Warwick Rooklyn at 1986 AGP weekend.
Richard.

[GTRMagic]

With thanks to mfoto...

... which one of the Bond Alfas is this?

[chunterer]

Crikey, he's gone well off the black stuff there!!!!