So. Who are we?

Well, we are a group of people who seem to have a fixation with Italian cars and all of their faults. It might sound quite sad, but when you get the bug, it’s impossible to get over it.

Here is a list of some local victims. The mad, impetuous fools...

Mario Canale - Section Chairman

A founder member of the section, Mario was the Area Section Secretary until 2005 when he decided to retire from the role due to business commitments.  After much "hounding" by fellow members, he has decided to accept the role of Chairman thus remaining the overseer of  "Family Business". He loves his Italian cars, and has been the proud owner of many, including his 1973 Spider (red of course) and legend tells of a Giulia GTAP replica that is hiding somewhere in his garage waiting to see the light of day. Mario has also been known to arrive at section meets in his daughter's FIAT Cinquecento Sporting. Mario sells ice cream by trade, and can be found in his van somewhere between Brecon and Merthyr in the Brecon Beacons National Park.  Recently he has purchased a 2003 Alfa 166 3.0 V6. The colour? Red of course...

Tim Haynes - Section Secretary

In 2005 Tim became the new Area Section Secretary for the club. Tim adores restoring old cars so much (?) that he sent himself to college in the evenings to learn how to do it properly.  Known as " Stig" because his garage is a dump and because he is generally a scruffy creature by nature.  Tim owns a 1988 Spider 1.6 (which needs work) and a 1972 GT junior that is being built as a track day missile as we speak.  He is also responsible for publishing this website (as you can tell, it's not that tidy!).  Although he despises computers, Tim is an IT professional, and pays for his hobby by dealing with Hardware and Infrastructure.

Stuart Pugh - Section Events Coordinator

Newly sworn in as Events coordinator, Stuart is the owner of a very pretty 156 GTA. He has taken his pride and joy to many events, and you may have seen many of his pictures on show in the Alfa Romeo Owners Club magazines and forums. A “Die Hard” Italian car fan, Stuart has a shrine to his passion in his study and it’s even rubbed off on to his son, Cam. Stuart is also the registrar for the Alfa 156 within the club and knows a thing or two about these creatures and their foibles...

Jim Spackman

The South Wales Section's answer to Jeremy Clarkson.  An all-round Italian car nut , Jim (or Mound Dawg as he's often referred to) is well known in the Alfa/Fiat scene, especially by the Fiat bunch as he is the Area Organizer for them and is famous for his column in the Fiat Club magazine. He owns an Alfa 75 Twinspark (known as Jak) and loves nothing more than to thrash it regularly at the Castle Coombe race circuit, where he has been known to use it to pick off Triumph Stags and other assorted junk. His long suffering partner, Liz, drives a Fiat Punto and Jim claims that he has shares in it. He owns two cats, a FIAT 125 and he has recently started restoring bodging cars for a living.

Simon Gunney

Simon is the owner of some very interesting cars indeed.  These include 2 Alfa  101 Giulia Spiders, a Fintail Mercedes and a really cool track prepared Opel Manta. Of the 2 Spiders, one has been heavily modified (you can't tell by looking at it) and is quite a beast. In fact it is more 105 series under the shell than 101! Simon is a Mercedes restorer by trade, and anyone who has seen the standard of his work will agree that he's very good at it.  An ambitious sort of chap, Simon would like to own a Ferrari and go out with Britney Spears.

Martin Parry

Martin owns probably the largest surviving collection of Alfasuds in Wales (in fact, he has two).  He is the man to speak to if you ever feel the urge to purchase one of these "Allegros on steroids".  His other weapons of choice are his Alfasud Sprint 1.7, and his recently acquired Alfa 75. Legend also tells of a Citroen GS Estate (or a-state) that lurks on his mother’s driveway. As he is part squirrel,  Martin is also an avid collector of nuts, bolts, washers and fuses, which he hides and then forgets about. He also likes to paint things with yellow hammerite.

David Blacker

David Blacker or DAIBLACK as he is known on the forums, is the Section's leading authority on Alfa 155's.  Dave knows his stuff, and he will answer any query that you throw at him with sheer petrol head enthusiasm.  He is also one of the section's photographers, his pictures appearing in many AROC publications. Dave owns a rather shiny black 155, with a magic boot. If you need anything, the chances are he’ll be carrying a spare one in there...

Anthony Davies

Tony is the proud owner of a very fast 146 TI. Anytime he gets some spare cash (he too is married you see) it goes on his pride and joy. Definately a performance man, who appreciates Alfas, Tony is squeezing every last drop of power from his car and has made it a force to be reckoned with if he ever fancied putting it on the track. Tony loves to take his car to club meetings, because as soon he leaves his native town, Cwmbran,  he is no longer restricted by a roundabout every 200 yards (A typical joke laid on by Cardiffians) . Tony is also the registrar for the Alfa 146 register.