1st car show = 1st in Class trophy

1st in Class at "Its a Gas" Car Show

August 16th.... Its a Gas Car Show in Lexington, NC. My Alfa won 1st in Class in the Euro/Mini Division. Michael was on hand to collect the trophy. We drove the car from Durham, NC for the show. She ain't no trailer queen.

My Alfa alongside some competition... a Triump and a Corvair

Seems a little out of place, this classic Italian Bertone designed racer next to a modified American Hot-Rod. Muscle Car guys continued to flock around this Italian beauty.

Michael next to a 1994 example of a souped-up Mazda RX-7, reminiscent of the one I had and loved so much.

Some classic Americans rounded out the show. Got Black?

Whats in my garage?

My Garage

1971 GTAm

2002 Maserati GT and the 1971 Alfa GTAm

Beautiful Italian pair



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Updated with a new pic. Since I totaled the Maser (long story don't ask... but if you must know visit www.MaseratiGT.blogspot.com) the replacement was a bit more on the practical side... a 4-seater, convertible European Sports car with a bit lower maintenance cost.. a 2006 Audi A4 Quattro (AWD) Convertible [is really the wife's car, but I get to chauffeur her around in it]

Ciao Bella (1971 Alfa Romeo GTAm)

Ciao Bella

Final product of a 2.5 year restoration to take a 1971 GTV (1750) and transform to a GTAm
(2L European Twin-Spark Engine)

Custom fabricated "one-off" nurf bars (to make her street legal)

2000 cc Twin-Spark Electronically Fuel Injected European Power Plant

Specs: est. 148 - 150 bhp (~110 kW) @ 5800 rpm

186 N-m (137 lb-ft) @ 4000 rpm

Compression: 10.10 : 1

Bo Mot Fuel Injection

Engine sourced from mid-80's Alfa 75

(this car has not been dyno tested)

Fuel pump and filter lay anterior to fuel cell

ATL 12 gallon fuel cell with remote level fuel gauge

Battery could be moved to trunk [cut out exists (aluminum panel)]

Notice the clouds reflecting in the "mirror-like" finish. A $12K Concours d'Elegance Paint job.

OMP CarbonFiber Racing Seat + Simpson 4-point Racing Harness

with and without complete roll cage set. The drivers side and passenger side have removable SCCA approved roll cage side impact bars. The top picture shows without the bottom with the side impact bar in place.

Rear seat area (with fire extinguisher) [side view]

cockpit

Rear Right suspension, fuel cell box (in red), Springs and Koni Shocks
BFGoodrich Tires 95% tread. Absolutely NO RUST, Stainless Exhaust.

Trunk.. view of fuel cell, fuel pump/filter system and Right rear wheel well and fiberglass fender from inside. Nice fit and finish.

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>$55,000 in receipts and cost for restoration/modification of the original GTV.
Complete records and pictures chronicling restoration available.

Nobody, I mean nobody....

Nobody and I mean nobody drives my GTAm... well I guess if Merisa Miller (2008 SI Bikini Covergirl) wanted to drive it... I would let her....

Or better yet... Danica Patrick.... Holy Cow... she could drive my car... and boy would she.....
Okay, now that we got the hot chicks out of the way........ enjoy the rest of the blog.

She finally arrives in Bville, SC

Tucked away in the front of an enclosed carrier from Massey Auto Transport, brokered via Angels Moving Autos out of CA, driver Rubin took good care of her on the long trip from coast to coast. Here the GTAm is about to be backed out of the rig.

Requiescat In Pace Dear Al Leake

Al Leake

From: STEVE JENIK <COLFAM.2@ATT.NET>
To: jpsaleeby@aol.com
Sent: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:01 pm
Subject: Al Leake

Dear Dr.Saleeby,
My name is Steve Jenik. I and my wife Julie are friends, neighbors and caretakers
for Al and Myr Leake. It is with great regret that I must inform you that Al has crossed
the final finish line in his race against cancer. He passed away, quietly, at home,
amidst family and friends on Jan., 25, 2008 @ approx 2:45 P.M.
I am being presumptious by issuing this notice, as I have no formal family approval
to do so. Yet, after searching the web and finding many references to Al, not
only his racing prowess, but his restoration work and finding your name, I hope that
this takes some burden off of Myr. I presume that you know how to contact the family.
I found the picture of your son with the pinewood derby racer. That choked me up.
I printed it out, but, my printer is not the best quality beast in the world.
Nonetheless, I intend to pass it on to Myr.

Our regards sir,
Steve and Julie

Pax et Requiem Dear Al

Al and Myr at Watkins Glen 2005

Al penned this about Sophia (#69)

Al drives Sophia (this is the view most folks racing against him saw). Rubber Chicken in tow.
(Old racers never die they just drive off into the sunset)

Michael wins at Pinewood Derby

Michael wins at Pinewood Derby

Cub Scout's PineWood Derby Day

Michael holds up his Pinewood Derby car #69. It was named and numbered in honor of Al Leake (AlfaRomeoRestorations.com) who has been working on dad's GTAm for the past 2.5 years. Al was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October 2007 and is undergoing treatment as of this posting. The car was painted a florescent yellow with red top and sported a lego driver with helmet and a tail fin.

We used Al's race car number (69) and wrote PMA and Al Leake Racing Team all over the car. This year was not as kind to Michael... as he swept the speed trials in 2007 winning every heat and taking home the 1st place trophy and earning a spot to go to the state meet.

This year however in the preliminary heats he placed mostly 2nd and 1st... with no 3rd place finishes. He made it into the semi-finals as one of eight cars. The semis were all age groups and packs. He ran a good few races pulling mostly 3rds and a couple of 2nd place finishes. Over all... he took home the 2nd place medal for speed in his bear pack.


Mike in front on the cars "impounded" as they have been checked and weighed by the judges. His is the one on the far left.

Cars were so fast everything was a blurrrr... including this picture of Michael in the semi-finals loading his car on the pinewood derby track.

Next year promises to be awesome... more time and prep work will go into the structure, performance and appearance of the car.

Alfa Romeo GTAm Wikipedia and YouTube sites

The GTAm (1970–1971) could produce up to 240 PS (237 hp/177 kW) in the 2000 cc car—a car usually related to the GTA, but unlike the GTA derived from the GTV 1750, the 2000GTAm was created in 1968: There are two schools of thought about the "Am", neither one of them ever being confirmed by the factory: one says Allegerita Maggiorata, the other America. Most likely the latter is closest, since the car did not contain any aluminum parts and therefore not "Allegerita", and the base was a GTV 1750 with American injection system for homologation purposes for the American market. SPICA was the injection system brand. The 1750 cc was later bored to 1985 cc to meet the 2000 cc limitation of its class to the maximum. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_GTA

Cool Videos on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBRNXXfzNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1im9J1W3c

Especially the Victory By Design is stunning.

Wikipedia & YouTube sites

The GTAm (1970–1971) could produce up to 240 PS (237 hp/177 kW) in the 2000 cc car—a car usually related to the GTA, but unlike the GTA derived from the GTV 1750, the 2000GTAm was created in 1968: There are two schools of thought about the "Am", neither one of them ever being confirmed by the factory: one says Allegerita Maggiorata, the other America. Most likely the latter is closest, since the car did not contain any aluminum parts and therefore not "Allegerita", and the base was a GTV 1750 with American injection system for homologation purposes for the American market. SPICA was the injection system brand. The 1750 cc was later bored to 1985 cc to meet the 2000 cc limitation of its class to the maximum.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_GTA

And check out these crazy videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrBRNXXfzNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX1im9J1W3c

Up close Pics

1971 Alfa Romeo GTV/GTAm-R (Clone)

My 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV/GTAm-Replica (Clone) is 95% completed. All that remains is the wiring harness, rest of exterior badges, radiator and off she goes via covered trailer to SC.

Interior racing seats installed along with 4-point racing harness. Transmission shifter yet to be installed.

The scanned image of the engine did not come through, but more will follow.

Nerf Bars

Al had fabricated a set of 4 really cool Nerf bars that will satisfy state law requirements for bumpers. While they are a one-off they sure fit the contour of the car. They are to be chromed as to complement the minimal chrome trim.

Still having trouble with the dealer about the seats. Cannot seem to get a matching Montecarlo seat from the distributor, so we may have to look at other options. Am partial to a matching set of black Sparco racing seats.