Yes, I'm afraid so. But I will make it as brief as I can. Our friend Carmelo from Palermo asked me if I wanted to join him Saturday morning at his friend Tony's shop, then drive his fifty-year-old Alfa Romeo Duetto afterwards. What was I supposed to say...? Yes, of course. Chris stayed at the apartment in Castellammare, so it was "Saturday Morning Out With the Boys". I drove into Palermo and met Carmelo where he suggested, in front of Palermo's soccer stadium. He hopped into my rental car and off we went to see Tony.
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| Our rental car, an almost new Lancia Ypsilon |
Tony is well-known in Sicily for restoring, preparing, and racing vintage Alfa Romeo and Porsche cars. We spent an hour-and-a-half looking at exotic cars, engines, and parts. Forget the high-fashion we saw in Milan, none of it compares to the jewelry I saw in Tony's shop!
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| Rare 1970 vintage Porsche 911S |
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| A very strong Carmelo holding up a race car! |
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| Early 1970s Alfa Romeo GTV 2000 Veloce |
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| Some of Tony's racing trophies |
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| A rare Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, less than 1,400 were made |
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| Among other things, Tony was working on a Ferrari Dino engine |
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| Tony even had a 1961 VW Beetle out back! |
After leaving Tony's shop we drove to another area of Palermo where Carmelo stores his Alfa Romeo Duetto. We put the top down and Carmelo insisted that I drive. Once again, what was I supposed to say... ? Yes, of course! I drove about fifteen miles, we returned the little Alfa to it's garage and called it a fun Saturday. I headed back to Castellammare for a late lunch with Chris.
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Carmelo bought the Alfa many years ago from a US serviceman
stationed in Naples, hence the NA license plate.
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It was a really fun morning, and I don't think Chris minded not attending "yet another car thing!"
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