NJ-AROC Monthly Breakfast Meet, March 15, 2026

March 16, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events NJ-AROC, Spinning Wheel Diner

The calendar confirmed it: yesterday, March 15 put us only six days away from the first day of spring. Yet it was cloudy and brisk, with a strong wind, which did nothing to deter eight faithful Alfisti from attending the NJ-AROC monthly breakfast, held at the Spinning Wheel Diner in Lebanon, NJ. Even better, several brave souls drove their classic Alfas to the event. (The dry and salt-free roads certainly were a contributing factor.)

The tableside conversations were lively as always, and included talk about upcoming events, such as the Imports at Carlisle show in May, as well as the 2027 National AROC convention, which will be in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area, putting it within an easy day’s drive for most of us.

Everyone seemed pleased with their meals, helped by the excellent service by the Spinning Wheel wait staff (and one waitress’s skill with simultaneously handling three coffee carafes). As usual, our chitchat continued in the parking lot after we exited the building, with most of us finally departing by 11 a.m. Fingers are crossed that our April breakfast brings even better weather and a better turnout of our Italian beauties.

I Drove My Alfa Today

March 8, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events

One month ago, I was sitting in my kitchen, staring out the window at my backyard, which had twelve inches of snow, topped with an inch of ice. Daytime temperatures had been in the teens for weeks, with nighttime lows in the single digits, occasionally dropping below zero F. I gazed at the frozen tundra and said to myself, “this snow is never going away.” Even though I knew that was not true, I wondered exactly how long it would be before the grass was visible again.

Today, with temperatures reaching 70 F, with recent rains having washed the pavement of salt, and with 95% of the snow gone, it truly felt like spring had arrived, twelve days ahead of schedule. I went out to the garage and reversed the winter bedding procedure I’ve always followed for the Alfa Romeo: the cover came off, engine oil level was checked and verified to be OK, tire pressures were reset from 45 psi to 30 psi, and the battery trickle charger was removed.

A quick eyeball of the engine compartment, interior, and trunk showed no cause for alarm, so I inserted the ignition key, pumped the gas pedal a half dozen times, and cranked. The crank was strong, but then I remembered I had forgotten to pull out the choke knob. With choke on, it took only two more tries for the engine to bark to life. I let the car idle for a few minutes before backing it out of the garage, where I let it idle a bit more, waiting for the water temperature to reach normal. At that point, it was time to go for a spin.

Starting mileage for 2026- Note water (acqua) and oil (olio) temperature gauges. Numbers are in Celsius

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon in my neighborhood, so I eased on down the road, taking my time with the shifting, keeping the revs below three grand for now. Watching the gauges, everything seemed fine. It always takes the oil temperature gauge a while longer to reach the mid-point, and once it did, I brought the tach up higher and higher, eventually getting it close to 5,000 (redline is 6,250). I put only seven miles on the car, but it felt great to be behind the wheel again, and it was just what the doctor ordered to chase the winter blues away. With an even better forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday, I will take the car out again. Can’t wait for car show season to start!

AROC-NJ Monthly Breakfast meeting, Jan. 11, 2026

January 12, 2026 RichardReina Drives, Events AROC-NJ, Bernards Cafe

The cold January air did nothing to dissuade twelve Alfisti from meeting up at The Bernards Café in Bernardsville, NJ, for the New Jersey Alfa Club’s monthly breakfast meeting, held on Sunday, January 11, 2026. It was especially nice to see three spouses join the ranks, so a hearty Ciao to Denise, Margaretanne, and Suzanne. You are always welcome to join us!

I’ve always enjoyed this particular eatery, and the food and drink did not disappoint. In addition to the typical breakfast fare, there are interesting specials on the menu, and several of us took advantage of those choices. Because of the Café’s table arrangements, we were seated in two groups of six, and while we chitchatted about our favorite marque, my table also had an interesting and enlightening conversation about our numerous Italian ancestors.

We had four Alfa Romeos parked outside, and all four were modern Giulias, each one in a different color. To my eye, the car’s styling which debuted in this market in 2017 has remained fresh. (I write this while we anxiously await the next generation Giulia, due perhaps as soon as later this year.) We parted company around 11 a.m., already looking forward to next month’s breakfast meet.

NJ-AROC monthly breakfast meet, Dec. 21, 2025

December 22, 2025 RichardReina Drives, Events

For the first time in my memory, a monthly breakfast gathering of the NJ Chapter of our Alfa Romeo Club was postponed due to weather. Sunday December 14 saw all of us awaken to the sight of around a half-dozen inches of snow, and the club wisely decided it prudent to wait a week. But the wait was worth it when ten NJ-AROC members made it to the B2Bistro Bar & Grill in Bordentown, NJ for our December meet and eat.

The Bistro doesn’t open until 9 a.m., and its menu is more of a brunch than a traditional diner type breakfast, but everyone found something satisfactory to order (the four-egg omelet was a popular choice). We had a nice mix of folks we see quite regularly combined with those who make the journey only occasionally, which is why we rotate the breakfast location.

My ’67 is in hibernation, as are some other members’ cars, so the only three Alfas in the parking lot were modern ones, but what a lovely lineup they made! Three Giulia sedans, each in a different color, were parked side-by-side. I may not be objective, but for a vehicle which debuted in 2017 and has not seen any significant design changes since, the Giulia shape has aged very well indeed. To my eye, Alfa got it correct right out of the box.

With Christmas and New Years on their way, the Alfa women and men bid arrivederci to 2025, as we anxiously await for the 2026 car show season to begin.

Yes, there are eight here, the final twosome showed up later….

NJ Alfa Club Breakfast Meet, Oct. 12, 2025

November 17, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events NJ-AROC, Spinning Wheel Diner

Last month, between my trip to Hershey in early October and jetting off to Italy in mid October, there was an Alfa Romeo Club breakfast that fell through the cracks! However, better late than never, so here is the post about the NJ-AROC monthly breakfast from Sunday, October 12, 2025.

We met at one of our regular haunts, the Spinning Wheel Diner on Route 22 in Lebanon, NJ. I didn’t even get a table shot, which always helps me obtain an accurate head count, but from the photos I have, it looks like we had seven Alfisti plus one guest, my friend Doug from the NJ-AACA. He had been expressing interest in Alfa Spiders to me, so I invited him to join us for the morning, which he gladly did.

After breakfast, we did our usual hanging around in the parking lot. Jeff’s Spider was the only one there, so with Doug, that’s the car that got our attention. I sat in it and marveled at the seats, much more supportive with their more aggressive side bolsters than in an earlier car like mine. This group of Jersey guys are always great to spend time with, which makes me doubly glad that as a club, we have been able to keep to our monthly breakfast meets.

Jeff’s Spider got all the love that morning:

And Bill kept pointing his finger at people:

NJ Alfa Club Breakfast Meet, Nov. 9, 2025

November 10, 2025 RichardReina Drives, Events Americana Diner, NJ-AROC

Members of the New Jersey Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club got together on Sunday November 9^th, 2025, for our monthly breakfast meetup. The Americana Diner in Shrewsbury, NJ again played host for the thirteen intrepid Alfisti who braved changeable skies and the ever-present threat of rain. But the promise of fresh griddle cakes, hot coffee, and conversation about Italian cars will get us up and out of the house, no matter the time or temperature.

We had a particularly nice variety of Milanese macchine this time around, with Lee’s GTV6 (a model we seem to rarely see), Dave’s new-to-him ’71 GTV, Alex’s always-impressive Duetto (on which he bravely kept the top down through breakfast) and several moderns, including three Stelvios and a Guilia Quadrifoglio. The thirteen of us were crammed around a table for ten, but we made it work. Our waitress did an exemplary job keeping us plied with food and drink, and as is the custom, after breakfast we spilled out into the parking lot where we continued the conversations.

Yes, there’s 12 here; Frank stepped away.

We finally bid ciao around 11 a.m. and headed home. Our Chapter has, in my humble opinion, done an outstanding job keeping the monthly breakfast tradition alive, and rotating the location among several diners throughout the state also helps bring out members who might not otherwise be able to make a longer drive. With the holiday season approaching, I’m certain that we’ll still find the time (and the room in our bellies) for a December breakfast.

Lee’s GTV6:

Dave’s GTV:

And the rest:

NJ-AROC Visits the Grounds for Sculpture

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events AROC NJ Chapter, Grounds for Sculptre

Sunday, September 21, 2025 was a busy day for participating members of AROC’s New Jersey Chapter as we found ourselves at three different locations throughout central NJ from early morning until mid-afternoon. Our optional start began at 8:30 a.m. at Colonial Park in Franklin Township in Somerset County. There, eight of us converged for a simple and quick breakfast of muffins, donuts, and coffee. Promptly at 9:15, the five Alfas (well, one was a Tonale which the Italian factory mislabeled as a Dodge Hornet), ably led by Bill DiPrima in his 164, caravanned to the Grounds for Sculpture.

There, we met up with many more of our fellow Alfisti (and one amico driving a Fiat 500 Abarth) who arrived at the museum separately. The Grounds for Sculpture staff had granted our request for secure private parking, and once we were all parked and locked, we had three hours to wander through the expansive grounds and buildings. (See the Sidebar for more about the Grounds for Sculpture.)

We reconvened at the cars at 1 p.m., and caravanned from there to Rossi’s Bar and Grill, where they were expecting us. Their extensive menu included pizza (“tomato pie”, actually), burgers, sandwiches, and more. The food and service were both wonderful, and our party split up around 3 p.m. for the rides home.

Besides Bill’s 164 and my Bertone coupe, other classic Alfas included two Spiders. Modern machinery in addition to the Italian Hornet and the Abarth included a Guilia sedan and a 4C. I will again comment how wonderful it is to be part of a club where both older and newer models of the same marque are equally welcome (and all kidding aside, we also open our arms to drivers of anything Italian).

A very big grazie goes to our Event Coordinator Bill DiPrima who oversaw today’s arrangements, and to Paul Mitchell who chose and scheduled our luncheon stop.

Enrico and Bill negotiate security details with guard

Bob shoots ducks (well, Bob shoots photos of ducks)

SIDEBAR: The Grounds for Sculpture

This was my third or fourth visit to this funky, offbeat, and diverse display of artwork. I won’t delve into the details which are better found here at this link anyway. But this most recent stop was the first time I spent most of my time outdoors, and with very cooperative weather overhead, there was lots to take in. The sampling of photos below give you some idea of what to expect. If you are ever in the area, or even if you are not, it’s worth the trip.

AACA NJ Region Luncheon, Sep. 9, 2025

September 13, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events Long Valley Brew Pub, NJ Region AACA

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, members of the NJ Region of the AACA gathered at the Long Valley (NJ) Brew Pub for lunch and conversation. These mid-week meetings started earlier this year and are chaired by Abe, one of our more active club members. While previous luncheons had started with a brief tour from a common meeting point to the destination, this one omitted the drive, which for me was a disappointment. However, the collection of special-interest automobiles, combined with the group’s camaraderie, made up for that deletion.

As many of you know, I love to drive my Alfa Romeo (15,000 miles and counting during twelve years of ownership), and I did get to enjoy a spirited run up and back on Route 517 between Oldwick and Long Valley. This was a road made for a lightweight sports coupe with a high-revving engine.

With the Alfa in third gear, at 40 to 50 mph the engine was turning between four and five grand. At this speed and in this gear, the motor responded instantly to the slightest touch of the accelerator pedal. Both hands stayed on the wheel with eyes glued forward, and I was “in the zone.” I could have driven back and forth on that winding asphalt all day long.

Where was I? Oh, lunch. We had over a dozen AACA members and significant others, arriving in a variety of mostly American cars of the ‘50s through ‘80s. The only other import besides my Italiana macchina was Doug’s immaculate 1991 Miata, a special-edition model in what Mazda called British Racing Green. Other cars included a ubiquitous ’57 Chevy, a Ford Granada, a downsized but still-large ‘80s Cadillac, a Mustang convertible, and an ‘80s Mercury Cougar.

The restaurant was not crowded, and the service and food were exemplary. I’ve been to this Brew Pub many times before, and have always enjoyed the experience. I know that Abe, the event’s chairperson, has two more luncheons on the calendar for this year. I will do my best to join one or both of them before storing my steed for the winter.

NJ Alfa Romeo Club Monthly Breakfast Meet, July 20, 2025

July 21, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events, Uncategorized All Seasons Diner Eatontown NJ, NJ-AROC

The New Jersey Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (NJ-AROC) has consistently been scheduling monthly breakfast meets for the last several years. One factor in our success in doing so has been selecting a variety of eateries across the Garden State. On Sunday, July 20, we tried a new place: the All Seasons Diner in Eatontown, NJ. I left my house at 7:45 a.m. for the one-hour ride, and had a delightful early morning drive with relatively little traffic (at least by Jersey standards). Once there, I was joined by nine fellow Alfisti, and after a brief parking lot chat, we made our way inside.

Thanks to our V.P. Vic, who arranged the reservation, the diner personnel were ready for us. Coffee was poured, breakfast foods were served, and we chatted about our favorite subject: our cars. We lingered for as long as possible, and our waitress, who ably kept our coffee cups full, was in no rush to chase us out, despite the growing crowd in the lobby. She expertly took the obligatory table shot, and out we went, continuing the verbal back-and-forth near our cars. By 11 a.m., the group departed into the warm and humid July day. We had several Chapter members joining us at breakfast for the first time, which was delightful, and I hope that we are able to continue that trend.

NJ Alfa Club Sunday Breakfast Picnic, June 8, 2025

June 8, 2025 RichardReina Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Jr., Drives, Events Colonial Park Somerset NJ, NJ-AROC

Please don’t let me hear anyone from the NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (NJ-AROC) complain that “the club doesn’t do a lot”; and yes, I still occasionally see such a comment crop up on some social media sites. For the second week in a row, after seeing each other at the Somerville, NJ, cruise night, our club conducted another highly successful gathering of Alfisti, this time in the form of an al fresco breakfast in Colonial Park in Somerset, NJ, billed as “Breakfast and Bocce.”

The turnout was great, and I was especially pleased to see many spouses join us. My wife accompanied me, and made some new friends among the ladies. Similar to last year, breakfast goodies included bagels, croissants, donuts, fresh fruit, and hot and cold beverages, courtesy of the club’s bank account. By my count, eleven Alfas were on hand, along with a delightful Lancia Fulvia Zagato (and a Porsche Cayman driven by a dedicated Alfista, so I’ll count it). Probably half the cars were Spiders, all with their tops down, as we caught a bit of a break with this crazy Jersey weekend weather.

Four Spiders sandwiched between a Lancia and a GT 1300 Junior

As we also did last year, we set up near the park’s bocce courts, but my wife and I departed just as the games were beginning. A huge thanks to Bill D., our Event Coordinator, who pulled all the details together to make our 2025 “Breakfast & Bocce” another ringing success.

Our club members enjoying the breakfast and each other’s company:

The Lancia Fulvia Zagato:

Lorenzo, the car’s owner, gave several of us a detailed walk-around which included some history of this car. As a Series I, it features an all-aluminum body, which we were told were manufactured in very limited numbers. The car was originally a medium blue, and someone prior to his ownership changed the color to yellow. Lorenzo delighted in pointing out numerous features which were lost on the Series II cars, including a separate door below the rear bumper for spare tire storage. He has started to strip some of the yellow paint, leaving the blue exposed and undamaged, as he would like to eventually return it to its original shade.

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