• Fangio Tour
• Welcome Reception
• Time Trials at Autobahn
• Touring at Autobahn
• River Valley Tour
• Autocross
• Bus Trip to Chicago
• Chicago Skyline Cruise
• Tech Sessions
• Jewelry Workshop
• Concours at Cantigny
• Gimmick Rallye
• Banquet
• Lake Shore Drive Tour
• Awards Brunch
• Registration

2008 Alfa Romeo National Convention

Illinois River Valley Tour

The Chicago Chapter has been known to exercise its Alfas to a point beyond the typical “Italian tune-up”! For as long as I can remember (since 1986), the spring tour could never come early enough. The anticipation of getting your Alfa ready for a beautiful drive, the thrill of beating the snot out of it - what a treat. Get up early, make sure your car is clean, check the tires, be sure to bring a camera and most important, come with a full tank of gas. Many of our members like a rapid pace, and in my 1750 GTV running out of gas before clocking 100 miles is not unusual. Detailed maps of the route will be provided, so if you prefer a more leisurely pace you do not need to worry about getting lost.

We will meet at 8:20 and depart the Marriot Hotel at 8:30 a.m. We’ll gather at the Channahon State Park, head of the Illinois and Michigan Canal trial and located right alongside the cascading waterfall from the DuPage River. The group will leave Channahon and work its way west towards some amazing splendid and twisty “Cemetery” roads running parallel to the scenic Illinois River. Keep an eye out for the abundant wildlife as we wend our way towards the Starved Rock State Park.

Entering the park is always a treat, and it reminds me of the roads in Sicily - twisty and scenic. While driving the twisties, openings flash by allowing glimpses of the wonderful scenery below you in the valleys. Our chapter uses this route each year and many of us have a tendency to leave the pack and take an additional run into the deep kettle moraine canyons.

We’ll return to Starved Rock later in the tour. For now, however, we will bypass the park and proceed southwest towards the quaint riverside town of Lacon. Once again, the route will run parallel to the beautiful Illinois River and will be flanked with lush green foliage that hugs the river banks. Once we reach Lacon, we will stop to have something to drink and stretch our legs.

Leaving Lacon we head back to Starved Rock State Park, and this time you will have the opportunity to stop and explore. Starved Rock has an interesting history. Consider its name, derived from a popular Native American legend of injustice and retribution. Story goes something like this: in the 1760s, Pontiac, who was the chief of an upriver Ottawa tribe, had the misfortune of being slain by a member of the Illiniwek tribe while attending a tribal council in southern Illinois. According to the legend, during one of the battles that subsequently occurred to avenge his killing, a band of Illiniwek who were under attack by a band of Pottawatomie, took their refuge at the top a 125-foot sandstone butte. The Ottawa and Pottawatomie surrounded the bluff until the Illiniwek died of starvation. This inspired the name “Starved Rock.”

Hikers will love exploring the majestic bluffs and canyons at Starved Rock State Park. In fact, hiking is the most popular activity in the park. Fortunately, Starved Rock State Park has 13 miles of well-marked trails to help you enjoy them.

After you treat your eyes to wonderful scenery, the tour will head out, concluding at the Autobahn track at 12:00 p.m., just in time for lunch, with tour participants getting an opportunity to join the touring session at no additional cost!