To celebrate our 50th Friday Fix, myself and Michael Lindsay have gone through the archives and dug out some ‘Golden Oldies’ for everyone to enjoy and reminisce from seasons gone by.

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It features photos from the past 33 years of the Championship. Obviously we can’t include every one of the 700+ drivers that have competed with us but we do hope to repeat this further down the line. If you have any photos you think may fit into this kind of article, please do send them over and we’ll save them for the next one! Hover over the photos for a caption or click for a larger version. Enjoy.

Where it all started. Maurice Macaulay receives the winner’s trophy from Jenny Taylor at the Snetterton “pilot” race in September 1981.Ah. I see it is a cup! Our first Champion Richard Gamble receiving a trophy in 1982.Chris Sweetapple was a regular competitor in the early days of the Championship with his 2 litre Giulia.2000GTV versus Alfasud was a normal sight in the early days of the Championship – Derek Bashford leads the way at Snetterton.1983 Champion Peter Cabrol receives the Bell & Colvill Trophy from Martin Colvill at a party on the Thames based “Tattershall Castle.The Alfashop name first appeared in the Championship on the Alfasud Ti of Richard Drake.Bob Buttery receives a race winner’s trophy at Brands Hatch from Jean Parsons and later went on to win the 1983 Championship title.Micky Bolton won back-to-back races at Oulton and Brands in 1982. These days he supplies our race winners’ trophies.Martin Parsons was one of the most successful Alfasud racers and then went on to a 33 and 164 during 14 seasons between 1986 and 2001.Roger Veall (left) and Steve Winchester (the first to race a 4 door Sud) were leading lights in the early days of Class A which eventually became Class F.A familiar sight in the eighties were the modified Suds of Nick Sismey and Andrew Thorpe.Peter Hilliard (GTV6), Roberto Giordanelli (Zagato) and Tim Stewart (GTV6) on the grid at Snetterton in 1987We have had some some strange colour schemes over the years (many created by Micky Bolton). This is the Alfetta GTV first raced by Robert Dyball and then Mark Pickering.Mayhem at Mallory (March 1988) – the front row (Terry Stacey, Tim Daniells and Charles Hill)get away well but take a look behind!Another cool colour scheme – Matthew Davies’ Alfasud TiCharles Hill was a star driver at BLS during 1988 and 1989.A regular battle that we all enjoyed was that between Ian Jacobs (Spider), Bob Buttery (GTV6) and Richard D’Cruze (GTV6) in 1985.Roberto Giordanelli successfully raced this Giulia for several seasons, the car being seen here at Mallory Park in August 2000.Prominent Class C rivals in 1988 -Chris Cooney, Ian Connell and Chris Whelan with Giulia 2.0, Alfetta GTV and Giulia Super respectively.2000 Spiders were a rarity in the Championship – here Ian Jacobs is seen at one of the popular track days we held at Mallory Park.Clive Hodgkin was double champion in 1987 and 1989 – here he exits the hairpin at Knockhill during one of our rare visits.Roger Kay after a race win with his GTV6 at Snetterton. He became overall champion with a 75 3 litre in 1990.Terry Stacey won the Championship in 1988 and then switched to this modified 33 with some success.Chris Taylor (1750 Berlina) battling with Ian Sinclair (Alfetta GTV) in 1989Ian Brookfield at Mallory Park in 1989Class F champion Simon Fish in 1990 rounds the bumpy Cadwell hairpin on the short circuit with his Alfasud Ti. He now races an Ensign Historic F1 car.The Ken Bell Alfasud Team – front: Paul Edwards and Adie Hawkins, back: Rob Bishop and Ken Bell. Paul won Class F in 1989 and Adie would go on to a back-to-back Class F championship in 1997 and 1998 with a 33.Some things never change! The Modified Alfasud Ti shared by Pete Cate and David Litchfield is tested by the scrutineer’s noise meter.The GTV6 was a popular production class race car – Chris Gladwin raced this example with Avon Racing in the first half of the 90s.A 1992 paddock scene at Cadwell featuring the BLS team and Mark Riddle’s supercharged 33.Hugh Elliott raced this Alfasud Ti between 1989 and 1991, sharing it with his wife Mary.Alan Marshall, after one of his early successes with an Alfasud Ti at Lydden Hil in July 1989. He later raced a 33 and 75 3 litre scoring several race wins.Another of the great rivalries was that between Will Winterson (33) and Clive Hodgkin (75) in 1991, seen here exiting the Mallory hairpin.Phil Snelling, Gary Orchard and Martin Parsons chat in the assembly area at Brands in 1993.A 3 year old Matt Daly at Thruxton in 1993 standing next to Graham Heels’ Alfasud.Jane Cheffings was never afraid of getting her hands dirty! Proved to be a strong contender when she moved from an Alfasud Ti to a 164.Chris Snowdon was a double Alfa Champion with this GTV6 (first black and then yellow) in 1984 and 1985.If there was one driver that people came to watch, particularly in the rain, it was Chris Taylor with his 2 litre engine 1750 Berlina.The Sismey family were involved with the Championship from the beginning – John preparing the Alfasud Ti and son Nick driving it.1993 Champion Mark Peers (Alfetta GTV) talks to Andrew Wilkins after another class win.Willie Dick (known as Will these days) took a well deserved win at Donington in 1989 with his Alfasud Ti.Chris Knott made a rare appearance at a prize giving and dinner at Reigate to present Chris Snowdon with his 1984 Championship trophy.Another of the great rivalries was that between Mark Ticehurst and Mark James, both driving 33s, in 1994 and 1995.Ron Davidson is a driver who likes a challenge, racing a 164 in the 90s before moving on to a 155 Q4 and then, in 2000, at 3 litre GTV.Ted Pearson was another double champion (1991 & 1992) with his BLS prepared Alfasud Ti.Graham Heels took his first Class F win at Snetterton in 1992, beating the 33s of Ian Connell and Paul Lund with his Alfasud Ti, also taking fastest lap points.Peter Dalley was the first to race a modified Turbo 75 in the Championship in 1993 and 94.1996 Champion Dave Walker (centre) and Richard Sikes look delighted to receive the previous year’s shared drive award from Christine Hodgkin.Minette Rice-Edwards started Alfa racing in 1997 before moving on to a 75 3 litre.Tony Soper was a regular Alfa racer between 1996 and 2006 with an Alfasud Sprint, 164 and GTV. Here he is after a rare win with the GTV at Cadwell Park.Tim Dackombe at Croft in 1998 with his 33.Nobody expected an Arna to win the Championship but Dave Streather took the title twice in 1997 and 1998.The Championship went to Spa for its only visit in 2000. This is the post race podium – Left to right: Paul Buckley, Graham Presley, Bob Godbold, Chris Oxborough, Nick Suiter, Clive Hodgkin, Colm Flanagan and Andy Page.Brian Thorp was one of the most successful Class F drivers – finishing 2nd in class behind champion Dave Ashford in 1999 and then winning it in 2000.Michael Lindsay, championship co-ordinator for thirty years, celebrates the 60th year of his first visit to Silverstone with a cake provided by competitors.Tim Lewis was Alfa Champion in 2006 and is talking here with veteran commentator Brian Jones.For over ten years, Steve Fox raced this smart Alfasud Sprint.Bob Godbold took over Dave Ashford’s modified 33 but never perhaps achieved the results that his talent deserved.There from the beginning – almost! Joanna Cardwell, Michael Lindsay, Gary Walker, Harry White and Ian Brookfield at one of the Reigate dinner/dances and prize givings.Sam Laird and Graham Presley were strong and successful supporters of the Championship in the late 90s and into the 2000s although neither won the overall title.Andy Page competed in the championship for 15 seasons – mostly with his turbo Giulietta – and we hope to see him back. Here he introduces his son Jason to the intricacies of an Alfa engine bay.Ever effusive 2000 Champion was Enzo Buscaglia with Julian Birley’s 75 3 litre.Roger Evans made his debut with this 155 at Mallory in June 2000 but the model was never very popular in the championship. Roger than moved on to a GTV and 147 GTA, winning the title in 2012 & 2013.Julian Birley with the 75 1.8 Turbo now owned by Chris Whelan during his only race with it at Donington in September 2002.Julian Birley talks to Andrew Wilkins after a race win in his 75 3 litre at Mallory Park in 2001. It was through Julian’s generous Powermods sponsorship that ARCA was able to prosper.Bryan Shrubb is interviewed by Ian Titchmarsh after a win with his 33 8v at Snetterton in September 2001.Anthony George celebrates the first of his two championship titles (2002 & 2005) with his 33 at Snetterton.Double champion (1987 & 1989) and leading light in ARCA since it was formed in 2001 – Clive Hodgkin with one of his 75s in pre-Alfashop days.Graham Heels chose a 146 to make his successful championship title bid in 2003, seen here at Rockingham.We have always welcomed women drivers (25 to date). Here are Rebecca Draper, Emma Karwacki, Mel Healey and Sarah Heels at Pembrey in 2004.You could always here it coming! Tim Lewis’s supercharged Alfasud Sprint was always a likely winner.Current Championship sponsor Alfashop boss Jeremy Wales presents a trophy to James Burland in the Brands Hatch garages.How many Alfa races have they done between them? Happy looking Ray Foley and Andy Inman.Anton Mets was a frequent visitor in the early days of ARCA. Here he joins Emma Karwacki at Silverstone in 2004 with her Driver of the Day award.John Griffiths receiving his trophy from Philip ClayGraham Heels presents the race winner’s trophy to Chris Forrest at Snetterton in 2003.One of the real innovators in the Championship, Mike Buckler discusses his twin engine 164 (never raced) with longtime eligibility scrutineer John Monk.John Strickland made a successful return in 2007 with a 33 and here leads the similar car of Chris Forrest.A familiar sight in the paddock was this Avon Racing six car transporter.Another of the great rivalries – Adie Hawkins (33), and Neil Smith (156) fight it out at Castle Combe. This was before the days of track limits!!2007 Champion Phil Donaghy receives a class winner’s trophy from Rachel Buckley.Matt Daly & Paul Plant, side by side into paddock hill in 2008A Brands Hatch podium – the race winner Adie Hawkins flanked by Ian Stapleton and Roger Evans.John Griffiths has always been a popular competitor with several 156s. Here he leads (temporarily) Graham Presley at Donington in 2008.This might appear like night racing – in fact it was in fact a very wet day at Donington in 2009. The track was flooded and racing abandoned after qualifying. Lights ablaze, Dave Messenger leads the way from Roger Evans.Shaun Hazlewood, Nev Simpson and Chris Healey on the Castle Combe podium car.Newcastle United black and white featured for many years on Andy Inman’s 156.My favourite picture of 2010 champion Mel Healey.Emma Karwacki became our second woman champion in 2011 with her 147. She celebrates at Silverstone with Brian Jones.Simon Griffiths presents Neil Smith with the Kevin Griffiths trophy at Donington in 2012.Reigning Champ James Bishop
Thank you to Michael for sending his photos and captions through and thank you to all the Friday Fix readers. We hope the first 50 have provided a much needed filler for those long breaks between races. Now, what on earth will I put in the next 50?!Snetterton would be a good starting point!

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