Alfabits July 2026 – Volume 58, Issue 1

By Steve Hunker, AROO Prez

I’ve been neglectful in my duties as President in getting an Alfa Bits sent out.  Steve Davis has been poking and prodding me to get this done. Sometimes the best past president is also the best “mother.” 

I’d like to share a quick story from the “fatherly” side.  I decided to head off on a trip with my Spider “Nilla” with my fellow navigator Chester. I’ve had very few issues in the 16,000 miles I’ve put on Nilla since adopting her 4 years ago.  Had just done the overnight to Condon as well as Bill’s “Hooligan’s Run” to the coast and the Summer Solstice tour to the Davis compound.   Not any issue.

I started to get a sputter that didn’t really ease up upon deceleration.  Limped to my destination. I posted on Facebook a video of Nilla choking.  The obvious culprits were called out.  Clogged fuel filter, fuel pump, relay, fuse, vacuum lines.  Heck, I even asked Chat GPT for a take!  Swapped out the filter and the issue remained.  Next…the pump.  Still nothing.  Fred Russell of NWARC mentioned a couple folks I could chat with.  Dave Bennett and Greg Miller.  Dave popped by and managed to blow his tester during diagnosis.  I did notice now that the fuel pump didn’t seem to be churning with the key on.  Greg Miller made an almost two-hour trek to visit.  Both decided the best way to get me home was by jumping the relay which bypassed “something” likely a fuse?  Both Ian and Lila sent along wiring schematics that Greg would decipher. By the time I got home, Greg determined it was the inertia switch.  I had no idea this car had one.  Apparently, a forgotten target of all as nobody suggested this might be the culprit. Not even AI.

Was happy to get home.  Driven well since.  What I am continually impressed by is the love others have for these cars.  Fred’s friends became my friends.  Like the father I wish I’d had, these strangers dropped what they were doing to lend a hand.  And like a father myself, I wasn’t hard on my little gal Nilla.  I tend to think cars are like people.  If you treat them right, they’ll treat you right.  I had some kind words for my car before the boys showed up.  In the end I am still a proud parent of my kid.  I’m also thankful for the advice from other fathers who took their years of knowledge and passed it on.  Dads who just want to see their kids shine.  Much appreciated to this family!