The Alfa Romeo Driver Podcast

Episode 52 - Tonale Uncovered with Rob Lake

In Episode 52 of the Alfa Romeo Driver podcast, brought to you by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club. Guy Swarbrick sat down with the Senior Product Manager for Alfa Romeo at Stellantis, Rob Lake to talk about the forthcoming Alfa Romeo Tonale, the marque's first foray into the ultra-competitive C-SUV market. They talk about why Alfa Romeo is building SUVs, what makes an Alfa an Alfa - and how those characteristics can be applied to help Alfa stand out from the crowd. They also talk about Rob's lifelong passion for Italian cars, which includes 30 years of AROC membership and an award-winning Alfasud. You can read more about the Alfasud at AROC Archive (aroc-uk.com)

Episode 51 - Tipo 184 with Ant Anstead and Darren Collins

Episode 51 of the Alfa Romeo Driver Podcast, brought to you by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club is a little different in two respects – first, we’re talking about a car which, strictly speaking, isn’t an Alfa – but was inspired by one of the greatest Alfas of all time and has some Alfa DNA in its history.

Second, the podcast is split into two parts. In Part 1 we talk to Darren Collins of Dowsetts Classic Cars who is responsible for engineering and developing the Tipo 184 – inspired by the legendary Alfa Romeo Tipo 158 Grand Prix Car.

Then, in Part 2, we sit down with TV’s Ant Anstead who built the first two iterations of the car – one of which featured on Discovery’s Ant Anstead, Master mechanic.

Episode 50 - Top 50 Post-War Alfas Round Table

Episode 50 of the Alfa Romeo Driver Podcast – brought to you by the Alfa Romeo Owners Club - is a little different. Editor Guy Swarbrick talks to the usual round table team of Club Chairman John Griffiths, Club Manager Nick Wright and board members Kirsty Hodson and David Faithful about almost every post-war road-going Alfa, sort of ranked into a sort of Top 50!
Numbers 11 to 50 are based on the weighted votes of the round table team and a selection of Model Registrars and Section Secretaries - and their top 10 was then put to the membership for a final ranking. So it's not the definitive top 50 - it's just 50 Alfas. In some sort of order. Where did your favorite come? What was number one? How could they have got it so wrong?!

At the end of the Episode we mention an upcoming livestream and promise some details, so here they are.

Chris Rees from Auto Italia will be on a livestream from the Thames Valley Section monthly meeting on Tuesday, the 2nd of February from 7.45pm.

You can find the livestream (or the recording, if you're reading this after the event) at 

AROC UK YouTube Channel
Official Alfa Romeo Owners Club UK Facebook Group

Episode 49 - Ken Carrington

This week Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick talks to Ken Carrington about his 40 years with the Club which have included a spell as Club Chairman, a long career as a photographer, organising the legendary Andiamo a Milano trips to Italy and acting as the Club's liaison with the Alfa Romeo Archive and the DVLA.

Episode 48 - Ashley Croft - New Alfa Owner

In the first Episode of 2022, Editor Guy Swarbrick talks to Ashley Croft - one of the sales team at Chris Knott Insurance - about the why, what, where and how of buying his first Alfa, the benefits of Club membership, and some of the many options for modifying his new Giulietta.

Episode 47 - Hillclimber Mike Stark

This week Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick talks to Mike Stark. Mike's 3.8 litre Busso-engined 156 GTA was a big hit among AROC members at National Alfa Day and on the Club's stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show. Mike talks about his history in motorsport, the history of the car, his record-breaking runs up Shelsley Walsh - and provides some useful hints and tips for anyone interested in getting involved in this uniquely British form of grass-roots motorsport.

Episode 46 - StuartTaylor - 105 Registrar

Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick sat down with 105 registrar Stuart Taylor to talk about the register, the cars, the owners, modifications, celebrations and drag coefficients. Among other things!

Episode 45 - GTA & GTAm Brand Ambassador James Browning

Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick caught up with Alfa Romeo's GTA and GTAm Brand Ambassador James Browning about his role, the car and the process of building and buying the best sports saloon ever made.

Episode 44 - Round Table

Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick sits down with Club Chairman and East Midlands Section Secretary John Griffiths, Club Manager Nick Wright, Board Member, MiTo Registrar David Faithful and newly elected Board Member, Thames Valley Section Secretary and GT Registrar Kirsty Hodson to talk about the recent Section Secretaries and Model Registrars meeting, the Club's General Meeting, the upcoming NEC Classic Motor Show and another chance for a virtual - and physical - visit to Pirelli in Burton.

Episode 43 - Jim Stokes

Alfa Romeo Driver Editor Guy Swarbrick talks to legendary pre-war Alfa restorer Jim Stokes about his business, how he got involved with Alfas in the first place, some of his most interesting and challenging projects, the Tipo 158 he ran at the Goodwood Revival this year, restomodding and the future of both Alfa and the automobile itself. It's a little bit longer than usual - but it's worth it.