Gigi's Tour of America

The Project:

"Gigi's Tour of America is an art piece that involves taking my 1972 Alfa Romeo GTV (affectionately known as Gigi, an antiquated, slow and unsafe vehicle by modern standards) on a multi-month circumference trip of the continental US.

Anticipated launch for the project will be mid 2027.

The adventure will be documented and shared on social media platforms.

"The juxtaposed perspective Gigi provides is what is truly unique.

The vehicle, the route, the venues, landmarks explored and community interaction engagement, offer the opportunity to ask significant questions about the nature of expression, cultural progress, the future of personal transportation, where we have come from, and where we think we are going.

I see now that The Little Alfa That Could is the cornerstone of my art career."

Earle Rock

Goals for the Project:

Starting mid 2024 a significant social media strategy will begin its rollout with the goal of building an increasing and loyal following of individuals within a variety of online communities who will benefit from the content generated during The Little Alfa That Could. This strategy will be implemented across key social media platforms such as: YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Patreon. Once a significant following is built, sponsorship will sought and is key to the success of The Little Alfa That Could.

The trip will be documented by cameras on and in the car throughout the duration of the journey. This content will be provided to the followers of the project through social media.

Picture the Alfa at many of the great National landmarks such as: Key West, Yosemite, The Grand Canyon, at the National Mall, The Crazy Horse monument, and many others as backdrops. These opportunities are increasingly rare and The Little Alfa That Could is going to make the most of the drive, the journey and the time.

Initial goals for the trips:

To explore America's vast landscape and varied communities through the lens of a 50+ year old car
To ask questions of how much technology changes a culture To meet fellow creatives and explore the endless nature of expression
To meet fellow auto enthusiasts and find how they engage with the passion
To visit artists around the country and make new connections
To locate venues for possible future public art pieces
To explore America’s contemporary car culture amidst a period of great change
To explore the Great American Landscape away from Interstates and Freeways
To share all this and more with an increasing base of followers
To generate content for future creative opportunities

The Resurrection:

The COVID19 Pandemic brought to the World, huge changes. Forced isolation can have different effects on different individuals. For a creative individual; a break from forced participation can be a boon. It can mean that projects that have been placed in stasis can finally be prioritized. The spring of 2020 saw just such an alignment.

Gigi had been sitting in storage for almost 5 years with no marketed forward progress. Suddenly, the time was right and work on the mechanical resurrection of Gigi began in earnest be. Alfa Romeo specialists were sourced for the engine, transmission, and fuel injection system. At one point during the process, the only things left in the car were the wiring harness, the glass, the seats, the dash and the front suspension. Every system was inspected, restored, repaired and or replaced. The project was overseen by longtime friend and fellow enthusiast Larry. Larry has performed his own such work on a number of his own vehicles; from pre-60’s Triumphs, to VWs, to C2 Corvettes, to an E-Type Jaguar.

There was a shakedown period after Gigi's resurrection. Bolts had to be re-tightened, and adjustments had to be made. Such is the process when something is dismantled and reassembled. After a solid period of adjusting and learning, Gigi is roadworthy and ready for the next stage.

There is a serious problem however. That of cancer. There is rot in the rocker panels behind the driver's front wheel. With cancer on an older vehicle, more can be hidden than will show on the surface. Like many vehicles of this era, the Alfa Romeo GTV is uni-body construction. That translates to rust not simply being cosmetic, but structural. Prior to the journey, a body shop will be commissioned to go through Gigi and cut out all cancer and replace the rot with quality steel, shoring up the structure and eliminating future rot.

The History:

The summer of 1986 was the year I graduated high school. It was also the year I bought my first car; a 1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV in Giallo Piper. This car represented everything uncommon for Iowa; it was Italian, quirky, a strange shade of yellow, and upon entry, the most beautiful wooden steering wheel greets the driver.

It also stood out when it came to maintenance. When I went to college, I took the Gigi with me. She however, had other plans. Soon after arriving in suburban Chicago, while on an exploratory drive through my new surroundings, the oil pressure sending unit exploded from its housing. In less time than it took to turn off the engine, the contents of the oil pan's were sprayed out the side of the block. The motor seized almost instantly. So Gigi was towed the 150 miles back to my parents. She sat for the next 2 years, awaiting the time when planets aligned and motor could be rebuilt.

Within a month of having the rebuild, the Thermostatic Actuator (TA), a critical piece of the mechanical fuel injection system failed. In those days, TA's might as well have been made of "unobtainium". Al Gore had yet to invent the internet, and there were simply not that many parts suppliers. So Gigi sat for two more years.

Frustration finally got the better of me. In a moment of youthful short shortsightedness and financial weakness Gigi was sold back to the man she was originally purchased from. This was done with the gentleman’s agreement that if he ever decided to sell Gigi, the “right of first refusal” would be mine. Since he lived in the same town as my parents, I would, on occasion see her around. Most frequent sightings were of her sitting outside in all weather conditions, looking progressively neglected.

Then, one day in the fall of 2007 the owner rang me asking if I still wanted this tired old car. After an inspection was performed to determine needs and valuation, a deal was made and Gigi was once again mine. Since I lived several hours away and was not in a position to immediately begin the restoration, she once again sat in my parent’s garage. They were extremely patient and gracious.