“I’ve been driving and working on Alfas since I was in college, and I build some high-performance parts for engines in my shop, AutoComponenti. I got involved with this team in 1999, building an engine for the car to take to Bonneville,” he said.
“In 2005, I had modified an engine that was all mine, and I asked the team if I could take the car out and do the shakedown runs, which I did. Later that week, the driver spun the car out at 190 mph and decided he wasn’t driving anymore, so now I do a lot of the driving,” Steck explained.
The Alfa Romeo, nicknamed “Bonnie,” is painted bright yellow and has a modified aerodynamic front end and fully enclosed bellypan. The sides and rear of the car remain stock in appearance and the car maintains the standard wheelbase. Steck and Richard Kreines of Chicago jointly own Bonnie.
The 2-liter engine, using a factory Alfa block and crankshaft, modified and built by Steck, features a twin-spark cylinder head and turbo charger. The original Alfa engine was rated at 147 horsepower, and Steck estimates his modified version produces about 650 hp. To handle the added power, a transmission from a NASCAR car is used, and the rear end is from a Mustang. The rest is strictly Alfa Romeo.
Steck is hooked on the salt flat racing experience.
“I think once you go, you just can’t stay away. It’s such a unique place and unique experience. I’m already thinking about next year, because we need to make some changes so we can go faster.”
Steck will have the record-setting Alfa Romeo on display at the third Dayton Concours d’Elegance at Carillon Park on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Concours d’Elegance opens to the public at 10:30 a.m., and the awards will be presented to the class winners in a parade of champions at 3 p.m. in front of the old Sunoco gas station at the park.
Admission to the Concours is $10 for adults, $5 for children 3 to 17, and free to members of Dayton History. All exhibits at the park will be open; 14 automotive artists will be exhibiting their work in the art pavilion, and food and beverages will be available.
For more information, call (937) 293-2841 or go online to www.daytonconcours.com.
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