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Our friends from The Chicane (www.thechicaneblog.com) just posted this great color video footage from the Torrey Pines Road Races in 1955.
Torrey Pines Road Races - October 1955 from Harlo on Vimeo.
Question 1: What happened to all the great paint jobs like the blue & white C-type Jag?
Question 2: Can you name all the cars?
Please read the exciting announcement below from Bill Warner, Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance...
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Every year at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, we feature various significant marques to showcase the heritage of the cars and the successes experienced. Andy Picariello and I have been working in concert for the past few years to assemble a definitive display of Allard’s to put on the fairways at the concours. I am pleased to announce that for the 16th Anniversary of The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, March 11, 12, 13, 2011, Allard will be one of three featured marques, the other two being Duesenberg and Kurtis.
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We'd like to thank Andy Picariello for helping to make this a reality. Andy is working tirelesslyin supporting the Allard Marque, and for that we are grateful!
This June 19th, we'll celebrate Sydney Allard's 100th birthday. If you check your calendars, you'll notice that the 19th is a Saturday. So what's a better way to celebrate Sydney's big day than by taking your Allard out for a nice spirited drive in the country? We hope that you'll celebrate Sydney's birth in style...and if you do, please send us a photo...we'll post every one that's sent to us!
For more info on Sydney's life, click here.
By David Hooper
In 1952, the Allard Motor Company offered a modified dead axle assembly for the J2X complete with removable center section to allow the Halibrand quick change differential to be easily retrofitted to the USA cars. Due to high import costs, it was not cost effective to import quick change differentials from the USA. However, due to interest from existing Allard owners plus HWM, it was decided to make an Allard version.
As with most issues of "Motorsport" magazine, the cover photo had nothing to do with the content of the magazine. This issue is from January, 1951 with Tom Cole catching some air on his way to a victory at Bridgehampton in 1950. As usual, copies of this magazine can be found for sale at www.ebay.com.
A few weeks ago, Brian Taylor of the Allard Chrylser Action Group that's restoring the Dragster - sent us this story about what's likely the first Allard inspired song out there. 50% of the proceeds will go to help restore the Dragster.
THE BIRTH OF ALLY BLUE
Sam Eidy of Michigan engine builder Booth Arons has been a complete Ally project addict since his company first became involved in the restoration of Europe’s oldest dragster – the 1961 Allard Chrysler built by Sydney Allard. Shortly after Booth-Arons was appointed the official engine builders for the project, and between locating and chasing down parts suppliers, Sam found himself doodling out some lyrics about the car to the tune of ‘Alley Oop’. Although originally written for a comic strip of the same name by Dallas Frazier who recorded it in 1957, the ‘Alley Oop’ version by the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 is probably the most well known because it made Number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100. But it has also been recorded by other artists such as the Beach Boys and George Thorougood and is familiar to most rock music fans of a ‘certain age’.
(Click here or the photo above to visit the site)
Here's an interesting web site that you need to check out, www.car-brochures.eu. It's packed with scans of car Brittish car brochures and advertisements from the past. Sadly, there are no Allard brochures (yet), but there are over 80 Allard advertisements ranging from 1946 to 1957. The adverts are very interesting to look at, especially when compared to todays ads. Special thanks to Hermann Egges for creating such an interesting web site (and thanks to Kerry Horan for the telling us about it!).
Today we're starting a new feature highlighting the old magazine covers that have featured Allards. If you're interested, most of these old magazines can be found on Ebay or in a good used book store - if you're lucky.
Our first cover, comes from "True, the Man's Magazine" which features Erwin Goldschidt's J2, presumably racing at Watkins Glen. Unfortunately all we have is the cover of the magazine so we don't know what stories are within or even what year it was published in. All I know is, the cover art is amazing!
Ted Frost was a successful international motocross scrambler, trials rider and Norton works rider in the period immediately before and after WW2. He owned the Drift Bridge Garage in Reigate Road, just outside Epsom, England. He had become friends with Sydney and his brothers through the Streatham Motorcycle Club, of which they were all members prior to the war.
He persuaded Sydney to build him a J1 for his use. Hence 79J415, the ‘Frost’ Allard, registration number MPG 250, was built and delivered on the 23rd September 1948. It was the thirteenth and last J1 to be made.
By Ed Reed
Reading about the plans underway for an Allard Gathering at Watkins Glen this September, in the Allard Register, brought back memories of the first time I attended the Grand Prix back in 1952, as a spectator. Little did I realize it would be the last year of the original road course.
By Hugh Braithwaite
Passing outside his office Ifirst saw the car that I had agreed to navigate in for Sydney Allard and my attention was immediately drawn to two unusual features. Firstly there was a long piece of angle iron sticking up out pf the floor beside the driving seat, topped off with a rubber bicycle handlebar grip. It was fitted so that the top was close to the gear change lever on the steering column. Secondly there was an enormous thick magnifying glass fitted on the steering column between the dash board and the centre of the steering wheel. I was used to all the usual fittings of flexi light for map reading, horn button on the navigators’ side to save the driver having to take a hand off the wheel and also for helping to steady the navigator's nerves, though I never admitted to this.
Like the swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano, or the buzzards to Hinkley Ohio, March is the time for the faithful to return to Amelia Island. From AC to Zagato, the 15th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance lived up to its history and hype, and once again presented a stunning array of cars and motorcycles to one of the largest crowds on record.
Written by Norm Mort, Veloce Publishing, 2009, 96 Pages. ISBN: 978-1-845842-33-8
“Anglo-American Cars, From the 1930s to 1970s” is the latest book from Norm Mort from the “Those were the days…” book series by Veloce Publishing. The book is broken down by decade, and then alphabetically by manufacturer. “Anglo-American Cars …” presents a summary of each manufacturer, their principals, the cars they made, and the reason for their demise. The book is printed on heavy weight paper and features many interesting photos, most of which are in color.
K2 #1742 was shipped from the London docks on October 13, 1950 and was shipped to the USA without engine. Upon arrival, it was fitted with the preferred Cadillac 331 engine, with a single – bbl Carter carburetor, and 3-speed Ford transmission. Most of the early history of the car is unknown, other than it spent most of its early life on the East Coast and the Midwest, ranging in location from North Carolina to Indiana. In the early 1980’s it was even sold at one of the Barrett-Jackson auctions. After bouncing around between owners, it eventually ended up with
Click here or the picture above to download issue #54 of the Allard Register, we hope you enjoy!
The first Allard J2X, chassis 2138 is now for sale. To learn more, click here!
Unfortunately an Allard K2 was a part of the unfortunate tent collapse that happened at the Russo & Steele auction last weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. Fortunately, from the photos that were captured from a YouTube video, the car appears to have sustained relatively minor damage, especially when compared to other cars. For those of you unaware, the tent where the auction cars were stored, collapsed due to the severe winds that were part of a major storm that swept through the Southwest. Damage to the cars was estimated at $1.5 million.
Click the picture above to watch the video.
Plans are underway for an Allard Gathering at Watkins Glen this September to celebrate Erwin Goldschmidt’s win 60 years earlier. His car, along with many other Allards will be there to celebrate the event. Andy Picariello is organizing the event which will take place during the SVRA’s U.S. Vintage Grand Prix Festival this September 10-13. Many Allard special events will take place throughout the weekend, including a drive on the Old Course and a special display at the track. All Allard owners are encouraged to attend with their cars, whether racing or not. If you are interested in attending, please email Andy at afpic@cape.com with your contact information and if you intend to bring your car for race or show. Andy needs to get the SVRA an initial head count soon (for lodging and track space), so if you are interested, please contact him now (this is not a formal commitment!). Organizing an event like this takes a lot of work, so if you’d like to help Andy, please let him know! We look forward to seeing you there!
Click here if you are interested in attending!
Additional information:
Watkins Glen Web Site
Event Web Site
SVRA Web Site
Ardent Allard enthusiast, archivist, historian, ambassador, and accomplished racer – and my good friend – Bob died on December 13th with his family by his side.
I first met Bob several years ago at the Monterey Historic Races. It did not start as a face-to-face meeting, because my first view of Bob was his long legs sticking out from under his J2X. “Hi Bob. It’s Andy.” I said. “What’s going on?”
“Damn diff is coming loose. Pass me the nine-sixteens, will you?” Greasy fingernails were followed by several beers and a long chat.
