The Allard Register + The Allard Owners Club

I am excited to announce that I have accepted the role of North American Vice President of the Allard Owners Club (AOC). The position was long held by Andy Picariello, a stalwart supporter of the Allard marque for 60 years. He and his wife Judy had a hand in hosting pretty much all Allard events in North America for the past 30 years. He likely served as the North American VP and Membership Secretary of the Allard Owners Club for at least that long. Since Judy’s passing a few years ago, Andy was looking for someone to take over his AOC responsibilities. I had been considering stepping forward, but never said anything. That was until a few months ago when Josh Sadler reached out to me on behalf of the AOC leadership to ask if I was interested in becoming the AOC VP for North America. I was honored to be asked, but needed time to consider the offer.

While considering the decision, I talked to some trusted Allard friends and they encouraged me to accept. We all shared the common belief that, if we are going to keep Allard’s alive for future generations, we’re going to all have to work together. Soon after I contacted Josh to accept the offer, we learned of Andy’s passing. It was a sad time, but I imagine Andy would want us to hit the gas and drive forward rather than looking back. Thank you Andy!

The Allard Register was started in the early seventies after a disagreement within the AOC. Over time, the Register morphed into the North American Allard club while the AOC was home to UK owners; with both organizations having an international reach. From its start, the Register was formed as a non-club with no dues (thanks to some generous benefactors) and the goal to avoid a repeat of what led to its creation in the first place. This non-club status has been both a blessing and a curse. There is no politics, but the decentralized nature has made it hard to attract new volunteers to support the organization. One could easily see the Register fading away in a few years time.

The power of the Internet has made it possible to mend the separation between the two groups over the last several years. We’ve been able to connect with owners from all over the world via the old Yahoo Groups, the new groups.io site, and Facebook. During COVID, the Register put together the Global Online Concourse with the goal of bringing Allard owners together from all over the world.

The truth is, if we want to build interest in Allard cars going forward, all Allard owners are going to have to work together. We have to attract the next generation that will fall in love with these amazing beasts the same way that we have. Right now, I believe the best way to do that is via the Allard Owners Club and the organizational benefits that it brings.

What will happen to the Allard Register? This web site will continue, as I’m a firm believer that more voices are better than one. The AOC supports this belief and has approved my request to re-publish old AOC newsletter content that would be helpful to Allard owners.

I invite you to join the Allard Owners Club and be a part of the future to make the club more engaging for you and to help build value for your Allard. Additionally, there will also be some exciting changes to the quarterly newsletter that North American subscribers will appreciate. My goal is that you won’t see club membership as an expense, but as a value. If you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to get involved, please click here to email me anytime. You can also message me on the Allard Register Facebook page. Click here to join the Allard Owners Club online or you can email me to get a membership application that you can mail in.

Cheers, Colin Warnes

The Last Checkered Flag: Mel Herman

A Remembrance by Mike Knapman

Mel Herman lost his fight against cancer on Thursday 7th April, 2022. Mel bought his first Allard in 1969. It was an M drop head coupe painted in what could be called Caramel Brown. Chassis no. 823, reg number JC9685, the car that subsequent owner Kate Manley-Tucker and her husband drove to Peking in the Paris to Peking Rally.

I first met Mel and his wife Liz in the mid-1970’s when he brought the M to one of our Annual Concours held at Salisbury Hall. After selling the M to Kate Manley-Tuckert, he left us to pursue his business interests, re-joining in 2005 and undertaking the nut and bolt restoration of his second M, MUA 630 chassis no, 716, to award winning standards.

As well as setting a high standard of restoration, Mel contributed a great deal to the Club. Most members will know that his professionalism and expertise resulted in award winning stand designs for the Club at the Classic Motor Show, NEC. He also codified guidelines for the judging of cars entered in our Annual Concours, achieving a sympathetic balance between originality and modifications to improve reliability or performance. When Chris Sole unexpectedly died in March 2020 Mel, in conjunction with Josh Sadler and Geoff Pinch, was instrumental in saving all the “basket case” projects Chris had accumulated. Later, Mel became Editor of our newsletter. His opinions were always valued at our committee meetings.

Born in Edinburgh on October 14th 1944 Mel was re-settled in North Wales at an early age when his adoptive parents took over a small hotel in Prestatyn. Mel’s secondary education was at Rhyl Grammer School where his favorite subject was art. He eventually studied Industrial Design Engineering at the Central School of Art and Design, in Southampton Row, London.

On leaving Central Mel was invited to join a firm of architects at Rhyl and soon became involved in developing 500 stores, 3 distribution centers and a headquarters for the supermarket chain Kwik Save. After 13 years in the practice, Mel left to renew his career in Industrial Design Engineering, leading to the award of a Fellowship of the Chartered Society of Design in 1990 and the formation of Herman Design Associates Studio located at St Asaph.

Herman Associates was, for many years the only North Wales company qualified to develop and design projects for the UK Government’s ”Design for Business Programme” administered by the Design Council in London, who also became regular clients. In addition to the Design Council, Herman Associates worked for the Welsh Office and other Government bodies.

The offices at St. Asaph became rented office accommodation whose tenants included the Welsh Development Agency. This led to Mel branching out into a new commercial property venture. Mel and his old boss from the Rhyl architectural agency joined forces to restore Llannerch Hall, St Asaph. Mel subsequently going on to buy and restore Benarth Hall on the banks of the Conwy estuary. His last home, The Vinery, being built in the walled garden of the Hall.

In addition to his love of cars and all things Allard, Mel also was fond of sailing, regularly organizing a cruising club in the Aegean. His anecdote about how he managed to pass the boat, Premier Crux, under a very low bridge on a river in France on its transit to the Mediterranean was hilarious.

Mel generously left his collection of Allard literature to the Club’s archives and his accumulation of spares to the Club for the use of members. Mel was always meticulous and organized. It was typical of him that while in hospice he spent three hours on the telephone to Josh Sadler ensuring the spares were only to be used for live active Allard restorations and moreover he drafted the notes for the Celebrant to use at his funeral!

Mel was always even tempered and happy, a friend to all, often recounting stories and anecdotes over dinner, He will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and two sons Simon and Sefton, grandchildren and great grandchildren

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I never met Mel in person as we were 5,000 miles apart, but I got to know him over the years via email. I first came to appreciate Mel when he shared several photos of his beautiful M chassis 716. I was blown away by the quality of the restoration and the subtle upgrades he made to improve common structural weaknesses of the M. From there we corresponded over the years and Mel became one of my valued resources that I could refer restoration questions to that I could not answer. I then came to appreciate (from afar) Mel’s eye for design as he started creating some amazing Allard Owners Club show displays that definitely helped to promote the marque. Mel’s countless contributions to the Allard marque will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on for future Allard owners. Our condolences go out to his family and the AOC. -Colin Warnes

AOC 2022 Calendar

The Allard Owners Club (AOC) has put together what looks to be a very fine calendar for 2022. Allard don’t get much calendar love, so its nice to have a calendar dedicate to just Allards. The best part is, you can source it from either the UK or USA to keep shipping costs down. I’m going to buy one for my dad and myself! Special thanks to Ben Stevens & Mel Herman for putting this together!

Click here to order the UK version

Click here to order the USA version

Allard Owners Club News!

Congrats to the AOC! They've just completely revamped their web site and it looks great. Go to http://www.allardownersclub.org/wordpress/ to check it out!

Allards at Pickering

 

Click here or the photo above to view the photo gallery

For those not familiar with the UK geography, Pickering, in Yorkshire is an area to the north of England with wonderful scenery and has been a gathering place for northern Allards for a few years now.

Several Allards gather for a tour of the North of England and the Pickering weekend becomes the focal point for others to join them and enjoy a social get together and dinner at a great country Inn where several stay over. This year eleven Allard’s were able to get together for the weekend.

The gathering is very well organized by Peter Wright with help from Barry Ogden. The Saturday night dinner is held at The New Inn, a typical country Inn with its own micro brewery making really good ale that we tend to do justice to over the few days.

More news to follow...

Cheers,

Mel Herman