The Last Checkered Flag: Judy Picariello

We learned of Judy’s sudden passing yesterday this past week. Judy was truly a neat lady, and we treasure the opportunities that we have had to get to know her over the years.

I first met Judy and Andy some 20 or so years ago when they, together with Pete McManus, brought their cars (Andy and Judy’s J2, and Pete’s Ardent Alligator) out to Monterey. Since then we have witnessed and appreciated how Andy and Judy worked in partnership to organize several Allard and Allard-related events and activities. This included their strong support in getting the Jim and Sheila Tiller out to the Bonneville Salt Flats in their 200 MPH attempt, and the role they played in putting together the 2006 Allard Northwest Tour.

Andy and Judy provided the spark and organizational support that inspired several of us Allard folks to accompany them ‘down under’ to tour New Zealand’s South Island, and experience the Southern Festival of Speed in 2008.

This experience essentially set the stage for the last major Allard stateside gathering, The Glen in Ten at Watkins Glen NY. Those collective activities gave us ongoing opportunities go get to know and appreciate Judy. Our wives especially appreciated her approach in making them feel welcome into such an eclectic group of ‘car guys’.

In retrospect, these activities also gave Judy ample opportunity to get to know – and try to understand – the human sub-species commonly referred to as ‘Allard owners’. I vividly recall Judy’s wry observation about ‘car guys’ in general, British ‘car guys’ in particular - and her opinion that Allard ‘car guys’ were from a whole ‘nuther planet.

-Chuck Warnes

Special thanks to Roger Allard for sharing the photo above taken at the Newport Concours a few years ago.