Al Leake A notable Alfisti

[Alfar7]

I am passing the information below from a blog referencing a friend and one of our best known Alfisti.

Rest In Peace, Al...

Sunday, January 27, 2008
Requiescat In Pace Al Leake

From: STEVE JENIK
To: jpsaleeby@aol.com
Sent: Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:01 pm
Subject: Al Leake

Dear Dr.Saleeby,
My name is Steve Jenik. I and my wife Julie are friends, neighbors and caretakers
for Al and Myr Leake. It is with great regret that I must inform you that Al has crossed
the final finish line in his race against cancer. He passed away, quietly, at home,
amidst family and friends on Jan., 25, 2008 @ approx 2:45 P.M.
I am being presumptious by issuing this notice, as I have no formal family approval
to do so. Yet, after searching the web and finding many references to Al, not
only his racing prowess, but his restoration work and finding your name, I hope that
this takes some burden off of Myr. I presume that you know how to contact the family.
I found the picture of your son with the pinewood derby racer. That choked me up.
I printed it out, but, my printer is not the best quality beast in the world.
Nonetheless, I intend to pass it on to Myr.

Our regards sir,
Steve and Julie

Pax et Requiem Dear Al

posted by Dr. Saleeby's Blog | 9:17 AM

[genericwood]

After his first Giulietta race car was destroyed in a house fire, my Dad bought a replacement from Al in the mid-70's. I distinctly remember Dad leaving with the single-axle trailer empty behind our International Travelall, and returning with the black and silver car from Al. With it, Dad won G-Prod in MW Division in '77. At "Alfas at the Glen" in 2005, I had a chance to get to know Al and his wife. Both were very gracious. And of course, Al was very fast!

I only recently realized that Al was sick. My thoughts go out to his close friends and family.

Erik

[GTA # 14]

R.I.P Al. and a god bless to his family.
Sincerley,

[alfadak]

Sad news indeed. I have enjoyed watching Mr. Leake drive for quite a few years now. His style and panache were always a treat as a spectator. Hopefully his family remembers those times as they journey through the process of finalizing their impressions.

[Zunige]

Last year the Alfa Owner published a very nice article and interview with Al. I will never forget his very fast Gulietta, with the chicken hanging out from the back of the trunk. May he rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and may they know how much he was appreciated by the Alfa community.

Best regards,

[ECARRILLO]

We will all miss Sophia with the hanging Chicken, of course, being driven by Mr. Al Leake.

Respectfully.

[Italiar79]

My deepest prayers to Al's family in this difficult time. Although I only knew him a short time, he was a major influence in my getting back into Alfas since my Dad sold his '58 Spider years ago. It is a huge loss, that I'm sure we all feel.

[bshorey]

Thanks for passing this along Richard.

RIP Al.

bs

[jimcra]

A couple of years ago at Laguna Seca, I watched a black 4 banger Alfa kick some serious butt during trials, running with a Lusso, Camaros and Mustangs. At the end, I went into the pits to look at the car and happen to meet Mr. Leake. Not only was I fascinated with his driving skill and his car Sophia, but I remember him as a gracious gentleman that took the time to talk to me about his car. I went looking for an Alfa when I got back! He will be missed, I'm sure, by the ones that truly knew him, the racing community, and ones like me, that had the pleasure to meet him by chance. God bless.....

[italcarguy]

Al was a great guy and die hard Alfa fanatic. I first met him at Laguna Seca in the mid 90's when he was running his T/A GTV at an AROSC event. He was so happy a young kid (me) was into Alfa's. He let me sit in the car and talked to me forever on how I should build a GTV or Giulietta race car. In recent years, we pitted together at the Coronado Speed Festival and it was always good to see him and his family. Each time he would drive to pre-grid, he would throw a different grandchild into the car with him. The memories those kids will have of their grandpa. RIP Al.

[BlpltGTV]

I'm really sorry to hear this news. I really enjoyed watching Al race. It was fun watching him put the hurt on Corvettes and others with far more power. I will miss seeing Sophia running away from the field with Mr Leake behind the wheel. I guess this is the end of an era.

Best wishes to his family,

Will

[jrclem]

Al Leake was THE REAL DEAL! A genius at car prep and set-up AND a magnificent DRIVER... but that's not the real story!
Al would share his tire pressures, spring rates, carb jet specs, etc. at the drop of a hat! Not to mention jumping in to aid a competitor in fixing a broken racer...
He was one of the brethren of Vintage (& SCCA) racing. Al wanted to compete (and beat!) only the best... even if he had to pitch in and make the competition better with his help.
My prayers are with Al's family, and my condolences to all of the racing fraternity for our profound loss.

[lowmileage]

Never knew the man - my loss. RIP buddy and condolences to the family.

[Old18]

I met Al at Laguna Seca in 2003. I'd just purchased my '65 Giulia Spider Veloce and planned to go racing. Over the next few years he helped me learn to go faster smarter. He often cautioned me not to take my youth and energy for granted but also never to forget the lessons to be learned from those who have gone before. Al was a big WWII buff and I believe he collected Jeeps too. We often talked about the HBO show, Band of Brothers and "The Greatest Generation". He, along with a lot of the other 'older' guys in paddock taught me to how to listen and learn. I'm sad that I never told him, that although we only visited on race days, he had a big impact me in general.

I'll miss you Al and your wisdom, kindness and gracious hospitality towards this young punk asking too dumb questions.

Your friend,
Martin.

[JPSaleeby]

I may have one of the last GTVs Al restored. It was a special project car 2 years in the making before the first bit of sand hit the old paint. Narrowed Al out of a pool of a half dozen Alfa restorers back in 2003-2005 from the US and Canada. Flew up to see him race in 2005 at Watkins Glen. From there forward Al was not just the guy fixing up an Alfa for me, but rather a friend I would speak with almost on a weekly basis on all things Alfa and more.

My wife and I made two trips to Boulder Creek over the years to see Al and his wife Myr over the course of the restoration project that actually ended just a week before Al passed. They would always put us up at their vacation lodge when we visited. In 2006 they put the finishing touches on a cottage right over the garage where he kept his race cars.

On our second trip in September 2006 Sharon and I got married in their back yard under three large Redwoods. Al and Myr were our witnesses. And we spent our first night as a married couple in their cottage. Al who was an Alfa purist and was so focused on racing, car restorations, etc. on one occasion got a big kick out of something different. We took Al and Myr around town GeoCaching and Al actually go into it like a little kid discovering a new toy.


My project was a one-off GTV to GTAm conversion with a European Twin Spark motor. I am to take delivery in a week as it is being prepped to ship to the East Coast. I know of one other fellow from Canada who is having an almost identical transformation of a '73 GTV done, but his project was lagging behind. So my car may be one of the last Alfas Al restored completely. Will be an honor driving that car.

For more on the project visit: Alfa Romeo 1971 GTAm

RIP Al, you will be missed,

JP & Sharon Saleeby
Bennettsville, SC

Current inventory:
'71 GTV/GTAm
'02 Maserati GT Coupe
'57 Chevy 210 (under restoration)
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD running BioFuel

Past sport cars:
'57 Porsche 356
'93 BMW 318iS
'73 BMW 2002tii
'94 Mazda Rx-7 (3rd gen)
'94 Jaguar XJ-6 Vaden Plas
'00 Acura 3.2 TL
'04 Mini Cooper-S