It was poignant that we heard the news of de Cad’s passing whilst on the pit wall at Le Mans Classic. For 30 years we have had the distinct pleasure of sharing the mews with this inimitable character. Alain moved to our famous car-loving mews in the 70s and ran his eponymous race team from it with the help of the immensely talented Gordon Murray and Dick Crosthwaite.
In our misspent youth, Alain came to all of the parties we had and racked up most of the miles on the odometer of his Green Daytona Spider giving all the prettiest girls joyrides. For both this and his antics on track, he was our idol – he showed us that you could work hard, go to Le Mans as an amateur, and have a good go of it but also have a hell of a lot of fun along the way. To be clear, he was never boastful, he simply wanted the rest of us to follow his example. The amazing thing is that over the years he never changed, his youthful mischievous energy, cracking sense of humour and unbridled enthusiasm never seemed to age.
Alain created a community here in the mews. The resident mewsmen and mewswomen, as he called us, were always around to give a helping hand with each other’s cars. A few months ago the entire Mews got out and helped Alain and his son Aidan tow-start his Ferrari 275. He’d often poke his head around the door asking to borrow all sorts of tools and help and we always acquiesced, full well knowing we’d never see our things again. He was so charming about it that you never felt like an aggrieved party. Part of the induction for any great car that came into the mews was having Alain go over it, he’d amble over in one of his Alfa jumpers, usually with Leica in hand, and inspect the latest exciting offering. The most recent induction was the 8C Figoni Spider that we had with us for filming and we were honoured that despite not being well, Alain threw himself into narrating our 8C film for us. The passion in his voice is palpable and we are so privileged to have collaborated with him on one last project. Truly, to hear Alain speak about 8Cs was to experience passion in its purest form. Just before he headed out to LA he fired up his own beloved 8C, “FLC 820” and drove down the mews for what was to be the last time, a sight and sound that won’t soon be forgotten.
On behalf of all of us, thank you de Cad for everything you were and everything you taught us – yes, to love the cars, to appreciate their history, but also to go out and do it, use them, enjoy them, race them, and never be afraid to dream big.
Our sincerest condolences to all the de Cadenet family.
We will never forget our greatest mewsman…
Gregor Fisken & Team
