From wily privateer endurance racer and team founder to suave TV presenter, Alain de Cadenet was a one-off. Hugely knowledgeable on a range of subjects, 'de Cad' made the most of every phase of his colourful career. Be it losing his girlfriend to a racing driver on his first visit to a track, searching out historic competition cars in South America or parking his prized pre-war Alfa 8C inside the gates of Buckingham Palace on a visit to view the royal stamp collection, de Cad always pushed life to the limit - as his passengers will attest.
Born in 1945, de Cad claimed he never met his French father, Maxime de Cadenet, who was a lieutenant radio operator in the French Air Force. He later became personal photographer to Charles de Gaulle and was involved in the Resistance movie Tomorrow We Live. In 1942 Maxime met an English girl, Valerie Braham, in London and Alain followed in '45. The marriage didn't last, and Braham moved to California to become an actress under the name Karen Scott.
Left behind in England with his grandparents, de Cad was educated at Framlingham College and initially aspired to be a fashion photographer, but after a trip to Brands Hatch in '66 his focus switched to motorsport with a newly acquired AC Ace 2.6. After a series of Porsches, de Cad's first overseas success was sixth in the 1969 Vila Real Six Hours in a Ferrari Dino 206S with Mike Walton. Always wheeling and dealing to finance his racing, de Cad's team included the winning 908/02 driven by Chris Craft and David Piper.
Aged 26, de Cad made his debut at Le Mans with the Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 512M in 1971. His race nearly ended before it started after he lost the sight in one eye in a fiery shunt with his Lola on the Targa Florio. Two months later his vision hadn't recovered, but somehow he tricked the medics and survived his one-eyed 190mph night blasts down the Mulsanne.
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Classic & Sports Car.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra September 2022-utgaven av Classic & Sports Car.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
