Mart!

You look just like Colonel Sanders there buddy.

Long time no hear.  Glad to see  a post from you.

Yeah, he was one of the good ones for sure.

Hey Darren and Mike, Mart here from Qc, its been a while! i still have a message on my cell i just cant delete, Big Al called me to wish me a happy 2022 the day before he passed. I really miss the random calls...

He was a little larger than life, eh Darren?

I still miss him.  I'd get advice, phone calls or stuff in the mail, totally random.

I don't know another person that treats me that well. (ie: does nice stuff w/o being asked)

So sorry to hear this. I will forever miss Big Al. He used to buy his mini's in the states, and because I'm in Buffalo, he'd keep them at my house till custom's the paperwork cleared and he could get them into Canada. He'd usually give me the keys, and let me take them for a test ride. Ve9aa mentions the Baby puke green auto clubman. I drove that, along with a number of others. I know he sold his house on lake Erie in Wainfleet ON a few years back to move closer to his kids (closer to Toronto maybe?). I met his older son at some point and Joy is such a wonderful person, she was always a pleasure. When my son was born, he stopped by and dropped off an infant sized cowboy outfit that was adorable. (my son is now 20, in that picture there).

I came on here, hoping I could catch up with Big Al, as the vintage races are this weekend at Watkins Glen. He and I could usually catch up with a beer at the re-enactment on Main Street.

I'll be sure to have a few drinks in his honor this weekend. RIP Big Al.

i met him in one of the Minimeets..

My condolences to the Bereaved Family, RIP Big Al i miss our chats, he used to message me a lot.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

I just heard the sad news about Sir Al. Condolences to his immediate and extended family on here.

I'll miss his wits and keeping me relatively in line on here.

My heart and thoughts to the Guest Family.  My late parents and I thought of him as family too.  I will miss him greatly.

Another one of the great ones in the Mini community gone.  A big loss for all of us.  Condolences to his family.  Rest in peace, Big Al.

Mike, Thanks for posting those pictures. Hard to believe 30 years have past. And equally hard, is to keep up with all Big Al's minis.

I didn't take THIS pic, but most here will know what it is and how it relates !

more Big Al...I think this was his baby-poop green Clubman Auto which he threw me the keys to....I know this is a picture of me, but this was all about his kindness in doing so.  I'll never forget that Al.

I think this was MME03, Magog, QC

Big Al scared the outta me driving this orange Clubman 1275GT which later went to Ron in Maine I think.  I seem to recall anyways.

Had the great pleasure of meeting Al a few times over the years. Always a top notch guy. He'll be sadly missed.

Amen to Abel's post. I wish I'd met him in person.

For those of us who never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, it is nice to hear your stories about Big Al. Keep them coming, please, and pictures of events he attended would be great.
cheers,
Abel

2002

Great idea to drive your Mini and remember Al!  I went today as the next few days will be pretty wet/icy.
Found some twisty Mini roads and had some fun.  Many thoughts of Al and too many other friends no longer with us.

Not sure if was 2004 or not, but it was a year the Mini was featured at the Watkins Glen Vintage races. I had purchased tickets for all activities but my employer scheduled an IT conversion for me that w/e and I could not get out of it. Called AL and I was in luck! He and his Son were happy to take my tickets! He did send me a poster for the event as a thank you! RIP SIR

Sad news indeed.  He will be missed.