Dr Manfred Schlick started the German Section of the AMOC in December 1983. Not quite as simple as it might seem; in Germany clubs have to gain acceptance under German law and no doubt there is lots of form filling before you can even start, especially when you are affiliated to a British club with their articles of association. You can only begin to imagine the work involved in discussions not only with German bureaucracy but with the AMOC as well. However, Manfred completed the work and eventually organised the first official meeting in Germany. He met the costs of that first meeting out of his own pocket but was extremely gratified that there was a good attendance. Manfred had previously organised private Aston Martin meetings in 1981 and 1982, also at his own cost, so had a well-judged idea of possible future membership. Eventually under his leadership as Chairman the Club grew to 80 Members. In 1985 Robert Leyba joined the German Section and very quickly became involved in the organisation, eventually becoming Chairman in 1990 and taking over from Manfred. His chairmanship lasted until 2002 when he sadly passed away at the very young age of 55. Under Robert’s guidance the Club expanded to 180 Members and he organised four events a year for the German Section. Apparently the meetings under Robert were joyous affairs as he was of a very generous and humorous nature.
To give a little background to Robert he was a lawyer and lived in Hamburg. However, Robert only practised law for a short time as he then started to manage the family construction and letting business. This business was not just based in Germany but also the US, meaning additional intercontinental travel that put a lot of pressure on his time. They always say, ‘if you want something doing give the job to a busy man’, I know this to be true as my wife constantly gives me jobs!
Robert’s first foray into classic cars was a Jaguar Mk II but overall the car did not bring the satisfaction that he envisaged and luckily he purchased a DB2, chassis LML 50/401, which brought him into contact with AMOC Germany and hence membership. Robert’s first meeting was the 1986 German Section annual meeting at Burg Schnellenberg. Clearly, he met other Members and their cars and became a serious Aston Martin collector thereafter, adding initially a DB4 followed by a DB5 Saloon and Volante, DB6, DBSV8, DB2/4 Mk III, DB3S and more DB4s including a GT.
Robert competed in lots of the famous European events such as the Mille Miglia, Tour Auto etc. He also went on to compete in circuit races and I remember him competing at one of the early Goodwood Revival meetings in his works DB2. I should mention at this juncture that as well as the previously mentioned Astons he also added the works DB2s, VMF65, VMF63 and XMC76 to his collection, as well as additional DB2s. In fact he had a team to rival the works team of the 1950s.
Robert had acquired this amazing collection of cars but as mentioned earlier was an extremely generous man. He loaned his cars not only to his sons but to all manner of people to race from the German Section, but also the likes of Chris Woodgate and Jon Goss in the UK.
I mentioned earlier that Robert became chairman and organised many events in Germany. What I did not say is that he was innovative in the events he organised, such as the Ice Meeting on the Island of Sylt. This meeting was a series of organised walks and organised consumption no doubt to combat the cold. I am unsure if it was called the Ice Meeting because of the ice outside or the ice in the drinks inside! Maybe a German Member may enlighten me! He also organised The Annual Goose Dinner at Salzhausen each December. Goose is a very special meal in Germany throughout December. Oh don’t you worry I have been goosed in Germany in December (a little double entendre joke in England and no I am not going to explain it). In 1998 Robert joined the main Committee of Management of the AMOC.
Robert, as I said, passed away in 2002 following a long illness. Under the chairmanship of Bernd-Heinrich Schriever, who had previously acted as Deputy Chairman with Robert, it was decided a memorial trophy should be created for Robert. This was totally funded by the German Section and was to be awarded for outstanding service to the German Section. The very fact that the funding for the trophy was by the whole German Section shows just how much this modest, humble and generous man was revered by all those AMOC Members in Germany.
The first recipient in 2003 and none more deserving was Dr Manfred Schlick, who after all had started the section in Germany.
For further information on Robert Leyba please refer to the excellent obituary written by Dr Manfred Schlick in
AM Quarterly, Spring 2003.
Note: In writing this article I am extremely indebted to Dr Manfred Schlick for all the information he provided for me.