• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

TR4/4A From a VTR post on Facebook. Herman has passed.

Share this page

PeterK

PeterK

Yoda
Offline
It's with great sadness that we report the passing of Herman van den Akker. We lost him this afternoon to pneumonia. Attendees of the last several VTR Nationals will know Herman as the developer and manufacturer of the HVDA Toyota 5 speed conversion kit. He also won the 'longest distance driven' award several times, including this year as I recall. His many friends from TRSC and across the country will certainly miss him: the party was always at his room.





 
That is sad to hear. Herman was a great Guy. Met him a few times and talked on the phone a few times also. Very knowledgeable and just a great down to earth Guy.
He will be missed by many!
 
Sad news indeed! I never met him, but by all accounts he was a great guy...RIP.
Rut
 
That is terrible news; so sorry to hear it. I spent much time on the phone with him during the installation of my 5-speed conversion kit. He was incredibly patient and answered any questions I had. He will be missed.
 
Indeed, he will be missed. Many years ago while I on a multi-day business trip I had an open day when some equipment broke at the shop I was visiting and they were going to use that day to get it up and going again. So I gave him a call to talk with him about the conversion kit. He just told me to drive up and come see him, inviting me to his house, so off I went. We had a great time talking about Triumphs, the machine shop business and such. Very personable and friendly, had a wonder afternoon and evening with him. If you never had the chance to meet and talk with Herman, you missed an all around great guy.
 
I'm truly devastated by this. I met him in February when I went to pick up my HVDA conversion at his house. The minute I walked up to the door and saw the sign that read "beer is loved in this house" I knew I was going to like this guy. He told me stories of driving down to Ventura to get beer for his tap in the garage. Painting cars in his garage in Thousand Oaks which ultimately led him to move up to Pine Mountain Club. He told me stories about all the machining equipment in his garage and the deal he got on it. He was a JOY to meet and I was looking forward to driving my Triumph when it was done to show him. His wife was great as well and his house...gorgeous. He was a true car guy when he showed me his Porsche. And with all the CA wildfires going on he was on my mind. I'm really really saddened by this news. This is a picture of him and I from earlier this year. RIP Herman. You will be missed greatly. Thoughts and prayers are with his wife, his daughter and other family.
 

Attachments

  • Herman and I.jpg
    Herman and I.jpg
    42.9 KB · Views: 177
Thank you for posting, Peter. And thanks to all for the stories. Herman van den Akker, individuals like him, together with these stories are a significant part of why we enjoy our LBCs. Thank you.
 
I remember that when I had questions about my first conversion, I emailed Herman for help. He didn't write back; instead he called me from his home to mine and we talked for a hour. We talked on the phone a couple of times. He was just interested and had this drive to help everyone. Always ready to help and teach.
 
Last edited:
A very sad day in the Triumph world. Herman's presence and knowledge will be missed . He has contributed greatly to the driving and enjoyment of many Triumph owners.
Best wishes to his wife Helen.
Charley
 
So sorry to hear this. I have Herman's conversion in my TR3, and talked to him a couple of times, during and after the installation. He was always magnanimous with his time and expertise. You will be missed...RIP
 
I too am saddened on the news. What a great guy. I met him at the Roadster Factory Summer Party I think in 1999. I had just bought my TR250 and was on a mission to find out as much info as I could about my car. He was a wealth of knowledge and like everyone has commented very personable too. I got to drive his car with the conversion (not many of us would allow a stranger to do that) and I was so intrigued with his car and particularity the color I just had to have it. Not an exact match but love how it accents the lines.
 
I too am saddened on the news. What a great guy. I met him at the Roadster Factory Summer Party I think in 1999. I had just bought my TR250 and was on a mission to find out as much info as I could about my car. He was a wealth of knowledge and like everyone has commented very personable too. I got to drive his car with the conversion (not many of us would allow a stranger to do that) and I was so intrigued with his car and particularity the color I just had to have it. Not an exact match but love how it accents the lines. We're loosing too many good old timers with a wealth of knowledge and my hope is the younger generation will step up and get interested before we loose it all.
 

Attachments

  • camptrf.jpg
    camptrf.jpg
    85.9 KB · Views: 153
Got_All_4 said:
I too am saddened on the news. What a great guy. I met him at the Roadster Factory Summer Party I think in 1999. I had just bought my TR250 and was on a mission to find out as much info as I could about my car. He was a wealth of knowledge and like everyone has commented very personable too. I got to drive his car with the conversion (not many of us would allow a stranger to do that) and I was so intrigued with his car and particularity the color I just had to have it. Not an exact match but love how it accents the lines. We're loosing too many good old timers with a wealth of knowledge and my hope is the younger generation will step up and get interested before we loose it all.
Click to expand...

Here are a couple pics of his TR250 you speak of which had been on so many long trips! Just happened to be sitting in the garage when I was picking up my conversion. I'm hoping as I get to learn more about this car and some of the tips and tricks I've learned from folks on here I'll be able to spread that word to potential future owners. I sure hope someone with a passion for these cars gets Herman's TR250 and his Porsche.
 

Attachments

  • HVDA TR250.jpg
    HVDA TR250.jpg
    47 KB · Views: 162
  • HVDA TR250(2).jpg
    HVDA TR250(2).jpg
    60.4 KB · Views: 157
ghawk16 said:
Here are a couple pics of his TR250 you speak of which had been on so many long trips! Just happened to be sitting in the garage when I was picking up my conversion. I'm hoping as I get to learn more about this car and some of the tips and tricks I've learned from folks on here I'll be able to spread that word to potential future owners. I sure hope someone with a passion for these cars gets Herman's TR250 and his Porsche.
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting those pics... that is a beautiful car!
It made me smile when I looked at pic #2. It looks like there is a beer tap under the red "Self Serve" sign. :cheers:
 
Gliderman8 said:
Thanks for posting those pics... that is a beautiful car!
It made me smile when I looked at pic #2. It looks like there is a beer tap under the red "Self Serve" sign. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Yes, yes there is. And the fridge was pretty well stocked as well. He said he would drive to Ventura where a place would sell him kegs of his favorite beer (can't remember...but it's a popular one) for his tap...even though they weren't supposed to.
 
charleyf said:
Likely his daughter Heidi. I suspect that she fits this description.
Click to expand...

Probably right. I think he said he had a TR3A(?) that he gave to her and he told me that guys she would meet up on dates weren't too keen of the car when she showed up in it. I told him if she showed up in a car like that for a date with me I'd be like "now this is my kind of girl"! His daughter is not too shabby looking either based on the pictures he showed me! ;)
 
Back
Top