Joe, Mr. Robson quoted you in his post. The quote can't be taken as a
personal accusation by you. I read it as questioning his source; as in an
exploration for the truth and an explanation for the discrepancies. He
further acknowledges his source will vary the data, so why get upset at you?
My .02
Terry Banbury
> ----------
> From: Joe Curry[SMTP:spitlist@gte.net]
> Reply To: Joe Curry
> Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 10:54 AM
> To: Richard B Gosling
> Cc: Spitfire Internet Mail List
> Subject: Re: Spitfire chassis numbers
>
>
> I'll be sure to take my letters from Anders providing all the details I
> reference with me to the Triumphest gathering in San Diego and
> show them to Mr. Robson. He is scheduled to be there along with Kas
> Kastner as guests of the event. Perhaps we can compare notes.
>
> In putting together the Spitfire database, I have had occasion to ask Herr
> Clausager several questions regarding oddities that I have
> found in the various Spitfire models and he has provided me with much data
> regarding them. He does, however indicate that the data is
> far from complete is certain areas.
>
> While, I don't recall exactly what the issue was back then (getting a bit
> long in the tooth), but as I recall, The name of the person
> whose data was mentioned was not given, so my comments were not meant to
> cast aspersions on anyone's character, just the source of his
> data. If our sources are the same person, I wonder how accurate it really
> is. However, it seems to me that whatever it was that was
> in question was so far different from my own data that it could possible
> have been someone's misinterpretation or a typographical error
> that led to the difference.
>
> At any rate, I'd love to have the opportunity to compare notes to see
> where the differences are and perhaps even call Anders into the
> fray as a "Referree"! :)
>
> Regards,
> Joe
>
> P.S. The data that I have received from Anders was during February through
> April 1998. And I did notice that in those exchanges, some
> of the data was updated from one letter to the next. Therefore, it
> appears that the data appears to be a "Work in Progress" and will
> vary as more information is accumulated by Anders.
>
> I might add that I have also found that you cannot fully trust everything
> that ANders tells you. A case in point: He said that in the
> later (VIN numbered) Spitfire models the digit before the last "T" will
> always be "A" (meaning 1980) and a number 9 does not exist. On
> the contrary, I have registered several cars in the Spitfire database that
> do indeed have the number 9 in that position.
>
> If you still have details of the original information that I questioned, I
> would like you to pass it along so I can have it for
> reference in case this thing continues!
>
> Richard B Gosling wrote:
> >
> > Joe,
> >
> > Remember a couple of months back, 'Club Torque' (the magazine of Club
> Triumph
> > in the UK) published Spitfire chassis numbers, and there was some
> discussion
> > over their accuracy - you produced a different set of number for some
> models?
> > Well, next issue, a couple of months down the line, and your e-mail has
> been
> > published, along with a reply from the guy responsible for the original
> set of
> > numbers in 'Club Torque'.
> >
> > You may well have already seen a copy of this, but just in case you
> haven't,
> > here's the reply (be warned, you seem to have pushed his button!):
> >
> > Dear Derek (Pollock that is, Editor of Club Torque),
> > Thank you for letting me se the obviously disbelieving rant about
> Triumph
> > Spitfire production from someone in the USA. The implication about my
> > quotation of Spitfire production figures is that I made up everything
> to suit
> > myself. Well - I object to that. All production figures and all
> chassis
> > number details, first, last, changeover, etc. always come from Anders
> > Clausager at the BMIHT, at the time the book was originally written. I
> have
> > always found it wise not to second-guess whatever Anders tells me,
> because he
> > has all the statistics and records there at Gaydon. I don't know who
> Joe is,
> > but if his source is the BMIHT and so is mine, how can the figures
> possibly
> > 'differ greatly' from those I quote? And does 'greatly' mean 20 in
> 300,000 or
> > 10,000 in 300,000? If we're going to have a war, let's get down to
> > specifics... "I'd question the source of the person who wrote that..."
> > Bloody cheek. I'd be very chary about writing that about an American
> writing
> > about American cars, so why does he do it in the other direction?
> > The only thing I would say is that even Anders occasionally
> massages/marginally
> > alters his figures from time to time. Accordingly, those I quote in my
> MRP
> > Collectors Guide for Spitfires/GT6s are slightly different from those
> > published in my Osprey book and from my MRP book, merely because one
> book came
> > along years later. I rechecked (that's right, rechecked) everything
> and used
> > Anders' latest 'sworn on a bible' facts and figures. As you can see, I
> don't
> > like my integrity being rubbished - and you are welcome to use the
> whole of
> > this to quote back at the obviously saintly 'Joe'. If he wants to
> contact me
> > by e-mail, I am on: grahamrobson@compuserve.com.
> >
> > Graham Robson
> >
> > I guess you touched a few nerves there! In any case, if you haven't
> seen it I
> > believe you have a right to. I guess the rest of the list would be
> fascinated
> > to see what transpires - for some reason I seem unable to send e-mails
> to the
> > list, although I can e-mail individuals, so if you are happy to share
> this
> > around please forward it to the list.
> >
> > I am taking no sides here, I'm just copying out a letter from a
> magazine, so
> > please no-one have a go at me over this! Don't shoot the messenger!!
> >
> > Richard Gosling and Daffy
>
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