joe worsley wrote:
>
> emanteno@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> >
> > Bob Kramer wrote:
> > >
> > > One of the subjects that came up at the VTR meeting was why the turnout at
> > > the Nationals is declining. The answers seem to be that there are more
> > > choices than ever, with very the TRF summer party, Moss sponsored events,
> > > more VTR regionals and bigger and better British car events all over the
> > > country. With so much to choose from, VTR members are opting for the more
> > > special events that include racing, boat rides, etc. Events like
> > > Triumphfest and the Summer Party are not losing ground.
> > >
> > > Savannah was a very special VTR national, due in great part to the race
> > > cars. I spent most of two days at the track drooling (or was that sweat).
> > > Since the VTR is an organization that exposes values that include
> > > encouraging driving the car in the manner it was intended, (concours cars
> > > must be in a driving event) it is my opinion that the VTR should focus on
> > > the cars that represent the true Triumph spirit. This would include
> > > autocross and race cars, cars that compete in the rallies etc., and reward
> > > them. Take the emphasis on driving the cars to the next level. The
>judging
> > > class for modifed race cars is a good start.
> >
> > Bob and all,
> >
> > In 1976, the Illinois Sports Owners Association, in conjunction with the
> > Detroit Triumph Sportscar Club, hosted an event known as the North
> > American Triumph Challenge. There were 4 main events: autocross, rally,
> > fuel economy run/tour (1976, remember), and car show. The idea of the
> > "Challenge" was to have a driver that also looked good. Everyone entered
> > all of the events, the cars were driven hard, then we cleaned the bugs
> > off of them and had a car show. No one trailered a car to the first
> > several events.
> >
> > Over the years, the North American Triumph Challenge merged with the VTR
> > National Convention, in an attempt to make 1 LARGE Triumph meet each
> > year. The first few years of the combined event, there was a co-billing.
> > This year, there was no mention of the North American Triumph Challenge.
> > Sadly, merging with VTR seems to have changed the "Challenge" of the
> > event to driving the car as little as possible out of the enclosed
> > trailer to the show and then back into the trailer. The Best in Show
> > TR250 was beautiful, but was it a sports car or a museum display?
> >
> > There will always be conflict between the drivers and the shiners (and I
> > think even the casual reader will be able to figure out where I fit in).
> > For our National to be successful in the future, we will need to find
> > more of a balance between the 2 groups. This year it seemed that the
> > autocross and rally awards couldn't be passed out to the winners fast
> > enough, while the Chief Judge of the VTR took significantly more time
> > passing out concours awards, with many of the winning concours cars
> > displayed on an overhead projector, while the winning owners from each
> > class posed for a group photo with the Chief Judge. What message is VTR
> > sending with that display? As the show aspect has been emphasized, the
> > attendance has been declining. Is this a coincidence?
> >
> > The largest turn out of Triumphs I ever saw in 1 place was at Mid Ohio
> > in 1992 for the Triumph 40th birthday party/vintage races. Over 400
> > Triumph street cars were driven to Mid Ohio to watch the Triumph racers.
> > This is the true Triumph spirit. I am in total agreement with Bob
> > Kramer's statement that the VTR National Convention should put more
> > emphasis on driving.
> >
> > Irv Korey
> > (send in the flames, I don't need no steenkin nomex)
The Ft. Worth event was the first Triumph function I have ever attended
and I intend to go to more. I acquired a very low mileage clean TR8 that
earned a gold certificate in the concourse judging and felt that I
could have done a lot better with a little work. I hope to better that as
I didn't do much cleaning or other preparation. I trailered the car
for a number of reasons but it wasn't to keep it clean. It was entered
it in the stock autocross for my first ever autocross driving experience
and I drove the hell out of it as several can verify and won second
place. I intend to enter again and do better in that class as I learned
quite a bit. I thought it was a ball and the car survived none the
worse.
I believe that I can have a concourse level car (maybe not 1st place) and
drive it too. A number of others with cars in the concourse judging also
do the same and don't spend 3 days at the meet cleaning instead of
enjoying their cars.
I hope to see a expanded schedule of challenging driving events as it
really made the meet interesting. Combining meets with other groups
would also help to improve the attendance as from what I see it would e
hard for many to attend the number of large ones scheduled.
I enjoyed meeting all of you there and hope to see more of you again next
year if I can get retired and get the new house in NC started next
spring.
Joe Worsley
80 TR8
72 TR6 (sleeping until restoration)
Tupelo, MS
--
Joe Worsley
80 TR8 DHC
72 TR6 (sleeping until restoration)
Tupelo, MS
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