New England Triumphs
Day of Triumph 15

Sunday, July 31, 2005

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     This year’s 2005 Day of Triumph began in a typically British fashion as reports of rain showers in southern New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Cape Cod and west of Boston trickled from the lips of many of the early arriving attendees. Overcast sky above the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation appeared no less threatening and for a while it seemed that only the owners of the hardtop GT6’s, Colin Davis, Gerry Bressinger, and Steve Harris, remained undisturbed by the threat of rainfall. Quoted rumor from an unnamed source has one of above mentioned pointing toward the heavens and heard whispering ‘bring it on baby’.

     This year’s show produced a rainbow display of autos including John Malinick’s ‘ice blue’ Best of Show 1954 TR2, Rich and Teri Bolton’s 1968 Jasmine Yellow TR250, Colin Davis’s Royal Blue 1970 GT6, and Dave and Clarissa Uttley’s 1973 ‘Rosso Corsa, Ferrari’ red TR6. Signal Red appeared to be the most popular color on the lawn but not to be ignored was Conifer green (British Racing Green) such as Steve Lindquist’s 1968 TR250 along with Shawn Daley’s ‘Carmine Red’ 1974 TR6.

     Speaking of Shawn Daley, a self-admitted occasional weekend driver, he may have garnered the most envious of listeners when asked how he came about ownership of his TR6. He wasn’t too quick to answer. Instead, he carefully pointed out the authentic green engine hoses and excitedly mentioned the amount of elbow grease he’d applied with each waxing of his baby. Not to be outdone, Shawn also noted the installation of a vapor barrier across his garage floor along with the use of a small house fan to help reduce condensation. His first Triumph was bought in the 70’s and he says he’s been in love with the TR6’s ever since. After some prodding I finally managed to squeeze a slight confession from Shawn about his acquisition. It appears ‘birthday boy Daley’ has a wonderfully understanding, caring, and loving wife who some years earlier had learned the truest and quickest way to a man’s heart is through an automobile. Cheers to her although I must confess that when I ran the scenario by my wife her lone reply was ‘in your dreams’. I believe it was another Brit who said ‘you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one’. How true. Anyway, a very belated Happy 50th Birthday goes out to Shawn Daley.

     So, who are these Triumph drivers? A varied lot for sure. Gerry Bressinger, ’67 GT6, a self-annointed recreational driver. John Malinick is a ’54 TR2 proud owner who believes his car ‘will beat any TR2 in the world’. Dave Uttley wanted a Triumph since he was a teen and after investing thousands of dollars and countless hours in total restoration is proudest of the fact he’s done most of the work himself. ( I suspect his sweetheart Clarrissa has also volunteered her fair share of effort). How about Steve Linquist whose first experience owning a Triumph was in 1970 and in 2004, after a 34 year lapse, came back to the game? He says on rare occasion he might even drive his TR250 to work. How many know that the TR7 is the most popular of all the TR’s?

     You’d be hard pressed to convince Colin Davis, ‘70GT6, he’s cramped for space. Andre McLaren, another TR6 owner, says he got into Triumphs for one reason: his father was a British Car Mechanic. John O’Donnell, a true Scotsman and self admitted GM man, drives a ’79 Spitfire. Paul Lacritz proved a true mechanical artist working his time machine craft into transforming a near new Triumph motorcycle into a classic.

     Probably most of the cars at the show see more garage dust than road. But one has to remember they weren’t built to compete with today’s maniacal roadway manners. Not everyone realizes the joy of motor touring, of simply motoring from one place to another while appreciating the miles in between. My one and only Triumph was a ’68 GT6, bought in ’71. A fairly new car by some standard of measurement. Pat and I drove it from Boston to the top of Mt. Washington then used every turnout we could squeeze into on the descent and yet the breaks smoked more than the backyard grill. We drove as far as northern Maine and P-town on outer Cape Cod, and numerous spots throughout New England. But living by the ocean and the onslaught of rust got the better of the car. But not our memories. My wife will never forget having to lift her feet every time we drove over a puddle. I have no explanation for why my passenger side front knock-off wheel suddenly took on a life of its own and rolled ahead of us as we exited a highway ramp. I know for sure I would never have kept it on the road if it wasn’t for my father, a true Master Mechanic. I haven’t sat in or driven a Triumph in nearly thirty years. But I also know it doesn’t hurt to keep looking. I know the joy and pride of each and every owner, more than fifty, who showed up at this year’s Day of Triumph. Road dust, or garage dust, of course there is a difference, but mostly it’s immeasurable. Sometimes ‘been there, done that’ has to make do. Congratulations to all the Triumph owners, those who attended the show, those who won awards, as well as the members of New England Triumph and the many members other Triumph clubs who attended.

     A very special thanks for a complicated job well done goes out to Doreen and Chuck Giorgio, event coordinators whom each managed to keep a very ‘British’ stiff upper lip during the early morning threat of rain. Also, Bob Totten who sent me quite a bit of information on the day. The gracious folks at Larz Anderson deserve an applause as well. Thank you Elln Hagney. I am sure there are many others whom I didn’t get a chance to meet yet contributed to the show’s success.

by Mike Cangemi

    

Award Winners:	Best of Show: John Malinick 1954 TR2
TR3:	Early TR6:	TR8:
1st Don Kula	1st Mark Desenberg	1st Anthony & Sandra Cerbone
2nd Scott Stewart	2nd Art Baker	2nd Jay Fedigan
3rd Jane & Jack Nixon	3rd David Uttley
TR4:	Late TR6:	Late Spitfire:
1st Bill Colucci	1st Scott Rassoulian	1st David & Sandra Arwen
2nd Craig Aharms	2nd Mark Karas	2nd Paul Meyer
	3rd Kevin Thompson	3rd John Nugent
TR250:	Late TR7:	GT6
1st Rich & Teri Bolton	1st Matt Hogan	1st Colin Davis
2nd Robert Larsen	2nd Paul Gursin	2nd Gerry Bressinger
3rd Steve Lindquist	3rd Michael Cuccurullo	3rd Steve Harris