On Saturday night Feb. 9th, New England Triumphs held their annual "End Of Year Holiday Party" at the Lord Wakefield Hotel. A robust turnout of 40 revelers enjoyed good friends, good food & drink, and tunes spun by unofficial club DJ Ernie. (Thanks Ernie!) The timing of the party may have been a little later than usual but the snow, to help instill the holiday spirit, was right on cue. With rooms available in the hotel, no one was too concerned as the snow fell throughout the evening. So, when we got around to the traditional Yankee Swap it sure looked alot like Christmas. Good natured swapping followed with (no surprise!) beer, wine and regalia clothing as the most popular items. To cap off the evening we took a brief look back at '07.
There were alot of accomplishments to be proud of. A great bash to celebrate the 30th anniversary of NET. (Click here for story) Thanks went to Bob Lang for planning a nice tour and to Jack Nixon for his piece on club history. A triumphant caravan to the VTR convention in Valley Forge, another succesful Day of Triumph, and a Lobster Tour that was nearly flawless. (if only the car with the beer hadn't been towed!) Then came the much anticipated awards presentation. The Tremendously Impressive Triumph Award went to Dave Cox' 1973 Stag. Dave is the original owner of this great car in which he has clocked over 180,000 miles! He drove his Stag to the VTR in PA and took 1st in class during the Participants Choice balloting. Nice going Dave!
The Stripped Gear Award was next up. It went to Tom Walling & Wendy Rose. They both went above and beyond for NET in '07. Their efforts in helping to organize the caravan to Valley Forge, hosting the Lobster Tour, and much "behind the scenes" work rightfully earned them the award.... congratulations!
Looking forward to '08, we have a date set for the Start Up Meeting. It's Sunday March 30th. We'll meet at Widow Flethcher's Tavern in Hampton, NH around noon. Bring your ideas for '08 and your appetite as we spend a few hours discussing where NET will be going (literally) in the upcoming year. Some ideas already being kicked around are a club trip to Watkins Glen, a revival of a Cape Cod event, a picnic on the North Shore, and maybe even a little autocrossing or rallying. As you can see, we're open to almost anything involving our Triumphs, so come out on the 30th and speak up about what you'd like to see your club to do this year. See you there!
March '07 Director's Corner by Matt HoganIt's almost time to think about waking your TR from it's winter's nap and I for one can't wait. So today I charged up my battery, topped up the dashpots, and cranked her over. Ah, that beautiful exhaust note..... Of course I didn't venture beyond going back and forth in the driveway to check that everything was still working. The roads were a bit too salty here in Southern NH for my liking and more importantly my new insurance policy hasn't taken effect yet. But still, just to be in my Triumph with the engine running means Spring is almost here.
Well, since my last installment we've had our Planning Meeting. You can read up on the details in the "Member's" section. The turnout was tremendous. Any more and we may have needed a bigger room! I really want to thank all who made the effort to attend. It was a very productive meeting and we made some good progress on finalizing much of the up coming year but the best news of all arrived just before I left for the meeting. I recieved an E-mail from longtime NET member Craig Murray offering his services as Newsletter Editor. I know I speak for all of you when I say, thank you Craig!
The lack of a regular newsletter has plagued us for quite sometime. In every survey we've ever done, the need for a club newsletter has always been the top item. We've had some success with our web site but a newsletter is a must. So, I want to thank Art Ditto for keeping something in print with his newsletters that were published on an "as needed" basis. He did a fantastic job of getting something out when it mattered. This finally gives Art a little relief from the many positions he's held down over the last few years. Art, Craig, Bob Lang, Tom Walling and myself will be meeting to jump start the newsletter and get things in motion for Craig. That's the easy part. Now comes the hard part and it involves every NET member. A successful and sustainable newsletter needs a constant supply of material. If every member wrote just one article for the newsletter we'd have well over a hundred! That would carry us for a long time! It's not that hard. It can be about almost anything Triumph related. A memorable trip, a car you wish you hadn't sold, or repair work youv'e done on your TR. It can be as involved as a multi-part installment on a complete restoration to a few paragraphs on a simple fix. So sharpen your pencils and start writing. Once we get the newsletter off the ground again, we've got to keep it there.
On a different note, I don't know about you but I hate to shell out the almost $10 cover price for those (very nice) British car mags. I usually skim through them when I'm at Barnes & Noble and satisfy my monthly fix with a copy of the more reasonably priced Hemmings Sport & Exotic Car magazine or Classic Motorsports. The only exception I make is when there is a really good article on Triumphs. Well, you've probably already seen it, but the March issue of Britian's "Sport and Classic Car" magazine has a great cover story on the Triumph TR's. I had to add it to my library. What really got my attention was the car that was chosen to represent the TR7. Yup, it's a Java green, Speke built coupe, just like mine. The bloke who owns it even added a glass sunroof like I did! If it weren't for the steering wheel being on the wrong side (er, I mean the right), it could pass for my TR7! Anyway, it's nice bit of writing on the entire TR range and well worth the asking price.
One last thought for this month is about our "comfort zone". No, that's not the amount of padding in the seats of your Triumph and now that I think about it, it's almost a oxymoron when referring to any old British car! But the point is, all of us have a comfort zone when it comes to our Triumphs. It may be how fast we drive our TR, to how far we venture from home, to volunteering at an event. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone I'll bet that you'll create the memories that remind you of why you got into this hobby in the first place. So, if you don't usually go more than 50 miles from home in your TR, join us for the caravan to the VTR convention. If you've never helped out a club event, raise your hand and get involved. If you've held back on the autocross course, "put the Wellie to it" and maybe you'll take first place. Odds are, good or bad, that you'll have a Triumph story to tell (and write about!) for years to come.
December Directors Corner by Matt Hogan
We've been enjoying what I like to call "bonus days". It's those unusally warm days
when you don't expect to be out driving your Triumph. I know I've logged more miles
in the TR these last few weeks than I expected to and I hope you've been able to do
the same. We salvaged the Fall Back Tour on Sunday October 29th through some last
minute e-mails on the N.ET. distribution list. This event had originally been set up
as "rain or shine" for Saturday but the torrential rains caused us to cancel. Then
through some prodding via the distribution list, I was able to reschedule for Sunday.
The turn out was surprisingly good with several TR6's, a Mayflower, and my TR7. I tell
you this because it really underscores the importance of being on the distribution list.
With our current newsletter schedule being sporadic, the internet has really taken
on the main role of communication for the club. Your dues help to support the site
and the distribution list, so don't get left out. Sign up today so you can get the
lastest updates on events. (see "members only" section for details)
I feel as though 2006 was a pretty good year for the club. Participation was good
but plenty of opportunities remain for you to pitch in and make your club even
better in '07. I've spoken to many members over the past year who have expressed
interest in volunteering in a variety of ways. From pitching in at next year's
Day of Triumph, organizing an event of your own, or even filling an open position
within the club (such as newsletter editor...hint, hint) think about what you
can contribute and get involved! The secret is to just jump in. The commitments
aren't overwhelming and besides you'll be with fellow Triumph enthusiasts.
How bad can that be?
As we look ahead, 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of New England Triumphs.
We need to start thinking about how we're going to commemerate this important
milestone. In my last installment, I mentioned that I'd like to see some
information about our clubs' history added to the web site. I've got a rough idea of
how we should do it but need help with the dates and information from the past.
Also, event in June to recognize the actual club birthday is being talked about.
Plus, there's alot of preliminary interest in a club caravan to the VTR National
Convention next July. The event is being hosted by the Delaware Valley Triumph
Association in Valley Forge, PA. This is the closest the convention has been in
awhile to our area and it should be an easy 7-8 hour drive to the Valley Forge
area just west of Philiadelphia. You've still got all winter to tackle the big
jobs on your Triumph to make it ready for the trip!
Our "End of Year Party" will be held on January 13th. You should've recieved
your RSVP invitation in the mail. (if not contact Art) It'll be at the usual
location (The Lord Wakefield Hotel) and is always a great night out. We'll
have the annual presentaion of our club awards and a "yankee swap". So bring
a gift (valued at approx. $20) and join in the fun.
On behalf of the club officers and myself, I'd like to wish you all a very happy
holiday season and I hope to see you at the party in January!
PS It's never to early to send in your club dues for 2007!
October Directors Corner by Matt Hogan
It has been a busy and Triumphant past couple of months since my last entry so
let's get right to it. First of all our Assistant Director Tom Walling and Wendy
Rose are to be commended for doing such a fine job on organizing the Lobster Tour.
I was (unfortunately) unable to attend but from all accounts it was a huge success.
The turnout was great and even the weather cooperated! I know the Groves, who ran
this event for many years, would be pleased to see the Lobster Tour being carried
on in such fine tradition. If you haven't already, check out the pictures on the
web site. Thanks again to Tom and Wendy for their efforts!
The British Invasion in Stowe also had a good N.E.T. turnout and from what I heard
there was a record number of total cars on the field (650+). It was great to see
Triumphs featured so prominently but the big news is that Chuck and Doreen Georgio's
'73 TR6 won Best in Show! Congratulations guys, way to go! Their car is truly magnificent
and a worthy recipient of such a prestegious award. There were some other interesting
Triumphs there as well. I spotted a Mayflower, Herald, and a nice Dolomite Sprint
(that 16 valve head would sure look great under the bonnet of my TR7!).
Then on the following weekend, New England Triumphs' winning ways continued at the
British Cars of N H "Show of Dreams" as we took the prize for best club participation.
There were several N.E.T. members, who braved the morning rain, to make the trek to
this event. It benefits The High Hopes Foundation of NH a charitable organization
which helps to grant wishes to sick children throughtout the state. After accepting
the prize money of $100, I took an informal poll of the N.E.T. contingent and it was
unanimously decided that we donate the money back to the High Hopes Foundation.
I know BCNH was appreciative of our gesture, as their efforts to top the amount of
money raised last year were hampered by the rain and lower than expected turnout.
In spite of the weather there were some nice cars. An Aston Martin DB2, a Series I
E-Type coupe, and even a newer ('04) Lotus Elise. I'll bet some of you have more
details on these two shows and other N.E.T. members who took home trophies. If so,
pass them on to us for posting.
Speaking of postings, keep those recommendations for repair shops and vendors coming.
(send them to our webmaster Greg) With most of our cars laid up for the winter many
fellow members undertake projects on their car in the "off season". They may need
somewhere to turn for advice or a shop they can trust. While N.E.T. doesn't endorse
these vendors or shops, it does provide us with a way to know which ones have been
able to cater to the special needs of an old British car.
One idea I've had lately is the possibility of adding a "Club History" page to the web
site. New England Triumphs has a long and proud history dating back to 1977. Many of
the details and facts about prior years are beginning to get fuzzy. Actually, they may
have been fuzzy when they happened! But seriously, before they are completely out of sight,
I thought some club members could volunteer to work on this project. We could chronicle
important dates in our history, prevoius Day of Triumph results, past winners of awards
like the "Stripped Gear" and "Tremendously Impressive Triumph" and highlights of certain
years like hosting the VTR in '99 or the road trip to Nova Scotia. I've been a member
since '91 but still don't know much about the early years. This information (if still
available) might be enjoyed by new members and could begin the preservation of our
club's history. It might make for some interesting winter meetings to enjoy a pint
or two, er..um.... I mean gather some facts. Let me know your ideas.
Last month I mentioned the Eurofest at the BMW facility in South Carolina. It looks
like the rumor of a new Triumph model is just that, a rumor. I saw a picture in the
latest "Car and Driver" of the new, small roadster that will wear the BMW badge. Too
bad, but then again maybe it's just as well that someone isn't messing around with our
cars' proud heritage. And while we are waxing nostalgic, as I write this column today
(October 5th) it's the 25th anniversary of the end of Triumph production. (no, the
Acclaim doesn't count!) On this date in 1981 the last TR7 rolled off the line at Solihull.
A sad day indeed.
Right then...we must press on, and to help us keep the marque alive and give you one
more chance to drive the Triumph before it goes into hibernation we're planning a
"Fall Back" Tour of Southern New Hampshire. It's on Saturday October 28th the last
day before we turn the clocks back. Check out the upcoming posting on the web site
for details. It's tentatively going to be around the Massachusetts border and up
towards Manchester, NH. It may be a little late by then for foliage but we'll cruise
some nice back roads, make a couple of interesting stops and then go for a bite.
So even if it's a little cold, do try and brave the elements and join us. I hope
to see you there!
August Director's Corner by Matt Hogan
It's August and that means that another Day of Triumph has come and gone.
There were plenty of good cars, good friends, and good weather. If you missed
it, you can read all about it here DoT 2006 and check out
the great pictures by Paul Rego
through this link. Click here
Hopefully, we'll see all of you next year at the
17th Annual show. One topic floating
around Brookline at DoT was the Eurofest to be held in mid-October at the BMW plant
in South Carolina. Bob Lang has sent out a "feeler" on the NET distribution list
and if there is enough interest maybe we can get a caravan of some NET members to
drive down. Triumph is the featured marque and the rumors are beginning to fly
again about the possibilty of a "new" Triumph. BMW owns the rights to the
Triumph name and the last time they featuered a marque they own, they unveiled
the new Mini. We can only hope for a new TR! After all, it'd have to be better
than a Chinese MG assembled in Oklahoma! (only kidding...geez, MG owners can be so touchy!)
Now is the time to start planning for the September events coming up. First and
foremost is the NET "Famous" Lobster Tour. This is the longest running event in
the club. Tom Walling has planned a great tour with a new venue for lobster. See
the flyer in the newsletter or on the club web site for details. Mark your calendars
for September 9th and remember there is a Sept. 5th RSVP deadline.
The remainder of the month has something every weekend. The British Invasion XIV in
Stowe, VT is next on Sept. 14th thru 17th. Another event that has Triumph as the
featured marque. There has been lots of interest in having a strong NET showing.
We could use a volunteer to step forward and organize a caravan to Stowe. Drop me
a line if you can help put this trip together.
Then comes the British Cars of NH 10th Annual "Show of Dreams" on Sept 23rd. This
excellent, long running event is in a new location; The Anheuser Busch Brewery
in Merrimack, NH. The proceeds go to the High Hopes Foundation which grants wishes
to sick children. This promises to be a great event and for a wonderful cause.
There is also a $100 prize for best club participation which NET has won in the past.
(BCNH.org for details)
Last but not least is the Cape Cod British Car Club's British Legends Weekend.
This event is in it's sixth year and while I've never been able to attend, I hear
it is top notch. Back road tours, a boat cruise and car show are just some of the
highlights of this weekend long event. It runs from Sept. 29th to Oct 1st. (CCBCC.org for details)
On a more immediate note, Jon Liebold is putting together a Friday night cruise
around Groton, MA ending with a stop for a pint or two at a jazz bar. It will
be in the next week or two, so watch the site for details. It'll give you a good
excuse to cut out of work early on a Friday!
Obviously we are in the thick of the driving season, so keep that TR running
right and I'll see you at an event soon.
Best Regards,
Cape Ann Drive
On June 11th, Alex Delis hosted the second "annual"(?) Cape Ann Drive. Unlike our first
two driving events this year, the weather co-operated magnificently. As can be seen in the
accompanying photos, there were abundant blue skies. The temperatures were perfect.
We rendez-vous'd at the
circle entering Gloucester. With 9 cars at the start, (picking up one more along the way)
we shared viewing and discussion of each other's cars.
The drive continued with magnificent country scenery on quiet roads in Beverly and Essex.
We finished the day as we had begun. Out in the parking lot, looking at each others cars and
labors of love. It was a great day.
June Director's Corner by Matt Hogan
June is always a great time to get the TR out for a drive and, perhaps, by the time you read
this two more NET driving events will have taken place. The Poker Run down along
the coastal areas of Rhode Island and the Cape Ann Tour in Massachusetts. Hopefully,
you were able to attend one of these events. The geographical distances between the
membership sometimes works against us, but these two were pretty spread out, and
hopefully one or the other was in your neck of the woods.
During British Car Week I logged several trips in the Triumph. Almost everywhere I
went the Triumph started up a conversation with strangers. Sometimes it's "I used
to own one of those" or "What kind of a car is that?". It's always nice to talk
up the British Car hobby and with the price of American muscle cars going through
the roof, some of our Triumphs seem like a real bargin! And much better gas mileage
to boot.
The most rewarding experience of the week was helping my cousin, Rick, get his TR6
running again. Like many stories involving old cars, life gets in the way of giving
the car the attention it needs to keep it on the road, and his 72 TR6 sat dormant
for 9 years. The car had been flat bedded during three different moves from one garage to another.
We weren't really sure what we'd find. The crankcase was drained and an alarming
amount oil and coolant(?) came out, so a head gasket may be in the near future, but
after draining and refilling the oil, gas, and putting in a new battery, the old TR
kicked right over. A little ether helped it along, but the idle was smooth and no
white smoke! Heck, the brakes worked, and the clutch wasn't frozen. About a pound
of half eaten acorns and clumps of insulation came out of the tailpipe! Looks like
some little critters need to find a new muffler to call home. Getting (and keeping)
our Triumphs on the road is not always easy, but this was a nice way to do my little
part for British Car Week.
In our latest issue of the newsletter you'll find the new password to our "members only"
section on the website. Our dues not only support the newsletter production and mailing
costs but also pay to maintain our website. Having access to our "members only" section
is another benefit of belonging to NET.
Planning for Day of Triumph is going well, but we can always use another hand. Let us
know if you are able to help out on the day of the show with set up, parking cars,
counting ballots, etc.
Thanks and I hope to see you at an event soon,
May Director's Corner by Matt Hogan
Driving season and Spring are now upon us. For many of us this time of year means getting
our cars back in shape for the upcoming months and for some of us it may also include
that dreaded trip for a state inspection sticker. I don't know about you but for me
to see a "kid" mechanic drive my car into the inspection bay makes me a little nervous.
Not only do we all worry about those dreaded Lucas electrical problems but the person
doing the inspection wasn't even born when my car was built (and I have a '77!!).
Well, I'm happy to report that my TR7 passed with flying colors. Perhaps the new
front brake pads and flex hoses convinced him not to dig too deep. The NH inspection
process is not the lights, horn, wiper affair that most Massachusetts cars go through!
The driving events start coming on strong every spring and this year is no exception:
Greg Elevich is putting together an event on the North Shore of Boston. Check
the web site for up to th minute details.
New Hampshire Int'l Speedway is hosting is Vintage Celebtation on May 19, 20, and 21.
Always a top notch event.
The Second Annual Hemming's Sport & Exotic Magazine Car Show is being held at
Lime Rock Park on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend (May 28th). Lime Rock and
Hemming's sound like an unbeatable combination for a great show. If there is
any interest from the club we could organize a caravan. N.E.T. member Ned
Sparrow and myself made the trip to Lime Rock a couple of years ago and there
are some nice backroads between here and there.
The "Poker Run" event will be here before we know it (Sunday June 4th).
This year's run will have an added twist as we try to complete last years
route. It seems we were unwittingly competeing against a road race for use
of the planned route and got stuck in the state park. I wasn't able to make last
year's run but do plan to join for the "second half".
These last two events fall within British Car Week which runs from May 28th
to June 4th. For those of you not familiar with this event it was conceived
a few years back as a worldwide week when all classic British car owners are
encouraged to drive their cars to increase awareness. Kind of like a "take
your Triumph to work" day. The idea is to drive your British car often that
week so that others will see your car in daily use and maybe it will spark
their interest in our hobby.
We are still looking for volunteers to help with our annual "Day of Triumph"
at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA on July 30th. Anyone willing
or able to assist please contact a club officer.
I hope to see you at one of the upcoming events and oh yeah, by the way,
have you DRIVEN your TRIUMPH today?
Matt.
Director's Corner by Matt Hogan
I'd like to begin this month's Director's column by introducing myself.
However before I get to that, I know you'll all want to join me in thanking
outgoing director Tom Walling for all of his good work over the last three
years. His leadership has helped to keep our club moving in the right direction
and for that he deserves a hearty thanks for a job well done. As the new Director
I also want to thank Tom for staying on as Assistant Director. He will be an
invaluable resource to me as I assume my new position.
I never envisioned myself as club Director but felt that the time was right for
me to give back a little something to a club that I have enjoyed being a member
of for the past fifteen years. I believe that I am the first director from New
Hampshire and also the first to be a TR7 owner. I've never held any office in
the club before and have only volunteered infrequently. In a way I'm a good example
of what NOT to do if you want your club to thrive. So I will now try to mend my
ways by serving as Director. I've got a debt to pay to N.E.T. and I intend to
make good on it by leading the club into a great year ahead. I look forward
meeting new and old friends at upcoming events and discussing any ideas you may
have. Won't you please think about what you can do to help N.E.T. (and myself!)
in '06 to make OUR club even better.
As we begin this year, N.E.T. is healthy with around 150 members but as with all
clubs there are ongoing challenges to keeping it growing and vibrant. We have a
fantastic web site thanks to the great work of Web Master Greg Elevich but our once
proud (and award winning) newsletter has suffered over the last couple of years.
I recently re-read the survey results of a couple of years ago and the newsletter
was the number one priority. It was still the top issue at the Start Up Meeting.
(Other than electing, or was that drafting, a new Director!) We need to get some
form of regular publication back in circulation. It may be a scaled down version
of a newsletter. Maybe only a few pages consisting of a calendar of events,
classified ads, and my ramblings but we need to get something into our members
mailboxes. By doing this, it just may help improve overall club participation
by having another avenue of communication. But we need volunteers to do it. Please
contact any club officer if you can help us out.
Speaking of our Calendar of Events, it's beginning to fill up. Bill Lepere is hosting
a "Poker Run' on June 4th. We will again be hosting Day of Triumph at the Larz
Anderson Museum in Brookline this July and plans are under way to continue with
one of our longest running events, The Lobster Tour, in September. Also in September,
The British Invasion in Stowe will have Triumph as the featured marque. It would
be great to have a large N.E.T. contingent turnout. Maybe someone can step forward
and volunteer to organize the caravan to Stowe. (hint, hint).
One other item I'd like to share with you is the article in the May issue of Hemming's
Sport & Exotic Car Magazine featuring N.E.T member Hector Augostini's GT6 MkIII. Way
to go Hector! It was a great piece with lot's of nice photos. Hector's car, and philosophy
about using it, should help to remind us all about why we got a Triumph in the first
place.......because we love to DRIVE them. Whether it's daily commuting, club tours,
rallys, or autocrosses our cars were made to be used. I know I'd rather have to replace a
part on my car because I wore it out instead of letting it dry rot or seize due to lack of
use. So charge those batteries, check the tires, top off the fluids and get those Triumphs
on the road!
"Have You DRIVEN Your TRIUMPH Today"?
Matt. March 2006.
NET Kick-off Meeting held
On March 12th, we held our annual kick-off meeting. As Tom Walling had requested
that he stand down as Director, nominations and volunteers were solicited from the
floor. Matt Hogan won unanimous support as the new Director, and Tom agreed to stay on
as assistant to help with transition. Art Ditto remains Secretary, Treasurer, Membership
Chair and Regalia Manager. Congrats to Matt, and won't someone step up to help Art!?
Preliminary event planning ensued, and the scheduled events have been posted to the Calendar.
Consider hosting an event such as a monthly meeting with driving tour or a tech session on some
aspect of working on your car. Also, volunteers are
needed for Day of Triumph. Although Bob and Carrie Grove will be leaving New England, we will
carry on the tradition of the Lobster Tour!
Priority One ! Get the newsletter going. Matt and the volunteers are ready to go, but this
newsletter belongs to the club. Consider writing an article. It doesn't have to be long, but
we all want to know what our members are doing. Tell us about your car, your driving activity,
your racing or your restoration activities. Send your story to Matt (see contacts)
while we work out the editing and publishing.
Safety Equipment Seminar
Bob Lang Excels on the Track
Bob Lang finished second overall in the 2005 NER (New England
Region)/SCCA Stirling Moss (an overall championship for the NER Solo program)
runoff held back in October. Bob has two TR6s: "The Race Car" and the daily
driver. He was only able to qualify by driving the Race Car. The
actual event was held in intense rain (October 8th, 2005), so he
drove the daily driver to an impressive finish.
What a year - FTD at an NER event, a couple of top-10 PAX finishes and
runner up in the Moss!
Congratulations, Bob !
President's Corner
On Saturday, October 8, we attempted to begin a new "annual" event for NET and the
New England MG Club - a "winery tour" of the Camden area to be combined with the
Owls Head Transportation Museum’s Foreign Car Festival. What also began that day
was 2 1/2 days of heavy rain and fog on the coast of Maine.
The truly intrepid couple (Tim Hutchins and Karen Hakala) began their day early
as they had to drive to Brunswick from S. Paris to meet Wendy and me at 9:30.
When we did meet-up it was already pretty soggy, but we decided to "motor on"
anyway, and to have a mid morning snack at Moody’s Diner in Waldoboro*.
We arrived in Camden a little before the rendezvous time of noon and Tim and
Karen checked into their motel while Wendy and I did a quick "buzz" through
town to see what was going on. What was "going on" was lots and lots of
shopping judging from the number of people moving (quickly) between the
shops that line Route 1 through Camden.
We all met up again at the Cedar Crest Restaurant where we were joined by
Jim and Gale Curtis (our hosts for the event). After another meal - and letting my
belt out another notch - we took off in convoy fashion (lights on, close together,
focused on the mission). We quickly cut over to the coast and south to Rockport
to enjoy the scenery, especially the herd of Belted Galways that looked more huddled
and miserable than we did.
We then did a great inland loop that included a stop at an apple farm in Union
where we all bought a bag of apples with visions of apple pie or crisp to keep
us warm while we were becoming increasingly damper. Finally, we pulled into the
Cellar Door Winery to conclude our tour.
The winery is as much a gift shop as it is a vintner, but the tasting was informative.
I learned at least as much about wine there as I did watching the movie "Sideways".
I liked most of the wines we sampled, and ended up buying a few bottles to take home.
What is interesting is that they grow the grapes they use in many of their wines - thus
proving that you can grow grapes in Maine.
We all went our own ways when we got back into Camden until supper. Wendy and
I joined the shoppers downtown and saw lots of interesting, unaffordable and useless stuff.
We joined-up once more for supper (another meal? - oh no!). The Whale’s Tooth was
too small for our group which had now swollen to eight, so we went across the street
for a wonderful meal at Chez Michel’s. The dining room was snug and cozy and the
food was great, so we enjoyed the meal and the company of our band of British car
enthusiasts. As trite as it is to say: this is what belonging to a club is all about.
We waddled out of the restaurant to find that the rain had not stopped (it wouldn’t
for another day and a half) as I had hoped. Oh well, we had driven around all day
long with our headlights and wipers on, so what was a little longer? Well, I noticed
that the needle on my ammeter was not exactly showing a healthy charge, and that
when we were about a quarter of the way home, the turn signals stopped blinking.
By the time we were almost home (3 miles - if I just hold my breath!), the headlights
were growing dim and the wipers had slowed considerably. But then, the ever capricious
spirit of Lucas made itself manifest and with a slight "lurch" the ammeter came back
to life, the lights got bright again and the wipers went back to work! We both sighed
in relief as it was a very wet and dark night to have to walk home. I was happy to
drive the TR back into the garage under its own power.
Tim sent me an Email describing the Foreign Car Festival at OHTM. It was
still raining, and only a handful of cars showed up for the show. He left at
about noon but enjoyed his time wandering around in the museum looking at all the
great cars and airplanes that have been collected there.
All-in-all it was a very enjoyable day - quite typical for a
"Triumph Adventure". There was good food and drink, a mechanical mystery,
interesting roads, the challenge of New England weather, and great company.
I want to thank Jim and Tim for their energy in organizing this and seeing it
through, and I want everyone to think about putting this on their calendars next year.
This event could grow from one year to the next and who knows where it might go?
The MG club has expressed interest, and with our club’s participation this could
become something really great.
* Have you ever eaten at Moody’s? There is no such thing as a "snack" - everything
they sell could feed a family of six.
Drive and Hill Climb with AONE
Once again the Alfa Romeo Owners of New England invited New England Triumphs to join them
in their fall drive through central Massachusetts. The drive culminates in a hill cllimb of
Mt. Wachusett and a trip to the Wachusett Brewery.
The weather only semi-co-operated. Although there was only an occasional "spit" of rain, the
day was raw and tops stayed up on the roadsters -- warm clothes and heaters were the order
of the day. Bob Lang and Greg Elevich represented NET in their TR6s. Had the day been warm
and sunny, we might have seen some of the TR3s, TR4s and Spitfires.
Gene Durso organized the event, and did a marvelous job. The drive started in
Leicester and snaked north along such roads as State Routes 31,122,32,101,2A, 68 and 62. The
foliage was not quite peak, but the yellows and oranges made for brightness, even with the
grayness of the day. The cars ran up Mt. Wachusett with little effort. Clouds prohibited a
view of Boston; the chill at the top was a clear warning that snow would soon be on the ski
trails there.
Kevin Murphy is a member of both AONE and NET. As an added adventure, he and Greg Elevich
swapped cars for the drive until lunch. Both
found the experience of the other's car somewhat eye opening. What a difference between two
1974 models!
The event ended at the Wachusett Brewery for a tour and tasting. Excellent hospitality by
the brewery staff and a chance to learn about one of our favorite beverages.
The cars included: 4 Alfa Spyders, an Alfa GTV, 2 Alfa GT6s and 2 TR6s.
Camden Driving Tour, Winery Tour and Owl's head Foreign Car Festival
Unfortunately, the weekend chosen for our event turned out to have near
record rainfall. As the date approached, participants were dropping out
like flies, scared of the doomsday rain and flooding forecasts. Alas, 3
hearty Triumphs braved the odds and spent the day touring in the rain:
Wendy Rose and Tom Walling in a TR6, Karen Hakala and Tim Hutchins in a GT6,
and Gayle and Jim Curtis in a TR6. As Tim said it was "perfect British
weather!"
The original plans were for the New England MG Club to join
us for the weekend, but alas no MG’s appeared. Score a victory for
Triumph! All 3 cars performed flawlessly in the rain. Score a victory
for Lucas! If there was ever a weekend to test wet electronics, this
was it! We met for lunch at the Cedar Crest Restaurant and decided to
do the tour as planned. We toured the back country roads of Camden,
Hope, Appleton, Union, Warren and Rockport. The terrain was perfect for
sports cars on smoothly paved roads, a rarity in Maine. Our midway stop
at Beth’s Farm Market gave us a chance to stretch our joints. The leaf
colors while not at peak were beautiful, or would have been if we could
have seen them through the rain and clouds! The view from Appleton
Ridge was also spectacular, if only the clouds had lifted! Our tour
wound up at the Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville for a wine sampling
and another chance to rest.
After some time spent in town on our own,
we had a delightful supper at Chez Michel’s, a great French Restaurant
in Lincolnville. We were joined there by a couple from the MG club who
ventured North in their SUV. After a great meal, Wendy and Tom headed
home. Karen and Tim stayed overnight at the Seven Mountains Motel where
they enjoyed true Maine hospitality from the owners. Karen and Tim were
one of 3 cars to show up on Sunday at the Owls Head Transportation
Museum. Needless to say another day of heavy rains put the damper on
the day's events. Oh well, better luck next year! Amongst the few
attending the tour, there was consensus to try to develop this weekend
as an annual club event.
Annual Lobster Tour, Southern Maine
NET Day of Triumph 15 at Lars Anderson
NET Cars Held Hostage at Beavertail Lighthouse
With tour director Bill Lepere in charge sixteen
British cars (all with tops down) gathered in South
Kingston, RI for a poker run and tour of the Rhode
Island Coast. The line of cars sailed down Route 1
through the seaport of Galilee to the Point Judith
Lighthouse for a scenic stop and the drawing of the
first card of the poker hand.
Following the coast by Scarborough Beach and
Narragansett Pier, the cars motored over Jamestown
Bridge and into Beavertail Park at the Beavertail
Lighthouse. Spectacular views were enjoyed,
especially by those participants who were not familiar
with the beauty of coastal Rhode Island. It was at
this point that the number increased to seventeen cars
as Tom Walling caught up with the tour. When we first
started out it was felt that Tom was on the way, but
after waiting extra minutes, on the advice of Frank
Frett the directions with Tom's name attached were
nailed to a handy post. Never underestimate the
ingenuity of British car owners.
After another poker card draw the cars lined up for
our exit from Beavertail Park. We were right on
target for the trip over the Newport Bridge, along the
Newport waterfront and on to the next three stops.
BUT WAIT: Our seventeen cars were ordered to HALT.
Could it be that this island, once a hot bed of
Revolutionary Patriotism, sensed danger from a British
Invasion? The official word was that there was a road
race and the only road out of Beavertail Park was
closed for at least another hour. However, the
consensus of the group was that we were being held
hostage until proper measures could be taken to
monitor the Brits' departure from Jamestown. Taking it
in stride one of the group commented, "if we had to be
captured, one couldn't ask for a better spot than
Beavertail Lighthouse." And since there was adequate
time, the remaining poker hand cars were drawn.
When the road reopened the group slowly chugged along
in heavy traffic, but nary a car overheated. The
remainder of the tour was postponed until next year,
and our line of cars proceeded over the Newport Bridge
to the Coddington Brew Pub where specialty ales, beers
and food were enjoyed.
Special thanks to Frank Frett, Art Baker, and Bob
Stahlbush for their help in keeping the cars together.
The winner of the Poker Run was Phil and Linda
Brzozoski with the prize for driving the longest
distance going to Tom Walling.
North Shore Tour
Prior to the Monthly Meeting on May 15th, we did a driving tour of the North Shore of
Massachusetts including Topsfield, Boxford, Rowley, Amesbury, Newburyport and Ipswich.
The weatherman
threatened heavy rain for the day, but we lucked out with just overcast skies and cold
temps for the season. We did not go topless, tho. The tour left Topsfield Common and
followed beautiful country roads
in very good shape, considering the severity of the winter. Lots of good twists and turns
and chances to accelerate out of curves. The scenery was mostly tree lined roads and
vistas of farmlands. Especially beautiful were the panoramic views of the Merrimac River
from along its north shore that we followed from Merrimac to Newburyport.
The fog moved in for our stop in Newburyport, but the good news was that the town was not
mobbed as would be on a bright sunny spring day. The shops welcomed, and we enjoyed
shopping and warming up with hot coffee. A quick run down Route 1A to Ispwich and then a
scenic run out to Route 1 and down to Danvers for the monthly meeting.
Stop in Newburyport. Foggy, raw weather forced tops up, but did not
dampen our spirits! Cape Ann Tour
Prior to the Monthly Meeting on April 17th, we did a driving tour of Cape Ann. There were
7 cars on the tour, leaving from Manchester-by-the-Sea. We progressed up Route 127 to
Magnolia, a most historic summer resort of the early part of the last century. The panoramic
ocean views off Magnolia Point were breathtaking in this warm spring day with clear skies
and crashing surf.
A typical sports car country road up Hesperus Avenue gave us a chance to try out the
steering, brakes and suspension. On over Stage Fort Park with views of Gloucester Harbor,
and then through the "busy" part of Gloucester out to Eastern Point with more terrific
ocean views from Atlantic Avenue.
No one in front of us as we motored up Route 127A up and down the hills and around the
curves into a very busy Rockport. The spring weather brought out all the tourists. We
found what parking we could and walked around town, basking in the sun of a perfect day.
A quick serpentine run down Route 127 as we glimpse Ipswich Bay and then the Annisquam
running back into downtown Gloucester for out monthly meeting at the Blackburn
Tavern. Good food and beverage and onto business matters.
Matt
Once again
we drove through Gloucester, East Gloucester, along the Atlantic Ocean to Rockport.
Knowing from last year, that there
is no parking available for a rest stop in Rockport on a beautiful Sunday, we wound our way on
to Magnolia and Manchester-by-the-Sea where we took a brief break to stroll, stretch and shop.
We wondered back into Gloucester
for our meeting and dinner at Lobsta Land.
Food and service were great. We are still looking for volunteers for Day of Triumph. Contact
Matt Hogan. Plans are well along, but there is much to be done. Two new possible events were
discussed. There is great interest in a drive in the Groton area, like last year's. This year's
British Invasion of Stowe, VT, features Triumph as the marque. Folks are considering a driving
run up Route 100 to the event.
Matt.
May '06
Pics Click here
The Rain in Maine Falls...
by Tom Walling
October 22
Pics Click here
October 8 & 9
by Jim Curtis
Pics Click here
Read all about it !Click here
