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The Georgia Triumph Association 2910 Tree Trail Parkway Norcross, GA 30093 -

Fi rst Class Mail

Bob Ragan 2611 Willow Green Dr. Duluth GA 30136

The Georgia Triumph Association is a Chapter of the Vintage Triumph Register IJ ",r

FROM THE EDITOR DIRECTOR'S COLUMN By To. Horvat by steve Conway The 1990 Southeastern Triumph Regional event in Sebring was exceptionally enjoyable and it really got me Most of you guys missed another great regional. I would interested in the competition side of Triumph like to personally thank Bill Wilkinson and the rest of ownership. Many of the modifications done to the the Central Florida Triumph Register for a truly fun racers can be beneficial for the performance-minded meet. Can't wait to do it again! Speaking of Which, street driver, also. I love to see factory original next year's regional may be held in the Jacksonville area Triumphs; however, the factory also encouraged tuning since the GTA will be well into planning the National by and tweaking the engines and suspensions for maximum that time. We'll let you know as soon as we get more performance. Some of the cross applications of information. components between Triumphs and other makes of cars are quite interesting. Closer to home, it is time to start seriously thinking about next year's officers. I have not received any steve and I spent quite a bit of time talking to some nominations yet, so let's get those in. The most of the competition drivers and examining their cars. pressing concern is the newsletter. As I mentioned at The sessions were quite informative. I admit that I our last quarterly meeting, we will need both a new have already begun locating some of the modifying editor and a new place to put the newsletter together. components. Next time you see me and my car, take a We have been running off the newsletter at Lori's office closer look and ask me about the improvements. Perhaps for about one and a half years. We have long overstayed I'll tell! our welcome. So if you have any info or services to volunteer, please let us know.

I hope you and yours have a happy holiday season as they are coming upon us rapidly. I look forward to seeing you at the hol iday party if not before.

m[g mlVJl1~'if .

The Trumpet Is the monthly newsletter publication of the Georgia Triumph Association, Inc. Editorial contributions, articles, (always greatly appreciated), classifieds, advertisements, or any other matter relating to the newsletter may be sent to the editor: LODGING WAH'l'ED

Tom Horvat Charming couple seeks 6-car garage with one bedroom; 768 Sir Charles Drive indoor plumbing preferable but not a necessity. Wife not a great housekeeper but cooks a mean bowl of chili and Fairburn, GA 30213 can pour a great beer with just the right amount of head. Husband is exceptional British ca~ mechanic, specializing Neither the Trumpet nor the Georgia Triumph Association shall be held in Jag-u-ars, and will occasionally take out the trash. liable for any damages resulting from technical information presented If you or anyone you know would like to give this couple a home, please contact steve or Lori Conway, asap: In this magazine. This information is presented only for the interest of PO Box UMPH, Kroger parking lot, Norcross, GA. the readership. RENEGADE REGIONAL: FLORIDA STYLE

By Lori Conway It's been almost a week now, and I've still got a hangover ... a regional hangover, that is (although I did Friday dawned ... COLD! steve had informed me that he have a few near misses with the chemically induced kind had it from the highest authority (Joe at Atlanta last weekend). If you've never been to a regional, Imported) that the weather in Florida would be in the especiallY one in Florida, you owe it to yourself to make 80s. So there we were, freezing our tails off on turns a New Year's resolution to attend one in 1991. There's 3 and 4 at the track corner working for the competition nothing like the comaraderie and excitement of a regional cars first thing that morning. It was so much fun, to stir up the old British car disease that chronically though, that we forgot all about being cold after lurks in our blood. The last time we went to Florida for awhile. J.K. Jackson and Ed Knerr had come up with a a regional, Steve and I and Hal all carne horne with plans great track layout (shown below). The only problem was to host our own. This time I carne horne with the "new" there were alot of extra cones set up near the course car bug, and an almost zealous ambition to improve the for an SCCA autocross event to be held Saturday and 250. Sunday. Parade laps were a definite must to keep the drivers on course. still a few people managed to get I must (shamefully) admit, I was not all that excited over into the autocross course by accident (any about the upcoming regional a few weeks ago. Oh, I knew comments, Bill?). we'd have a great time once down there, but I was really dreading the drive, not to mention packing and getting $£~flINa., Fl. o:'T. z.e. . • 'tt~ a things ready, and (egad!) detailing the car. To take out ... " .... '" - n .. 1'It"rNL CotM-u: Fo' ! . ".AC.~ Time. my frustrations, I started getting on steve's case about H;;'l..m~ ~ ~'1'rT" 1S£... T".5 n.",J»"'''- :;'' ~ 'I - tuning up the car and fixing the idle, which had been a problem for several weeks. He appropriately shot back o ' ~ with, "Well, when the #$%& are you going to get out there • ( and clean the *&#$%@ car so it looks half-way decent?" \ \~ ~J • Well, of course, he was right, so I finally yelled uncle • •. - ..... and stayed horne on one of those gorgeous Friday : . --- 00:> afternoons to wax the car and polish my wheels. And, as ~. always happens when I work on my car, my outlook began to improve. still, I was in such a foul mood when we left ~.J~\~====:--­ Thursday morning I thought we would have a fist fight before we got 5 miles out of Atlanta. I didn't even feel like driving, so steve only got a break for about 2 1/2 .. hours. )" To top it all off, we were all having problems with our ..\,. cars (we drove down with Keith and Phillis Milton in their TR7, and Torn and Johnna Horvat in ' their TR6). steve had fixed the idle problem, but one of the 250's u­ joints was starting to get noisy. Torn had recently had new tires put on and had lowered his suspension a bit and steve and I decided to split a single track time, so he was getting terrible negative camber on his back wheels took the car out for 3 laps in the morning and I took thE (we teased him about looking like a Spitfire). And Keith afternoon laps. They allowed passengers, so each of us blew an exhaust gasket shortly after leaving town. We rode with the other. That I'li never do again! I kept were a motley crew to say the least. my promise and didn't say a ward, but it was all I could do to keep the expletives in the first time around Turn As soon as we hit Sebring, though, I think everybody's 2. It's alot scarier when you aren't in control. still , mood started to change . As soon as we walked in the if I had the opportunity, I'd take a ride with J.K. door, we saw Ted Stewart and his friend, Kathy, from the Jackson anytime; that's the only thing that could be GTA, who we didn't know were corning. And the welcoming better than watching him drive the &*#% out of that TR6. committee from the CFTR was great. After that, we went out to dinner along with Ha l Doby and Jeremy Lloyd, then carne back and went to bed early to be ready for the track. steve said he enjoyed riding with me, though. And I Friday evening found most of us in the antiquated lobby was glad he was there. I don't think I could have of the Kenilworth Hotel enjoying the keg party, laughing pulled out a 98.5 second ride without him there at each other's red faces and Ray-Ban-induced owl eyes, screaming "STAND ON IT!" every time the car started and lying about how well we ran at the track. Two kegs sponging around the turns. Bill Brake came in with a were provided this year ... did sales increase Friday night 98.4 and was the third fastest in his class of four. in the Runyan Room, I wonder? But it was the MILTON MAN who blew us all away. Yes, the quiet, unassuming Keith Milton, suddenly became A couple of people, it seems, did not get enough action Speed Racer, hammering his "lizard green" TR7 around at the track that day. Late in the evening, Glen Efinger the track to come in 3rd out of 7 in his class with a and J.K. Jackson held a challenge match in the parking lot. But this time they were racing ... valve coversl time of 95.038! Must have been those shades you picked up Thursday night at the K-Mart, Keith. This folks, is something you have to see to truly In between photographing fellow GTA members scorching appreciate, so I won't even attempt to describe it here. the track, Tom Horvat was seen laying under his car in But if Tom Horvat comes through with his declaration to a desperate (albeit successful) attempt to readjust his build one, we may see one at a GTA event soon. And I rear springs. Before sc·orchj.ng t,h~ , track, Kei t~ . the think Hal decided on the spot to include it as an Milton M~n 'al:~Q succ~ssftilly ', r~piHr~.d. his 'exhaust gasket . . official event at the 1992 National. steve 'and I, however, did our ' car mocfffications whilt!' I" sco~~fiing the track. We apparently lost one of the bolts Saturday morning, only two non-weiner GTA members that holds on the right rear lever shock, which came back (yours truly and spouse) got up to participate in the to haunt us on the way home Sunday. TECH TIP: There's a rallye. It was brisk again, but we still went with the really good auto parts store in Gainesville just off I- top down. We had the most fun on this rallye than any 75, in case you ever need to know. • we'd been on before (no offense, Hugh). It was a basic fun rallye with questions along the route, and a trivia Incidentally, track awards for the stock car classes crossword puzzle thrown in for good measure. I drove were given out based only on consistency, which none of and Steve navigated and we got answered all the us scored too well on! But we all had a great time and questions and most of the puzzle. We got stumped on came out without a scratch (on either body types!), the British term for donkey (arse), and several other which is all that matters. difficult ones. Too bad they didn't ask for the term for house cat. That one I know. Many thanks to the out of the 44 cars that participated at the track, 23 Gold Coast Triumph Club for putting on the rallye. were placed in the "race" classes, either because they were race-prepared and/or the driver had autocross Saturday afternoon turned out great for the car show. experience. So us stock drivers got to watch plenty of We spent most of the time talking with people we'd seen fast driving action; it was almost like being at the at previous meets, guzzling beer, and razzing the Mitty! Of course, the Temple of Triumph was out in force concours judges as much as possible (they picked on me and the brethren (and one of the sistren) provided plenty about my red-on-red tail lights, which were original, of entertainment. Bill and Janet Forbes took 1st and 3rd thank you). But it was (mostly) all in fun. Steve and places, respectively, in the Race 2 class in their light Tom bent J.K.'s ear for about an hour on the setup of blue TR4 with times of 73.434 and 76.253. In the Race 3 his TR6. Or rather, Steve bent J.K. 's ear while Tom class, Randy Freer, Greg Cleary and Steve Alldredge frantically took notes on a matchbook cover he placed 3rd, 4th, and 6th, respectively, in their TR6s. scrounged up in the parking lot. Did you order those Randy would have taken 2nd, I think, but he overextended TR3 wheel cylinders yet, Tom? himself, shall we say, on the 2nd lap of his afternoon run and put on quite a show for those of us working Turn By 6 p.m., the 12-pack we'd purchased at 12:30 had 3. As a result, Glen Efinger squeaked out second place, miraculously disappeared, so we went in to dress for the two-hundreths of a second faster at 77.455. And of banquet. In between innumerable door prizes, several GTA course, the Right-Ir Rev. Dr. J placed first with the members won awards: fastest time of the day: 68.535. If I have left out any T of T members' names, I deeply apologize; and, J.K., if Ted Stewart 1st Place, People's Choice, TR7/TR8 you will let me know how many I missed, I promise to Hal Doby 2nd Place, People's Choi~e, TR7/TR8 drink a beer for each one of them next Saturday at Pub Tom Horvat 4th Place, People's Choice, Early TR6 Night. And if Glen is not a» Temple member, I will drink Bill Brake 1st Place, People's Choice, Spitfire/GT6 two extra beers to absolve myself of the blasphemy of Lori & Steve Conway -- 3rd Place, Rallye mentioning his name in the same paragraph as the sacred Temnlp . Yes, Hugh, I think all those grueling rallyes you've put us through finally paid off. I've never been so The History of the surprised in my life. Torn would have won the model contest for his ingenious three-dimensiqnal model of his car, but yours truly and spouse forgot to vote. Sorry, Tom; but I think my vote would have gone to the "rubber plant", anyway. By Hal Doby Well, I've done it again. In my never-ending pursuit of owning as many More valve cover race action followed the banquet. Triumphs as I can lay my hands on, I've gone out and bought a Stag. Besides it being a Once, Glen's three-stage rocket launcher power booster Triumph, I purchased it mainly for its size, interior and cargo space, and, its quickly back-fired, literally, nearly causing the (timely?) appreciating value. I have heard many people in the GTA talk of Stags as sort of a Holy demise of a Peugeot. Grail. Up until the time I got mine, I was never really interested in the history of this car. sunday morning, members from several clubs met to Now that my interests has changed, I have found some rather facts about this rare discuss the possibilitie~ of 1991 regional. Hal had Triumph. I thought you might be interested in.

announced the night before of the GTA's selection to In 1964, had just completed designing the new Triumph host the 1992 National, so we were out of the question 2000. He then decided to produce a one-off prototype to showcase his design abilities. for next year's regional.; However, Bob Pace of the l Upon his request, Triumph gave him an old 2000 prototype they had used as a general North Florida Triumph Club stepped forward to say his transport car at LeMans. As far as Triumph was concerned, he was simply experimenting. club wanted to host a regional in Jacksonville, FL, Nobody at Triumph had a clue as to what he was up to. next fall. OK, GTA members. It's only a measly 6 hours to A few years later in 1966, Harry Webster (a top ranking director at Triumph) Jacksonville!! I hope my relation of last week's was touring Michelotti's Turin, Italy facility. It was there that he saw a sleek new coupe regional might pique at least a few people's interest, bearing a Triumph nameplate. When Michelotti told him that it was built for advertising and we can get a dozen or so cars down to Jax next year. (the car had not been debuted yet), Webster insisted that the car be sent to England Really, you owe it to yourself. If your car's not imediately. Shortly thereafter, the car was sent to . running, go anyway •.• you won't be able to wait to get Everyone at Triumph thought the car look fantastic. It was felt that there could back and get it going. I must say, Sebring 90 cured my be a world market for the car. For a while it was even a serious contender for the replace­ TR blues. ment for the TR4a. For a few weeks, it was referred to as the 1R6! Sunday morning, I said to Steve as we were packing, "I The board finally decided to give the existing 1R a facelift rather than a replacement and think I'll drive first today ... I really ~ like it was further decided that the new car could be made as an upscale companion (sort of a driving." poor man's Jaguar) for the TR line. It was projected that 12,000 cars could be produced annually. I drove all the way horne. Soon the usual problems of money shortages delayed the project and it was put Tech Session on hold. With the 1R6 designation being withdrawn from the car, a new name had to be Convertible Top Installation given the prototype. All Triumph prototypes are given names which are changed just prior to their introduction. The 1R7 was Bullet, the Herald was the Zobo, the Spitflfe was This has been a highly requested session in the club, and the Bomb, and the GT6 was called the Atom (since it was on the Spitflfe chassis it could a real expert will be demonstrating this procedure. Let's plan to meet at 10:30 AM at Classic Auto Interiors then be called the Atom Bomb). In Triumphs usu~ zest (another prototype name by the on Buford Hwy. on Saturday, Nov. 10. Kit Colombe, the way) for strange and unusual names, the car was named Stag. The name was like so much owner of Classic Auto Interiors, will be installing a top that this was the only example of a Triumph prototype name being retained for produc­ on Bill Washburn's TR4. This should be a real treat! tion.

To get to Kit's shop, take 1-285 to Buford Hwy. Travel While all of this was going on, Triumph was designing it's own V-8 engine. inside the perimeter about 1/4 of a mile. Classic Auto Since this was to be the flagship of the Triumph line, the ~d of directors felt that a V-8 Interiors will be on the left side of Buford Hwy. just would be preferable to the tried and true inline 6 that was now becoming the mainstay of past Atlanta Imported Parts ' and across from a Mieneke Muffler shop. If you reach Pine Tree Plaza, you've gone Triumph powerplants. It was just about ready to go when Rover joined the British too far. There are three realistic engine swaps for the Stag. The most logical is the Rover Leyland conglomerate. Rover had recently purchased the rights from GM for its now V -8. With it's aluminum construction and size, it fits rather neatly. A less expensive famous aluminum 3.5 litre V-8. There was discussion of abandoning the Triumph motor alternative is the cast iron Buick 3.0, 3.8, or 4.1 V- 6. All three use the same basic block for the Rover unit, but in the end it was the Triumph motor that won out. This proved to which is essentially the Rover (formerly Buick) V -8 less two cylinders. Since GM uses be a major mistake. this motor extensively, it is easy to find and is relatively inexpensive. Over in England a popular conversion motor is the Triumph straight six. Since the car was derived from the At the same time, the Triwnph 2000 that was the inspiration for Michelotti's 2000, a six will fit and in England, they are just as abundant there as the V -6 is here. In prototype had become dated. Michelotti was asked to do an inexpensive redesign of the the GTA, to my knowledge, we have at least five Stags in the club. Two have retained the car. Borrowing heavily from the prototype, the restyle was performed. Even though the original engine, one has the Rover V -8, and two have the Buick V -6 conversion. redesigned 2000 and the new 2500 beat the Stag to the marketplace by over a year, the Stag had actually set the style initially. As for my Stag, I found it in a used car lot in Snellville of all places. It had been pawned and the previous· owner defaulted on his loan. After negotiating for two days over As the fmaltouches on the Stag were being sorted out, two major obstacles had the car, the dealer accepted my offer of $2500.00. I was told that two other members of to be addressed. The first was the smooth operation of the retractable headlamp covers. It the GTA were trying to buy the car. Although he would not tell me who, he told me that was discovered that they were prone to malfunction and should snow or ice form on the those two buyers knew me. Sorry about that Guys and Gals. covers, they would not open. After long hours of trying to make them work, they were ~ !""' .:' ... abandoned and exposed headlamps on a redesigned grille were put in their place. I am looking forward to many happy years with my new toy. It is comfortable, " quick, and an eye catcher. On the road, nobody knows what it is. I am surprised on how The second major obstacle was the United States Government. It was feared many people do correctly identify it as an English motor car, but I am amused that the that due to roll-over safety concerns, the U.S. government was going to ban full convert­ majority of those same people ask me what year Jaguar it is. I hope to have the mechani­ ible cars from the U.S. Market. the U.S. has always been important to Triumph since the cals sorted out by Spring of 1991 and new paint later that year. If all goes well, it should . fifties so this was a major concern. To meet this impending legislation that never came to be ready for the 1992 National. pass, Triumph devised a three point roll cage. This provided the car with all the required protection needed. I have found that there are many in our club who are interested in a Stag for themselves. They are out there. It will take some digging to find them though. Good luck Finally in the fall of 1970, the Stag was made available to the public. The Stag to you. debuted with an impressive list of standard features, a few were never before seen on a Triumph. Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, a Standard Detachable 1992 RATIONAL Hardtop, an Automatic Transmission, and the infamous V -8 engine. The car had a top ORGAlfIZATIORAL lIIEIttIlfG speed of over 12Omph. and could cruise effortlessly. The Stag was truly the flagship of the Triumph line. With all the impressive amenities, it was ready to battle with the likes The next organization meeting for the 1992 VTR National Convention ·will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2 at of Mercedes, Alfa, Lancia, B.M. W., and even Jaguar (Sir John's ever present rival back 2 p.m. at Action Awards. If you are a committee in the fifties). member, interested in being on the committee, or are just interested, please plan to attend. Unfortunately, after much fanfare, insufftcient inventory to dealers, and rumors of unreliable motors and poor workmanship caused sale figures to plummet. After 1973, Call Hal Doby at Action Awards (972-3680) if you need the Stag was withdrawn for its vital U.S. market. Total production was ceased in 1977. directions. See you there! Of the 25,877 Stags built, only 6780 were exported to the States.

Twenty years after its introduction, the Stag is finally in its own limelight. What was once a poor relation has now become a sought after commodity. Prices in the United States now range from the $3000.00 range for one that need works to the $7000.00 to $15000.00 range for Stags in good condition. Over in England, asking prices are ap­ The GTA Members would like to wish proaching the $40,000.00 level! While it has now become popular to replace the V-8 Triumph engine with another one, converted cars are bringing substancially less that Ken Richardson ,. those that still have the original engine and are in good working order. a very speedy recovery!

GET WELL SOON, KEN! Holiday Party THE CLASSIFIEDS Lenny Dinnin has graciously volunteered his home for our annual holiday party. Besides having a meal and social Oossified ods relating to Triumph mrs and their owners are free 10 members and $5.00 to gathering we will announce the new officers for 1990, and non-members. Ads Wl1 run for two issues. Ads may be run for a Ionver period of time by have a brief quarterly meeting. notifying the editor. The club will supply a honey-baked ham and various beverages. Please call Lenny to let him know what kind of dish _you can bring, be it dessert, salad, casserole, etc. FOR SALE TR3 - Rt. rear fender $60, front apron-sman mouth $250, hood $70, To get to Lenny's house take 1-75 north to exit 114 A (Hwy. 5 connector). Follow connector to first light and trunk $25, left door $30. take a right on Sandy Plains Rd. Go thru 7 traffic lights, the last of which will be at Wiggley Rd. Go up a TR4 - Top frame, $35. hill and turn left into Highland Point subdivision. There are big brick gates at the entrance. You are now TR4A - Top frame, $35. on Mountain Rd. Go straight to North Slope Circle and turn left. Go until it intersects with High Rock Terrace. Lenny's house is a tudor-style on top of the Spitfire (earty) - Rear end (chunk), $100. hill on the left-- #4523. MGB (early) - 5 00" type crank, $125. If you get lost or have questions, call Lenny at 578- 1270. Jaguar - 3.8 Transmission, 4-speed, $125.

All parts are located at: Stan Hom, Route 1, Box 615, Asheville, Alabama PUB HIGHT 35953, '(205) 594-7422 (after 5), or you can call John Cork In Atlanta (8 - 5), 321-n76. By Steve Conway

November's Pub Night will be held at the North Druid Hills Cinema and Draft House on November lOth. We will FOR SALE 1200,1966 Convertible, 68,000 plan to meet for the early show, so be in the parking lot Original miles. Ught blue color, Mechanically good. around 6:45. The movies either start at 7:15 or 7:30, so that will give us time to pick one out and get good Interior needs restoration. $1600.00 Negotiable. seats. Stewart l. Peet For those who have not been to the draft house before, it Rt. 2, Box 154 is a pretty good place to see a movie. Admission to the theater is $2 per person. They serve alcoholic beverages Kinards, SC 29355 and snack foods of all types. '(803) 697-5105

To get to the draft house, take 1-85 to North Druid Hills Road. Head east on N. Druid Hills for just a few hundred FOR SALE 5 Michelin Redlines and tubes feet. The Cinema and Draft House is in a small shopping - 4 in very good condition, one fair center on the left side of the road, next to Morrison's - asking $500 cafeteria. You can't miss the sign. - check the price for new ones; make me an offer • P.S. In case the next newsletter is late, this will be the site of the Deceaber 8 PUb Hight, also. Call Tom Horvat 404-964-3465 QUOTES FROM SEBRING 90 Overheard on the rallye: "Do you guys know that you are in the quarters? You have been by here 5 times." Overheard at the track: "That guy that keeps driving around trying to find the gate--he's from Georgia, ain't he? GEORGIA TRIUMPH ASSOCIATION Officers and Representatives Overheard at the show: "Kind of picky ain't cha, you I$%@s?" Director Steve Conway 404-921-5700 "But what if I like red-on-red?" "Then you need to' be in people's choice, not A..lat.nt Director! Tom HOf'Vat 404-964-3465 concours!" Newaletter Editor

Mentioned on the journey home: Secret.ryl Tre•• urer Lori Conway 404-921-5700 "steve, you just give me the signal, and I'll correct that camber!" ...m ...... -urge Past Director Gordon Waahbum 404-457-2368 Past Assl Dir. Dennis Riley 404-475-1088

R.lly. ••t., Hugh McAleer The Georgia Triumph Association (GTA) Is a non-profit organization of enthusiasts of the Triumph motorcar marque. The GTA Is an official CALENDAR OF EVENTS chapter of the Vintage Triumph Register. Membership dues are $18.00 Date Event Sponsor per year and are payable January 1 of each year. Dues are pro-rated at $1.50 per remaining month during the first year of membership.

Nov 10 Pub Night at the Steve C. Dues and non-newsletter correspondence should be sent to the Cinema and Drafthouse 921-5700 Secretaryl Treasurer: 10 Tech Sess.-Convertible Bill Washburn Top Installation ' 934-3387 ..,, ~. Lori C. Conway The Georgia Triumph Association Dec 1 Holiday Party Lenny Dinin 2910 Tree Trail Parkway 578-1270 Norcross, GA 30093 2 1992 VTR National Hal Doby organizational 972-3680 Meeting

8 Pub Night at the steve C. Cinema and Drafthouse 921- 5700

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