Chip Bond wrote:
>
> Friends of Triumph,
>
> May I present to you Richard Taylor, who recently contacted me concerning
> TR parts. Richard is active in vintage racing and brings a unique and
> vintage perspective to the pursuit.
>
> I had asked Richard to sent a bit about himself and the car, and by way of
> introduction, include it here.
>
> Mark, could you add
>
> n196x@mindspring.com
>
> to the FOT?
>
> Welcome to the group Richard!
>
> ----------
> From: Richard Taylor[SMTP:n196x@mindspring.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 1997 5:46 AM
> To: spirals@esinet.net
> Subject: TR-4's
>
> Chip,
>
> I'm not sure that I have very much technological substance to offer your
> select group of Triumph aficionados. I do have, however, some racing
> experience in sports cars and motorcycles which covers quite a few decades.
> In fact we could throw in a few airplane, hydroplane and 4 marathons if
> other forms of racing count. In the good ole' days (mid 60's) I raced a
> 100-4 Healey at SCCA events. In the 70's I raced motorcyles (motocross,
> enduros, flat track and a couple of road racing schools). In the late 70's
> I started vintage racing a 300SL Mercedes and later another 100-4. Last
> year I placed third in the regional AMA Vintage Motocross on a 400 Maico.
>
> With respect to TR-4's, I bought mine a couple of years ago. It had been
> sitting in a garage for 17 years and I felt that the $400 I paid for it was
> absolutely top dollar for the poor condition it was in. With the help of
> super friends at Atlanta Import Auto Parts and Neil's Restorations, we have
> brought it back to reasonably good and reliable running condition. My plan
> is to continue to keep it streetable but to also drive it to races as we
> did 35 years ago. Last November I drove it to it's first race in Savvanah
> (225 miles) and competed. I did rather poorly for neither the car nor I
> were in very good racing form. Last month I drove it to Road Atlanta to
> compete in a National HSR Vintage race and placed third in a starting field
> of 24. My modest success, however, was largely due to poor weather
> conditions. I expect that this is about the best I will be able to do so
> long as the car is street legal.
>
> The car has very few modifications. I installed a TR-6 overdrive
> transmission, a Spitfire dual master cylinder, 72 spoke wheels, all new
> shocks, a 10 gal. fuel cell, emergancy cut-off switch, roll bar, racing
> harness, a set of Hoosiers and a heavier sway bar. The engine has 118,000
> miles on it and I have made no modifications to it...that's next. This
> brings me to why I have an interest in your group. Nearly all of the work
> I have done to date has been directed toward resusitating this old machine
> to dependable running condition and minimum racing mods.
>
> I have no illusions about adding many trophies to my shelf, but I do have
> visions of being a threat in the pack(and this may be a stretch). Then,
> Sunday afternoon, when all the other guys are loading their full racecars
> onto trailers, I quietly re-install my windshield, put on my street tires
> (which are my rain tires), load my tools and head on down the highway at
> the posted speed limit. This may be a low-threashold of achievement for
> real racers, but for me at my age(61) and economic condition(nouveau-broke)
> it suits me just fine. Although these qualifications for being a member of
> your group may not be very strong, I ask that they be considered carefully.
>
> If, on the other hand, what little I have to offer doesn't justify
> inclusion in your group, you tell any of your members who compete in
> Vintage racing to just watch their six o'clock. I'll be moving up.
>
> Richard Taylor
I first met Richard at Roebling last fall. I was amazed he drove it
from Atlanta and then raced........ just like the old days. You should
see him on his way home. Everything is packed into the TR4 with not a
cubic inch of spare room including the luggage rack.
The second time I saw him was at the recent Walter Mitty. It was a
rainy event so Rich just put the top up and went out and raced!! Made
sense to me, but the safety stewart told him not to do it any more.
Richard, welcome to the FOT list. Glad to see you racing. You and Niel
sure have done a nice job on that $400 car.
Jeff
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