Dear Kas and FOT'rs....
Care to hear more? I was riveted. Kas, As you know when you signed our team
cars at Tustin several years ago (I was intent on that happening some
day....Shelby owners have nothing on us now!!), Paul, Mordy, Steve, Chuck and
I literally carry your prep books with us to every track event (We had you
sign those too!!). And to a man we've used your Competition manuals as our
bibles for prep and without exception the E Ticket Triumph Team has a
reputation for preparation, sportsmanship and finishing.!
Oh, we could spend a lot more money (well maybe we couldn't....smile) but we
couldn't have more fun. With the local So Cal part suppliers and exporters
sponsoring TR's with 92mm pistons, $1500 Quaife differentials and fiberglass
custom molded TR fenders, we (E Ticket Triumphs) race hard and finish and
always have one or more cars in the top five in E, E1 or F Production.....and
we've done it for the most part with 87mm pistons (some .030 or .040 over)
except the Spits and Steve's GT6 of course (or is that the way you've been
catching Paul Steve?), real Salsbury limited slips,(OK one welded rear end
after we couldn't find parts for the salsbury), TR6 sway bars on the TR4's
(nothing custom or heim jointed), and, until this last year factory alloy
option magnesium wheels or TR6 5 1/2 steel rims. Our approach has been....we
come to race, to finish...and drive it back on the trailer (yes we all have
trailers as the California Highway Patrol has gotten fussy about cars with
rollbars cruising PCH) and it's very satisfying to do it with a near stock
displacement motor and run competitively in the upper quarter of all the big
buck cars. Hell, at times we've even had class winners...that's a real grin.
OK, ok,,,some of the team have moved up the preparation (and displacement)
ladder and invested in some later technology to keep the TR grinning grill
work in the front of the pack. And there is nothing wrong with that as long
as the spirit with which we race doesn't change.
I ran SOLO II for numerous years with Cal Club (German Capri's and Mustangs)
and found the whole organization to be entrenched in the philosophy of "Keep
it simple , keep it clean (to interpret) and keep it fun" .... and as a
Frisco Region SCCA member I just don't find that kind of attitude in racing
outside of Vintage today.So I loved your feel for the character of Cal Club
and hope more Vintage Race bodies can learn from the Cal Club tales you tell
so very well.
I drive a Wimbledon white/Guardsman blue stripe 1965 TR4A in EP1 class with a
full interior, full chrome badging trim (although I do leave the bumpers off
but have them), all lights and fittings, stock displacement, SU carbs,
non-overdrive, glass windscreen, even door glass rolls up, steel rims, bias
ply tire, lots of safe roll bar and safety equipment and still have great
fun. And you can see my #195 glued to the rear deck of a Healey 3000 on the
page 80 photo of the newest Spring 99 Vintage Voice Magazine. (I have been
accused or magnetizing the front valance and getting dragged around the track
but a certain quick Volvo but I say ...No flairs, no Quaife, no alloys, no
regrets ...just grins ....and I am working on that front valance magnetic
film material team....just give me another season to figure out how to get it
to work on all that front row aluminum and fiberglass).
But before everyone thinks I'm out to drag Vintage Racing back to the hands
of the purists only, let me confuse you all further by saying this....as long
as there is respect amongst the drivers I drive with and an attitude that
this is a gentleman's sport ....intense, hard racing yes, but respect for
your fellow competitor's investment and a respect for his (and mine) driving
skills (which like any good sport that respect has to be earned ....and can
be lost ....and a few have) then I really don't care that the other guy has
put three times the money in his car to make it run like a striped ape. For
me racing is one car at a time (or a tite group of five if I'm
fortunate)...and I love it when it gets reported like the bottom of page 81
" The real race were these five guys in the pack who were wheel to wheel for
all 17 laps and changed leads every lap....and stayed clean the whole race".
Somebody noticed!! OK ...so the author drives a Triumph too (Thanks Jerry).
But that's the kind of racing that makes my grin hurt for weeks. That means
more to me than the fact that someone told me I'm leading the points for my
group for EP1 this year. I'd trade those "points" for one more five car wheel
to wheel race even if I was last place.
Well the fate of Vintage Racing is certainly not in question, but I had to
share my two bits in this fascinating chain. (One of the better this
unofficial bastion of Triumphs has stuffed my email box with in some time!).
My only real wish for Vintage Racing is to be able to do more of it. Seems to
be a direct correlation between track time and retirement......6 more
years........
WOW, did I get off track!! (no pun). Apologies kind Kas. Your query was 'did
anyone else want to hear more about the sixties?'. And with my grin still
hurting from your last posting I have to ask..."Could we have more please?"
Wait...let me get another Guiness first...ok...I'm back.
Respectfully submitted ...right honorable vintage Triumph #195 pilot ...or is
that Triumph #195 vintage pilot....both apply it seems.....
Cheers to Vintage Racing and Vintage Drivers!
Bill (and Joanne) Burroughs, VTR So West Rep,
E Ticket Triumphs Vintage Race Team, Founder SCTOA
70 TR6, 69 TR250, 73 MkIV, 69 GT6+, 59 TR3A and two 65 TR4A
Vintage Race Cars. Happy Motoring!!
(Kas, any chance we could get you out to the track at the November Las Vegas
VARA Race?. The E Ticket Team would love to spend some more track side time
with you and have you explain how to keep this ol' IRS glued to the track a
little better. Second that motion Steve?)
|