Having passed into the over '70's regions, I am not thrilled seeing no one
is making it much longer, BUT, looking on the bright side, its now okay to
have dinner at 4 o'clock, no need to worry about LONG TERM investments,
health insurance is beginning to pay off, Don't need to worry about roofing
shingles with a 30 year warranty, chances are things I buy won't wear out,
no one is expecting me to run into a burning building, kidnappers are
probably not interested in me, short term magazine subscriptions are
economically feasible, I might as well smoke as it doesn't have time to hurt
me, buying cheap tires and not rotating them makes economic sense, I do not
have to learn the name of the UPS guy, there are few things left to learn
the hard way, and my eyes won't get much worse. Hey, I didn't realise I had
it so good.
----- Original Message -----
From: <GuyotLeonF@AOL.COM>
To: <jmwagner@greenheart.com>; FOT <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 1999 2:50 PM
Subject: was Matters 'Gloria'
> In a message dated 09/12/99 21:08:43 GMT Standard Time,
> jmwagner@greenheart.com writes:
>
> << The following January, my father died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
> (He was 72, I was 36.) As the winter started to clear, I started to
> think about Bill. I decided I was going to kind of adopt this man. It
> sounds funny, I know, but with my dad gone, I looked forward to the idea
> of spending some time with Bill. He was an old pro at his work, and
> although he was only in his 50s, he was one of those guys that had the
> wisdom of many lifetimes. I checked the dates and was looking forward
> to calling Bill about upcoming Willow races. In February, my brand new
> black suit came into play a second time. I was not aware of it, but
> Bill had been having some health problems, and although they expected a
> full recovery, some strange fungus (apparently from his garden!) took
> over his heart cavity, and he died. It was an odd day to stand in the
> crowd and watch a family deal with a loss of a father and husband so
> soon after my own loss. It was the Twilight Zone for me.
>
> My father had driven my car once, reacting very similar to Bill. I
> think it brought back memories of his youth, when he enjoyed
> convertibles, and, perhaps, a little of his time in the cockpit of a
> Corsair during WWII. Bill and my Dad are forever a part of my TR 4A.
> When I am beyond the city and the road is clear and winding, I think
> they drop in once in a while, to enjoy the ride. I have sold off most
> of a restoration project TR 4A, but I still have this car, my driver,
> and despite plans to dive into motorcycles again, in 2000, I hope to
> keep the 4A on the road.
>
> --Jus >>
>
> Justin, my Triumph friend, I am right there with you...
> I lost my own father in April 98, (he was 75, and I was 39), I had
completed
> my Vitesse project in April 97, after 13 years very hard work, but with
much
> help from my father. I can point out all the areas that he helped me with,
> and have precious photos of our quality time spent together on my Triumph
> cars...Shortly after completing my Vitesse, I won the Standard-Triumph
> International Rally Vitesse Trophy at the end of May 1997, and he was so
> proud of my achievement in 'finally' getting the car finished and winning
the
> trophy! (I am only happy that he got to see that happen).
> He died of infection and complications following an operation on colonic
> cancer.
> I still miss him every day, as I am sure you do your father.
>
> However, I also had a marvellous friend called Jim Kinghan, from Belfast
in
> Northern Ireland, he owned the oldest Triumph in the World, being the
famous
> blue 1923 Triumph 10/20. You may have seen it, and him in Triumph World
> magazine?
> He was the kind of man who would do anything for anyone at the drop of a
hat.
> I persuaded him to bring his Triumph to the Triumph 75th Anniversary at
> Gaydon in July 1998 and he trailered it there behind his Mercedes.
> He had the time of his life, and talked to about everyone, which he loved.
> I was proud indeed to give him a ride in my Vitesse, with which he was
very
> impressed indeed, but very sadly indeed that kind and generous 75 year old
> gentleman passed away at home only 17 days after the show.
> He over-exerted himself helping his neighbour cut back his hedge.
> Somehow, so soon after the loss of my father, that really opened the
> emotional floodgates and I took it really badly, although it semed to help
me
> with my grief over my father.
> More recently, in September, I lost another good and long-time friend in
my
> own Triumph Club.
> Sid Jensen was a true gentleman who I had known since at least 1984, he
owned
> a Signal Red Triumph Vitesse Mk.2 Convertible which he always kept in
> immaculate condition and attended many club shows with his wife and won
many
> concours prizes. On this occassion, I was able to attend his funeral, and
> also write an obiturary for the club magazine. He was in his late 70's and
> taken by cancer.
> I saw him in the summer of 1998, at club meetings which he always enjoyed
> attending very much indeed.
> His funeral was held on a blazing hot sunny day in late summer/early
autumn,
> and I just knew that it was important to attend in my own Signal Red
Triumph
> Vitesse Convertible. It just seemed so right...Sid would have approved.
His
> widow was very touched and all his friends extremely pleased.
> On talking to his widow, I told her how his Vitesse had inspired me to
build
> my own 'in it's likeness' because I loved the way it looked. She told me
that
> he had been very impressed by what I had achieved in building my car, and
how
> much better than his own (mostly original) car he considered it!
> (both of our registration numbers appear on the saje club trophies)
> Isn't it a pity that so few of us ever really say to each other what we
> really want to say, whilst we still can?
>
> Losing all these people hurts yes, but it is all part of life, and having
> been in the close knit Triumph club community for 18+ years.
>
> There is one thing more important than the cars, and that is the people.
> Always remember that.
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Léon F Guyot
>
> Triumph Sports Six Club
> International Liaison Secretary
> 1963 Triumph Vitesse 2-Litre Convertible
>
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