OK, I have been quite till now. As a military historian here is some info
for you. The Ford Motor Company did name the Mustang after the P-51
variant, however the public didn't make the connection and the wild horse
idea was born. Triumph was actually a bicycle manufacturer in the late
1900s starting to mike motor powered bicycles in the early 20th century,
then full fledged motorcycles. Of which they gained fame as they produced
(hundreds of thousands of) motorcycles for the British Army during WWI in
which they became know as indestructable. In 1923 to match what other
manufacturers were doing they started making cars with the 10/20, Much
later in their history they sold off their motorcycle branch to fund new
cars (TR3 I think) The Triumph factories did stop making cars during WWII
and their factorys were used to make airplanes, but they were not made by
Triumph and were not Spitfires (these were made by a company called
Supermarine) The coventry factory produced Javeline Mosquitoes an all wood,
fighter/bomber that excelled at night operations.
The Spitfire is not a machine used to kill people as its only purpose, it
was a machine that defended, and protected masses and won their hearts for
it. It showed speed, agility, and grace all items that the car Spitfire
carries with it. The Triumph Spitfire has an association with the plane,
that is it, not a brotherhood, or ancestry, but an association.
I am only 26 and have been in the military for 7 1/2 years, nothing
spectacular but I have been in a few places that earn me the well deserved
title of veteran, personally I would never be offended by someone
associating with my unit or ship placing it on their coat, or whatever, I
have no shame in my units or what they/I have done. Kinda proud. However
the cardinal sin in the military is to ever claim you were part of a unit,
or where there, when you weren't. I personally feel the same about someone
calling themselves Colonel of whatever civilian organization. I am honored
by someone wanting to talk about my past and the units I have been in, but
offended by someone who says they were there.
The NASS is a car club, with a nostalgic tie to the Supermarine Spitfire, It
is ok to use that tie but not become obsessed with it. Respect the past
include it in the background of the image if that is what people may vote
on, but do not overdue it. Now I have probably helped carry this on a bit
farther than it should have, but lets be reasonable. The plane is a part of
the car at this point, it is NOT the car however. and we should remember
that.
We need to temper our conversations, or we will destroy this club and this
list before it gets off the ground (no pun intended, but it is humorous)
Patrick Bowen
Waiting to be shot down
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