Shane F. Ingate wrote:
>
> All,
> I've not seen any posts on the recent San Diego British
> Car Day, so I thought I would throw in my $0.02.
>
> Held last Sunday at Fallbrook, in the wine-growing district
> of Temecula, 60 miles north of San Diego, Fairbrook Farms saw 275
> British cars and hordes of enthusiasts during a perfect Autumn day.
> Fairbrook Farms allowed us to park our cars on 5 beautiful acres of
> what is normally an equestrian show-jumping course. The organization
> by the San Diego British Car Council with help from local clubs
> was flawless.
>
> Looking at the Triumphs (1800, TRs, GT6s, Stag), MGs (As, Bs,
> Midgets), Healeys (Big and little), Jaguars (Series 1-2 E-Types, saloons),
> Land Rovers (once you peered 'neath the mud), Minis, AC Cobras, Sunbeams
> (Alpines and Tigers), Moggies, Loti (Elite, Elan, 7, 23, Esprits, Europa)
> and I'm am sure there were others, I was staggered at the intellectual-
> and artful-inspired automotive output of an island nation the size of
> the state of Oregon with a population approximately the same size as
> California. So many gorgeous sports cars produced mostly in the 1960s
> decade, with nearly equal numbers in the 1950s and 1970s. I am sure
> no other country has ever matched that level of inspired sports-car
> productivity since WWII.
>
> Pam and I had a pleasant drive in "Rags", arriving a little late
> (as usual) and found our spot at the end of a long line-up of Triumphs.
> Rags generated a lot of curiosity, because it was perhaps the most
> "hotrodded" of what was otherwise mostly stock-appearing Triumphs. Hotrod
> in looks alone, I hate to say, as Rags still sports its powerful 104hp
> excuse for an asthma attack. Sigh. If SB42 passes, I can but ponder its
> performance upgrades until 2004.
>
> I was able to meet with several folk on the list, and induct a few
> new members. Sure is great to put a face to a email monikker.
>
> When time came to vote for Peoples Choice, I'm not at all one-eyed
> as we voted for a Triumph! There were some breathtakingly gorgeous TR6s
> there, but my nod had to go to our own Barry Schwarz and his green GT6+.
> There is something very subtle about Barrys car that I struggled with for some
> time, until the answer came quite clearly. The beautiful TR6s mentioned
> earlier were "over-restored" - too much polish, too shiny, just too much.
> I hasten to add that they were drivers, not trailer queens, and the effort
> of their owners is absolutely astounding. But compared with Barry's car which
> looked like it DID recently roll off the showroom floor, Barry's car got my
> nod. Eventually, the 1800 won Best Triumph (now that was a trailer queen).
>
> Best of Show went to Brock Tella's Sunbeam Tiger. Brock is a close
> friend of mine, and his Tiger is a example to us all. Brock rallies
> his car regularly, and drives it every year to the Sunbeam get together
> usually held in Oregon or NorCal. A class car. Brock and I go for
> drives pretty regularly, and although the Tiger will always show me its tail,
> I just say that I am laughing at the antique solid axle tramp when he puts
> the pedal to the metal!
>
> Finally, my thanks go the to San Diego Triumph Club who put
> on a good display with many members in attendance.
>
> Thanks for reading!
>
> Shane Ingate in San Diego
I was there with my TR 4A... the one with the aero screens and
desperately needing a paint job!
--Justin
http://www.greenheart.com/jmwagner
jmwagner@greenheart.com
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