Hi to all listers,
I have just returned from 5 days away at the National Gathering in Pretoria,
South Africa where we celebrated 75 years of Triumph. Really great and a lot
of fun meeting people from the other centres and seeing some fabulous cars.
Our 25 car Durban contingent which included two Triumph Super Sevens, one a
1928 model and the other a 1934 model, left early Wednesday (29th) morning
and met a 25 car contingent from the Johannesburg club at the half way point
at the Green Lantern Inn where the Triumph Sports Car Club of South Africa
was first formed some 25 years ago. One or two problems along the way, a
Herald threw a main bearing and was left at the Inn after being towed in,
and a recently repaired (body work done by a professional body shop after a
"fender bender") TR6 which would cough and splutter and be down to crawling
speed, then suddenly find it's feet and be able to travel consistently at a
good speed for several miles before coughing and spluttering again. Nearly
everybody thought "fuel starvation" and the filter was checked and found to
be full of garbage as the body shop had done all their work with the fuel
cap open. However, that didn't solve the problem and we ended up trailering
the car for the last 80 miles or so. We should have listened to one of our
older members who said knowingly earlier in the day "Condenser", as
replacement of the condenser solved the problem.
Oh well, I guess one lives and learns.
Friday was show day with a 149 cars present and the Concours judging on
something like 70 of the cars. (My Spitfire was awarded 3rd in class for
Concours d'Elegance, which I am very pleased with)
Saturday was the Grand Gathering at the Swartkops Air Base near Pretoria and
251 cars were there and now included two Roadsters (beautiful cars!) a
Renown, a couple of Mayflowers and a Swallow Doretti amongst the more usual
TR's, Spitfires, Heralds and saloons.
A "75" logo was formed with all the cars and then a half wagon wheel
formation with each marque forming one of the "spokes". Looked fantastic,
and there should be pictures in the Triumph World of August/September,
according to Tony Beadle, editor of the magazine who had come out for the
show.
I'm sorry that we didn't see Leon Guyot, but heard that he had to return to
the UK early for personal reasons.
All in all, both the wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip, and the well
planned and organised Gathering. Nearly 1000 miles in the Spitfire with no
problems, except a touch of sunburn from all the top down motoring. (Only
time the hood was up was for the Concours.)
I hope your 75th Gatherings, wherever you are, are as enjoyable.
Chris Leah
Durban, South Africa
1966 Spitfire Mk2
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