John (et al),
Seems to me that Graham has successfully stirred up a hornet's nest, as
journalists are apt to do occasionally. The end result (I'm sure) will
be increased readership of Triumph World for at least this issue. I
personally am curious to see what he said that caused such a reaction.
But maybe that was his intent. I'm sure the publisher will be laughing
all the way to the bank.
Regards,
Joe Curry
jonmac wrote:
>
> Listers of Diverse Triumph Lists
> I apologise in advance for excess bandwidth - but this is important for
> Triumph enthusiasts the world over. The August issue of Triumph World may
> yet not have hit your newsstands. In that event, the following article I
> have written for a UK Triumph Club magazine may be premature for those of
> you who have not yet been able to study your copy of TW. All that
> notwithstanding, the general contents of Graham Robson's bi-monthly column
> have stirred up a hornet's nest in the UK. Those of us on this side of the
> pond are both greatly angered and disturbed at his outspoken and what we see
> as a grossly inaccurate and unfairly biased report. Furthermore, it is my
> understanding that a number of us have written to the Editor of Triumph
> World expressing our considerable displeasure at the tripe which has been
> served up in the name of 'informed opinion' and which, as consumers, we have
> had to pay money to read. If you are of the same view, having read what
> Robson had to say, I urge you to submit your own opinions to me off list. I
> am more than willing to consolidate these replies - whether submitted
> anonymously or not - and mail them to the owner of the company responsible
> for the printing and global circulation of Triumph World. It goes without
> saying that I will be happy to relay those responses to these lists at a
> later date.
>
> Jonmac
>
> Did you read 'Robson' In the August issue of Triumph World? Wasn't he in a
> grouchy mood?
> I think he'd plonked himself down at his keyboard with the biggest wooden
> spoon he could find - and this was probably after getting out of bed that
> morning via the equivalent of a bomb-proof blockhouse on the Atlantic Wall -
> without a hard hat. Then he had a good old bellyache - and Uncle Tone
> printed what he wrote.
> Robson moaned endlessly about how Gaydon had forgotten this year was the
> 40th Anniversary of the Herald, and castigated the Centre for preferring to
> celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Mini. I feel certain there will be
> many former Standard Triumph employees will be first in the queue in support
> of the Mini.
> Then, Robson had a go at all the Triumph enthusiasts throughout Europe who,
> in his opinion, should have gone to STER (Standard Triumph European Rally) -
> but didn't.
> Then it was back to more 'Gaydon Bashing'.
> In his article "Time to speak up for Triumph," this 'high profile' Triumph
> commentator speculated on a meeting which he alleges took place at the
> Heritage Motor Centre - and which seemingly he did not attend himself. We
> can therefore only conclude he based his resulting article on hearsay.
> Not a sensible thing to do, especially if what you report is likely to be
> published and a financial consideration may be in the offing as well?
> Robson states a parts supplier is alleged to have commented to a meeting of
> Gaydon management, "as far as we are concerned, the Triumph marque is dead
> and buried."
> Did the supplier say this, or didn't he? And more importantly, in what
> context?
> There are many variables to which these words might apply. Let me speculate
> (flippantly) on just two of them.
> The supplier could have been grossly over-stocked on Southern Cross front
> bumper brackets or Triumph Ten van rear doors. There again, I suppose
> there's even a possibility Mr. Supplier might have come to this conclusion
> within his reported statement after driving past the former factory sites at
> Canley and Fletch. If he did, he'd have noticed a large Supermarket and many
> other modern business premises now stand where once there was a major motor
> manufacturer.
> In that respect, Standard-Triumph could certainly be said to be dead and
> buried.
> Robson does not develop his points with any logic - but goes off at
> tangents. He concludes by implying Gaydon management might possibly heed the
> supplier's comment and marginalise Triumph, while still keeping MG in high
> profile.
> Thus, within a few paragraphs, he comes to a conclusion and warning of dire
> consequences that Gaydon management really will write-off Triumph. This is
> also because, in his opinion, members of Triumph Clubs as a collective whole
> within each club are, quote "bleating as separate, ring-fenced, insular club
> outfits" unquote.
> Would you regard yourselves as bleaters? Ring-fenced? Insular? Hardly a
> compliment to quite a large group of people who, over the years, might have
> done Mr. Robson a considerable financial favour by buying one or more of his
> books. My own view is that Robson is about to jump on the bandwagon in
> recommending everyone joins forces into one GURT big club - now, rather than
> later.
> I wonder why?
> Might it just possibly have something to do with the fact that he's part of
> Triumph Forum and someone has tipped him the wink that his illustrious
> posterior will be first on the throne of this new organisation?
> Who knows.
> But, apart from everything else, this article about the demise of Triumph at
> Gaydon's hand, isn't even journalism - and it certainly holds not one grain
> of truth.
> It's hysteria based on hearsay, several estate car loads of assumption and a
> barrowload of new fiddle strings in which Robson cannot resist the
> opportunity to "Gaydon bash" in any way the mood takes him.
> On top of that, he's potentially putting the frighteners on many Triumph
> enthusiasts who believe implicitly in everything he says. Doesn't everyone
> believe him? He is ROBSON, after all.
> Unfortunately and in this instance, his words are then made flesh by
> appearing in Triumph World.
> How daft can anyone get and what a sensationalist load of tripe! Is this man
> beginning to lose his marbles? Is the material he is generating (which
> people have to BUY before they can READ it) coming from a brain which might
> be showing early signs of being a few cookies short of a full packet?
> Whatever the reason, Triumph World ought to know better and not succumb to
> printing such piffle - even if Robson did write it. This isn't the first
> time this year that TW has slipped up. Bill Bolton, at Club Triumph took the
> mag to task earlier this year on the inaccuracies in another article from
> another regular columnist, Robin Penrice - and rightly so!
> So why did Editor Beadle go into print? Surely he doesn't believe what
> Robson had to say - or is it something else?
> Is it really because Robson is seen as such an all-powerful individual in
> Triumph circles that people are frightened of him and don't want to upset
> him - in case he has a tantrum and throws all his toys out of the pram?
> I'm beginning to come to that conclusion.
> Let's face it, Robson isn't Flavour of the Month at Gaydon - and to my
> certain knowledge, this isn't a recent 'appointment.' The very mention of
> his name either stimulates a yawn of boredom or a variable increase in blood
> pressure - depending on who you're talking to.
> Furthermore, the way things are going, with all his hot air, I wouldn't be
> surprised if the only name likely to be permanently marginalised at Gaydon
> will be that Robson himself - and not Triumph. Sticking my neck out, I
> wouldn't be surprised if the marginalisation is already firmly in place.
> Be assured, whatever Robson may say in all his pontificating and odes of
> doom and gloom, TRIUMPH AT HERITAGE IS SAFE - and that's OFFICIAL.
> What many do not yet know - including Robson, is that BMW is wholeheartedly
> behind ALL the makes at Heritage - and no one make holds more sway over any
> other. In simple terms and just concentrating on two illustrious sports car
> names, Triumph and MG are equal - full stop (or, as our transatlantic
> friends prefer to say, period).
> It also looks as though the enthusiasts are in favour of what Heritage is
> doing as well. Over 500 cars and 1500+ people attended Standard Triumph
> Marque Day on June 30th. Not bad at all when the 'Nationals' of the UK
> based clubs are so close at hand.
> So, believe what Uncle John is telling you.
> Triumph as a make, means just as much to BMW as Austin, Land Rover, MG,
> Morris, Riley, former Coventry and Solihull Rover, Standard, Wolseley and
> Vanden Plas.
> And don't heed any of this marginalising nonsense either.
> Just because Robson has written a few books on the marque doesn't give him
> carte-blanche to circulate alarmist hyperbole and possibly, as a result,
> stimulate something which might turn into global panic on the part of
> "bleating, ring-fenced, insular club (members?)."
> As Bill Bolton said to Tony Beadle in his critique - "you can do better."
> I'll drink to that - and because it's so important to me, I'll drink that
> toast with the contents of a fresh bottle.
>
> ------------------------
--
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
-- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
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