Apres Run – 30th December. Change of lunch venue, now Stanley Bridge Tavern at Verdun. Same start, 10am at Feathers Hotel, leaving for a cruise through the hills. RSVP to Natalie Farrell 0455 250 990 if you are attending to help the venue ensure you have a seat!

DECEMBER

Dec 30th : Tuesday – “APRES” After Christmas Run ***Change of lunch venue*** now Stanley Bridge Tavern at Verdun. Same start, 10am at Feathers Hotel, leaving for a cruise through the hills. RSVP to Natalie Farrell 0455 250 990 if you are attending to help the venue ensure you have a seat!

JANUARY

Jan 18th : Sunday –  Ice Cream Run – Meet at Total Tools Thebarton car park (59 Port Road, Thebarton ) 6 pm start to Grange Jetty Cafe (487 Esplanade, Grange) Contact Carol & Charlie on 0417 816 067

Jan 26th : Australia Day & Dino’s Birthday Lunch @ 1.30 pm Dino & Lisa Vettese are kindly hosting lunch at their home. Beer and soft drinks are included – BYO wine (20 Vickers Vimy Parade, Northgate) RSVP Dino (text 0412 444 052)

FEBRUARY

Feb 4th : Wednesday – Mid week lunch – Kay & Lawrie TBA

Feb 15th : Sunday – MSCA Picnic and Presentation Day . . . venure TBA

Feb 17th : Tuesday – TSOA Meeting at the Sporting Car Clubrooms 51 King William Road, Unley

Feb 22nd : Sunday – 42nd All British Day at Echunga Recreation Grounds – Echunga/Hahndorf Road, Echunga

MARCH

Mar 2nd : Sunday – MSCA Supersprint Round 1, Mallala Motorsport Park

Mar 15th : Sunday – Observation Run 9.30 The Crafers Hotel (8 Main Street , Crafers) for 10 am departure (Please contact Lisa & Dean )

Mar 17th : Tuesday – TSOA Meeting at the Sporting Car Clubrooms 51 King William Road, Unley

APRIL

Apr 19th : Sunday – Tenafeate Creek Winery Run (1071 Gawler -One Tree Hill Road, Yattalunga) Lisa & Dean TBA

Apr 21st : Tuesday – TSOA Meeting at the Sporting Car Clubrooms 51 King William Road, Unley

I have been away travelling and then at the TSOA Nationals for the September and October club meetings respectively, and thanks our Vice President, Richard Sellers for chairing these two meetings. Secretary Duane was also away for these meetings, and thanks to Ian Rigby and Lisa Macleod for taking minutes at these meetings. We are now back to normal, albeit that there are no formal club meetings in December or January. We have traditionally held an informal meeting in January however the committee has decided that due to low numbers attending in past years, we will not book the Sporting Car Club for January. If any member would like to organise an informal meeting either at their house or another venue, please advise me and I will ensure it is properly publicised.

The TSOA Nationals at Port Stephens were a great success. A report is on the website and also in this edition of FasTRak. Superb location, 110 registrants and a full week of activities as well as great meals and great company. Next year is a Toowoomba, and expressions of interest will be called for shortly, and registrations open in February.

The Day of Triumph was organised at short notice by Dean and Lisa Berlemon at Civic Park, Modbury on 2nd November after the original event had to be cancelled due to bad weather. Although the weather was still not brilliant, there was a good turnout of 31 Triumphs. Congratulations to all winners, and special thanks to Dean and Lisa for the great effort both put in to make this day successful. Also, thanks to all those who assisted in judging and tallying scores, and of course, Dino and Lisa Vettese for providing discount breakfasts at Café Primo. With Trevor Hawkins’ TR4A is now in Master Class, due to winning the last three Concours events, there was at least a chance for the rest of us. Roger Lange’s TR7 V8 was judged the best car on display.

Thanks again to Lawrie and Kaye Placing for organising a mid-week lunch at the Old Noarlunga Hotel, on 11th November. I was unable to attend; however I understand there was a good roll up and an enjoyable time was had by all who attended.

The Presentation Dinner was on Saturday 22nd November. There will be a report on this event in the next edition of Fastrak.

South Australia’s turn comes around again in 2027 to run the TSOA Nationals. A committee has been formed, and I am calling for others to join this committee. We have booked a venue for the event which will run from Friday 22nd October 2027 to Friday 29th October 2027. Being part of the organising committee is a great opportunity to get involved with our club. Having not attended a Nationals previously is definitely no impediment, so please contact me if you are interested.

All British Day registrations close on 1st December. The event is at Echunga Oval on Sunday 22nd February 2026. TSOA traditionally has a strong turnout of members attending this event, and it would be great to see this tradition continue. Contact Stephen Wade if you need any further information.

The After Christmas run has been organised by Natalie, Charlie and Carol, and will be on 30th December. This is always a well-supported event and I am sure this will be the same again this year.

We also have our annual ice cream run through the beachside suburbs to finish at the Grange Jetty kiosk on Sunday 18th January. Another club event not to be missed.

We had on car on stage at our November meeting, being Dylan Taylor’s 2500TC saloon. Dylan has had two PI saloons previously and has owned this car since 2009. He was overseas for 10 years, and so the car was in storage for that time. He has liked Triumphs since he was a boy and enjoys driving this car.

Alex Smithson
President

After over 7 years in planning, the 44^th TSOA National Meeting which ran from Friday 17^th to Friday 24^th October 2025 finally happened, and it was well worth the wait. As many may know, this event was originally planned for 2020 but was cancelled due to COVID.  However, having already negotiated a fantastic deal with management at The Anchorage resort at Port Stephens, the NSW team was able to lock in 2025 at a fixed room price only 15% above that agreed for 2020. As a result, we had exceptional accommodation at a price way below current room rates. We all had great views over the marina and Port Stephens Bay, with balconies and terraces to soak in the view.

There were 110 registered participants (over half from NSW) with SA having 14 members attend.  Due to being in NSW, where there are over 400 TSOA members, and the exceptional value offered at The Anchorage, registrations were filled within a few days of release to the market, with a long waiting list. Due to the inevitable withdrawals as the time approaches that happens every year, almost everyone on the waiting list were able to be included in the final numbers.

Most of the SA contingent drove over, with Lawrie and Kaye Placing leaving a day before the rest of us, to catch up with friends in NSW en-route. Sue and I took the soft option and trailered my TR5 there, borrowing Neil Martin’s car trailer. Stephen Wade, Duane Kaak and Ian Rigby all drove their Triumphs and Roger and Cherri Lange decided at the last minute to take the Porsch Boxter rather than the TR7, due to the forecast hot conditions. Air conditioning in cars is a wonderful invention which is noticeably absent from many Triumphs.

Disaster struck between Tailem Bend and Lameroo, when Ian Rigby’s saloon had electrical problems. Ian had recently replaced the distributor, but the replacement still failed. The combined expertise of Ian, Roger and Duane concluded that there was no easy fix, and so Ian organised for the RAA to truck it back to Adelaide, and for his wife, Raelene, to drive her car to the breakdown spot, with their son in law picking her up from there to take her back to Adelaide. Ian then drove Raelene’s BMW on to Port Stephens, having a night arrival in Hay, our first overnight stop.

I also had problems between Balranald and Hay, when the inside wheels of the car trailer clipped a large steel object on the side of the road (thought to be a dropped road train trailer coupling) and I managed to wreck both tyres and rims on that side of the tandem trailer. Having only one spare, I limped into Hay, with the second flat tyre totally disintegrated by the time I got there. Luckily, we were staying next to a tyre shop, and I was able to get two new rims and tyres, bright and early the next morning. Fortunately, there appeared to be no damage to hubs or wheel bearings from this incident.

We all enjoyed a second, incident-free day and night in Dubbo, before driving through to Port Stephens on Day 3. Ian’s wife Raelene flew to Newcastle, Duane’s wife Meranie and daughter Indy flew to Sydney and then caught the train to Newcastle, and Dino and Lisa Vettese trucked their Stag to Sydney and then flew there and drove to Port Stephens.

As always, everyone had a great week renewing old friendships, making new ones, and celebrating our love of Triumph cars. There were quite a few “first-timers” attending, as well as a lot of us who make it an annual pilgrimage.

Our first event was the welcome dinner on Friday which had a “beach” theme, bringing out the best of the creativity of the rally delegates. The main function room was not available on this first night due to a wedding at The Anchorage, and we were in the breakfast room, which includes under cover verandahs. There was a massive thunderstorm and heavy rain which required some people to relocate so as not to get wet, however the lightning show was spectacular.

On Saturday we all washed and polished our cars and headed into the d’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay for a show and shine. This was a great venue (at least the equal of last year in Albany which was until then the best S&S venue in living memory), and there were many locals who came out to see our vehicles, and with lots of food and coffee options around the marina. No trophy was awarded, however there was a “people’s choice” as well as casual judging.

Peter Wards, who is well known to many TSOA members as a now-retired professional Triumph restorer was judged in first place with his superb TR6. This car had also won this year’s TSOA NSW Concours event. Trevor Norris from Victoria’s immaculate TR7 V8 was second, and our own Dino and Lisa Vettese’s Stag was third. The popular vote was a tie between a far from standard TR6 with a 3.9 litre TVR V8 motor, owned by Steve Ralston from NSW, and Ron Farrugia from Victoria’s modified TR5 .

Dinner on Saturday night was at The Anchorage, with happy hour drinks on the Sunset Terrace. This is a facility built out on the breakwater where we had dolphins putting on a show right in front of us, as they did every night we had drinks at this venue. The shared plates meal was exceptional, although far more food than anyone could do justice.

Sunday saw us drive some 50km to Ringwood Park hill climb, a facility owned and operated by the MG Car Club of NSW. This is a neat little loop track, with cars doing individual timed runs, and no CAMS licence was required to drive it. Duane and Roger took their Stag and Boxter respectively around the track, however both exercised commendable restraint, knowing each vehicle had to get back to Adelaide. After lunch, spectators also were able to drive the track in parade laps behind a pace car.

The first “Ironman” events were then held at Ringwood. For the uninitiated, there is an annual competition between the states, of essentially novelty events, with the winning state taking away the perpetual “Ironman” trophy. This is very large, quite unattractive, is hard to transport in cars with limited space, and must be brought by the winning state to the next Nationals. Naturally, it is keenly fought over, with each state hoping to win this highly sought-after national trophy.

There was a competition for cars getting as close as possible to a pole marker without touching it, and then driving through cones with a ball placed on the car bonnet, without letting the ball come off. Dino, Lawrie and Duane flew the flag for SA in this event. (Editor’s note – Lisa navigated for another driver who eventually was declared the winner – well done Lisa!)

Monday was a 60km drive to Newcastle and a tour of Fort Scratchley, the primary defence for Newcastle against invasion by potentially the Russians and others in the 19^th Century. We were then encouraged to explore Newcastle including the “Bathers Way” walk and beaches. We enjoyed a meal that night at Nelson Bay Golf Club.

Tuesday saw us drive some 40 km to Lemon Tree Passage on a peninsula in Port Stephens, to have a lunch cruise on the “Wangie Queen”, a 100-year-old former Sydney Harbour ferry. Port Stephens Bay is some 134 square kilometres in size, much bigger than Sydney Harbour, and so there is a lot to see and do.  We had good weather for this cruise which was very enjoyable, with no sea sickness. That night was free, with some of us going out to dinner in Nelson Bay.

Things were heating up weather-wise by Wednesday, with the temperature reaching 39 degrees. The organisers decided to change the original program to make this a free day and allow everyone to cool off as best they could. There are some great beaches in the Port Stephens area (both in the bay and on the ocean side) as well as two swimming pools at The Anchorage. Some of us went to visit the “Fighter World” museum at Williamtown RAAF Base, some 25 km from The Anchorage. We were treated to seeing take offs and landings of the RAAF’s new F35 Joint Strike Fighters on the runway right next to the museum, and well as close up looks at retired aircraft including an F111 and an FA18 Hornet jet fighter. (Editor’s Note – a small number found a slot car track and did some laps!)

We went to the Nelson Bay Bowls Club for dinner that night. As many may know, in NSW gaming machines are in sporting clubs rather than hotels, and as a result, these are often huge facilities, most unlike the modest bowls clubs in South Australia. Nelson Bay boasts several bars, gaming areas and large dining facilities. Our 110 people were easily accommodated in one of their function rooms.

Our final day was Thursday, and we drove some 65km to the quaint town of Morpeth, where we had a series of “observation run” questions to answer. Luckily a cool change had come through, and we all enjoyed spending time in this historic township. (Editor’s Note – Morpeth is the birthplace of some noted Aussie companies, notably Soul Patterson, Arnotts and Brambles)

Before dinner, we had the final Ironman event at the Nelson Bay Golf Club driving range, which was a timed event for radio-controlled model cars, including slalom and motorkhana.  Our driver was the youngest attendee, Indy Kaak who put up a mighty performance. She found reversing a bit tricky but otherwise was right up with the best of the older and more experienced drivers.

Our final dinner was at The Anchorage, with the theme being “dress to impress”. The only perpetual trophy on offer was the Ironman trophy, and sadly South Australia could not repeat last year’s famous victory. With 60% of the attendees, NSW had a Melbourne Cup field of Iron people to select from for their teams and were crowned the winners. SA vowed to come back stronger than ever next year and try to wrest back this much sought-after trophy.

The week was fantastic, and I doubt whether anyone else will ever be able to match the standard of accommodation and meals provided by The Anchorage at future National meetings. The organising committee, headed by convenor John Stokes, did a fantastic job of making sure the week ran very smoothly, and everyone in the NSW club really pulled their weight to make it such a great event. It was encouraging to see a lot of new faces to the Nationals, and I am sure that, after such an enjoyable week, many of these people will be planning to attend next year.

On the last night, Peter Connor from Queensland gave a presentation on next year’s Nationals to be held at “The Platinum International Hotel” in Toowoomba from 10^th to 17^th October 2026. The program looks great, and whilst we won’t be in a beachfront resort, we all agree that the heart and soul of the TSOA Nationals is the camaraderie we enjoy at each event, and the fun of visiting new places that we would otherwise be unlikely to see. Expressions of interest will be sought shortly, and registrations will be opening early in 2026. Demand is expected to be high.

No major dramas were reported on the way home, although I can report that Duane, Stephen, Sue and I had a meal at a pub in West Wyalong, and I won the meat tray raffle. Read all about it in last week’s edition of the West Wyalong Gazette.

Thanks again to TSOA NSW for putting on such a well organised and enjoyable week, and we look forward to seeing the Nationals family again next year in Toowoomba.

Alex Smithson

You are all invited to join us at the special end of year dinner and presentation evening.

Venue : Royal Adelaide Golf Club, 328 Tapleys Hill Road, Seaton

Date : Saturday 22nd November 2025

Time : 6.30 pm for a happy half hour – drinks on the club

           : 7.00 pm 3 course dinner (dietary requirements available)

Cost : $55 for members – $70 for non-members . . .  Bank Details BSB 065-006 Acc No 00902024

RSVP by Tuesday 11th November 2025

Contact Natalie Farrell to confirm attendance and to register any special dietary requirements

Natalie Farrell 0455 250 990

The annual Day of Triumph has now been rescheduled for the 2nd  November and will be held at Civic Park, Tea Tree Gully.

Entry from 9.00 am

No matter what condition your Triumph is in, bring it along and share the day with like minded enthusiasts.

BYO everything for a picnic lunch, or drop over to Tea Tree Plaza and see what you can find.

Contact Dean Berlemon 0451 152 871 or Lisa Macleod 0411 030 528 for info

Nobody gives me anything, so I can’t post anything . . . do you have something to offer?

Roger – Website Manager

DAY OF TRIUMPH
21 September 2025
Birdwood Motor Museum

CANCELLED

On the 17th August Charlie and Carol Onody, set a run to the Gully Hotel for lunch, Thank you Charlie & Carol for your
contribution. It was a great run through the hills with no rain, to end up at the Gully Hotel for a lovely lunch. Thankyou
Charlie and Carol. We will be seeing a lot more of these two, as I have handed the baton onto them for the Social
Secretary position along with Dino Vettese.

It is time for me to pass it on to others now, as my life is changing and taking a new path, and I thank you all very
much for the help and associations I have had with the club over the 30 years I have been a member. Bob and I have
met some wonderful people all over Australia and been to places which we would never have seen if we were not a
member of the Triumph Club. So thankyou to you all.

Sunday September 21st is the Day of Triumph at the Birdwood Museum. Meet at the Museum. Judging starts at 10
am. So be early and enjoy the day. Contact Dean Berlemon for enquiries.

Don’t forget the TR Register is having their annual Rally in October and has asked us to participate on the weekend of
18th October to their show and shine at the Hahndorf Primary School Oval 10am – 3pm. Cars on the Oval by 9.30am.
Drinks and food are available at the oval and in aid of the school.

Also on the 19th October is the Bay to Birdwood parade, and the TR Register is getting a group of Triumphs together
to participate in that as well.

We would like an EXPRESSION OF INTEREST now! if you would like to attend in one or both events. Contact Colin
Baldock a member of both clubs email colbtr2@hotmail.com or mobile 0405 396 874 or myself.

Our Mid-Week Runs have turned into Mid-Week Lunches, and the next will be on the Wednesday 3rd September to
Macclesfield and after that one, to the Old Noarlunga Hotel on the 11th November Contact Lawrie or Kaye Placing to
book your attendance.

On Saturday the 22nd November we are having our End of Year Dinner at the Roal Adelaide Golf Club,
Tapley’s Hill Rd Seaton at 6.30 for a Happy ½ hour on the club. “ See Poster” Keep this date free as we would love to
see you there. Ring me with your attendance and Dietary requirements which are available. I am organising this
event for the social Secretaries.

Hope you can participate with the social side of the club as it is your club and we would love to see you there

Cheers,
Natalie Farrell
Social Secretary
0455 250 990

Prior to the July club meeting we had a thankyou night pizza meal for members who have helped the club during the year. The club does not run itself, and we have a range of people who make things happen, including the executive committee of Richard Sellers (Vice President), Duane Kaak (Club Secretary and Competition Secretary), Lisa Macleod (Treasurer), Natalie Farrell (Social Secretary), Katherine Bradley (Newsletter Editor) and Dean Berlemon (Committee Member, as well as Regalia and Display Day co-ordinator).

Other key club members include Ian Rigby as Membership/Concessional Registration Secretary and his committee of Duane, Kevin Foster and Graham Dean, mid-week run organisers, Laurie and Kaye Placing, Weekender organisers Bill and Margie Berlemon, Web Master Roger Lange, and Librarian Greg Page. Margie and Lisa also greet us at the door each meeting and organise the raffle, and Bill and Margie also organise supper rosters, and do much of this catering. Sue Gibson has for many years, organised the Christmas Dinner, and she and Rory remain very involved with our club. Various other club members also help out at events, including motor sport, Day of Triumph and organising individual runs.

I am very grateful for all club members who contribute to the running of our club, and hope that other members will give serious thought to becoming involved in some of these tasks at our AGM in August. Without members taking on these roles, our club will cease to function, despite being 250 strong.

There were no cars on stage at the July meeting, Unfortunately, the members who I organised to bring their vehicles were unable to do so, however cars on stage will resume as from our September meeting.

Our 60th Birthday Lunch at Dimples, Tea Tree Gully Golf Club was on Sunday 20th July, and was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. A special thanks to Sue Dowden who is Business Manager at TTG Golf Club and was able to get us a special deal. We had around 80 attend the event, with more booked in, however there were some last-minute apologies for health reasons. Our Secretary, Duane Kaak was MC for the event, and as well as telling some very amusing jokes, up to the high standard he sets at our club meetings, also wrote and recited a great poem about our club which was arguably even better received by the attendees than his jokes. Life Member Roger Lange gave a great talk about the life of our club over 60 triumphant years of our history, and Life Member Bob Anderson cut the cake to celebrate the occasion. All attendees were able to take home an etched glass with our 60th logo, a printed placement/poster and a piece of birthday cake.

I would particularly like to thank Noel Schmidt who did the artwork for the 60th Logo, and also worked until midnight, one night getting the 250 or so photos for the slide show properly formatted, Dean and Lisa for organising the glasses and getting them etched, Duane and Roger for making the day so entertaining and enjoyable, Natalie and Sue Gibson for doing seating plan, Lawrie and Kaye Placing for manning the welcome desk, everyone who brought along memorabilia, trophies and supplied photographs, and. Last but far from least, my wife Sue for doing many behind the scenes tasks too numerous to mention.

The display of Triumph Cars did not go completely to plan, due to the excess of vehicles to parking spaces at TTG Golf Club on a Sunday morning and particularly around lunchtime. Whilst there was a spot on the pitching green reserved for us, it was not signposted, and lots of others at the Club who could not find anywhere in the car park, decided to park in our space. Ian Rigby has agreed to direct our vehicles to this area, but by the time most TSOA cars arrived, the pitching green was full of TTG members’ cars.

Victor Harbor Rock ‘N’ Roll Festival is returning for its 16th year from September 19 – 21, 2025. Cars will feature in Shannon’s Show ‘N’ Shine across Warland Reserve and Albert Place, and registration is free. Register now at rocknrollfestival.com.au via the Vehicle Display.

Alex Smithson
President