Thanks to David Stephens and Ivan Powell for bringing their immaculate, but very different TR2’s to have on stage at our April meeting. David’s car was restored over more than 3 years in Victoria, starting as a relatively small engine bay project, but ending up as a full restoration. This must now be one of the best TR2’s anywhere and has a high degree of originality. It has won several awards at national TR Register meetings.

Ivan’s TR2 in contrast, is a tribute to its racing heritage in the Mille Miglia in Italy and is quite heavily modified. It is also in great condition and turns heads wherever it goes.

As advised at the April club meeting, the executive committee has decided to increase subscriptions for 2025/26 to $60.00 for full members and $30.00 for social members.

We are forecasting a modest operating loss for 2024/25, and we have budgeted some $2,000 for subsidies and other costs associated with our 60th birthday lunch and related celebrations in July. We expect other costs such as hire of Sporting Car Club rooms, and administration systems and insurance to rise next club year, so a modest increase in subs seems appropriate.

Our subs in 2018/19 were $75.00 for full members and were reduced during COVID, as many club activities were suspended at that time. We have managed to keep subs at a low level since then however we now believe a small increase is appropriate. TSOA is still one of the lowest cost car clubs in South Australia, and my thanks go to our treasurer, Lisa Macleod who has been able to keep operating costs down and subsequently, maintain low subs.

You should have received an email advising that these subscriptions are now due, and we ask all members to pay these promptly, and by 30th June at the latest. Lisa has a big job in keeping track and receipting 240 members’ payments, and it is unfair if she needs to chase late payments. Please try to make her job as easy as possible.

We had a great run to Stockwell in the Barossa Valley on Sunday April 6th. Thanks to Katherine Bradley and husband Derek for organising such a great run, which was very well attended. Unfortunately, I had mechanical problems on the North South Motorway coming home and spend some 3 hours at the start of the exit ramp to Port Road, waiting for a tow truck. A new alternator has however now fixed the problem (I hope).

Also, thanks again to Lawrie and Kaye Placing for arranging another well attended mid-week lunch to The Green Man Inn at Ashbourne on 10th April.

Lots of members have already booked their places at our 60th Birthday celebrations which will be on Sunday 20th July, at Dimples Restaurant and Function Centre at Tea Tree Gully Golf Club. Although still a little way off, we are looking to lock in attendees, so please book early. This will be great celebration of an amazing 60 years of history and should not be missed. Please see the flyer in Fastrak regarding booking for this very special event. There is a $10 discount for the first 100 registrants, so get in quickly.

There is also a special shirt being offered to members to celebrate our 60th Birthday. This costs $55.00 and must be pre-ordered. Please see details in FasTRak and on our website.

We now have a workable proposal for the 2027 Nationals, and after the 60th Birthday is behind us, a committee will start the planning for this event. Thanks to those who have already volunteered to join this committee, and please see me if you also wish to be part of the 2027 team.

The Weekender will be in Burra in the first weekend of June. This is always a great event, and Bill and Margie Berlemon have, as usual, arranged an exciting and full program at an amazingly reasonable price. I believe there are still a couple of rooms left, so please contact Bill or Margie if you would like to attend.

Alex Smithson
President

Thanks to all TSOA members who attended All British Day on Sunday March 2nd. It was very successful with a good turnout of Triumphs from our club, as well as TR Register and The Stag Owners’ Club. We had good weather and no incidents, unlike a couple of years ago.

Special thanks to ABD Committee member Stephen Wade for all his work on the organising committee and the layout of the TSOA display on the day. Also thanks to Dean Berlemon and Lisa Macleod for being marshals from the start, and Lisa for bringing the gazebos, cones etc. She overcame major (modern) vehicle problems with her car being stranded on Saturday with electrical problems, and she had to borrow her mother’s car to bring all the gear. This was dedication from Lisa above and beyond the call of duty.

Numerous members helped on the day with the setting up and dismantling of gazbos, and this was greatly appreciated.

Planning of our 60th Birthday celebrations are well under way with a 2-course lunch planned for Sunday 20th July, at Dimples Restaurant and Function Centre at Tea Tree Gully Golf Club. Member Sue Dowden, who is also the financial controller at the Club is helping with organisation of the event and giving us an extra special deal. We are aiming for a big turnout of existing and past members for this very important event.

Noel Schmidt has used his creative flair to design a logo for special regalia for the event, as well as a great poster. I hope that all members will try to get to this lunch, celebrating an amazing achievement of 60 years. Please see the flyer in Fastrak regarding booking for this very special event. There is a $10 discount for the first 100 registrants, so get in quickly.

Vice President Richard Sellers has circulated the new Life Membership criteria to all members and has made some minor changes as a result of this feedback. The document will now be adopted by the club and will be available on the club website.

As previously advised, the 2025 TSOA Nationals in Port Stephens NSW are fully subscribed, but there is a waiting list. Please see me if you want any further information. I have also been advised by TSOA Queensland that planning is well advanced for the 2026 Nationals, at a location is west of Brisbane.

Our turn to organise the TSOA Nationals comes up again in 2027, and although this seems a long time away, we need to start planning now to make sure we can put on a high-quality event. We have limited options, as we need a venue with 50 rooms, and with access to a range of activities and dining options for 100 people, at a reasonable price. As many attendees tow their cars on trailers, secure parking for tow vehicles and trailers is also a necessity.

I am looking for volunteers to join an organising committee. We have some “old hands” already on that committee, as well as some newer members who have volunteered, however new ideas and enthusiasm would be gratefully appreciated. Please see me if you wish to be part of the 2027 team.

The executive committee will consider the budget for 2025/26 prior to the April meeting and set subscriptions for next club year. Subscriptions will be open after the April meeting.

Alex Smithson
President

We are back to our regular club program in 2025, with a well-attended February club meeting. There were three cars on stage, and thanks to members Charlie Onody, John Golding and Ron Corso, for bringing along a Mark 3 Spitfire, Herald coupe and TR3B respectively. Each of these cars are somewhat of a rarity in our club and it was great to hear their respective histories and be able to look at such well-presented cars close up.
As advised at the meeting, the new life membership criteria policy document has been reviewed by existing life members and will now be circulated to all club members for any further input. My thanks to Vice President Richard Sellars who has done a great job in instigating this initiative and preparing the document.

The committee has decided that the comparatively low numbers at the informal January meeting does not justify the expense of hiring the room at Sporting Car Club, and that we will look at having an off-site location for future January informal club meetings.

At the time of writing this report, the All British Day is scheduled for next Sunday, 2nd March. I know that our ABD committee rep, Stephen Wade has done a lot of work in the layout of the ovals, and the Triumph marque clubs (TSOA, TR Register and Stag Club) display area in particular. I am sure this day will be a great success, and I thank Stephen for all his work with ABD on our behalf.

The committee has agreed in principle to having a celebration lunch to commemorate the 60th birthday of TSOA SA on Sunday 20th July, and we will shortly form an organising committee. More details are to follow, but I would like to see this as a major celebration, and hope that many of our club members who we don’t see regularly these days will attend.

The date of the Christmas dinner has now been set for Saturday 22nd November, and we plan to again hold this function at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. More details to come closer to the event.
Unfortunately, registrations have filled for the 2025 TSOA Nationals in Port Stephens NSW in October, and there is now a waiting list. Previous Nationals attendees were given the first opportunity to register, and all spots were taken by these previous attendees within a few days of release. If you are interested in being placed on the waiting list, or would like to know more about this event, please call me on 0412 823 798, or log onto the TSOA NSW website.

Social Secretary Natalie Farrell continues to organise great social functions, ably assisted by Lawrie and Kay Placing who are organising mid-week runs. The MSCA picnic on 23rd February and All British Day at the start of March has curtailed other club activities for this period, but we will be getting back into the swing of things on the 6th April. See Fastrak or the website for more details.

We have two of our life members, Bill Berlemon and Rory Gibson on the sick list at present, and both were not able to attend the February meeting. Both Bill and Rory have been stalwarts of our club over many years, and I know all TSOA members will join me in wishing them both speedy recoveries. We hope to see Bill and Margie, and Rory and Sue back at club meetings in the near future.

Alex Smithson
President

Welcome, all members to another year of TSOA. Although 2025 has well and truly started, this is our first Fastrack since November. We have already had several club events, including the After Christmas Run on 30th December and Ice Cream Run on 19th January. I was unable to attend either of these events, however I understand from our social secretary, Natalie Farrell that both events were well attended, with around 30 or so members and partners attending each event. The After Christmas run finished at the Blacksmith’s Inn at One Tree Hill, and the ice cream run finished at Fasta Pasta, Port Adelaide. The night of the ice cream run in particular, was quite hot, however I have not heard of any major car problems from any participants caused by the hot weather.

Thanks to Secretary Duane Kaak for chairing the January informal meeting, again in my absence. Due to a communication fail with Sporting Car Club, their management was not expecting us, and our normal barman, Jordan wasn’t there. Duane managed to get into our room, however wasn’t able to open the side gates to allow a car on stage. Ron Corso was going to show his Morgan however it had to remain outside. There was only a select (i.e. small) number of members present, so hopefully Ron can bring it along again when we can have it on stage and shown to a large group.

We are very grateful to Dino and Lisa Vettese for having members to their house on Australia Day, 26th January for a lunch put on by Dino and Lisa. There we around 25 members and partners in attendance and we had a great BBQ meal. Thanks to Dino, Lisa and son Andrew as head chef. It was Dino’s birthday and we were also able to celebrate this in fine form.

We look forward to the club’s continuing success in 2025, with numerous social events planned up until our AGM in August. Stay tuned for information about a celebration of our 60th birthday.

Alex Smithson
President

Christmas is fast approaching, and I hope all TSOASA members are looking forward to the festive season. I was unable to attend the November meeting due to being on a bushwalking trip in the Grampians, and I thank Vice President Richard Sellars, and Secretary Duane Kaak for once again holding the fort in my absence (two meetings in a row – acknowledged poor form on my behalf).

We have had two successful social functions since the last issue of Fastrak, being the “All Triumph Rally” Observation Run, and the Christmas Dinner. Both these events were well attended, and I am sure, were enjoyed by all members and guests who participated.

The observation run was through some less travelled roads via Humbug Scrub and Williamstown to Lyndoch where the first 10 questions were set. We then drove through the western part of the Barossa Valley to Greenock, for the balance of questions, and a barbeque lunch at Greenock Centenary Park. There were familiar names on the winners list, being Dean Berlemon and Lisa Macleod, who seem to win it every second year, and then run it in the off years. Well done once again Dean and Lisa.

At our club meeting on Tuesday 19^th, we welcomed new members Charles and Carol Onody to their first meeting. They have purchased a Spitfire Mk 3, and we look forward to seeing it on stage at a future meeting. The new Life Membership criteria, the draft of which has been fine-tuned by VP Richard, is now to be given to existing life members for comment.  We have had some significant motor sport activity as advised by Duane, and Roger Lange gave a quick summary of the 2024 WA Nationals. I have provided a report which is contained in this edition of Fastrak. There we no cars on stage, however Bill Galler presented a photo slide show of the restoration of his Spitfire.

Our Christmas dinner held on Saturday 23^rd November at the Royal Adelaide Golf Club. This is a terrific venue with great views, a spacious and very well-appointed dining room, excellent staff, and a first class, 3 course meal. We are very lucky as a club to be able have this facility each year. Social Secretary Natalie Farrell, and our regular Christmas Dinner organiser, Sue Gibson did a great job making sure everything went smoothly before, and then on the night, and I thank them for all their efforts to make it such a successful evening. We presented club awards, including the President’s Award to Natalie Farrell, Vice President’s Award to Dean Berlemon, and Clubman Trophy jointly to Bill and Margie Berlemon. All the winners at the Day of Triumph, Competition and All Triumph Rally trophies were also presented.

We have three further social event in December and January, being the After Christmas Run on 30^th December and Ice Cream Run on 19^th January, details of which are included in Fastrak. All club members have also been invited to Dino and Lisa Vettese’s house on Australia Day, 26^th January for a lunch to be put on by Dino and Lisa. Address is 20 Vickers Vimy Parade, Northgate. More details will be circulated in mid-January, but I am assured that this will be an event not to miss.

As I will not see most club members until the New Year, I wish everyone an early happy Christmas and look forward to the club’s continuing success in 2025.

Alex Smithson

President

Greetings, all TSOA SA members from the TSOA National Meeting in Albany W.A. As I write my report, we are half way through a great week of camaraderie with fellow TSOA members from around Australia.
The South Australian contingent comprises, my wife, Sue and me, Roger and Cherri Lange and Neil Martin (all who towed their Triumphs here), Stephen Wade who drove his Stag, and Lawrie and Kaye Placing who flew to Perth and hired a car for the week. There are some 90 delegates in total, and we have enjoyed a great time so far, driving around the picturesque south western corner of our continent, and having great food, fellowship and fun. I will provide a more detailed report for next month’s Fastrak.

Thanks to Richard Sellars and Duane Kaak for running this month’s meeting in my absence. I look forward to seeing a great turnout of members at the observation run on Sunday 3rd November, starting at the Tea Tree Gully Hotel, after we make the big trip back across the Nullarbor.

Alex Smithson
President

Firstly, I would like to thank those members who renominated for positions on the club executive. The club does not run itself, and without the small group being prepared to take on positions, we would not have a club, despite having over 200 members. Dean Berlemon has been elected to become an executive committee member, and Duane Kaak has taken on the role of competition secretary in addition to holding club secretary.

Members would have seen in the media the sad and untimely death of recently retired Supreme Court Judge, Malcolm Blue in a farm accident a week or so ago. Although Malcolm did not attend meetings or club events, he had been a member of TSOA for many years and owned two TR6’s which he had on the concessional registration scheme.

My wife, Sue and I were unable to attend the August run on Sunday the 18th to Kersbrook Hill Wines and Cider. I trust this was an enjoyable outing. We had a good turnout to the mid-week lunch at The Uraidla Hotel last week. Thanks again to Lawrie and Kaye Placing and everyone who attended this most enjoyable afternoon.

We had two cars on stage at our September meeting being Ian Young’s and Tim Wachtel’s GT6’s. Whilst both were Mark 3’s, they had come quite different journeys, with Ian having set his up for eventual racing, and with a 2500cc petrol injected motor, and Celica gearbox, and Tim having imported his GT6 from the UK, and having had many problems and challenges thrown at him during the process. Thanks to both Ian and Tim for sharing their different stories of each vehicle.

Our Day of Triumph on Sunday the 22nd September at Civic Park, Modbury looked like it was going to be a washout early, with persistent light rain through the morning, but clearing in the afternoon to a very pleasant day. Dean Berlemon, ably assisted by wife Lisa, as well as Bill and Margie Berlemon, Ian Rigby and others did a great job of organisation, and we ended up having a strong turnout of vehicles, despite the early inclement weather.

Congratulations in particular, to the top three cars in Concours, being Trevor Hawkins’ TR4A, Roger Lange’s TR7V8 and Lisa Vettese’s Stag, as well as all other class winners. Thanks to everyone to assisted with judging and other organisation. We are also grateful to Dino and Lisa Vettese who provided $10 vouchers for breakfast at Café Primo, Tea Tree Plaza, and which were enjoyed by many of the DOT attendees.

I will be en-route to Western Australia for the TSOA National Meeting at our next club meeting, but I am sure that Vice President Richard Sellars will do a great job chairing the October meeting in my absence.

Alex Smithson
President

I would like to thank all club members who have assisted to make this club year, my first as president, very successful. We have had a hard-working committee, supported by various appointees, who have put in a huge effort to keep things on track and allowed the club to prosper and grow.
Although Vice President Richard Sellars was not called upon too often, he was always willing to step up, including taking meeting minutes in Secretary Duane’s absence. Richard is very experienced with other clubs and organisations he has been involved in, and I am sure this experience will help the club to improve its operations in the future. Secretary Duane Kaak continues to be a tower of strength within the club and provides us with great service.
Our treasurer, Lisa Macleod has now completed her second year in this position and maintains the books very efficiently. Having had this role for the previous 10 years, I know what a time consuming and at times complicated job this is, and the club owes Lisa a debt of gratitude for her hard work. Whilst we have a deficit this year, this was in line with budget, and has been a deliberate decision to hold subscriptions down and us some of previous surpluses for club operations.
Katherine Bradley took over the Fastrak Editor position two years ago and continues to produce an excellent publication each month. Again, we are very grateful for all she does in this production.
Neil Martin has been Competition Secretary for many years and has also been the mainstay of TSOA motor sport at local and interstate race meetings. Neil has decided to relinquish this role as he is planning to reduce his involvement in motor sport in the future, and we tank Neil for everything he has done for us over the years as Competition Secretary.
We started the year without a Social Secretary, however Life Member, Natalie Farrell volunteered to take on this role. We have had a terrific range of monthly events that Natalie and others have organised throughout the year, and they have all been very well attended, with quite a few of our newer members attending events. Natalie has been assisted behind the scenes, by Lawrie and Kaye Placing in particular, who have also arranged mid-week lunch runs which have a small but keen following.
Ian Rigby has, as he does every year, carried a heavy club load, and worked tirelessly as Conditional Registration Scheme Registrar and Membership Officer. Ian has a band of helpers as Assistant Registrars on his committee and I thank these members for assisting Ian in this major role. Ian is also our representative on the Federation of Historic Motoring Clubs and has been instrumental in gaining grants from the Federation for our Day of Triumph.
Bill and Margie Berlemon have also assisted in club runs, particularly where we have provided a club-sponsored barbeque, and run the Weekender again this year, this time based at Goolwa. This three-day, two-night event was highly successful and enjoyable, and is always a highlight of any club year.
Dean Berlemon was the convenor of the day of Triumph Display Day, as well as taking on Regalia sales this year. Dean assisted by wife Lisa, did a great job and team Berlemon/Macleod remains integral to club operations and success.
We had a great turnout at the All British Day in March, and had two club members on the organising committee, Geoff Ellis and Stephen Wade. Thanks to both Geoff and Stephen for their involvement. Geoff has been on the ABD Committee for some years and has now decided to retire from that committee. Thanks Geoff, for all your hard work on behalf of TSOA.

Our Christmas Dinner continues to be our largest, and best attended function of the year. Life member Sue Gibson is the main organiser of this event, as she has been for many years. Thanks, Sue once again for making this such a successful and enjoyable event.
Whilst we are obviously an aging group, and our raison d’être is the love of a make of car which ceased production over 40 years ago, it is great to see that we continue to attract new members, many of whom have purchased their first Triumph recently. The club’s challenge is to continue to attract new members and to get new members involved with our club, not just be a member to be eligible for historic registration. I hope that any new member attending a meeting or other club function is made welcome and ask all “old hands” to go out of their way to welcome and support new faces at our meetings.
One of my goals as President has been to streamline club meetings, and reduce the amount of non-essential business, but to add “cars on stage” as a key part of each meeting. I have rung new members to invite them to bring their cars and tell us about them, and I hope this has been well received. I hope to continue this at most club meetings in the future.
Bill and Margie do much of the work of providing suppers at meetings, as well as raffle prizes and Margie and Lisa collecting on the door. Thanks to other club members who have assisted for suppers.
We were successful in obtaining a SA Car Club Program grant from the South Australian Government last year and this grant has been fully spent on club equipment and first aid courses. We also received a grant from the federation for this year’s Day of Triumph. Storing and transporting our club equipment remains a significant task, and Ian Rigby and the Berlemons do most of this work. It would be great to see another club member take on this role and Ian, Bill and Margie are already heavily committed to working for the club in many critical areas.
We are coming up to our 60th birthday in March 2025, and we are very fortunate to have our joint founder, Tony Case in our club, and who remains an active (and vocal) part of Club activities. Tony is putting a history of the club together and I know, is very keen to have the 60th birthday celebrated in grand style. I am sure that the new committee will put as an early agenda item, just how we can make this celebration very special.
Our club has two awards for service made each year. The President’s Award is made to the Committee member who has made an outstanding contribution to the running of the club, and the Vice President’s Award is to a club member, other than a committee member.
At the last AGM, Bill and Margie Berlemon relinquished the role of Social Secretary after several years of fantastic service, however no other club member was prepared to stand for the position. Life Member Natalie Farrell called me after that meeting to volunteer for this role. Natalie has had an incredibly tough year, with family tragedies and a couple of unfortunate injuries, however she has been able to put a great social calendar together, which, as I have said previously, have had strong attendance and have all been very enjoyable. I am therefore very pleased to announce that Natalie is the winner of the 2023/24 President’s Award.
Regards
Alex Smithson

Thanks to all those members who have paid their subscriptions by 30^th June, and had their logbooks stamped. For anyone yet to do both things, can you please be proactive and make sure you are financial as soon as possible. The jobs of club Treasurer (Lisa Macleod) and Conditional Registrar (Ian Rigby) are arduous enough as it is, and chasing unfinancial members make the tasks that much harder. Please also remember that you need to be financial and have your logbook stamped for 2024/25 for your car to be registered. You should not drive your car until this has been done.

Lawrie and Kaye Placing organised a great mid-week run to the Green Man Inn, Ashbourne on 10th July, and we had a large turnout for the “Christmas in July” run through the southern Adelaide Hills to the Old Noarlunga Hotel for lunch on Sunday 21^st July.

We had our traditional thankyou night for committee members and other club helpers prior to the July meeting, with pizzas provided by the club. There is a small but very hard-working group who keep the club and its events ticking over, and I am most appreciative of all those who help to make this happen.

Special thanks to Katherine Bradley who stepped in at the last moment to take the minutes for the July meeting. Our hard-working secretary, Duane Kaak was away in Bali, and his deputy and Vice President, Richard Sellars came down with RSV and was also unable to attend. Richard had called me earlier in the day, and certainly sounded like he was suffering. Hopefully he makes a quick recovery. Kat’s joke telling at the meeting maintained the rich tradition of excellence in humour that we have come to expect from our incumbent secretary.

It was great to see Terry and Sue Dowden’s TR6 on stage at the July meeting.  It has been a home coming for this car, as it was owned previously by Jon Williams (and also briefly by Roger Lange) and had only recently migrated with Jon to Queensland. Terry and Sue love the car and it presents very well.

We are now only a month away from the Annual General Meeting after August general meeting. All positions in the club will be declared vacant. It is not too late to call me (ph 0412 823789) or email me (alex.m.smithson@outlook.com) if you wish to stand for any position in the club or are prepared to help.

Alex Smithson

President

Thanks to all those members who have paid their subscriptions by 30th June, and had their logbooks stamped. For
anyone yet to do both things, can you please be proactive and make sure you are financial as soon as possible. The
jobs of club Treasurer (Lisa Macleod) and Conditional Registrar (Ian Rigby) are arduous enough as it is, and chasing
unfinancial members make the tasks that much harder. Please also remember that you need to be financial and have
your logbook stamped for 2024/25 for your car to be registered. You should not drive your car until this has been
done.

Lawrie and Kaye Placing organised a great mid-week run to the Green Man Inn, Ashbourne on 10th July, and we had
a large turnout for the “Christmas in July” run through the southern Adelaide Hills to the Old Noarlunga Hotel for lunch
on Sunday 21st July.

We had our traditional thankyou night for committee members and other club helpers prior to the July meeting, with
pizzas provided by the club. There is a small but very hard-working group who keep the club and its events ticking
over, and I am most appreciative of all those who help to make this happen.

Special thanks to Katherine Bradley who stepped in at the last moment to take the minutes for the July meeting. Our
hard-working secretary, Duane Kaak was away in Bali, and his deputy and Vice President, Richard Sellars came
down with RSV and was also unable to attend. Richard had called me earlier in the day, and certainly sounded like he
was suffering. Hopefully he makes a quick recovery. Kat’s joke telling at the meeting maintained the rich tradition of
excellence in humour that we have come to expect from our incumbent secretary.

It was great to see Terry and Sue Dowden’s TR6 on stage at the July meeting. It has been a home coming for this
car, as it was owned previously by Jon Williams (and also briefly by Roger Lange) and had only recently migrated with
Jon to Queensland. Terry and Sue love the car and it presents very well. (Web Editor’s Note – this TR6 was initially built at Powertune Motors for Chris Barnes  and a lot of credit should go to Steve Moule for the initial build and the various repairs and rebuilds that followed –  a real credit to Steve)

We are now only a month away from the Annual General Meeting after August general meeting. All positions in the
club will be declared vacant. It is not too late to call me (ph 0412 823789) or email me (alex.m.smithson@outlook.com) if you wish to stand for any position in the club or are prepared to help.

Regards,
Alex Smithson
President