Well our usual editor for Girl Torque, Lorraine, is not well at present, so as her “sister” I have decided to write her article for her!

Lorraine hopes to be back on deck soon and is looking forward to seeing everyone at the Ice Cream run in January.

The final ladies luncheon for 2012 is on Tuesday 11th December at 12.00noon at Café Buongiorno 212 Belair Road, Mitcham.

We will be looking at possibilities for a new venue for our ‘technical’ lunches in 2013 so any ideas please send them through.

On behalf of Lorraine and myself, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and Safe and Happy New Year.

Don’t forget the January meeting – we’ girls’ head off down King William Road for Gelato and
coffee….great catch up time following the festive season!

Quote of the month: “Housework won’t kill you, but why take the chance?”

Margie Berlemon.

Our President and dear friend John Sampson passed away today, 14th November after a very short and aggressive exacerbation of his lung condition.

John went to hospital on Friday 26th October for a hip replacement which was most successful, and he did brilliantly for the first 3 days and was up and walking, after which the lungs became an increasingly difficult problem. The Doctors fought hard for the next two weeks to halt the decline in his condition, unfortunately without success.

John has been an exceptional member and most recently President of our Club and clearly was passionate about all things Triumph and for the people and cars that make up our membership.

He will be dearly missed, and we, The Triumph Sports Owners Association SA Inc extend our heartfelt sympathy to Barb and family for their loss.

I realise that you will not get this report until after the DAY OF TRIUMPH but I would take this opportunity to thank all members who participated on the day. The weather forecast looks good and I hope that all have enjoyed the picnic atmosphere and fellowship, as well as a great display of club cars.

During the finalising of the Historic Registration scheme documents we found that there are many cars out there that we really or never see. A count of TR6 cars in the club indicated that we have approximately 60 TR6’s on our register, and we decided to send out a personal invitation via email, to all TR6 owners to come along and show off their pride and joy. Only time will tell if the invitation works and we end up with a record number or TR6 cars on display.

If this proves to be successful, we will focus on a different model (or group of models) each year and send out a personal invitation thus making a feature display each year with the intent of catching up with members and their cars, who would not normally participate.

The All British Day next year will be held on the usual second Sunday in February (10th) but the 2013 event will be held at the Echunga oval and not the Uraidla oval as has been the case in past years.

Entry forms have been posted out to members who have participated in the last three years, the club will be sent a few blank entry forms for new members, and entry forms will also be available on the ABD web site, and is available via the TSOA web site under links/member added links / All British Day.

Please note that entries will close on the 30th November and NO LATE ENTRIES will be accepted, the ABD committee encourages all people interested in the event to submit their entries by the 1st of November which will make them eligible for 3 prizes (free entry refund) to be drawn on the day.

Just a friendly reminder for those members who are thinking of coming to the club’s Christmas dinner and Presentation night on Saturday December 8th  , we are looking to have numbers (and monies) finalised by the November 20TH meeting, so if you are thinking about attending or have just received an award at the DAY OF TRIUMPH then get your entry in quickly.

Till we meet again

John Sampson

Twenty nine members arrived at Prospect Hill Museum on Sunday 16th September to view an interesting collection from days gone by as well as a display in memory of Ash Wednesday. Also two stationary Kerosene run engines were started up by 2 museum volunteers for us to marvel over.

The day had started at “The Place Next Door”, Burnside, where some of us had breakfast or a cuppa or both. Good value, Good meals. A run through the southern hills was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Peggy and Brian for organising the day. Most of us finished at the Meadows Bakery for a light lunch.

Hoping for fine weather for the Bay to Birdwood which will have been run by the time this Trak is printed.

Ladies lunch on the 9th of October for all those Technical things that need discussing by the girls.

Day of Triumph, Civic Park, Sunday October 28th should again be one of our feature club days on this year’s calendar. Everyone is encouraged to participate in Display, Pride of Ownership or Concours classes. BYO lunches as the shops are a distance away.

Birthday wishes to Dianne Falzon, Fay Esau, Cherri Lange, Dave Wilson, Peggy Argent, Lorraine Cini and it happens to be mine as well in October!

Our hearty congratulations to new Grand Parents Peter and Vicky Langdon, also, Ian and Raylene Rigby who proudly welcomed the arrival of new baby girls into their families.

Christmas dinner flyer inside this Trak. Please submit as soon as you can but no later than the November meeting. October would be preferred.

’til next time,

Bill Berlemon

Craig Haysman wins Classic section of the recent Classic Adelaide – well done Craig and co-driver Neil Branum.

Sporting Triumphs

Triumph Triumphant in Targa Adelaide! South Australian Craig Haysman and navigator Neil Branum have won the outright Classic category at the 2012 Targa Adelaide in their 1981 Triumph TR7V8. The pair won by 1 minute 15 seconds over 2nd placed rivals Nick Streckeisen and Mike Dale in a 1985 Porsche 944 turbo. Haysman and Branum lead every leg of the competition “The car’s been great”, Haysman said “its total different to the car I drove last year. It’s a lot easier to drive in the wet, has just more power and more balance.”

Three Triumphs entered this year’s event. Jon Williams, former TSOASA member, entered a Mk1 PI Triumph Saloon and finished the event in 30th position in outright classic and was placed 11th in early classic handicap. Stephen Fisher and David Ainsworth finished in 18th position in outright classic in their Triumph TR7V8.

In other sporting Triumph news, it was our club’s turn to supply flag marshals for the 4th round of the Super Sprint series at Mallala. Whilst we initially had 4 volunteers, other commitments and sickness meant that we had only one club member and his son performed flag marshal duties on the day. Thank you to Trevor Lindsay and his son, David, for their help on the day. Thankfully the Austin Healey club had 10 volunteers and saved the day. Daune Kaak was our sole Triumph competitor for this event. Neil Martin had work commitments and our other regular competitors still have their engines in bits.

Trevor Lindsay believes he has finally tracked down some new valves and should have his engine back together ready for next season. Duane had a mixed day. In the first run he had a spin going into the northern hairpin. I think he could have been waving to Trevor at the time. Need both hands on the wheel Duane! Run 2 Duane equalled his best personal best time. In the third run Duane had barely completed a lap when he noticed the brakes fade. By the end of the lap he had no brakes and a mist of smoke was evident coming from the rear of the car. The problem was a leaking rear wheel cylinder. Duane retired from the event but then had a bigger problem. How was he to get home? Thankfully John Wood had arrived at the circuit as a spectator and assisted Duane enabling him to arrive home safely.

The next round of the Super Sprint Series is 21st of October.

Cheers

Rick Staehr

Coming Events

8th September Come &Try Hillclimb Collingrove

9th September Modern Regularity Mallala

29th/30th September 60th Anniversary Collingrove Hillclimb

21st October Round 5 Super Sprint Series Mallala

The club AGM was held at the August 21st meeting and so the new club year begins, I would like to thank all those club and committee members who helped make the last year so successful.

Special thanks go out to retiring committee members Peter Davidge and Sue Gibson who after many years service on the committee have seen fit to sit back for a while and just enjoy the club activities, but knowing both of them, I am sure they will be only too willing to help out in some small way as time goes on.

I would like to welcome both Duane Kaak newly elected Vice President and Alex Smithson who was elected as Treasurer, to the committee for the 2012 – 2013 year.  I know they are both enthusiastically waiting to take on the new challenges that they have chosen. Bill Berlemon was successful with his nomination for Social Secretary and I am aware he is keen to make some fine tuning improvements to the already successful formula.

Our AGM was also a special event celebrating the 50th birthday of the TRIUMPH SPITFIRE. The stage was suitably decorated by Rick and Maree Staehr and there were two highly polished great looking examples of SPITFIRES for the full house to admire.

Also on stage was a surprise visit from an past club member Jon Williams from W.A. with his “very recently prepared” MK1 PI. Saloon. Jon and co-driver Ken Bryant were here to complete in the “Targa Adelaide” starting the next day. Jon’s car had a total of 250Km on the clock when he started in the prologue on Wednesday evening, we wish them well in the event.

Thanks to Kyle Lill and Mark Gibson for bringing their Spitfires for the stage display on the night and joining in the celebrations.

Two dates to mark in your diaries for upcoming events,

1)      The Bay to Birdwood breakfast Sunday the 30th on Dequetteville Tce.  @ 9.00am – BBQ provided but BYO food.

2)      The Day of Triumph Sunday October 28th  – Not only is this a great picnic day for all members to attend and mingle with fellow Triumph owners, but it is a tremendous opportunity to promote our marque at this fantastic venue, so polish your car and come and enjoy the day.    For full details refer further in the magazine.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I would remind all members on Conditional Historic Rego. and prescribed LHD vehicles schemes, who yet to pay their membership dues and have their log books stamped for the coming Club year (starting AUG 15TH 2012) are deemed by the Registrar to be driving unregistered vehicles and will not covered by third party insurance. For your own sake please attend to this matter before you take your car out on the road.

Till we meet again      John Sampson

This is Geoff Bills (Hon TSOA SA Life Member) in full flight at this year’s MSCA 6-Hour Regularity Relay. Doesn’t the TR3A look just wonderful?

Well funny things happen at AGM’s, including myself taking on the role of Social Secretary.  See what happens when no-one else puts their hand up!

I must say I am happy to take on the role from Sue who has done a sterling job for the past 7 years and has left the portfolio well managed.

Gee, the club calendar is already organised till the end of the year, so at least it will be a good start to the job!

So what about next year? I intend to make some minor changes to our main monthly Sunday runs by focusing more on the run itself, rather than the “eating venue”, therefore finishing our runs with simple BBQ’s or such. Sure we will still have the “fancy” outings, but probably less.

I will be looking for someone to manage the “mid week” runs, as I am still working full time. Please contact me if you are interested or watch out for that tap on the shoulder!

Upcoming events are listed in the back of TRAK as well as promo advertisements inside. Thanks to Rod Dent for organising the august run to the Military Museum, which I believe was enjoyed by those who attended.

Socially Speaking,

Bill Berlemon

The sporting calendar has been full of activity this month starting with the All British Day at Wakefield Park and finished with Modern Regularity at Mallala on the 29th.
As I mentioned in last month’s edition, Neil Martin was our sole representative at the All British Race Meeting. Duane Kaak accompanied Neil to Wakefield Park and took on duties as Team Manager, sole pit crew member, head mechanic, time keeper, dishwasher and general roustabout.
The trip to Goulburn seemed to be without drama that is until Neil and Duane arrived at the track only to find that the tow vehicle had thrown up a stone and punched the radiator of the TR7. This required a trip to the local auto parts shop for some radiator stop leak. Scrutineering found some play in the front wheel bearing which needed attending to before Neil could compete in his regularity event. Neil had set a time in practice of 1:20:76. His best run for the weekend was round 4 which he placed 3rd. Overall both Neil and Duane had a good trip away and we thank them for representing SA.
Racing four weekends in row proved a little too much for even a keen competitor such as Neil, who decided to sit out round 3 of the Super Sprint Series at Mallala held on the 8th of July. Roger Lange’s GT6 engine is still in pieces but he entered again in his mate’s quick Datsun 240Z. The double entry proved too much for this car’s brakes which were fading badly. This must have made for some interesting times heading into the northern hairpin Roger!
Duane Kaak was also entered and had a consistent run in his TR7V8. Competitor numbers were down for this meeting suggesting harder economic times maybe having an effect on some competitor’s pastime. This meant the three runs were completed ahead of schedule and gave everyone the opportunity to compete in an extra 2 runs for the day – Good value for money.
The 12th of August is the next round for the Sprint Series and is our club’s turn to perform flag duty. Flag marshals are imperative to any motor sport event and the last event had difficulties starting due to the lack of flag marshals. It also proved embarrassing to the rostered clubs who didn’t provide the necessary volunteers. I’m certain that the TSOA members who have volunteered to help out will have a fun and rewarding day. The time to meet is 8.30am at the Scrutineering Shed. Did I mention that lunch and morning tea is provided?
Until Next Month
Cheers
Rick Staehr
Coming Events
5th August Hillclimb Wintercup Round 4 Collingrove
11th Rover Scout Tailem Bend Tarmac Challenge Cup Rd 2
12th August MSCA Super Sprint Series Rd 4 Mallala
18th & 19th August SA State Road Racing Rd 3 Championship Mallala
19th August Willunga Swap Meet
22nd – 26th August Supaloc Classic Targa Adelaide