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

Our Club website needs your help!

There is little to no input from our members to make the site interesting.

Surely one or some of you have something to share.

If you need help with posting an item, contact me and I will happily assist.

Otherwise, this site will die a natural death . . .

Roger Lange

TSOA SA Website Manager

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

JUNE

Sunday 21st – M.S.C.A. Super Sprint Series RD 2 at Mallala

JULY

Sunday 19th – Uraidla Run organised by Charlie details (TBA)

Tuesday 21st – TSOA Meeting at the Sporting Car Clubrooms 51 King William Road, Unley 8.00 pm

AUGUST

Sunday 2nd – M.S.C.A. Super Sprint Series round 3 at Mallala

Sunday 16th – Freeling Hotel Run starting at Crafers Hotel organised by Katherine Bradley Details TBA.

Tuesday 18th – TSOA Meeting at the Sporting Car Clubrooms 51 King William Road, Unley

Check out Richard Sutherland’s post on his new project – see below or click on Member’s Cars tab

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and ready to start the new year with enthusiasm for the social side of our
club. We have some exciting runs for you to participate in this year and enjoy yourselves with other members as well
as blowing the cobwebs out of your cars by taking them for a run.
By the time you read this in the magazine we have already had our annual Ice cream run. This year because Noonies
was sold, we went to Fasta Pasta. An enjoyable run with 30 people attending, going through Outer Harbour to Port
Adelaide. As well as an ice cream you could have a meal which I did, and It was very tasty. Australia Day will be
celebrated at Dino and Lisa Vettese’s place at Northgate with so far 24 members wishing to attend.
Wednesday February 5th will be our first “Mid-Week” Run for 2025. This will be at the Aldgate Pump Hotel at 1
Strathalbyn Rd., Aldgate. At 12.30 pm. See you there, ring or text Lawrie or Kaye Placing if you wish to attend.
Sunday February 23rd will be a MSCA Picnic/Presentation Day at the Virgara Winery 143 Heaslip Road, Angle Vale
from 11 am.
As Easter is on the 3rd Sunday of April we have organised a run on the Sunday 6th April instead. I will let you know
more details TBA.
It is shaping up to be a very impressive social calendar so far, and we have the 60th Anniversary this year as well.
More on that later.
Hope you can participate with the social side of the club as it is your club, and we would love to see you there.
Natalie Farrell
Social Secretary
0455 250 990

When Richard Sellers purchased the blue TR8 from me Carolyn’s first words to me “we now only have one car”.  So what was I to do!  Look for an affordable Triumph to fill the empty spot in the garage of course!  The quest began, unfortunately it was the beginning of the Covid pandemic and affordable Triumphs had disappeared . . . those that were available were well out of my price range.

In desperation I bought an MG Midget, a Spriget, I could join the Sprite club and catch up with Gordon, one of the three Amigos of Croydon TAFE.

Well the Midget wasn’t a Triumph and in time Carolyn said I should buy a Triumph, I’m in the Triumph Sports Owner’s Club and I should have a Triumph.  I had a mission to buy a Triumph, a TR7 V8, (and a budget).

Neil a TSOA club member and a good man had a TR7 V8 for sale.  A car Neil had purchased for the 4.6 V8 that he had now fitted to his TR7V8.  I asked if I could have a look at the car then, with a view to purchase.

FIRST VIEWING 20^th April – Hayden and I drove out to Neil’s place for a look at the car.  There it was looking splendid, although there was no engine and gearbox or bonnet but no it looked pretty good.  A TR7 V8 coupe yes.

Hayden assisting with the inspection.

Triumph TR7 V8 registration number RTROO8, odometer reading 37425Km

Neil delivered the TR7 V8 on 2^nd May 2024, with spares, the Engine and Gearbox were to come later.  I wanted to repaint the Engine Bay before installing the engine so arranged for the car without the engine fitted. OK now for the project to begin.

Plan for Monday 6May 2024

Prepare Engine bay for painting.

Pull wiring loom into cabin

Sanding Engine bay 120g disc, wire wheel, hand rub 180-240 dry rub

Mask up where necessary.

Wheels off, for a close look at the underside.

Lets get on with it.  Is there a plan?  The engine bay is the priority, repaint anything that is not red.

Pull the Dash out to remover the Heater and pull the engine bay wiring back into the cabin.

Remove wiper motor, Coil, Coolant overflow tank, Air horns, Brakes master, pipes and proportioning valve, bonnet and lock.

Tuesday 7 MAY 2024

Primer etch and high build. Seem seal, panel joins and over laps the primer.

Starting to strip out the interior, for access.

Stripping back the carpet.

Not surprised that the strip down was straight forward – parts labelled and grouped to assist with assembly in a few weeks or months, the project will have some  interruptions and has no set date for completion.

Right hand side

Left hand side

Ready for masking.

Masked ready to paint, base coat, RED Wednesday 8 may 2024

Mask and spray Base colour coat followed by 2 coats or Clear (from spray can 2Pack)

Painted then masking removed.

Removing the windscreen base trim, revealed surface rust with some pitting of the lower windscreen surround panel.  For safety and further investigation, the windscreen needs to be removed

Interior stripped out; Brake pedal box removed.

After windscreen removed, Lower windscreen surround panel, wire brushed to remove paint and rust.  No serious damage, apply rust converter, etch primer, primer and topcoat.

Decision to paint Black the rust effected surrounding areas.

Look out for the second installment coming soon!

Richard Sutherland

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

The After Christmas / Before New Year  “Apres” Run on Monday 30th January was enjoyed by a diverse group of TSOA members who travelled an interesting route through the beautiful Adelaide Hills and surrounds ending up at the One Tree Hill Hotel for lunch.

It was nice to see Noel Schmidt out and about after enduring some serious health issues over recent times, and also a few members that we don’t see too often.

Our group of Triumphs was equally diverse with almost all body shapes represented – TR3A, TR4, TR6, TR7, Stag, Saloon, Herald, Spitfire . . .

The Hotel is a gem – beautifully presented with an Irish theme and excellent meals. All enjoyed our time there. Give it a visit if you are out and about.

Thanks to Bill and Margie for organising the run and lunch at the hotel – another quality TSOA event!

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