Welcome back all TSOA members and friends to another year’s club activities. I trust all had a great Christmas and New Year and are raring to go in 2026.

Since my last report, we have had several club events, including the Après Christmas Run in late December, ice-cream run in January and mid-week lunch in early February. Thanks to Natalie Farrell for organising the Après run, Charlie and Carol Onody for the ice-cream run, and Lawrie and Kaye Placing for the mid-week lunch.

The All-British day was on Sunday 22nd February. Despite the forecast of 25mm or more of rain, we had a mainly overcast, but rain-free day, which also was not too windy (no repeat of the disaster of three years ago). We had 40 owners nominate TSOA for their display, although there were at least 6 people who I don’t think are current members of TSOA, but were listed with us in the programme. Unfortunately, we were down a few cars turning up on the day, due to a variety of reasons (including one car having been sold prior to the day, and a break down en-route to Echunga), as well as the non-members almost all being no-shows.

Overall, however, the TSOA display was again one of the largest marques at ABD, and there were around another 15 Stags on display with the Stag Owners’ Club. Thanks to everyone who attended, and in particular; Ian Rigby, Dean Berlemon and Lisa Macleod for marshalling and bringing, setting up and dismantling the gazebos, and Duane Kaak and others for marshalling. Our ABD representative, Stephen Wade has worked all year on the committee, and had our layout worked out and managed with military precision. Thanks Stephen, for all your work on the committee and on the day itself.

The ABD president, Jamie Sandford-Morgan indicated in his welcome, that in 2027 the feature marque will be Triumph, due to it being 50 years since the last Stag was produced. Whilst I would have thought that being 60 years since the first TR5 was produced may have been a better reason, I am however, still very pleased to hear this news. I hope that we can have a record turnout of Triumphs next year, and will be talking about this more, as the 2027 ABD approaches.

As previously advised, South Australia’s turn comes around again in 2027 to run the TSOA Nationals. A committee has been formed and had its first meeting. Thanks to all those members who have joined this committee. We have booked a venue for the event which will run from Friday 22nd October 2027 to Friday 29th October 2027. We are now working through the daily program and have plenty of great ideas to make a fun-filled week.

Our first club meeting for 2025 in February was well attended, and we had a couple of guests looking to join our club in attendance. It is great to see that we continue to grow. Ian Rigby gave us an update of life member, and club stalwart, Bill Berlemon’s health. It sounds like treatment has been quite successful and Bill is feeling better than he was a few months ago. It was great to see Bill and Margie at the All-British Day, with Bill’s green 2500PI saloon back on the road, with some considerable help from Ian.

We had one car on stage at our February meeting, being Nigel Genders’ 2500S saloon. I had planned to have a second car on stage however the owner had a last-minute family commitment and will hopefully have it at our March meeting. Nigel has not had his car for long, however has had numerous Triumphs previously, including a Herald when he was 18. The car may have been in the club at some time previously, however I understand the last owner was not a club member.

Nigel is very happy with the car, and thinks it drives better than any of the ones he owned previously.

My wife Sue talked at the February meeting about suppers, ongoing, as Margie and Bill are having a well-earned rest from doing suppers each meeting. Sue has also done a short article for Fastrak. Thanks to those members who have put their hand up to help. We have most of 2026 sorted. As with all jobs in the club, the workload tends to fall on a quite small group of members, all of whom are volunteers. Please support us by offering to do supper for one meeting during the year to share a small part of the club workload around.

I look forward to a good turnout for the next club activity, the All-Triumph Observation Run on the 15th March. I have been instructed to ensure that Sue and I do not win under any circumstances, and as Dean and Lisa are running the event and therefore, also can’t win, the event is wide open.

Alex Smithson
President