Latest News
Thoroughbred Sportscar Championship
TR Register Stand at Race Retro
Rosy PughAppointed next FHBVC
International Triumph Show, Stoneleigh
Annual General Meeting 2007 Report
Wall to Wall Sunshine at Knebworth, 2007
E-mail address for TR Action Magazine
Events: National and International

News Archive
TS2's Group to Group Relay Run
International Weekend report, 2007
Old Triumphs at Goodwood 2007
FBHVC Report: "Maintaining our Transport Heritage"
TS2 - The Story
Friends of TS2
Standard Triumph Monument - The Story

Thoroughbred Sportscar Championship - Rounds 3 & 4

Click here to read all about the TR action from Rounds 3 & 4 at Oulton Park and Silverstone, as seen by our roving R E Porter. We would have published this in the next issue of TR Action, no. 228, but we could not fit everything in! Rather than deprive racing fans, we thought we could provide you with a pdf to download and/or read. Enjoy!

Thanks to Geoff Smith and Ian Cornish, who displayed their cars at Race Retro. The TR Register was well represented at this pretigious gathering of all that is good and glamorous in the race world.

For an interesting and informative report on the event, see the Classic Driver website/magazine at: www.classicdriver.com (magazine section).

Photo (left) is the copyright of Roger Dixon, and is published with his kind permission; see: www.rogerdixonphotography.com for a selection of his motorsport photography. Click on photo to see a larger version.

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Rosy Pugh appointed as Next FBHVC Secretary

Rosy Pugh, general Manager of the TR Register from 1989 to 2002, will succeed Jim Whyman as Secretary later on this year. FBHVC Chairman Chris Hunt Cooke commented: "The board feels that with Rosy's talent and experience, the affairs of the Federation will be in very safe hands".

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs exists to uphold the freedom to use old vehicles on the road, so that Britain remains at the forefront of the global historic vehicle movement.

To view the full press release, click HERE.

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International Triumph Show and Spares Day
at Stoneleigh, 10th February

Wayne Scott and friends, all TR enthusiasts, meet at the Stoneleigh show.
Talk to them on the Forum! Present were; Wayne, Tom Pringle, Stephen Cooper, Ashley Meson, Ben Ferguson, Phil Wright, Jony Ellis and Rachael Stanley.
     
(Click on the picture to view it at a larger size).

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Annual General Meeting 2007

The club's annual general meeting was held in the attractive Kestrel Suite of The Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon on the 25th November. With a standing ovation, a full house gave an emotional farewell to Chairman Ian Evans who retired on Sunday 25th November 2007 after 18 years service to the club. Tributes were paid to Ian by Hon President, Graham Robson and Vice President Ian Cornish who both recalled the many ways in which Ian had served the club over his period of office. The Management Committee of the club also conferred the honour of Vice President on Ian Evans and made a presentation of farewell gifts of Life Membership of the National Trust and a digital camera.

The former general manager of the club Chris Cunnington was welcomed into post as the new club Chairman. He too paid tribute to Ian Evans thanked him for his help and guidance over the years they had worked together within the TR Register.

A full report will be published in TR Action 224, but other points included:

- Accounts for last year were adopted.
- Mulhall & Co were reappointed as independent reviewers of the accounts.
- The committee was elected unopposed.
- The amendments to the Articles as listed were approved by a majority.
- The meeting approved a £3 per annum increase in subscriptions.

Pictures:
1. Ian Cornish, Vice President, congratulates Ian Evans on his retirement.
2. Mark Treadwell and Ian Evans in an amusing moment during the presentation of farewell gifts.
3. Hon President. Graham Robson addressing the meeting.
4. New club Chairman Chris Cunnington addresses the meeting.
5. TR Staff... from the office, Brian, Trish and Chris Cunnington at the AGM.

Click on any of the photos to see a larger version. Many thanks to Steve Redway for all the photos.

If you would like to view the two slide shows presented at the AGM, click here for the closing presentation featuring pictures of the year and here for the TS2 Group to Group relay pictures.

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Wall to wall sunshine at Knebworth!

The TR Register joined the 17th Knebworth Annual Classic Motor Show on the Bank Holiday this year, as an alternative day out after floods devastated the Malvern International weekend. The club had space allocated for the several hundred members who attended with their cars for various celebrations, such as the TR3A birthday event, or just to come along to an enjoyable day out at this prestigious Show. The Register had arena time, to mark the end of the Relay by TS2 and also to put on other TR diisplays. Click on any of the pictures to see a bigger version.

For a full report, see TR Action 222, published on 15th October.

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The club has a broadband connection so pictures and large files up to 5 MB per e-mail are OK. If you have larger files, or a series of large files to send, burn them to a CD-rom and send them by post, please! On receiving your files here all the work is collated, sub-edited and then passed to the Editor - he sees every item of copy submitted by members.

I can be reached on office@tr-register.co.uk as always and in due course we will introduce other e-mail addresses to cope with work generated from the TR Register. If you have an e-mail reply from us you will always see who is dealing with your query. Simply reply to the senders address, we are here to respond. Our name and telephone number is on every signature line of our e-mail.

Chris Cunnington General Manager

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Events 2008
Contact the TR Register office for further information about any of these events.

TR REGISTER EVENTS 2008
Please contact the office for more information - 01235 818866

18-20 July 2008                 
TR Register International Weekend, Malvern. See link at top of home page or click here for more info.

8 – 10 August 2008           
TR Register Inaugural Summer Ball, The Windermere Hydro, Bowness.
Further info, e-mail: malbradley@hotmail.co.uk


CLASSIC CAR SHOWS & EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY 2008
Please contact the organiser for more information

4-6 July
Wharfedale Castle Howard Weekend
Convoys, BBQ, visit to Castle Howard for day in the grounds with something for everyone! Camping: £10 per unit/night; BBQ £5; children free; signing on £5. Contact: Ken Bailey 01274 816613 or Keith George 01274 817885 or John Dennison: 0113 250 6085.

5 July
Retro Show 2008, Santa Pod Raceway
Retro Show 2008 will be the multi-marque retro event of the year featuring all your favourite retro vehicles including cars, bikes, scooters and lorries from the 1950s to the 1980s. Featuring: all day RWYB, Drag Demos, Monster Truck, Show & Shine, Traders, Live Bands, Auto Jumble, Club Stands, Camping, Vehicles 4 Sale Paddock, Evening Entertainment with DJs playing the best of the 60s, 70s and 80s, Fun Fair and more. Day tickets from £10, weekend tickets with camping from £15. For tickets telephone: 01234 782828 or see: www.retroshow.co.uk

6 July
Cars in the Park
Lichfield, Staffs. Staffs & Warwick Group will have a stand here. If you would like to join them, please call Paul Hogan on 07931 959539. Small fee for exhibiting, but then you don't have to pay entrance on the day!

6 July
National TR7/8 Day, Billing Aquadrome, Northampton
Part of the TR Driver's Club annual weekend. Sunday is show day. Fee for entering Aquadrome, but discount if you mention you are attending the TR Driver's Club rally. Entry into the rally field is free. Tel: 01562 753950 or 01384 868718 for more details.

11-13 July
EasTRiding Group’s Yorkshire Dales Weekend
All members are invited to our long established weekend, based on Aysgarth in Wensleydale.  Runs start from the George and Dragon in Aysgarth, on the A684. For accommodation details or further information, contact Ian & Mary Landen on 01482 872 175

13 July
Classic Car & Motorbike Picnic, Bletchley Park National Codes Centre
Annual event celebrating classic cars and motorbikes of all ages, shapes and sizes. Owners are invited to bring their classic vehicles along and picnic in the beatiful grounds of the famous home of the WW2 Codebreakers. Price: £5 per car, £3 per motorbike. For further info call: 01908 640404 or see: www.bletchleypark.org.uk

20 July
Fleetwood Transport Festival (Tram Sunday)
Exhibitors or visitors free. See: www.fleetwoodtransportfestival.co.uk

26 July
Silverstone Classic RetroRun
Don't just spectate - participate! Make you and your classic car part of the Silverstone Classic Weekend, 25-27th July. Cost for entry is £99 per vehicle, which includes entry to the Retro Run, two adult 3-day event tickets normally costing £80 in advance, rally plaque, road guide, special parking area and two parade laps of the Silverstone Historic GP Circuit on Sunday morning, 27 July. The RetroRun itself is a fun event, not a speed run or competition. There are four routes to choose from, each 100mls or so in length. To enter, download a booking form from www.silverstoneclassic.com or request a copy on 01327 857823 or e-ml: silverstoneclassic@motion-works.co.uk.

27 July
Seventh Annual Donor Card Gran Turismo, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey
Entries are still open for this annual charity beginner's rally training day organised in association with HRCR and Continental Car Tours. All proceeds to Cystic Fibrosis Trust (last year's event raised over £5,000). Non-competitive touring assembly, not a timed event, navigated with a tulip route book. Details from: admin@continentalcartours.co.uk or tel: 01304 380244. Limited number of rooms in nearby four star hotel available for the Saturday evening.

3 August                              
Run to the Hills, Leyburn, Wensleydale
Classic Vehicle Show in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Association. Further details, tel: 01969 625470.
E-ml: run.tothehills@hotmail.co.uk           

15-17 August                      
Shropshire TR Group Weekend
Royal Hill Inn, near Edgerley, north west of Shrewsbury. For more details contact Richard: tel: 01952 670393 or 07813 648657; or Simon, tel: 01630 658984

25 August
Gosporteers Vehicle Rally
52nd annual event, with wide range of vehicles of various shapes, sizes and ages. Further info from: royedge1@tiscali.co.uk or see: www.gosporteers.org.uk

3 - 7 September
Friends of Triumph, at SVRA's Zippo Grand Prix, Kastner Cup Event, Watkins Glen.
The featured Race of Triumphs is sponsored by Classic Motor Sports Magazine, the Grand Marshall will be Kas Kastner, and the Kastner Cup will be awarded following this race. There will be a number of very historically significant Triumphs in attendance, and over 40 Triumph drivers have indicated they will be applying for entry. The village of Watkins Glen is all geared up for honouring Triumph with special activities. A "must do" weekend!
For more info, keep an eye on: Classic Motorsports Magazine, Friends of Triumph (fot-racing.com) and the SVRA website: SVRA.com

6 September
Glare Cloverleaf Rallies
Main event is a National B permit for historic cars, a qualifying round in the 2008 Richard Egger Insurance HRCR Clubmans Championship. Subsidiary event - the GLARE Cloverleaf Clubmans Rally - is for competitors without a competition licence or an historic car. Further info: http://cloverleaf.wecc.co.uk

14 September                    
TSSC All Triumph Day, Imperial War Museum, Duxford            
Entrance fee of £9.95 (for those in a Triumph; all others £16.00) includes entry to all hangars and exhibits on the site. Further info, tel: 01582 750943

26 October
National Restoration Show, NAC, Stoneleigh
Vintage and Classic Events show; for info, tel: 01568 797228 or see: www.classiccarshows.org.uk

14 - 16 November
Classic Motor Show, NEC, Birmingham
See: www.necclassicmotorshow.com for details

27 - 29 March 2009
The 12th Regis Classic Tour
Based in Shropshire at the 4* Albrighton Hall Hotel & Spa just north of Shrewsbury. All funds raised to go charity. For more information log onto: www.theregisclassictour.co.uk or call Ali on 01243 542674 to speak to a real person!


Overseas Events 2008
Please contact Chris Hale, e-mail: oseacord@ophsmb.freeserve.co.uk

11-13 July
Le Mans Classique
SORRY! SOLD OUT.

22-24 August
2nd Remembrance Tour: “In Flanders Fields”
Budget VIP weekend for British Classics and Exclusive Cars.
For more information see: www.kemmelhistoric.be

31 August
29th British Car Meeting, Mollis, Switzerland
Biggest meering for English cars in the German part of Switzerland, with more than 1000 cars last year. Special guest this year: Rover Club Switzerland, which will have some very interesting cars on display. For info see: www.britishcarmeeting.ch

12-14 September
European TR Meeting, Sweden.
The meeting will take place at Ronneby Brunn in the south of Sweden. Contact Chris Hale for further info.

13-21 September
Triumph Rally Down Under, Cherrabah Resort 13-17 Sept, Radisson Resort, Gold Coast, 17-21 Sept.
Touring both areas, finishing at Speed On Tweed with a timed race in classic cars. Info: p_r_bingham@hotmail.com

26 Sept - 5 Oct
Acorns Classic Car Run to Prague
Up to 50 cars on an exciting drive across autumnal Europe to raise money for Acorns Childrens Hospice. Cost includes ferries, hotel rooms, breakfasts, plus three gala dinners. For further info click here for downloadable pdf. Entry form on website: www.acorns.org.uk/classiccarrun or e-mail: nick@button-law.co.uk

Himalaya Trial, 11 Oct - 21 November
With only 6 months to go, the final touches are being made to the route for this epic event through the Himalayas to Bhutan. The organisers are currently in Pakistan and will then travel to India for the last time to finalise the route there, having finalised the route through India to include the Taj Mahal by moonlight. There are still three places left, so it is not too late to book... for further details see: www.thetrial.nl.

1–4 November                  
15-50 November Sun Run
Classic car touring event over 1400kms. Tough challenge that is suitable for novice crews or experts. Cost: £120 per car, crew of 2 (Does not include hotels etc). For more info, see: www.15-50.sarahandjames.org or contact Robert Fenn in UK, on: 01264 737717, e-ml: robertfenn@aol.com or tel James McDonald: (00 33) 325 274 984 or e-ml: james4bis@hotmail.com

Feb 26 – 1 March, 2009     
TR Register New Zealand National Meeting
Cromwell, South Island. For current info check the TR Register New Zealand's website: www.trregister.co.nz  or, to contact the organising team, e-mail: nw@trregister.co.nz "

8 - 30 May 2009
Bill Bourne's Tour to Greece
Dates not yet finalised, but announcing now to obtain feedback from all interested. Final route plans and details available Sept/Oct 2008. Non-profit tour, participants pay for their own ferries, hotels etc through the group's tour booking references. Eight cars booked already. Have a look at the website for further info: www.classiccartours.me.uk or contact Bill Bourne: william.bourne2@btinternet.com.

NOTICE:

MSA Council opens nominations for membership of Specialist Committees

The Motor Sports Association is seeking nominations from individuals wishing to serve on one of the Specialist Committees that represent the interests of the various disciplines of motorsport. The comittees meet two/three times a year; no formal qualifications are required, but you must be a member of an MSA-recognised motor club or Regional Association who must sponsor the application. Appointment is for a three-year term. Applications should include a brief CV of your motor sport involvement and achievements, including any relevant qualifications, together with name, address and contact details. The application should be sent by your MSA-registered club to Andrea Wren, Motor Sports House, Riverside Park, Colnbrook, SL3 0HG to arrive before the end of June 2008. For further information, please e-mail: msapressoffice@bentaylor.uk.com

Racing/Rallying Events 2008

For a guide on where to view your favourite TRs at events this year, click here to download a pdf.

Revington TR / TR Register Sprint and Hillclimb Championship 2008

Bold "Organising Club" indicates an accepted Championship event. Please note that MIRA and Colerne do not allow spectators.

Anyone not on the current mailing list who wishes to receive the 2008 Championship Regulations and registration pack should contact Roger McEwen at: rcmcewen@lineone.net.

TS2 Relay
TS2 was supposed to finish her historic Relay at the International Weekend, Malvern in July, but instead was marooned in a Cotswold Vale Group garage, propped up on blocks above the flood level (see picture left) in a village completely cut off by the floods. For a full report see TR Action 221.

In the end, the Relay was completed at the Knebworth weekend, which took place over the August Bank Holiday.

The Relay was extremely well supported, and we would like to thank all the many members who have sent in photos (many of them superb) and their comments. Many of these have been put up on the website and/or published in TR Action. Others will appear at the AGM...

Standard Triumph Day at Brooklands, 22 April 2007, saw the launch of TS2's Group Relay Run (picture bottom left) around all the Register's local groups. The historic racing circuit of Brooklands on a sunny Sunday (which was also the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs "Drive It" Day) was the ideal setting to start this relay by TS2, the first right-hand drive TR made by Standard Triumph in 1953. Click here for a press release about the Relay.

Organised in recognition of the retirement of Ian Evans, Chairman of the TR Register, after seventeen years of service, this run saw TS2 cover nearly seven housand miles of British roads over the three months.

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International Weekend 2007

Rain? What rain? As some of you will have seen from my comments on the Forum, this year's International Weekend was significantly influenced by the weather, and various national emergencies that followed. Right from the start, I want to say a huge thank you to the team that put the show together and kept it afloat (!) during the weekend.

Locally, there were people in a serious situation of having their homes flooded and there was the likelihood that they would be evacuated from their home location to the Three Counties Showground, which is a designated rest centre for the area. As it turned out, this did not happen, but we had to have in mind at all times that we might have an additional two thousand visitors!

On the brighter side, we did have visitors from far afield, including Robert Johnstone, President of TR Register New Zealand, who presented the awards at the Award Ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

There are many thanks due, as I have already said, but we should particularly say thank you to the traders who struggled through and stayed with us until the bitter end. We were also well supported by the caterers on site, some of whom did not actually go home over the whole weekend, but stayed to look after our food and beverage needs.

There are many more stories to be told, and I know that Steve Redway will be pleased to receive all of your experiences and photos, so that those members who were unable to attend can get a flavour of this year's rather unique event.

Regards,

Chris Cunnington, General Manager

Pictures, left, from top to bottom: flooding on the way to Malvern; tents in Severn Hall; the Shropshire/Stoke BBQ in the rain, and the empty showground! Click on any of the images to enlarge.
_ _ _

And a special mention to Hugo Smets, who kindly sent in the photo below. We were very impressed by the bow wave in front of the car... an accompanying photo he sent shows his car at the showground; Hugo's car must have a secret life as a boat!

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Old Triumphs at Goodwood 2007

Another reasonably sunny day, with everyone who went reporting a great time. We thought our members might enjoy a range of photos of the Triumphs, honourable and cherished, on display that day, courtesy of Pat MacMahon. Click on any of the photos to enlarge.

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Research Report "Maintaining our Transport Heritage" available.
The FBHVC published a recent report on the historic vehicle movement in the UK. Key findings include;
- Historic vehicle related activity is worth over £3 billion to the UK annually
- Export trade is worth over £300 million
- Over 27,000 people in the UK earn some or all of their living serving the historic vehicle movement
- 81% of businesses serving the movement have been established for over 10 years
- There are over 400,000 historic vehicles that are roadworthy and licensed
- Over 65% of historic vehicles travel fewer than 900 miles per year
- 30% of historic vehicle owners have a household income of less than £20,000 per year
- In pursuit of their hobby, members of FBHVC clubs spend 740,000 nights away from home both within and outside Britain
- 67% of historic vehicles are valued at less than £10,000

To read this report in full, go to: www.fbhvc.co.uk/news/current-news.htm

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TS2 The Story

Almost 50 years after it left Standard Triumph's Banner Lane factory in Coventry on July 22 1953, TS2 was painstakingly restored. Its unique parts and features were meticulously researched and using period paints and trim, the car has been restored as close as it is possible to be to the original hand-built vehicle that was first shown at the Dublin motor show in 1953. TS2 was the first RHD TR to be made; TS1 the first LHD TR was destined for North America.

Originally registered in Ireland (as IR 6360) it was variously used as a dealer's demonstrator, and for rallying and autocross. By 1974 it had been substantially modified, changed colour, changed registration number (to 773 EWO) and lost its original engine. Keith Read, motoring correspondent of the Coventry Evening Telegraph, bought the car in 1976 and began restoration. Up until 1978 considerable progress was made, and then for various reasons nothing further was done for two decades.

Keith Read contacted the TR Register in 1997 and offered to donate the car, all the historic documents, photographs etc, on condition that the club restore the car to its 1953 condition. The offer was enthusiastically accepted!

TR Enterprises were chosen to undertake the restoration, and appeals in TR Action supplied many rare early parts for the car. Work began in 1998 with the restoration of the rolling chassis, engine and transmission. The restoration has taken three years to complete, and club members have been closely involved throughout the project. The intention was not produce a concours car but to reproduce (as far as possible) the condition that the car left the factory in 1953.

To help fund the rebuild a TR7 was raffled in 2000, and the highly successful 'Friends of TS2' scheme provided funds and much good will. A TS2 trust has been set up, with a board of trustees (including Keith Read). Now that the rebuild is complete the trustees will oversee the use and maintenance of the car - it is intended that it will be used on the road and taken to events and shows.

The completed car was officially unveiled by Keith Read on the TR Register stand at the spring International Sports Car Show at the NEC on Saturday 28 April 2001. Our chairman, Ian Evans, interviewed Bill Piggott and John Saunders who had masterminded and researched the whole project, before asking Keith to perform the ceremony. Steve Hall, of TR Enterprises, and John Sykes, of TR Bitz, were also at the show to see the car revealed to the public for the first time. Friends of TS2 were invited to toast the success of the project with a glass of bubbly and Keith, Bill, and John were presented with an engraved crystal goblet.

Acknowledgements

From the initial donation of the car by the previous owner Keith Read, the TR Register would like to acknowledge the help and advice so generously given from many sources during the restoration of TS2.
We would also thank our two major contractors for the actual work on the car: TR Enterprises for the main rebuild work, and TR Bitz for the trim.

Our thanks also go to the many Friends of TS2 who have generously donated towards the cost of restoration and for the tireless effort in organising, contributing to and ensuring a successful outcome of this project: Bill Piggott, John Saunders, Lorraine and Andy Petersen, Merve Parkes (Spares Development Fund Treasurer) and the many others who have played a part in the continuing story of Standard Triumph's first right hand drive TR sports car.

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Friends Of TS2

The 'Friends of TS2' scheme was set up both to fund the rebuild of TS2 and to involve club members in the project.

Almost 50 members have each donated £50 to the scheme. In return all 'Friends' have received a newsletter about the car's progress, discounts for rebuild seminars, a windscreen sticker, tee-shirt and badge. Now that the car is rebuilt they will be able to drive the car to selected events.

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Standard Triumph Monument - The Story

The Lord Mayor of Coventry and Harry Webster unveiled the monument April 2000 At 12 noon on 16 April 2000, a monument to Standard Triumph was unveiled on Herald Avenue, on the site of the old Canley factory in the outskirts of Coventry, just behind the Standard Triumph Recreation Club - the last remaining original building of the factory complex. The unveiling was performed jointly by the Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of the City of Coventry, Cllr Mrs Joan Wright, and Harry Webster CBE. Cllr Wright was herself a past employee at Canley and Harry Webster was their chief engineer from 1954 to 1968. Our honorary president, Graham Robson (who ran Standard Triumph's motorsport department from 1962-1965), was master of ceremonies on the day and TR Register chairman, Ian Evans, gave a vote of thanks to all the contributors.

Dave Lewis and Chris Cunnington, who between them made the whole project possible, were presented with an inscribed piece of lead crystal as a sincere thank-you from the TR Register. Past employees, works drivers, contributing clubs and individuals, and Standard and Triumph owners from all over the world had been encouraged to attend the ceremony and on the day over 500 people from Canada, USA, Europe and every corner of the UK watched as the silver ribbon was removed and the blue drapes revealed the stunning stainless steel structure commemorating a golden age of British motoring in the motor manufacturing heart of the City of Coventry.
The TR Register Committee - at the unveiling in April 2000

The guest list included famous Triumph names such as Spen King, Stuart Turner, Brian Culcheth, Roy Fidler, John Hopwood, and Tony Mason. Fred Coultas represented British Motor Heritage and nearly all the contributing clubs were able to send representatives making 120 people in all.

We were especially pleased to welcome Don Elliott, representing Canada, and the person whose letter, back in 1997, started it all.


Standard Triumph Monument, contributing clubs:
Club Automobile Triumph CDA Inc. (Montreal)
Club Triumph
Club Triumph Eastern
Indiana Triumph Club
Minnesota Triumphs
Pre-1940 Triumph Owners Club
Spitfire Club of Holland
Stag Owners Club
Standard & Triumph Association
Standard Motor Club
TR Drivers Club
TR Register
TR Register Australia
Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Owners Club
Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register
Triumph Roadster Club
Triumph Sports Six Club
Triumph Stag Enthusiasts
Triumph Stag Register
Triumph TR Car Club

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