Nick Pollitt with his TR3 and Joe Lycett at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

TR Tour of Spanish Pyrenees 2018

Three Staffs & Warwick cars attended the celebrations in Osnabruck

Members car during Spanish Euromeet Pamplona 2019

As another glorious day beckoned, the small, elite Staffs and Warks Concours team gathered at the Deers Leap car park to share tactics and to carry out fine detailing of their vehicles prior to what was expected to be a tough days campaigning in Halesowen where every other person sounded like Ken. As the team saddled up and moved out, Mick had to have his wits about him to avoid an errant Japanese 4x4, the harsh braking resulting in a fine coating of brake dust on his immaculate wheels. Learning lessons from previous years, Dave avoided the PI smoke screen by leading our three muscateers leaving Mick as tail end Charlie, bringing up the rear. Navigating through the cheering crowds of semi stationary traffic on the M5, our intrepid contenders RV'ed with Neil and Anita within the legendary, amphitheatre like, Somers club. The Staffs and Warks team this year campaigned two TR6's in the TR6 category, one TR5 in the TR5 category and the mighty TTU hoping to break the vice like grip of last years winner (and the previous 4 years !!) of the Masterclass category. As the votes were counted the omens weren't looking good as none of the team won any of the raffle prizes - not even a Betamax version of Mr Bean. As our hopes were lowered, up popped ETE to win the Best TR4/4a/5 category and Best Car of the Show. With more chrome on show than TTU, ETE will carry the Masterclass fight forward into next year's competition. Well done Neil, Anita and ETE !!

A great day saw 10 Staffs and Warks cars brave the road works to get to the venue in sunshine. Amongst a sea of Triumphs of all shapes, sizes, ages, vintages and colours, the Staffs and Warks flag flew in magnificent style attracting many people to view our splendid vehicles, all polished and looking their best. Check out Steve Denton’s YouTube video below for highlights of the show paying special attention around 2 mins 44 secs in ! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kqH7yOuiufE

Here are photos of some of our cars....

With group pride at stake and in spite of threatening weather reports, 4 TR6’s and a solitary TR4 ventured in a southwesterly direction, through the much vaunted M5 roadworks to the home of the Birmingham group. Entering the bear pit like arena through massed ranks of TR’s, our team managed to bulk out the numbers of entrants to take our positions. Mick, carefully scrutinising challenger cars wash / wipe switch’s for concours correct positioning, whilst those in the know looked for Japanese influence on his car. Learning from last year, the Staffs and Warks team rushed the bar on arrival to order food which had been masterfully pre-arranged by the superb Somers Club staff. As the votes were counted, the Staffs and Warks team ‘clean sweeped’ the TR6 category with first place going to Dave Kent, and runner up going to Roger Brookes, a fitting reward for his first visit to this fierce competition. More or less, this year was a great success and a fitting memorial to Merve, who for years strove hard to organise this great event until his passing towards the end of last year.

A lovely day at a fantastic venue enticed three stalwart members of the Staffs and Warwickshire group to fly the flag. Well over 100 Standards, Standard-Triumphs and Triumphs of all descriptions were in attendance at this hidden gem of a venue right on our doorstep. In the shadow of Wren’s Cathedral, Gloria’s, Dolomites, and other pre-war and later vehicles of our favourite marque basked in the sun.

Another glorious day in Halesowen saw 7 Staffords and Warks cars (+ 1 MG cough-spit) take on the mighty Second City's esteemed array of TR's at their impressive home ground at the Somers Club, a grade 2* venue. Upon arrival, the Staffs and Warks A team of 4's and 6's were split into their respective categories. Within the hard fought 6 category, the Staffs and Warks close knit formation parking team were forced to split ranks due to some haphazard earlier parking by lesser teams. Not daunted, with vehicles now on display, time to tackle a bar snack.... a packet of crisps - all other food had run out! With votes eventually counted, a nervous crowd strained their ears to hear the victorious Staffs and Warks team reclaim the best TR4/4A/5 category - congratulations to our esteemed Chris Hubball leading by example, the best TR6 category - congratulations to Ian Collier, and surprise runner up in the overall best TR of the Show category, congratulations to Dave Kent. Other, lesser awards were won by some other, not quite as nice cars from other TRR groups. In all, a very good representation from the Staffs and Warks Group. High Five's for all and here's to next year!

A fantastic day out saw 7 cars depart The Bull at Shenstone at 0745. Collecting Richard and Chris en route near Gailey Island we RV'ed with the Stoke Group at the Truck Stop up north somewhere. We knew it was up north because ice was forming on our hats. Pity those that had left their gloves at home! By the time we had left the Truck Stop our convoy had grown to over twenty cars and included side screens, Michelotti's, Kamm tails as well as a Stag and a Vitesse. Duelling with white van men on the way, we managed to mostly stay together to arrive en masse at Blists Hill with Mick laying a smoke screen to cover our tracks.