Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
February 2008 �
Volume 21, Issue 2, February 2008
Hello again my English auto enthusiasts, Well,asIamTheLeaderandabigfanoftheTriumphSpitfire(Theeveryman’ssportscar)Iwillcontinuetoshamelesslypromotethebrand.IhaverecentlybeenreadingoldissuesofTSOA(TriumphSportsOwnersAssociation).IcameacrossaSpecial“TributetoSpitfire”Issue.ThisisareprintfromthatissuedatedJan.-Feb.1981Volume27,Number1.
by Bill Waller
February 2008 �
Volume 21, Issue 2, February 2008
Hello again my English auto enthusiasts, Well,asIamTheLeaderandabigfanoftheTriumphSpitfire(Theeveryman’ssportscar)Iwillcontinuetoshamelesslypromotethebrand.IhaverecentlybeenreadingoldissuesofTSOA(TriumphSportsOwnersAssociation).IcameacrossaSpecial“TributetoSpitfire”Issue.ThisisareprintfromthatissuedatedJan.-Feb.1981Volume27,Number1.
by Bill Waller
continued on page 3
The RAGTOP 2
a Name :
a Address :
a City / State : a Zip :
a Home Phone :
a Work Phone :
a E-mail address :
a Car Make : a Model : a Year : a Color :
a Car Make : a Model : a Year : a Color :
:: Please circle which method you would like the newsletter delivered : E-mail Snail Mail
:: How did you hear about the Hill Country Triumph Club?
:: Please mail application and check payable HCTC to :
Nel McPhail, 1105 N. Canyonwood Dr., Dripping Springs, TX, 78260
OfficersPresidentBill Waller496.745�[email protected]
Vice-PresidentBob [email protected]
TreasurerEarl [email protected]
SecretaryBob [email protected]
MembershipNel Mcphail656.�[email protected]
Ragtop EditorWarren Cole92�[email protected]
WebmasterDan Julien45�.3�[email protected]
The Hill Country Triumph Club, the 50th Chapter of the Vintage Triumph Register (VTR), was founded in 1990 to bring together the owners of Triumph automobiles in the Central Texas area surrounding Austin. In 1991, the membership decided to include other British car fans as associates due to lack of other clubs in our area that represent some of the other marques. As owners and lovers of our unique types of cars, we have a special kinship, which draws us together. Membership is open to anyone who is a British car enthusiast, with or without a car.
Annual dues are just $15.00 per family group or address per year. We have dinner meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and at least one other event each month. We encourage you to join and support us, even if you don’t drive your car regularly. We also offer technical assistance if needed. One goal of the club is to help its members keep their cars on the road. Please call one of the club officers listed in the newsletter for more information about club benefits and spread the word about our club to others.
The Hill Country Club is a local chapter of the Vintage Triumph Register (VTR)/Tri-umph Sports Owners Association, which is open to all drivers of Triumph motorcars; a chapter of the Triumph Register of America, exclusively for TR2 through TR4A sports cars; and a chapter of the 6-PACK, dedicated to the enjoyment, preservation, and restora-tion of the Triumph TR250 and TR6 sports cars. Membership in these national organiza-tions is encouraged. Visit their websites at www.vtr.org, www.triumphregister.com, and www.6-pack.org.
The RAGTOP is published monthly by the Hill Country Triumph Club. Material with-in may be freely reproduced providing Ragtop and the authors are credited. Any and all newsletter contributions are welcome. Deadline for submissions is the end of each month. Submissions may be sent to: Warren Cole; 8290 FM 1322; Lockhart, TX 78644 or E-mailed to [email protected]. Photos in jpeg format are always welcome. Car related classified ads are free to members and will run for three months unless other-wise instructed. Contact editor for other ads.
Membership Application
February 2008 3
continued from page 1
The RAGTOP 4
January’smeetingtookusbacktotheCherryCreekCatfishrestaurant.Thisisanicevenuethatprovidesusa separate room,good foodandmanagement thatwantsus. Theonly
drawbackisthatitislocatedverySouth,andalittlehardtogettoforsomeofourmembers.BobandBarbaraKramerenduredalong,hardslogthroughtheMoPactrafficintheirblue6,producingamuscularleftlegforBob.TherewassomediscussionagainofpossiblesitesfortheVTRRegionalmeetthatwewillbehostingin2009.Wewillneedtomakeadecisionbeforethe2008RegionalinAprilatTyler,TXwhenthevenueforthefollowingyearisusuallyannounced.Anyonewantingtoattendthisyear’sregionalshouldmaketheirreservationsnowforthehosthotel–all informationcanbefoundonthewebsiteoftheRedRiverTriumphClub.IthascometoourattentionthatTylerislocatedinadrycountyandthenearestwaterrunwillbeinLongview,anhourdriveaway.Makeplansaccordingly,soasnottobecaughthighanddry. TwonewmemberscametothemeetingdrivingSpitfires–makingtheunofficialcountofTheLeaderat15Spitfiresintheclub.JamesSchallanandMikeJankowskicametousfromdifferentdirec-tions,oneafirsttimeownerandtheotherandownerofmanyTriumphsovertheyears.Wewelcomethenewenthusiasmtheybringwiththem.MemberEdGowettbroughthismodifiedTR6andweenjoyedlookingthisbeautyoverintheparkinglotafterthemeeting.Miataseats,tintedwindowsandairconditioningallowhimandEvacomfortabletouringyear‘round.Wehad16membersatthe
meetingandonly4carsintheparking lot. Good drivingweatherisjustaroundthecor-ner,butfirstwewill losetheBakers, McPhails and Kram-ers to the ski slopes for thenextmeeting. Wewill havea newmeeting place for theFebruary, sopayattention . ...I’llseeyouontheroad.
Bob’s Your UncleJanuary Meetingby Bob Skewis
February 2008 5
Once you get up that hill you are all out tothefinalpairoflefthandersleadingbacktothefrontstraight.Youarelookingeyeballlevelatamassivewallofhaybaleswhichjusthappentoprotectyoufromcrashingthroughandlandinginthatlowerpaddockarea.Youneedtobrakeaslateaspossibletogetthemostoutofthefi-nalstraightandthencomplete2turnswhileset-tingyourselfupforagoodrundownthefrontstraight.Ifyouareworryingaboutthehaybalesyoumayblink,loseyourrhythmandgetaslowstartdownthefrontstraight.That’s a lap around Eagles Canyon. I did
quiteafewonFridaybutInoticedthatthecar
hadstartedmissing.Iknewthebatteryneededcharging so I borrowed a generator hook-upfromPinnacleMotorsports.Thetrackdoesnothaveelectricserviceinthepaddockasofyet.Af-teragoodchargeoverlunchIcheckthecaroverinpreparationforthenextsessionandIfoundtherealcauseofthemiss.TherearSUfloatbowlmountingbolthadshearedoffandthebowlwashangingbythejettube.Talkaboutmessingwiththemixture!Truthbetolditwasanalmostdi-saster.During thatsession Iwasblackflaggedfordumpingfuelonthetrack.IknewthatIhadfilledthetanktotheverybrimandunderthatcondition I can spill a little fuel out the over-
Eagles Canyon Raceway Report
by Bob Kramer
>>>>>> continued from the January RagTop
The RAGTOP 6
flowtube.Theworkerscheckedmyfuelcellandhosesforleaksandgavemetheallclear.Whatnoneofusknewwas that the fuelwasdump-ingout theSUoverflow.Fortunately itdumpsbehindtherightfrontwheelwellawayfromtheheader.TheboltthatholdsthefloatbowlonanHS6
fits through thebottomof the bowl andhas a3/8”shoulderwitha1/4”coursethread.It’sanodd combination compounded by the specialrubberwasherthatisolatestheenginevibrationfromthefloatbowl.Ididn’thaveaspareofthespecialty bolt so I did a sessionwith a¼”un-shoulderedboltholdingitinplacewhilesecur-ing the rubber bushing behind a flat washer.Due to the lack of a shoulder I had to tightentheboltupverysnug.Iwaslookingforasenseofsecurity.Ididn’twantthefloatbowltocomeoff again. One session with this arrangementwasenough.Ihadaseriouspowerlossproblemcausedbythefuelfrothing.Withtheextremeel-evationchangesthecaractuallydiedontrackatonepointwhile it triedtorunononecarbure-tor.Another time, comingbackup to turn6 itslowedsodramaticallythatIalmostgothitfrombehindbyanAlfacoupe.Icalleditquitsforthedayanddecidedtofind
a proper solution.After scouring the pits, JeffSloanofBritishAutoSpecialists inFortWorthput me in touch with Byron from Sports CarWarehouse in Arlington. Hewas sure he hadoneandhepromisedtowaitforustogetthere.TheHS6carburetorwasnotusedinmanycars.IthinkitwasoneyearintheTR4A,someJaguarsandalotofVolvo’s.IfeltveryluckywhenafteranhourofhuntingByronlocatedaproperbolt.Repairs took less than10minutesonSaturdaymorning.Wehad threesessions in the rainonSaturdayandthetrackwasevenscarier.AsthedayprogressedIstartedworryingaboutmycar.AtfirstIthoughtitwasjusttheslicktrack.Ev-erytimeItriedtoputdownthepoweritwouldseemtospinthetires.IrunaDetroitLocketandIwasconcernedthattherightrearwasn’tlock-ing.OtherdriverswerecomplainingaboutnotbeingabletoputdownthepowersoIaccepteditatfirst.Bythelastsessionofthedaytherealproblemwasclear;aslippingclutch.Graduallytheclutchstartedactinglikeacentrifugalclutchwhileshifting;itwouldtakealittlewhiletospinup to speed. Once engaged it would hold itsgrip,butwith theelevationchanges therewasnowaytorunthistrackwithoutgearchanges.For the last session on Saturday the car really
February 2008 7
didn’twanttogetmovingfromthehotgrid. Iwasparkeduphillanditslippedquiteabit,butonceontrackitgotmethroughtherace.Sundaywas a whole other story. The rainy
weather broke and was replaced with a coldwind.Due to theconditionof theclutch Ihadplannedtomissthemorningwarm-upbutImis-timed thedrive in fromArlington andmissedthemorning race session aswell. I forgot thatthewarm-up session schedule called for com-bininggroupsandtheracesstartedearlierthanIexpected.Iviewedthisasnotsobadbecausethetrackwasstilltryingtodryupandwithonlyone race left I could abuse my clutch until itcrieduncle.Thathappenedveryquicklyunderracingconditions.TryingtokeepupinthedryIabusedthelivingdaylightsoutofitandallofthesuddenIhadalmostnoclutch.Iwasluckytobeabletodriveoffthetrackandwhenthework-ersstoppedmetoaskwhathappenedIcouldn’tget it tomove.A littlepushandIwasheadeddownhill to the lower level paddock. I hopedthatalittlecoolingdownwouldgivemealittlebitofclutchtodriveonthetrailer,buttherewas
nothing. I can revitupallIwantandit wouldn’t moveabit.Luckily therewere plenty ofpushers around tohelp load it on thetrailer.Youmaybewon-
deringhowonecandestroy a clutch.The first pressureplate I had in thiscarwasanAPRac-ing clutch. It op-erated more likean on-off switch.Withthecloseratio
gearsetinthetransmissionandacamshaftthatdoesn’t“come-in”until4,000RPMittookalotof slipping toget thecar tomove.Loadingonthe trailerwas very touchy, slip-sliding away.I’vesincereadthatitisadvisabletogetawinchforloadingandthatiswhyyouseepeoplepush-ingracecarsaround thepaddocks inmost rac-ingseries.Irecentlyreplacedthepressureplatewitha stockTR6platebutdidnot replace thedisc.IsupposeIcouldhavelookedupthethick-nessspecforaclutchdiscandmeasureditbutIwasn’tthatsmart.ItlookedOK!Well that’s it.The racing season is over and
thecarisparkeduntiltheendofFebruary.Ev-erythingisinworkingordershortaclutchjob,andthatisminorinthelargerschemeofthings.2008shouldbeagreatracingyearinCVAR.FortheFebruaryracewearegoingtohaveatleast5TriumphsonhandatTWS,myTR4A,aTR4fromMissouri,aGT6aTR6andaSpitfire.ComeandseeusFebruary23rdand24th.
The RAGTOP 8
It’s like a planetary alignment for Triumph fans, only way cooler, since you can actually see it: Hundreds of historic Triumphs from around the globe are converging on Watkins Glen Septem-ber 3-7 for the Kastner Cup Vintage Race, pre-sented by Classic Motorsports magazine.
Among the luminaries will be the famed Group 44 factory race cars, the first production Triumph sports car, and – of course – Kas Kastner, the legendary Triumph tuner, racer and head of the North American Triumph Competition Depart-ment.
It’s all part of the Sportscar Vintage Rac-ing Association’s U.S. Vintage Grand Prix, the Grand Prix the largest vintage race weekend in the east. Kastner will present the Kastner Cup to the racer who best embodies the spirit of the marque and the event for the award. He’ll also be on hand to assist racers and talk to fans of the marque.
TS0�, a �952 TR2 that holds the distinction of being the first production Triumph sports car off the line, will also be there. Joe Richards, who painstakingly restored TSO� to its historic origi-
nal specs, will be honored by Friends of Triumph, the North America-based group of Triumph rac-ers and race fans.
Triumph enthusiasts and racers will also be welcomed into the Friends Of Triumph Hospital-ity Tent and into the town of Watkins Glen. The downtown merchants association of Watkins Glen is organizing a street festival with Triumph as the featured marque, and racers will be al-lowed to run the old street circuit through the town.
For more information on this amazing week-end of vintage and historic racing go to Classic-Motorsports.net/kastner-cup or contact Tim Bax-ter at [email protected].
Classic Motorsports, now in its 20th year of publication, is the hands-on magazine for the classic sports car enthusiast who appreciates the past but lives in the present. Anyone interested in obtaining a free sample of Classic Motorsports can request one through our Web site, classic-motorsports.net. For quicker service, please call the magazine’s offices at (800) 520-8292.
Classic Motorsports magazine presents
The Kastner Cup Vintage Race
Martin Julien Project
Hello members,Just a reminder that we will be collecting dona-
tions to the “care” package going to Iraq for Dan’s
son Martin at the February 12 meeting in a couple of weeks. Don Couch and I have teamed with Da-vid Sanborn to take care of the MP3 player loaded with nothing but the best in 80’s head-bangin’ Punk Rock. If you want to let me know what you are planning on contributing, I will keep a master list
February 2008 9
Michael Connally is asking $18,500 for his TR6, Negotiable. Please call him if interested.
Mike Connally is a former president of the San Antonio Triumph club (South Texas Tri-umph Assoc.) and a regular at our show in Round Rock. He has purchased a new MINI and will be selling his tricked-out TR6 if anyone is interested. “ I promised my wife she could sell my Six and use the money as she pleases. So, If you know anyone that wants a juicy 73 Six with Tri-Carbs, Headers, Overdrive and a full frame off restoration with only 6K miles, have them call me at 210-823-0903.” This car is ALL BLACK and in excellent condition.
Mark III or 1500 Spitfire Contact Richard Barlow
[email protected]: 830-643-9058
Home: 830-227-5537
Wanted!!
so we won’t duplicate. Let me know if you need special arrangements for dropping off your dona-tion. We have lots of former service members in the club, so I expect you know what it will mean to a soldier to get something from home . . .
Here is what has been collected so far:
MP3 PlayerCan of Gatorade (lemon-lime)4 pkgs assorted dried jerky
Thanks Everyone
The RAGTOP �0
��05 N. Canyonwood Dr.Dripping Springs, TX 78620address change requested
The will be held Tuesday, February 12, 7 PM, The Hub, 3815 Dry Creek Drive, tel: 512-432-5390.
The restaurant is off 2222, approximately 1 mile west of MOPAC, bottom of the hill, and behind a Shell station.
Hill Country Triumph Club Events
FEBRUARY 2008 12 Club meeting, 7pm
MARCH 2008 11 Club meeting, TBA
