Call me crazy!

jclay (RIP 2018) · Postby **jclay (RIP 2018)** » 21 Mar 2011 01:39

You know, I have been hearing about how badly we are treated when we join a car club or hang out with other Triumphs. We bemoan the fact that are cars don't seem to have any market value. So, whose fault it this bad treatment?

Well, it's ours! We have the knowledge and the updated parts to make our cars the best Triumphs on the road. Most of us have done that already. So, why are we looked down upon?

Because we allow it! We don't show up for car shows. We don't demand higher prices for our car when we have to sell them. We sit around and complain instead of becoming active.

The TWOA has less than 350 members, the TR7 Forum has about 250 cars at last count, and as a group we have no TR7/8 specific activities other than showing up at TRF Summer Party. If we started having our own shows and meets, come out in force to all the VTR Regionals and National conventions and made our presence known, and actually showed off cars, then maybe we could get the hundreds of TR7/8 setting in garages and barns back on the road.

Can't we get off the couch or at least dead-center and get organized? The structure is in place. We just have to get involved, volunteer to do things and get the ball rolling. I tried to get a Ralley going for this year, but ran into one stumbling block. I think that problem has been solved or will be soon, so that next year I can make at least one thing happen.

Now, what are you going to do this summer? I am going to drive my Triumph TR7 or TR8! Wait, how about this April? The SC Region Convention is in Texas. Wouldn't it be cool if the TR7/8s outnumbered the TR6s? I'll be there and so will Jim TenCate and Dave Massey. I am going to drive my Triumph!

Clay Thompson
VTR SC Region Coordinator
triumphtr7s@mac.com
http://web.me.com/jclaythompson
http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/tr8
http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/VTRSCR/Home.html

Clay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/Technical"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://docs.google.com/?hl=en&tab=wo&authuser=0&pli=1#all"]Download Page[/url], [url="https://public.me.com/jclaythompson"]My Public Folder[/url], [url="http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/tr8/Welcome.html"]My TR8 Site[/url]

tencate · Postby **tencate** » 21 Mar 2011 04:23

Hear hear! :-)

In the President's Letter in this quarter's TWOA newsletter, Tim Lanocha says pretty much the same thing; get out and enjoy those wedges. Be seen, park them in cool places, be noticed, and drive them.

I'm still planning on driving mine out to both the South Central Regionals and the Nationals in Colorado. Dave Massey is hopping a ride with me to Texas though. His wedge is still undergoing a resurrection spell of some sort.

Jim

Spectatohead · Postby **Spectatohead** » 21 Mar 2011 05:35

Clay, you are crazy! But seriously, I can't speak for other parts of the country, but I think that the wedges are pretty well received here in the Northwest. We had 21 wedges at the Portland All British Field Meet last Labor Day. I think that there were only 14 TR3s and something like 23 TR6s. Sure, several members of the Portland Triumph Owners that own wedges didn't have them at the show because they brought their other Triumph. Although I know of one member who brought his TR8 instead of his TR6. The fact that many wedge owners also own other Triumphs helps give the wedge more credibility too. I have been a Portland Triumph Owners club member since 1982. I owned a TR6 back then, I'd had it since 1977. My first wedge, a '80 TR7 DHC came along in 1988 when I still had my second TR6. I had Spitfires from 1974 till 1977. I didn't like the TR7 when it first came out, mostly because it was a coupe. When the drop head came out in '79 I changed my mind. I drove a couple TR8s when they were new and knew that I must have one someday. I couldn't afford one then. My TR7 was a good car but I missed the power of the TR6.

Anyway, sorry to carry on so long, I don't feel that we are badly treated here and I'm sorry to hear that there are snobs elsewhere that don't properly appreciate our cars. I think that anyone that feels that our cars are somehow less worthy than other Triumphs, or indeed other classic cars in general, would have their minds completely changed by simply driving one.

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd

PeterTR7V8 · Postby **PeterTR7V8** » 21 Mar 2011 10:58

Don't worry, Clay. I have another 3000kms & 3 events scheduled over the next 4 weeks. Also, my car isn't for sale at any price. [8D]

The map: http://tinyurl.com/wedgemap . The blog: http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8548

trekcarbonboy · Postby **trekcarbonboy** » 21 Mar 2011 13:00

After complaining that my local TR club showed no love for the 7 in another post, 4 of them showed up at last Tuesdays meeting. It was very nice to see. Hopefully that trend continues. In speaking with them though I noticed a common theme, we all like driving our cars more then sitting at shows or meetings talking about them. The local area has lots of car shows but not many driving events (at least none that don't require an extensive [$$$] amount of safety improvements to the car). Our club only does 1 rally per year. I am an active member but I'd show up more if there where more driving events. I'm definately jealous of all the driving events that are held in GB.
It would be very hard to get many of the NA owners from this fourm together. We are all so far apart. I did go to the national TR meet at Mid-Ohio in 2001 or 02 (without my car) where the Wedge was the featured car and that was pretty cool. About 40 7/8's.
Not looking to ever sell my car so how much it's worth in $$'s means nothing compared to the joy it brings me. Glad parts are cheap.

Driving through a parking lot...
"Hey what kind of car is that?"
"It's a TR7!"
"A what?!"
"A Triumph TR7!"
"That's pretty cool!"
"Thanks!"
PRICELESS!!!

Craig

Underdog · Postby **Underdog** » 21 Mar 2011 16:01

There is a fella on the MGB forum that has been shopping for an MGB for 2 years. So he posts what about a TR7 instead. Well as expected, this lead to 90% posts about how they are unreliable, hard to get parts for, ill handling and butt ugly. Oh, and the TR7 singlehandedly bankrupted BL and caused the demise of MG.

The few that defended Wedges were actually owners like myself. I suspect most of the critics have never even sat in one.

Good theory Clay. I think the only way the demand would increase is to get younger people interested. The rank & file, traditional Brit sportscar crowd are too brainwashed that these cars are inferior. Typically, when a young person sees my car they are very curious as to what it is and what is making that terrific sounding rumble.[}:)]

Jim Underwood
72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 21 Mar 2011 16:08

I agree with what Jim said. We get a pretty decent showing of TR7's on the island here, more TR7/8's showing up than at Vancouver's much larger (3 to 6 times) Van Dusen car show in May. I usually hit a car show a month in the summer and have at least one club run per month plus parades where our club usually puts in an entry. Get a good amount of attention as it's the only FI TR7 around (that I've seen so far). Get the occasional older guy who repeats the mantra of poor build quality but most are complimentary especially as it's unrestored! Mind you nothing quite matches blowing passed an MGB with their 4 speeds on the highway.[:D]

This year Ron is arranging a TR7/8 contingent from the island going to Oregon Coast then on to Portland ABFM so we should be out in force again this year.

While the cars don't command a big price and you'll never get your money out of them if you sell, it's a double edged sword. They can only go up.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

jbsjim · Postby **jbsjim** » 21 Mar 2011 16:50

I have both an MGB and my TR7. My middle son (15) calls the wedge "his" car. I think that is the future - get kids involved.

The lack of love for these cars is just amazing to me. It is such a comfortable car. The design is remarkably modern and I think holds up well. It makes my MGB look like the antique it is (I still love it though). I look at mid 80s Honda's with their wedge shape, pop up headlights and angular bodies and dashboards and I see TR7 details adopted 10 years after Triumph came up with them.

Jim

[IMG]

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 21 Mar 2011 17:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by trekcarbonboy

... Not looking to ever sell my car so how much it's worth in $$'s means nothing compared to the joy it brings me. Glad parts are cheap ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You're quite right [;)]

I don't understand the people who moan about the low prices these cars fetch.
Lower car prices means lower parts prices, it's as simple as that [:o)]

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 21 Mar 2011 17:17

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PeterTR7V8

... I have another 3000kms & 3 events scheduled over the next 4 weeks ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's more like it [:D]
So far three longer tours planned for this summer,
covering 11 countries and probably around 10.000 km [:)]

<center>

1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, now restored and back on the road)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My Weblog[/url]</center>

tencate · Postby **tencate** » 21 Mar 2011 18:37

By the way, I don't know if your insurance covers this or not (mine does) but when I go to shows and find a more-than-casually-interested onlooker I frequently ask if they'd like to go for a ride, or if I know them, offer to let them drive the car. Often they decline but occasionally they take me up on the offer. Usually they're awestruck with how comfortable and snappy the cars are. I've converted a couple of Alfa owners that way, one now actually owns a TR8. One prefers the TR8 to his very well sorted BMW 2002! :-)

Jim

trekcarbonboy · Postby **trekcarbonboy** » 21 Mar 2011 19:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by tencate

By the way, I don't know if your insurance covers this or not (mine does) but when I go to shows and find a more-than-casually-interested onlooker I frequently ask if they'd like to go for a ride, or if I know them, offer to let them drive the car. Often they decline but occasionally they take me up on the offer. Usually they're awestruck with how comfortable and snappy the cars are. I've converted a couple of Alfa owners that way, one now actually owns a TR8. One prefers the TR8 to his very well sorted BMW 2002! :-)

Jim
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Thats very nice of you, but no stranger is driving my car! Heck I just let my brother drive it for the first time in 22 years last summer. Ok he didn't know how to drive stick till a couple years ago, but he wasn't learning on my car. [:D]

Craig

fiveliters · Postby **fiveliters** » 25 Mar 2011 18:33

I run into the issue that Spectatohead mentioned;I have a 20+ year old Mustang convertible along with the two 7's,and I like them all. So I never know what I'll be in,but if going to a show,I try to take a 7,though for some reason (I'm in Pittsburgh,PA),even a 21 year old Fox-body Mustang seems to be a rare sight! Though as far as taking the car on a long trip,the furthest I've gone in the 7 is Toronto,and the furthest in the Stang was Dallas,so I guess I would be up for a Texas run in the 7. My only gripe would be that the first 4 months of the year,at least in the east/midwest,the weather is so unpredictable,and the last thing I need is to be far away from home and a freak snowstorm comes up in the 7! [:0]As for the price thing,as PeterTR7V8 said,I don't think I'd ever sell my car,because I wanted one since childhood,and I've put so much into it,and I do tend to get attached to my cars (have had the Mustang 18 years so far!),so I doubt my 7s are going anywhere.

And I like not paying Jag/Alfa/etc. prices for parts[:D]

tencate · Postby **tencate** » 26 Mar 2011 04:05

(I let my daughter learn to drive a manual transmission on.... my TR8) [:)]

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