Hi all!
I have to agree about the "non-competitive" SCCA Triumphs -- Tristan
was/is built as an SCCA car (fiberglass bonnet and deck lid, flares out
to there, 8 1/2" cantilever Yoko's, etc.), but I am working to bring him
back toward vintage. I think SCCA racing looks like lots of fun, but is
very aggressive and anyone can drive just about anything. The previous
owner drove Tristan successfully here locally, and did well within his
class, but, let's face it, Tristan, as a 1300 Triumph Spitfire, just
isn't up to snuff against lots of other cars in the SCCA.
I am totally out for the fun factor, the challenge, and the learning
process, so I want to run vintage, and will be doing so with Corinthians
at Texas World in College Station when I get Tristan back together. I
really appreciate vintage racing for this opportunity, and I am pleased
to see most people who run with Corinthians are out for the same thing.
Tristan has done 122 mph (push, push!) on the Texas World straightaway
and out-accelerates most Ford Fiestas and stock Hyundais ;), but when my
face hurts from coming in from the track because I have been grinning so
hard, nothing can top that. That's what I like about vintage. Anyone
can take a car and stuff modern gadgets into it to make it go fast
(which does have its merits!). But vintage racing takes real spirit and
love of the cars and the sport. I wouldn't use "gentlemens' sport" to
describe SCCA racing. Perhaps "ba**s to the wall" is more descriptive.
If I had a more modern contender, I'd probably be doing it! But my
love is for the older, history-making cars, so vintage is where I'll be.
On to another subject: I finally found another job after losing my last
one to my boss's wife :/ and have just completed my fourth week there.
I am director of marketing for BearCom (two-way communications
distributor and renter) and am really enjoying my job. One cool thing
is that we are distributing Iridium phones and pagers (satellite
network), and Iridium is about to come on line in the next couple of
weeks. Stay in touch with the same phone number anywhere in the world!
Wow. (No sales pitch -- I just think it's really neat.) I am looking
at buying a house in about 5 months (Scary! Exciting!) and that *may*
derail my vintage racing efforts for a while. I should be able to
continue autocrossing, though. I hope desperately to be able to get up
to the SVRA challenge, with or without Tristan.
I hope ya'll have had a great Halloween! I did -- I went to the auto
swap meet at Texas Motor Speedway. I found an AMF motor bike and it is
now in my garage. It's the 70's moped you pedal, then switch the engine
on. I think it'll be great for the pit areas! I took it out on the
track, but no speed records there! (Okay, maybe the slowest vehicle on
the track! ;) I also found a Texas license plate that says "R-J TR6" at
an old license plate vendor. Thank I'll put it on the garage wall
(unless anyone out there owns a TR6 and has the initials RJ -- I might
be persuaded to part with it). There was one very sad TR3 there from a
salvage yard in Tulsa that the owner wanted $3500 for! It looked to be
about an $800 car...
Keep Triumphing,
Susan :)
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