Dorothea - I fully support the philosophy of the Triumph Register of America
and have been a member since before I purchased my current driver four years
ago. (in fact - I guess it is time for renewal) I found the newsletter to
be informative and at times extremely helpful in my ongoing "love affair"
with my '3s.
I am not sure if George belongs to TRA, but I do think his question was
whether or not there was a TR3 database available online. Also, I don't
think that as you put it "the obsessive number collector who writes dowm
[sic] every thing he's read or written and wants to call it a database" is
the intention of anyone that is maintaining a list such as George referred
to.
One of the advantages of knowing who else has, wishes to have, or had a '3
(or 2) is the fountain of knowledge that is available from that collective
body. This is one reason that the "TR-list" has remained so popular and
active. To expand that base of knowledge to non-members (of this list or
of TRA) would be a plus. To make that information available in a readily
accessible format to others who have or feel that they may have a need for
it can only benefit the future of the sidescreen TR.
You say that "collaboration over the years has produced what I feel is the
most comprehensive list of surviving TR2 thru 3b". In what format is that
list and is it available to TRA members or to any one else? Has there been
an attempt of finding out if TRA members are willing to be available for
assistance, consultation, or even just there for moral support. You also
say that the Internet is one more source of information. You seem to
ignore its ability to make that information available to a wide variety of
people. It is true that any type of database or list is only as current as
it was just a minute ago and can never be complete. However, those lists
can provide, if nothing else, a starting point for obtaining the information
or camaraderie that is being sought.
In response to George's question about a "on-line register", unless TRA is
actively undertaking and making available that information, I will continue
to compile information for an on-line database. If TRA, VTR (or both)
would like for me to do it under their auspices, that is ok by me. Sometime
during the next couple weeks I will be sending an email to anyone I
currently have in my database to fill in missing data.
If you own a TR2-3 and have not heard from me by September 1, send me an
email to: (musson@arts.usf.edu) <mailto:musson@arts.usf.edu)> including:
Year, Commission, Body Tag, and Engine Numbers, [Current] Color Scheme, and
options or modifications as well as City and State. If you have a website,
please include the URL.
If you have gotten this far - thanks for your time and see you on the
highway.
Carl
-----Original Message-----
From: Dorothea J. Ochs [mailto:dochs@greenapple.com]
Sent: Monday, August 16, 1999 10:40 AM
To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: TR2-3 Register
Retroactive Registry efforts can be traced back as early as 1955. My
personal efforts started in the latter 60's and became formalized in in the
early 70's within my involment with the Triumph Register of America.
Generic "Registers" are started for various reasons by people with different
objectives. The worst I've seen is the obsessive number collector who writes
dowm every thing he's read or written and wants to call it a database.
Collaboration over the years has produced what I feel is the most
comprehensive list of surviving TR2 thru 3b. The web is one more souce of
input. However it is a tracking vehicle and probably will never be a true
census until we go out and open every garage, turn over every stone and
search the bottoms of all the oceans in the world. For the moment, any
collection of TR 2-3, etc., info should include owner, commission number,
body tag numbers and engine numbers, city and state, etc., where it now
resides. Car bios are good. Some are even collecting BMHLT "Birth
Certificate" info.
BTW, whenever any one thinks they have found them all call me. I'll open up
a couple of time capsules and show you a few more. For the present, Triumph
Register of America is still the precedent for concise information about
your cutdown door piece of unique automotive engineering.
Reflected below is the Enthusiasm under which the Triumph Register of
America was founded. The inspired and enthusiastic TR2 thru 3B owners were
the foundation for it's sucsess and credibility . The TR/4 has recently been
brought under the wings of TRA to aid in providing consice technical
information to yet another of the wet sleeve engineering marvels of the TR
series.
TRIUMPH REGISTER OF AMERICA
Formed to Preserve the Marque TR-2/3/3A/3B/
TRA PHILOSOPHY
THE TRIUMPH REGISTER OF AMERICA (TRA) is the only organization devoted
solely to the TR-2/3 What does this mean to you as a potential member? It
means that for the most comprehensive look at every problem regarding the
mechanics of your car -- for the best guidance on parts sources - for a real
membership with other hard core, wind-in-the-face, rain-in-the-lap people -
the Triumph Register of America offers the best you can find.
How can you chatracterize our membership? We believe in side-curtains. We
believe in engines that last forever. We believe in a rock-solid ride and
cut-down doors. We believe that overheating in traffic is an unchangeable,
natural phenomenon, just as earthquakes and tornadoes are, no matter how
unfortinate they might be. We believe that the person inside an automobile
who is cold in the winter and hot in the summer - just like the weather
outside - is a more healthy person, who will no doubt live longer than those
who drive along in a controlled, unnatural environment. And most of all, we
believe that the TR 2/3 series is THE LAST mass-produced, cut-down door,
side-curatained sports car that will ever be produced. As such, it holds a
special place in the hearts of its Triumph Register of America owners, for
it represents the finest of an honest and rugged car design that is capable
of providing immense sporting pleasure at a reasonable cost. If you think
like we do, won't you join us?
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