Greetings Jerry,
The main reason I've owned my '64 TR4 since I bought it on 20 Jul 67 is
that I like it and I like to drive it. Last year I drove it from
suburban Chicago to the TRA meeting in Wadsworth, OH, over to the Mid
Ohio Sports Car Course for the TR weekend of vintage races, to the VTR
convention in Red Wing, MN and than part way to Jekyll Island GA to go
to the SE VTR meeting - part way because about 400 miles from home
(midway between Cincinnati & Lexington) the fan broke a blade which
sliced the radiator. It took two days to put things together again, and
it was too late to continue on to GA. I drive the TR4 when I want to and
don't own a car trailer - although my wife and daughters think I should
get one. One day I may.
Coincidentally last summer I (the TR4 actually) was fortunate enough to
be awarded the 3d place at the TRA concours and the 1st place at the VTR
concours judging. It's a nice TR4 but by no means compulsively perfect.
I like it. This was the first time I'd ever entered the car in such
events since I've owned it. Frankly I was pleased. However, let me give
you an example of how I think of things: I have all modern worm screw
hose clamps on the car - which replaced the cheap, ill behaving factory
wire hose clamps as hoses were replaced one by one early on - I don't
intend to put the wire clamps on even though anybody can see what I have
is not original and I'm certain results in concours points deduction (as
it should). Often helpful knowledgeable people mention this to me when
the hood is up. I almost always smile and thank them.
On the other hand if someone wants to haul a better than new TR around
in a covered, climate controlled van trailer, with a powdercoated frame
and suspension, polished carbs, original Dunlop bias ply tires, etc.,
ect, and enter the concours shows, this is also fine with me. I like to
see such cars - it's just not exactly how I look at TR ownership. I also
don't concern myself about how much money someone has or has not spent
on their Triumph - usually it's a trade off between time / money into
the car. The nicest concours TR4 I've personally seen started out as a
$ 200.00 car and is largely the product of the owner's many 1000's of
hours effort. I first saw the car at the '95 VTR convention and than
again last summer - the transformation was remarkable. It was the 1st
place TR4 in the TRA concours last summer.
The reason I made comment about the obscure "pad under the hood
(bonnet)" was that I knew something about the subject and thought the
topic interesting. I didn't intend to make you even think about
retching.
brgds, Jay
'64 TR4 CT38895LO
Wheaton, IL
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