[Fot] Invitation: Fourth Annual Martha McDougal to be awarded at VIR 4/9 - 4/11

[LOddTR at aol.com]

The Triumph Ghetto is pleased to announce that they will award the  Fourth 
Annual Martha McDougal Trophy, as part of the 2010 VDCA Wild Hare Run, at  
Virginia International Raceway. The dates for this year's event are April 9th 
 through the 11th.
 
Join your fellow Triumph racers at this prestigious event that serves as  
the kick-off to the 2010 race season. The Wild Hare  features generous  
amounts of track time, including a free enduro, on one of the most challenging  
long tracks in the country. 
 
Topping off the weekend will be the presentation of the coveted  "Martha" 
trophy to the Triumph racer that displays a high level of performance  on 
track, camaraderie in the paddock and general good-guy/gal-ness. In addition  
to the standard fun on and off the track, the Ghetto will provide their world 
 famous surf and turf dinner on Friday evening.
 
Here is your link to the entry form for the weekends festivities. We look  
forward to seeing you there.
_http://www.vintagedrive.com/EntryVIR10.pdf_ 
(http://www.vintagedrive.com/EntryVIR10.pdf) 
 
The TR Ghetto
 
PS: Here is Martha's story
 
 
This race weekend honors Ms. Martha  McDougal, a woman who toiled in almost
total obscurity for many years at the  Triumph automobile plant in
Coventry, England.  According to sources  believed to be reliable, Martha
was born in Coventry in January, 1923. Her parents were  tragically
killed in the Blitz and Martha was left an orphan at age 16.  Although
she was not overly bright, she was very resourceful and within  months
had gotten a job at the Standard Triumph factory emptying the dust  bins.
Throughout the war and until the demise of the company, Martha made  the
rounds, day after day, month after month, year after year,  transferring
the trash into her cart and then into the large bins behind the  factory,
without complaint or even one day's absence. 

Over the years  Martha became known as the single person who had
completed the most "laps" of  the Triumph factory and, upon her
retirement a few months before the final  closing of the Coventry plant,
she was honored with a  bronzed pair of high top Keds, her signature
footwear.  It is rumored  that at the presentation, Sir John himself
reminisced about how Martha, who  had an endearing habit of assigning
nicknames to all the staff, would push  past him in the hallway and
mumble, "Get out of my way you fat  bastard".