[Fot] Kastner Cup Photos and a first question

[David Kettler]

Bill;

This was so well said.  One of the reasons I like the TR’s and the people is that they are ‘enthusiasts’.  These people are in the sport because they truly love the cars, and it is not about being seen and having prestige because I own a Porsche, etc.

Glad to see you made a lap or two last weekend and I enjoyed seeing the pics of your paddock.

Dave

From: BillDentin at aol.com 
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 9:25 AM
To: joeg at neb.rr.com 
Cc: fot at autox.team.net 
Subject: Re: [Fot] Kastner Cup Photos and a first question

In a message dated 09/09/2013 9:05:21 PM Central Daylight Time, joeg at neb.rr.com writes:



  I have many questions after attending this event; but I'll start with one.
  Why do we call it the "Triumph Ghetto" when high class operations like the
  West Coast Crew in Tony Garmey's Ferrari Transporter, and so many others are
  there?  And then you add high class people like Peggy and Kas? This is no
  "ghetto" scene, my friends.



Of course not, and for sure...there is no shortage of Class in the Triumph Paddock.  But 'Triumph Ghetto' is certainly not used in a mean spirited manner.  It is just an attempt at some self-depreciating, tongue in cheek humor, as well as a reference to our humble beginnings.  

My dictionary defines ghetto as "a section of a city, especially a thickly populated slum area, inhabited by members of an ethnic or other minority group often as a result of social or economic restrictions, pressures, or hardships."  

In a way that can be used to describe us.  Back in the so-called 'Golden Age', when Kas was just a kid, the paddock was full of full of exotic sports cars, most of who's names ended in a vowel and cost wheel barrows full of dollars.  TRIUMPHs were different.  They had a price tag that was reachable (barely) by the common man.  Thus many people who bought TRIUMPHs, were folk regularly challenged by economic restrictions, pressures, and other hardships.  But at those golden age events, they showed up..as the low budget, back yard efforts they were, and clustered together.  No gold chains around their necks, they were bonded brothers (and sisters), competing against the other, more glamorous, well-funded racing efforts.  Heck, even Kas' TRIUMPH factory backed effort was very 'low budget'.  But history documents the fact that TRIUMPH's performance record was Top Shelf.  Based strictly on the number of wins (volume), TRIUMPH can lay a claim to the most successful sports car performance record of all time.  Consider, the performance of the TR4 caused SCCA to change the way race cars were grouped at their events.

I suggest that these days, when the term Triumph Ghetto is used today, it is just a reference to our humble, low budget beginnings.  And, let's face it...some of that continues today.  Many of the vintage TRIUMPH racers I know have more than one place for every nickel they have available.  They scrimp and save to be able to race at these events.  And just like back in the day...they go FAST.

Bill Dentinger
       


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