[Fot] Curt Johnston nomination

Sat Aug 15 21:54:57 MDT 2020

Thanks Shawn, David and Bill for the nomination.

I wanted to give you a bit of background.  Back in the early-mid 1970's my Dad owned a Triumph TR3A that was my daily driver in High School.  The first car I purchased was a TR4 during my senior year in High School.  I rebuilt the TR4 engine and kept it in good condition.  The year I graduated from College, the convertible TR8 came out.  As a young Triumph fan, I liked the look of the convertible and the Rover V8 in particular.  But I fully understand why so many folks prefer the TR2-6 cars.  Since I've driven a TR3 and TR4 daily, I know they are fantastic cars, but you always want what you couldn't get back in the day.

I've owned wedges since the early 1990s and have four now; a fully restored 1980 TR8, a 1981 TR8 project car for my wife Debbie, and the two Huffaker wedges.  I own the race cars because a good friend of mine owns one of the original Factory Works Triumph TR7 V8 rally cars.  In 2016, I hung out with him at the Sonoma Raceway Kastner Cup.  By the end of the weekend I knew I had to join the fun.  I researched which Triumph model to buy or build, but I just couldn't get the Huffaker wedges out of my head.  I wanted a convertible race car, and t he Huffaker shop at Sonoma Raceway was just 35 minutes from my home.  I talked to Joe Huffaker and he gave me a tip about one of the original TR8 convertibles.  It took about three months to find the car in a barn in Oregon.  That was in 2017.  Joe tried to convince me to buy the Huffaker TR7 before I found the TR8, but I really wanted the V8.  After I started restoration on 8, I ended up getting the 7 as well.  It was a just a rolling chassis at the time.

In 2019, the restorations were completed and we wanted to participate in the Kastner Cup at Buttonwillow.  I guess I've always appreciated the history or story behind the cars, so my goal was to recreate the 1980 west coast Triumph factory sponsored SCCA race team.  I got to know John Mueller and invited him to drive the TR7.  John is the son of Lee Mueller, the original driver of both Huffaker No. 11 wedges.  Since I hadn't driven in a vintage race, Joe Huffaker was to drive the TR8.  Many of you may know how that turned out.  But my goal of course was to drive the cars myself.  So the 2020 Kastner Cup was my first shot, and it turned out about as well as one might expect.  

With that said, I really want to make sure that we preserve the history and heritage of Triumph race cars.  The Kastner Cup is absolutely critical.  So I've offered to help out in any way I can.  I am so thankful to Kas and Joe Alexander for doing all of the heavy lifting to start and keep the Kastner Cup rolling for the past 17 years.  Its a fantastic tribute to the Triumph brand and Kas Kastner.

Thanks for the time, and your nomination to FOT.

Curt Johnston

>     On 08/15/2020 6:39 PM BILL DENTINGER <billdentin at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>     I’ll second that as well.
> 
>     Bill Dentinger
> 
> 
>     Sent from my iPhone
> 
> 
>         > > On Aug 15, 2020, at 6:05 PM, David Gott via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
> > 
> > 
> >     > 
>         > >         I’ll second for Curt!
> > 
> >         Dave Gott
> > 
> > 
> >         Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >         On Saturday, August 15, 2020, 8:52 PM, Shawn Frank via Fot <fot at autox.team.net> wrote:
> > 
> >             > > >             Is Curt Johnston FOT yet? If not, I would like to nominate him.
> > > 
> > >             He is the custodian of the Huffaker wedges and a true Triumph lover. He would be a great addition to the Friends of Triumph!
> > > 
> > >             Can I get a second? 
> > > 
> > >             Shawn Frank
> > >             The Vintage Triumph Magazine - Editor
> > >             North American Triumphs (FKA Spitfire & GT6 Magazine) - Owner
> > >             Des Moines Concours d'Elegance - Recruiting Lead
> > >             Continued Legacy Photo - Owner
> > >             Iowa British Car Club
> > >             FOT/VTR#94692/NASS#746
> > >             Drive Away Cancer Iowa - Driver
> > >             515-339-4228
> > > 
> > > 
> > >             '71 Triumph Spitfire MKIV "Gertrude"
> > >             '72 Triumph GT6 MK3
> > >             '65 Triumph TR4A "Johnny"
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