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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I was born in 1956. My interest in
Triumphs starts with the TR6 model I saw as a teen and led to my exposure to
the earlier cars, eventually racing a TR3, 4 and 4A. The local clubs are the not
so secret solution to our future. We need to support the TR7/TR8 late Spitfire
contingents in our local clubs and we can still grow the marque. This is one of
the problems we have with vintage racing. By cutting off in 1967 or even 1972
we cut off the younger generation, you know the 40 year olds. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
fot-bounces@autox.team.net [mailto:fot-bounces@autox.team.net] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>John Macartney<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, September 24,
2008 2:40 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> N197TR4@cs.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> fot@autox.team.net;
bdischer@blakedischer.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Fot] VTR & FoT</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Andy Mace wrote:</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial id="role_document"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>This does raise an
interesting possibility, were FoT members so inclined: perhaps we could become
some sort of "Special Chapter" or "Affiliate" of VTR? </span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>I take a very 'broad church view' on
issues like this, essentially summarised as follows:</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>1. It doesn't really matter how you use
your Triumph (or Standard) and because of that, there should be room in your
local or national club to accommodate your usage preference.</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>2. The vehicle parc is getting smaller each
year and current owners are getting older. This largely explains the diminution
of club memberships</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>3. A surprisingly large number of cars
will outlive their enthusiast custodians and will need to have 'a home'</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>4. Clubs (national or local) need to
recognise this - and its my perception in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> that clubs don't adequately do
this</span></font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>5. There will come a time when the
vehicle parc and custodian base is so small that clubs as they currently stand
will probably not be viable as heretofore. This begs the question</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>6. What plans are national clubs making
to address that inevitable eventuality?</span></font><font size=2 color=black
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>7. No-one can confidently expect to
substantially 'grow club membership.' The vast majority of cars that will
survive are already known. Barn-Finds will become ever more infrequent</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>With regard to point 6, my perception of
the evidence as it relates to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> (and probably elsewhere too?) is
"nothing at all." Additionally, for as long as clubs and others
continue to provide 'free' technical information on "How to .....?"
projects via the internet, clubs will continue to diminish in size.</span></font><font
size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Rant off</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Jonmac</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
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