[TR] VTR Ramblings, 3900 miles round trip

[Glenn A. Merrell]

Okay, all you betting against my success on attending VTR arriving in 
the Stag, all bets are now closed!!  Those betting against, pay up!     =-O

Some GREAT photos posted already ... Stags were located, of course, in 
front of the Brewery Pub!!!

After 6 days on the road - 3 days out and 3 back, we have returned home 
to Colorado covering some 3900 miles on I-70 and a few side trips on 
both sides of I-70 for wineries and antiques, not to mention many drives 
around Valley Forge and visiting family.

The trip out we saw ZERO Triumphs until we pulled into Ted and Eden 
Allison's driveway outside of Dayton and there were 4 Triumphs counting 
our Stag.  Departing Dayton Monday morning were two TR8's on trailers 
and two Stag's - Rob Schmueling and my own driving.  We caught up with 
the trailer queens in New Stanton then caravaned into Valley Forge.  It 
is always a thrill to ride in a convoy of Triumphs and watch all the 
gawkers and young kids with their noses pressed against their car 
windows as we pass by in a line.
 
Herman van den Akker of course took the first place in long distance 
drive in his TR250, some 2800 miles one way.  Some other person thought 
they qualified for second with a scant 1200 miles one way - we did not 
find out where to enter the distance contest averaging 1950 one way.

I did see Mickey actually "drive" his TR8 on and off the trailer!!!    O:-)

The trip back saw ZERO Triumphs!  But we did see two MGB's heading east 
on I-70 in Kansas.  How discouraging   :'(

So this trip amounts to me collecting about 20,000 trophies; being 3900 
miles on the odometer, about 2 dozen chips dings and scratches,
and as close as I can count, 16076 DEAD BUGS (photos to follow)!!!  
Three quarters of those bugs were won in Kansas.

I did however get the Autocross 1st place in Class - Modified - an empty 
victory won with no competition.

It was great to place names to faces from the Triumph list and British 
Car Forum. and specially see Bob Danielson's TBI on his TR6 - VERY 
COOL!!  And Cosmo too!!

Triumph Stag Club USA sponsored the Welcome Party with $500, and co 
sponsors were TRA and the TR8 clubs.  What is so cool about that?  Free 
BEER and Phila Cheese Steaks, snacks and TastyKakes!!  If I missed any 
of you at the Welcome party, well Sue and I had a family BBQ and I had 
to shoot out in the Stag to Havertown.

My thanks to all the great folks and volunteers of the Delaware Valley 
Triumphs for a most excellent convention hosting 4 days packed with fun 
and activities!  That is what a National Convention is all about, fun, 
friends and driving Triumphs.    If you did not attend, well it was your 
loss.

-- 
Glenn A. Merrell
Chairman, Triumph Stag Club USA (2007-2009)
The best trophies are miles on the odometer, stone chips in the paint, 
dead bugs on the windshield!