<html><head></head><body><div class="ydpf130c49eyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Well, since I was specifically named, I feel I have license to respond. Maybe I was singled out because it was I who penned the subset of concours guidelines covering the modified classes. Perhaps it is thought that I am a big proponent of the whole operation.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This article is a well rendered version of a point of view regarding Concours d'Elegance among many that are out there. It is a point of view with which I am in complete agreement, by the way. But one of the things that makes our hobby healthy and the supply of spare parts flowing is the broad appeal to the many people with diverse goals in pursuing this hobby.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">There are those who pursue the "As delivered by the dealer" perspective as stated by the VTR Concours manual. (It might be noted here that the VTR concours guidelines also states that the car is to be judged as in its condition when it left home for the convention meaning anything that happens en route or during the event will be overlooked. This includes any misfortunate encounters with the calling cards of any local mutton on the hoof. This is to encourage owners to actually drive the cars although the effectiveness of this missive is in question, at least by me.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Then there are the over-restorers you see detailing the overload of chrome under the bonnet with a toothbrush. At VTR we do not punish then for overdoing the quality of paint but nor do we reward this activity, either. There is an old adage concerning a silk purse and a sow's ear that may or may not apply here. I'll let you decide.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Then there are the ones who actually drive their cars. They keep them well maintained and looking nice but have made significant modifications making the cars more suitable for use in modern traffic situations. These modifications may include electric radiator fans that will allow the cars to survive modern traffic conditions without belching out a serious amount of coolant. These are the ones who WILL drive to events eschewing trailers. They enjoy first and foremost the driving experience. It is this group that motivated me to write up the guidelines for the modified touring classes. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Then there are the wannabe automotive engineers (that's me). I'm not taking anything away from the boffins in Coventry back in the day. Those heroes had an ominous task of making a competitive car using the technology available at the time and to the budget set by those clueless executives in the air conditioned offices. But, as owners of the cars we are not limited by any such budgets. We can spend as much money improving this cars as we wish (or as much as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed will allow). Also, time marches on. It is a fact that in the technology fields we are all standing on the shoulders of those who come before us. Technology has progressed much since those days. Alternators perform much better than the dynamos of old but these only became possible with the advent of solid-state rectifiers in the mid 60's. They were not an option or even a dream for those building the TR3. But one can fit an alternator to one's TR3 which will power the electric fan that will keep the coolant in the engine during that slo-mo 4th of July parade that progresses at a brisk 3 MPH. A consideration dismissed by upper management as unlikely. We wannabes view these cars as a starting point and we feel that without the restrictive budgets and with the new technological advances we can add our own personal touch to these cars while, at the same time, make the car more reliable, easier to maintain and possibly perform better. It is for this group that I penned the Modified performance guidelines. Originality be damned, lets consider materials and workmanship. There are some really clever craftsmen out there making changes to their cars and they should be celebrated. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">As for me, I did a ground-up restoration on a TR3. It took more than 10 years and I spent more than the car was worth. When I was done I had a pretty pristine car which showed well. But I was afraid to drive it. I didn't want to scratch the paint or wear out the leather seats. It was fun going through the process and I got a few trophies, but in the end, I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoy my TR6 and TR8, both of which are rather blemished but drive very well, thank you very much. So I sold the TR3 as I needed the garage space anyway.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">But I support the Concours d'Elegance as a whole because I am a big-tent kind of guy. What ever floats your boat, after all. The more people pursuing the hobby will make the supply of spare parts more healthy. As you well know, <span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><i>Concours d'Elegance</i> is a french phrase that translates into</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"> </span><i style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;">Competition of Excellence.</i><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"> As you say, these cars never were "excellent." Perhaps we should change the name to <i>Concours d'Originalté</i> or <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;">Concours de Fidelité. </i><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;">But then most English speakers don't know how to type an E-accent-aigu. C'est la vie.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><br></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;">There are may other aspects that add to or detract from the driving experience. Most of these cannot be judged on the show field. Things like ride quality, exhaust note, seating comfort and other aspects that can only be judged whilst driving the car in various scenarios. This is not practicable (practical in US English) in our context. But I thought that maybe we could have an exhaust note contest. We set up a panel of judges next to a stretch of road and let competitors drive by demonstrating how the exhaust sounds under varying conditions. If course there would be bias towards 4 cylinder vs 6 cylinder but we could have classes for each. Could be fun.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><br></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;">Anyway, this missive is way too long as it is so I will stop here.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><br></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: -0.32px;">As always, I enjoy you writings and treasure them all.</span></span></div><div><div><br></div><div class="ydpf130c49esignature"><div style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><div style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><div><font size="4">Dave<br></font></div><div><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: sans-serif;"><br></span></div><br></div></div></div></div><div><br style="letter-spacing: -0.32px;"></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div></div><div><br></div>
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On Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 10:07:37 AM CST, JOHN MACARTNEY <johnbmacartney@gmx.com> wrote:
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<div><div id="ydp649b235yiv4174689060"><div><div style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:12.0px;"><div>I trust it doesn't offend - Dave Massey in particular:) Light-heartedness has to prevail in this much troubled world.</div>
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<div>Jonmac</div></div></div></div>** <a href="mailto:triumphs@autox.team.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">triumphs@autox.team.net</a> **<br><br>Donate: <a href="http://www.team.net/donate.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>Archive: <a href="http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/triumphs</a> <a href="http://www.team.net/archive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/archive</a><br><br>Unsubscribe/Manage: <a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/dave1massey@cs.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/dave1massey@cs.com</a><br></div>
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