[WPTA] WPTA Membership Update 10/04/2025

Gary Fredo garyfredo at yahoo.com
Tue Jan 7 14:09:35 MST 2025 

 I may as well jump into this as well.  A couple of short adventures from the late 70s:
*My first Spitfire stuck in the snow.  Tires spinning and not going anywhere.  I have an idea!  I pull the choke out enough to get the RPMs up to around 1500.  Put it in first and let the rear wheels spin.  Jump out and push from behind until the car starts to move.  Chase it down, jump in and away I go.
*Doing donuts in my TR4A in Greengate Mall parking lot.  Slam into one of the concrete parking stops with left front wheel.  Appear to have bent the wheel.  It wobbles pretty bad.  A few days later, driving down the road the wheel falls off, left front hits the pavement, rusty body tub splits where front left floor pan meets rockers panels.  Ken finds car many years later in a broken down garage in Greensburg.  No, it wasn't worth restoring.
*Hopped up the Spitfire with performance goodies.  Driving down four lane Rt 119 towards My Pleasant and decide to open it up to see what it will do.  Almost hit 100 per the speedo which may or may not have been accurate.  Starts making noise.  Look in rearview mirror and much smoke coming out of the back of the car.  The result was the first Spitfire engine rebuild I completed.
I could go on and on but I don't want to bore everyone...
Gary
    On Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 11:58:21 AM EST, EDWARD WOODS via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net> wrote:  
 
   Way back in 1959, 2 thieves broke into Amon Olds, a dealer on Ohio River Blvd. They attempted to use the oxy-acetylene rig on hand to break into the safe. Instead, they set the place on fire. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department, but not before causing extensive smoke damage to two cars in the shop, a ‘56 Oldsmobile and a ‘57 Triumph TR3. Both were totaled and acquired by Fireman’s Fund American, an insurance company for which my dad worked. After the repaint by a shop on Spring Garden Avenue, Dad purchased the car for $1800 and sold the family’s ‘56 Buick for $800. He was a tough negotiator when it came to car deals. That was “my” first Triumph, the car I drove year-round till its demise in 1965. Without those two incompetent knuckleheads who lit up Amon Olds, I might have continued to drive my then current ride, a ‘51 Ford, or bought an MG, and never have met Ed Major and started what’s become The Western Pennsylvania Triumph Association. In a way, that dynamic duo caused all the good times and good friends that have happened in the 66 years since.          Ed Woods  
  UOn 01/07/2025 9:48 AM EST Ed Major via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net> wrote:           Guess it's time for my two cents worth, I bought my '58 TR3A in 1972. I was flipping cars for extra cash on the side and just finished a '63 Chevy Nova convertible. Mechanically sound and I had a $59.95 Earl Sheib paint job done. For some reason, probably the enjoyment of driving the TR3 I kept it. So 52 years later it is still going. Early on I drove it to work most days but kept it out of the snow. I didn't have side curtains that first winter so below 45 I didn't take it. Replaced the frame in 1984 and had a lot of metal work done. One of the best cars on the open road ever.  
  On 01/06/2025 6:51 AM EST Gerald Van Vlack via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net> wrote:           Tom and others,       I've owned my 4A for 56 years this coming June. It was my only car for the first 2 years (69 and 70) and driven in the weather regardless of how bad it was. I have no idea how it was driven from new in 1966 but based on its condition when I bought it, I doubt it was driven in bad weather. Once put away the rust battle began culminating in a replacement frame in 1989 and finally a body tub from TX in 2008 and good fenders. The only original body panels are the "bonnet and maybe the RF Fender. It does get driven in the rain only if unavoidable but otherwise stays dry. A labor of love and at almost 79 I still enjoy driving it. I hope to continue driving it as we transition to the mountains of Western NC this summer sometime.        As Don says in the Newsletter. "Get busy living"       JVV            From: Wpta <wpta-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Tom Stricker via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2025 8:03 PM
To: Lawrence Ross <larry at lrossagency.com>; Lawrence Ross via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net>; ROBERT JONES <rlrobian at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [WPTA] WPTA Membership Update 10/04/2025             53 years ago I was driving a Bug Eyed Sprite, MG Midget, or a TR3 as my daily driver. Lots of fun, but  the roads were not as crowded then and the cars were disposable, older models. Now I don't out of respect for the car. After digging all of the rust possible out of the old TR3 I don't want to introduce any more salt or even moisture than avoidable.    Do miss slip sliding away though.          On Sunday, January 5, 2025, 07:30:00 PM EST, ROBERT JONES via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net> wrote:              50 years ago when I was a lot dumber and a whole lot braver, I drove my tr3 from Morgantown, wv to New Martinsville, WV across a hilly twisty turnny WV road, while snowing. This is still one of my most favored memorable trips in my still drivable beast. Today I'm afraid to take her out if it even looks like it might rain in the next 24 hours.  I know the TR has not changed that much, So what the hell has happened to me?   Happy New Year.   RL Jones   PS Maybe this is the year her and I go on a trip longer than 10 miles.      
   On 01/04/2025 12:41 PM EST Lawrence Ross via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net> wrote:           
 
 
Good Afternoon!
 
 
 
Over the past week, I have received the following membership renewals:
 
 
    
   - Paul Mooney
   - Bob Speshock
   - Jeff Zwergel
   - Bob Held
   - Aaron Harris
   - Keith Daniel
   - Mike McPherson
   - Bill Sajweski
 
 
 
Since you can’t drive your British Car today, I would recommend you go sled riding!
 
 
 
Larry Ross
 
WPTA Membership Director
 
(412) 780-8495 - mobile
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