TSSC Stafford 2009

Instead of my usual ramblings about lack of progress on Project Vitesse - here are some photos from this year's TSSC Stafford Weekend...

Jenny the Herald was there on the Saturday:-


The Main Hall:-

(Above is the unveiling of the Herald Hatchback prototype)

(Above: 2nd row, 4th from left is Lincs TSSC members Phil & Will's herald as official representative of the 13/60 saloon. Jenny may not be the prettiest herald but she was able to give the 13/60 a jump start following a flat battery!!!)

Outside parking:-


Funky Modifications:-

(Handle for blinds in Herald above!)

My Faves:-

(Above Herald 1200 was my favourite car at the show - not sure why!)

There were many wonderful cars there, and I wish I had taken more photos. Craig's shorrock conversion herald was stunning and there were a couple of stunning GT6s - including a very nice red one with racing stripes. I went home very, very, jealous!!!

Also well done Lincs TSSC man Keith Nock who managed a second in the Concours Masterclass! We were especially proud as he uses the car and isn't just a turn up and polish type of chap.

Let's hope next year is as well attended.

Hopefully next weekend the engine and gearbox is coming out of the Vitesse - who said there's no progress.....?

Chassis Woes

Thanks to Garth who came and chopped off the old bulkhead - the bolts had seized and I managed to snap two ratchets trying to free the bolts.


The old bulkhead sold on eBay for £1.04, which was fine by me as I didn't have to mess about getting it scrapped!!!

Now the body is off the chassis, I have been able to get a proper look at how bad it is...

The rear off-side outrigger is not welded to the rest of the chassis!!! The chassis also is very holey underneath the rear diff. Garth, Tony and Phil have offered to come and help - so I may have a 'welding party' soon! Hopefully beer will be enough to get them around.

In preparation for the weld-athon, I have removed the prop shaft and the exhaust - finding out one of the exhaust brackets will need welding up before I attempt to reattach it.

I just need to get the old stubbord bolts off the chassis and then get the engine and gearbox removed and onto an engine crane (I think this may form part of the weld-athon party).

I am now considering taking everything off and starting from the ground up - I might as well now that everything is so accessible. I fancy fitting new bushes to everything and giving everything a clean and a coat of paint. I'm also looking to buy a lowering block from Rimmers for the rear end. So slow progress...but It'll soon be on the road!

We're off to Boston Car Show tomorrow - 9th. We'll be at Stafford for the TSSC family weekend next weekend Friday 14th to Sunday 16th. The 30th is Stamford Car Show and the 31st is Thoresby Park Car Show.

Then it's the Lincs TSSC weekend at Woodhall Spa on the 4th-6th of September. Busy times!

Anyone need a convertible windscreen frame?

I've finally taken the old bulkhead off the Vitesse.

If anyone wants a convertible windscreen frame to graft onto a saloon bulkhead - this might be for you!


Listed on ebay - Item Number 220453940400.

Lincoln's Monthly Classic Car Meet

Last Thursday of the month at Woodcocks, Burton Waters. Starts about 6.30 - 7.00pm.

Well worth going - wide range of cars - and nice people too! (Apologies for the rubbish photos taken on my phone)

Are we nearly there yet?

Sunday 21st saw me go to the 21st TSSC Peak Run organised by the Derwent Valley area. I went with fellow TSSC Lincs Bods Phil and Will. I was in Jenny the Herald - as I still haven't given it back to Garth yet!

We arrived just as the run was about to start, so I just followed Phil without opening the instructions (I was on a solo run so didn't have a navigator). 90 miles of winding, hilly and picturesque roads with about 100 various Triumphs - great stuff!

This day of driving (8 hours-ish) made me want to finally get the Vitesse back on the road, so today I have braved the garage to see what I didn't do last time I was in there.


Since the last time I posted, I have removed the doors, cut the wiring loom with a set of garden shears (it was bodged to b*ggery) and unbolted the clutch and brake cylinders. I have also cut the screen out of the car.




The organisation of the removed bits is looking a bit ropey though - anyone know where all this stuff goes?


So not much more to do before the old bulkhead is ready to be removed. I think I'll be asking a few people round to help with that one....

And finally after going on about slot mags for months and months, I've decided I like the cosmics that are already on it. Glad I didn't spend £400+ on the set I saw a while ago now!!!


Tomorrow is the monthly Lincoln classic car meet at Burton Waters, so I might pop down and see whats happening. For those that are interested it's at the Woodcocks pub, last Thursday of the month from 6.30pm.

Camp? Me?

Just got back from our jolly jaunt which consisted of:-

Driving down to the Isle of Wight Thursday 30th April. Attending the TSSC Isle of Wight Camping weekend Friday 1st - Monday 3rd. Staying on the island for some sun before heading to the TSSC SEM meet on Friday 8th May and coming back to sunny Lincoln on Sunday 10th May.

That'll be 11 days of camping and Triumphing!

The Isle of Wight camping weekend was superb. Especially on the Sunday convoy when 64 various Triumphs met up with another 20-30 cars from the TR register for an ice cream at the top of a hill!

First thing on the Thursday was to get ourselves to the Spyglass Inn in Ventnor for some fishy-food...


I can say that the local forty-niner beer was great. Not so great was the fact that the Herald laden with three beer filled adults (and one sober one) couldn't make it up the extremely steep, narrow and bendy Ventnor Hill road - think San Fransisco and Bullit!!! Luckily, Garth held on to the handbrake whilst I, very unusually, became suddenly athletic, leaped over the back of the car and managed to push it up with the little herald struggling. I also managed to jump back in before being left behind!!!

Below are some pics before the Sunday convoy which show some of the cars there...


"Jenny" the Herald next to fellow Lincs TSSC members Phil and Will's (now known as Phylis and Willis) extremely smart 13/60 Herald. Apparently the line-up photos are going to be published in Triumph World - we're the two on the far right of the bottom row!!!






Saturday saw 60-odd cars head for Blackgang Chine on the island and we even managed to blag a parking zone of our own!


Whilst on the island, Sarah (my long-suffering other half) managed to get away from Triumphs long enough to visit a local vineyard. She made short work of the samples!


Sunday night was barbeque night. "Jenny" decided to step up to the mark and become our local ale house for the evening! 10 litres of 'Wobbly Bob' didn't last long (I reckon Will drank most of it as Garth, Phil and myself hardly touched a drop - maybe!). We reckon by the time Stafford comes, we'll be able to adapt the boot rack for optics and crisps...




And me on a leafy lane with 'Jenny' the herald...


At SEM, "Jenny" was treated to a tune-up. These guys were very thorough and despite a diagnosed b*****ed dizzy, we got a 40% better fuel economy on our journey home!!!!


I'm now more eager than ever to get my Vitesse sorted. And guess what? I've even decided on Sapphire as the colour - it's only taken a year for that decision to be made!!!

We're all going on a summer holiday...

Thursday will see us travel to the TSSC Isle of Wight camping weekend.

As Garth and Ellie (Lincs Area Organisers) take the comforts of a caravan these days - and their 2.5PI drinks worse than Oliver Reed - they'll be taking their nice reliable modern. Which means that I have been entrusted to take their Herald 1200 - which we plan to all use whilst on the island.


Before departing, I thought it best to do some 'practice runs', so today we visited the TSSC Open Weekend - about 70 miles each way - to get a feel for the car. I think the car now forgives me!


It was nice to go to a Triumph-type thing in a Triumph-type car for a change (and we even had the hood down for the last 10 miles home although it was bl**dy cold and windy out of the sun).

We'll be staying on the Isle of Wight for a few days before we head off for the TSSC SEM meet (with my Herald driving duties needed again).

I've had so much fun in the Herald, I'm starting to remember a Vitesse shaped project in the garage that needs some attention...