Ahhh..Getting Cocky on the Show Circuit!

[Mark_Gibson]

My TR-6 and I went to our second car show yesterday. After getting a 1st in class at the first show, I looked at the competition as I pulled into the row and felt certain that I had another first in the bag. A couple of driver MGB's and two TR-3's that had seen better days. As I sat in my car pulling out the fire extinguisher, I saw two red cars trundle by me and pull into line. A pristine 63 Austin Healy 3000 and then a 1954 140 Jag. Both of them were the same signal red color as mine, and both of them had chrome wire wheels and a light tan interior (as mine). I chatted with each of the owners at length, both of them had paid upwards of 35K to have these cars restored last year. Hey, I took 3d anyways! Ha! No matter how well you think your car is, there are always folks out there with more money to spend!! BTW, the judging was done by popular vote in class, so I'm OK with the results. This car show stuff is fun anyways, as long as you keep everything in perspective.....

Mark
1970 TR-6 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

 

[Guest]

Mark, wire wheels will win'em over every time. If you take two identical cars and have one with steel wheels or even mags and the other with wires, all judges, whether professional or amateur, will be swooned by the wires. I have seen it happen all too many times. Alas, the way it is is the way it is.....

Bill

 

[Simon TR4a]

I know a guy in our club who had a beautiful, almost perfect Spitfire, but painted brown.
For years he got 2nds and 3rds, finally repainted it red, and as he had expected, started to get firsts!
Not something I would do.....
Simon.

 

[sammyb]

I've never won anything with any of my cars...(except for autocross, but that isn't a beauty contest.)

I still go to shows, but I never expect to win anything. Certainly in these parts, where awards are usually: best paint, best engine, best ford, best chevy, best hot rod, best in show. Winners are almost all hot rods.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I once won a trophy with my TR4! It was the year the Triumph class ran to 5 places in the Las Cruces show. I, of course, was 5th. I suspect it was really the equivalent of Miss Congenialty as I surely enjoy car events but never ever look for hardware.

 

[shorn]

Sam,
With your number of cars, you could hold your own show in front of your garage and be guarateed a first, second, and third.

 

[Mark_Gibson]

I'd just like to see more LBC's at these shows. Almost everyone who looks at mine talks about having owned a British car at one time or another, and most wish they had kept it. No offers on mine yet tho..ha! (I'm not selling)...

Mark
1970 Tr-6

 

[jayhawk]

I take mine to all kinds of local shows when its convenient-- sort of a driver specimen, not a winner. Its clean, but shows my amateur handiwork, for better or worse (worse if you're looking at it as a show" car). But-- it gets lots of attention, especially at an "open" show, gets lots of conversations started, some new contacts and some new friends. Isn't that what its about?
Pete

 

[RobT]

For the past 3 years I've been taking my TR250 to the Brookline Museum of Transport's "Day of Triumph". A great show BTW, usually get 50 to 60 Triumph's showing up including on occasion a 2000 Roadster and Doretti Swallow.

Anyway every year I get 2nd place in my class (TR250/TR5). There are only ever two of us that show up! One of the advantages of having the least common TR made I suppose.

(The guy who always wins the class has a "barn find" TR250, with only 8,000 miles on the clock. Original paint, interior, even the striped yellow cooling hoses. An amazing car, so I never feel bad comming 2nd.)