Vintage fest eve......

[Banjo]

Tomorrow is the Watkins GLen Vintage fest! any of ya chiming in from yer hotel computers?!?!?!
I'm here packing my day bag. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, plenty of water, (it's supposed to break 90deg tomorrow) Clipboard and pencil (I'm a navigator) and a camera!
Waiting to see what goodies tomorrow brings in the world of sportscars is like waiting for Christmas morning when you know that that giant list you gave to Santa is gonna be filled.
And after checking my cell phone messages it seems I have a choice of rides for tomorrow.
Of course I've already promised John Herrara I'll navigate for him in the "Tour De Marque" in his TR3. And that's the ride I'd choose again this year if it were still up for debate. My other choice was to ride with my ex-boss in his Superformance Cobra replica. I've done that for the last 2 years running. it's always a blast. But if someone were to show up at the Glenora winery on Rt 14 about 7-8 miles north of Watkins tomorrow morning at about 8, there may be an empty seat to be had.....mehehehehehe (hope ya like FAST!!!).
To any attending tomorrow, I'll be sporting my blue BCF T-shirt, and either a british flop-cap, or my camo boonie hat.
Hollar for Banjo! I'll chat wid ya.
Pics coming soon!!!!!!!

 

[Sherlock]

I'm just very envious of you, that's all... I'm way up in the hinterlands up here, so far away from where anything cool ever happens... I feel like I spend far too much looking at everyone else's ultra-cool photos... *sigh*

Anyway, have fun Banjo, and anyone else who is going, and I may check out some vintage racing at our local road course (the one that will be closing soon, of course... *sigh*)

 

[Banjo]

Sherlock, I truly wish I could afford to get you down here. the only repayment I'd need would be to get to see some of the awsome pictures I know you would take, compared to my horrible ameturish "pics"
I know a lot of the event higherups.. I wonder If I could get them to agree to hiring you as the "event photographer"? mehehehehehehe..... Probably not... I woulden't hold your breath anyway....

 

[Dave Richards]

Banjo, I'll see ya Saturday, no BCF t-shirt :frown: (next year) just the entourage of teenage boys!

 

[Sherlock]

HeeHee... I'm not quite that "professional" yet, at least by sheer definition, perhaps I'll be able to trek down there someday... In the meantime...

 

[aeronca65t]

To any attending tomorrow, I'll be sporting my blue BCF T-shirt, and either a british flop-cap, or my camo boonie hat.
Hollar for Banjo! I'll chat wid ya...

Yeah...look for ~This Guy~ (the guy on the left...not the good-looking guy on the right)

And have fun! (I'll be at a NASA event at Pocono).

 

[Banjo]

Banjo, I'll see ya Saturday, no BCF t-shirt :frown: (next year) just the entourage of teenage boys!

Arrg! I'm gonna miss ya Dave. Saturday is out for me. I have to go to a "Walk To Emmaus" reunion in Ithaca. It starts at 10 and goes till 3. (blows my whole chance of trying to get to the track)
but it's important,so I'll live.....
If you're still in Watkins around dinner time I may be able to hook up with ya. I bet Seneca Lodge will be a madhouse on saturday night. Nothing like "the Lodge" on a race weekend.

 

[angelfj1]

Banjo: I'm here - barely. Fried the alternator driving up from PA today - must have been that 98 degree September heat. Limped into Elmira on battery only. I parked near my room but the battery is too weak to start the engine. I'm sitting here at the Econolodge trying to figure out what to do. Went to Sams and bought a cheap charger, and will put it on charge overnight. Also, I brought one of those booster thingies. Wouldn't start the engine, so I'm charging that too. What I need tomorrow is someone to ride shotgun, because I may not be able to turn her off. Any volunteers? I have reservations for the lap of the course, which was the first 100 Triumphs, so this is the offer of a lifetime.

Frank :frown:

 

[DNK]

Ya know. It is gonna be a little quiet with all you's guys gone.

 

[Banjo]

Man Frank... I'm already booked for flight or I'd be down there to give a hand in the AM.
Alt bad? Check the connections at the back of it. sometimes those spade connectors can give ya fits.
I'll PM ya my cell in case ya need to call. I'll be in downtown Watkins after 2 or so. There's gotta be an alternator for a TR250 somewhere in that town this weekend. I can ask around at the Tour De Marque. (all Triumphs) maybe we can get you set up. Hope you make it to Watkins.

 

[angelfj1]

B: Got your PM and sent you one. A small contingent from VTR Midwest arrived . So now I have a navigator. I'm also in the TR Tour D'Marque, so we'll se ya at the museum in the morning.

Frank

 

[Banjo]

Kickin!!!!! I can't wait! leaving here in about a half an hour. see ya there!!!

 

[DrEntropy]

Stay safe, boyz! Have fun and bring us PHOTOS!!!

 

[newmexTR3]

I'm contemplating driving up from NYC on Saturday... what triumph related events are there that day? Is there some sort of car show where we would park our TR's? I've never been to the Glen, so I'm not sure what to expect. Plus, this is last minute, so I have no hotel. I was thinking of just making it a one day affair and driving back that night.

 

[Banjo]

Well newmex... Today was the big day for our beloved marque. The Vintage race itsself is featuring Triumphs and Formula 500 cars. there will be special Triumph parking at the track, but that's about it.
Good luck finding a hotel. they're mostly booked.
Still that day trip would be awsome. I say try it if you want. it's be just like Buddy Palumbos first trip to the Glen in the Last Open Road book!
just got back home here after headin gout at 7:30 thismorning.
The "Tour De Marque"(always reserved exclusivly for that years featured marque) group I rode along with Twosheds in his TR3 in was filled with One Hundred and Fifteen Triumphs! Everything from long door TR2s through 8s and lots of Spits and even a Vitesse! cool. no Heralds, or Stags tho....(did see a Stag in Watkins later on)
I counted no less than 5 TR4-250s with Surrey tops!!! and 2 TR2 long doors just in our tour. Awsome.
got to see TS1, and talk with the restorer and the new owner. cool. amongst some other really neat Triumph guys.
And most of all I got to meet up with 5 BCFers!!!
Twosheds, angelfj, Dave Richards and his son Willr and Vette. Cool! anybody else there I missed, I'm sorry Had a great time!
I'm crispified, tired and done for the day. Pics will probably get posted tomorrow afternoon when I get home from my reunion...
Off to bed for me..
P.S. the Franzisse was there with it's curtiss OX-5 engine! I took lots of pics.

 

[vette]

Banjo, Super Cool. the Vintage GP Festival at the Glen is always awsome. It was great to meet you and Dave Richards & Son. (thanks for flagging me down Dave). And after all that vintage sports car iron all day long, I get to drive two hours home in which ever sports car I can get up there. This year it was the Vette, because my Healey is still in pieces for now. Will chat latter.
Dave C.

 

[DrEntropy]

Frank said he had alternator probs... Sorted?

When we'd go to th' Glen (back in th' Old Days) it was sleep in the vehicle (Ford van) or in a sleeping bag beside the car (Alfa GTV, Elan) to be awaken'd inna early morn by the sound of F-1 engines chimin' up.

Things have apparently become more civilised. :smirk:

 

[aeronca65t]

Frank said he had alternator probs... Sorted?

When we'd go to th' Glen (back in th' Old Days) it was sleep in the vehicle (Ford van) or in a sleeping bag beside the car (Alfa GTV, Elan) to be awaken'd inna early morn by the sound of F-1 engines chimin' up.

Things have apparently become more civilised. :smirk:

Yeah...hope the TR got it's charging system worked out. In the long run, I found switching to a two-wire Japanese alternator with internal regulator is a simple fix. I've had one in the Spridget for over 10 year. Bulletproof.

As for camping.....yeah, now we have *bigger* vans. :laugh:
This was my digs at the 24 Hr./Lemons race last weekend (below).

One of my friends rented it and mommy didn't like it, so they went to a hotel instead.
He tossed me the keys as they left.
I called Lin and told her I had a keen new bachelor pad to myself for the weekend. Not Amused.

Otherwise, I would have slept in my Ford van...which I still do several times a year.
I'll be staying at the Chez Freestar at Summit Point in November.

I have personally slept at Watkins Glen in a Sprite and a TR3 ("sleeping" is kind of an exaggeration)

 

[Banjo]

Franks Alt was still acting up, but some of the VTR guys came to his rescue. they gave his battery a good charge the night before (musta been around 11:30 or midnight, and he ran with all accessories off all day. I did see them give his car a pop-start after we had done our laps at the track. But he did make the entire run!
Note to Dale: 115 Triumphs... rally all day. no tow trucks. there is hope. we just gotta get you sorted out buddy.
My parents did however end thier rally on the end of a hook. during thier rally the waterpump on thier 69 MGB gave out. Catastrophically enough that the fan bore itsself into dads brand new radiator (guess he just found the real reason for his cooling issues) But the situation was such that several people that they knew just happened to drive by and see them, stopping and chatting while they waited for the tow truck. Most of all were some good friends of thiers, in town for a totally un-related reason, that happend to be driving by with 2 cars. they stopped chatted and gave my partents the keys of thier new Miata so they woulden't have to ride home in the tow truck. So my parents followed the truck home (The truck driver wound up being an old friend of thiers) then drove back to Watkins, in the Miata, just in time for the re-enactment race. And they were able to stop at the Haggerty insurance tent and compliment them on thier great survice. I've never seen two people that had such a good time being broke down!
More later. I could write a book on yesterday.

 

[aeronca65t]

Great stuff, Ben!

Looking forward to reading more of it.

After I check the water pump in my '69 MGB.....