NEWSLETTERTRIUMPH SPORTS OWNERS ASSOCIATION

P. O. BOX 3273 GRAND CENTRAL STATION NEW YORK. N. Y. 10017

One of the GT SPITFIRES during practice for the12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance at Sebring-DuaneFeuerhelmat the wheel.These cars were beautifullyprepared by the factory in England and performedmagnificently.

The intrepid trio making up 'GROUP 44' . . . racecar preparation, public relations and sales promotionspecialists. .. and pretty fair drivers to bootlIn the SPITFIREDick Gilmartin. . . to his left

BrianFuerstenau,and then good old BobTullius. . .'Mr. Triumph'it seemsto the motoringpressl

A coupleof guysfromFloridawhoshallnot be nameless- DanaKelderandAraDube a seven-year-oldTR-3Immaculatelypreparedcompetitionwiseby Bill Cannon DaytonaInternationalSpeedwayandthe2000-kilometerDaytonaContinentalin Februa'1of lastyear.. . . 1st in ClassBT11and12thoverall.. . . theTR-3withKelderandDubealternatingbehindthe wheelcoveredabout955miles- 251laps- in the approximately12 hours28 minutesof the e.vent....onlycarsto finishaheadof themweretheFordPrototypes,Cobras,PorschesandoneFerrari,somewhatfastermachinerywe'dsay....thisyear'sContinentalis a24-Hourgrind.. . . twenty-four-hours. . . .and the same team is having another go this year in a TR-4A....Iftheytoplastyear'smagnificentperformance.. . . welltheysurehaveourverybestwishes.. . .Andthat remindsus. . . . the Marchissueof the TSOANEWSlmERpresented"Improvementsto the two best-sellingsportscars inAmerica"bywayof someexcellentphotos.. . . andsnappycopy-wehope!. . . thenewTR-4AandtheSPITFIREMk2werewithusandhavebeensellingextremelywell sincetheir introduction andwhynot?Dollarfor dollarthesetwocarsrepresentthefinestvaluein the sportscarfield... . wethoughtsoat the timeandstill do....the motoring presscertainly agreedwith us and more im-portantlyit appearsthesportscarbuyerisof thesameopinion.. . .Sebring1965. . . . the12-HourBrandPrixof Endurancein March.. . .hottestand certainlythe wettestSebringIn years andonceagainTriumphbroughthomesomehardwarefimshing2 and3rd incombinedClassesBT7/8 and2ndand3rdin BTDivision1withthe.specially-builtBT SPITFIRES.Conditionsduringthe 12.Hourgrindrangedfroma tracktemperatureof about130degreesduringtheafternoon....then as daylight was fading the heavensopenedupproducinga downpourof tropicalintensity.. . . buttheBTSPITFIRESJustmotoredonne.vermissingabeat.. . .Andthenin AprilwehadtheNewYorkAutoShow.. . . andthefirstpublicshowingof the newTR-4AandSPITFIREMk 2 andthepublicloved'em!Underscoringthe interesttakenbythe factoryinthe marketoverhere,wasthevisit to thiscountryandthe Triumphexhibitby Mr. GeorgeTurnbullfromEngland,DirectorandGeneralManagerof Standard-TriumphInternational,ltd. . . . we'resurehewasdelightedthatthereadersof CARandDRIVERmagazinehadjustvoted the SPITFIRE'Best GT/Sports Car'- Under$2500!. . .. anddoubtlesshewasalsodelightedwiththethousandsofpeoplethrong-ingtheTriumphStand,anxiousfor informationontheentireTriumphlineof cars.. . . .BythemonthofJunewehadaprettygoodideahowwellourdriversweredoingin seCAcompetition.. .. andunquestionablythroughout

0,. A Glance In Ou,. Bea,. -View Jli,.,.o,.

the country, the TR-3,SPITFIREand TR-4were onceagain the carsto beat in their respectiveClasses.. . . BobTullius wasdrivingbetterthan ever which saysa lot and Bob it seemedhadsuccessfullyturned his avocationinto a vocationwith the formationof GROUP44in partnership with Dick Gilmartin, a campaignerof considerableskill in GPwith his SPITFIRE,and Brian Fuerstenau,the Group'smechanicalwizardand TR-3driver. . . . this intrepid trio hada mostsuccessfulseason Bobwon the NortheastDivision'sDPtitle forthe umpteenthtime. . . . Briancoppedthe FPtitle with ease. . . . andDick finished 2nd in GP GROUP44 obviouslywas- and is-here to stay....Fromout on the West Coastwe started hearingrumblesabout anembarrassinglyquick TR.4Awith IRS well darn it we knewtheSCCAhad not given the new car a ProductionCarClassdue to thetiming of its arrival on the U.S.market.. . . so whatwasgoingon?Simply this. . . . 'Kas' Kastner,Triumph'sCompetitionsManagerhaddecidedthat the only way to obtain accuratepreparationdata forthellew car,whiclrevel1t1rallywoolobe -disl!e-nseU-tinR.4A--oWilers--wishingto racethe followingseason,was to run a TR.4Ain the onlycategoryopento the car 0 MODIFIED and the Kastner-preparedIRSTR-4Awith CharliesGatesbehindthe wheelhada lot of sageoldheadsnOddingin disbelief as the potentcombinationof engineeringand driving skill went on to win the 0 ModifiedChampionshipontheWest Coast sonofagun!In Julywecarriedthe'TriumphAt LeMans'story.. . anda triompheit most certainly was with the GTSPITFIRESfinishing 1st and 2ndin their Class,5th and6th overall in the GTCategory.. . . a total of51 cars lined up for the traditional 'Le Mans'start. . . . twenty-fourhours later 14 cars crossedthe finishing line. . . two of 'em beingSpitfires. . . . one of the finest competitive achievementsever re-cordedby a companythat hasbeenaroundracingandrallying sincegoodness-knows-when.. . .We featured the new Triumph2000 Sedanin the Octoberissueofthe TSOANEWSLETTER and shortly thereafter took delivery ofour own2000....a finecar.. . . a joyto drive(wehavethe4-speedwith overdrive). . . . we're just delightedwith the car. . . . so if you'rethinking aboutbuyingoneyourself take our wordfor it, andgo takea test-driveat your local TriumphDealer....To wrap up anothervery successfulseasonfor Triumphin competi-tion, came the victories in the AmericanRoadRaceof Championsheld at DaytonaInternationalSpeedway,Florida,the latter part ofNovember.. . . TR-4's 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th in D Production....TR-3's1st and2nd in F Production andthe TR-4A1st in Modified.Yep!. . . . it wasa verygoodyear.

Not only is this a good looking automobile. . . butit phofographs weill This is a shot we took somelittle while ago of the 2000 Sedan. . . in fact thiswas the car that we drove that finally convincedusto get our own 2000 . . . a sound decision manl

This is one of those 'Guess Who?' photos. . . only in this case noprizes for a correct answer. After all the guy is pretty well known. . . 'Kas' Kastner, Triumph's Competitions Manager. . . the photois vintage 1959, the year that 'Kas' won three Championships - ClassEP Pacific Coast, the Cal Club EP Championship and MotoracingWest Coast Point Championship. 'Kas' hung up his driving glovessome time ago to concentrate on putting Triumph on the map -competition wise. He's done a pretty good iob!

This aDtI That. ...We'rewritingthis on aboutthe 12thdayof the transitstrikein NewYorkCity. Personally,we're not affectedor inconveniencedthat much,havingourapartmentsituated abouta mile from the office. Howeveras you'vedoubt-less read in your local newspaper,manyNewYorkersandpeoplefrom NewJerseyand Connecticutare enduringgreat hardshipin their efforts to getto work and back homeat the end of an abbreviatedday. But the spirit ofthe people is downright amazing.Manyare walking literally miles everyday: car pools have beenformed to make maximumuse of each vehiclecoming into the City: bicycle rentals andsales are up 1000per cent: andsomeare even roller-skatingfrom their homesto their placesof business.

A few daysagowe weredriving alongthe ConnecticutTurnpikein the earlymorningon our way to the office. Ournew2000 sedanwas 'purring' alongat about 58 in top overdrive.We were in the middle of the three-lanehighwaywhen a blue TR.4Apassedus . . . andby golly! . . . with the topdown!(The temperature was about 28 degrees.)

Huddledin the car were four adults including the driver, all wrapped inscarvesand blankets,andwith the happiestof grins on their faces! It wasquite a sight. If any of the four happento be TSOAmembersand get toreadthis little item, we're pleasedto announcethat all of you areherewithpresentedwith the Special TSOAAward For Making MaximumUse Of AMotor VehicleDuringTheTransit Strike Emergency.

Paul Daehlingwho writes a weekly columnfor the DAILYNEWSand SUN!,!1~~pri.~[fj,':.',d~~!?,~~IIs,ust~at he someti!TI~squotesfrom ou~very °\ynIO>U/\11t,YYO>Lt,IIt,I\.nli 31S0 is of the OpliiiOiithat our pUblicatIOn;5,"One of the better newsletters around." For which our sincerestthanks.Paul sent us a clipping from the January6 issueof the ClevelandPLAINDEALER... a classified advert.ising,for sale a "1966 TRIUMPHHAROLD..,"

Our mail is starting to pick up again after the Christmaslull, and newapplicationsfor membershipin TSOAmakeup the bulk of it.

ReginaldTannerwrote to us from Baltimore:"I would like the necessaryinformation to become a member of the Triumph Sports Owners Associ-ation. Two weeks ago I sold my 1963 Corvette and purchased a very clean1963 TR-4. There is a special feeling. about this car that I did not getwith my Corvette,"

The information you requestedis on its way Reginald. . . our very bestwishes to you and manymiles of 'special' motoringwith your TR-4.Trading Up Department.WayneMcCallister,a TSOAmember from NewOrleanssent us his changeof addressand also this information:"I haveowned a 1956 TR-2, a 1957 TR-3, and now have a 1965 SPITFIREHardtop.I am planning to trade in the SPITFIREon an IRS TR-4A."

An excellentchoiceWayne.. . of coursewe'rebiased!OnesuggestionWayne- getyournewTR-4AIRSwith Overdrive.like man. . . yougetvirtually a 7-speedgearboxto stir. ... !Reflectingthe continuingboomin auto salesandconfirmingpredictionsofa banneryearfor Triumphsales in '66, comesthe newsthat Triumphwhole-sale sales for the monthof December'65 werethe highestfor that monthsince 1958.Also, the final quarter figures for '65 showa 22-percent in-creaseover the like period of 1964.Twenty-two-per-centis a pretty heftyincrease.We'd say that Triumph Dealersthroughout the country have apretty goodyearaheadof them,

Here'sa little item we pickedup from ROAD& TRACKmagazineof particularinterest to the NewYork commuter-by-car. . . he's having a whale-of-a-time during'the transit strike!

While most people take their traffic frustrations home with them andstraighten out their nerves by drinking 2 martinis or kicking the familydog, there are a few brave souls who take more determinedaction. Inlondon, England,truck driver DavidTwichentold friends he was so fed upwith traffic jams that "I'm going to do somethingdesperate."Theyall laughedbut Twichenjoined the FrenchForeignLegionfor a 5-yearhitch.

FLASH!....Triumphsportscarshavewonthe Manufacturers'Classtitle in the NewJerseyStateRallychampionshipsfor 1965,Statisticsreleasedby the N.J. StateRallyCouncilindicatethat Triumphentriescapturedthe statecrownby a comfortablemarginoverthe com-petingmarques,includingfactory.sponsoredteamsof PlymouthandComet,alsoCorvairandSaab,Chiefcontributorsto theTriumphcausewereEdandBabetteVanVliet,whopilotedtheir TR.4to first-placeequippedin the championshipseries.Inwinning,theyedgedtheNationalRallychampions,SallyandDennisKoelmel.

1966 Tri-O-Rama April 23-24,1966highin the Poconos.Writefor moredetails:SeveyVignola,TSSCNJ,151076thSt.,NorthBergen,N,J.

CLASSIFIEDFOR SALE: Service Instruction Manual & Spare Parts catalogue forTR-2-3, smudged but sound. Exploded views in latter very useful in repairs.both-$5.00 ppd. Contact: Roland Loewen, 117 N. Holly Dr.. Bay town.Texas 77520.FOR SALE: New black tonneau cover for 1961 TR-3. Two used side cur-tains - all for $35.00. Contact: A. R. Yanes, 457 Briarwood Dr.. SouthSan Francisco, California.FOR SALE: Aug. 1965 green Spitfire Mk II Hardtop, 3,500 miles - over-drive, beater, tonneau, bumper guards, fender mirrors, snow tires, seatbelts - originally $2,700. wanted $2,250. Contact: Miss France, 3343 ParkAve.. Union City, New Jersey.FOR SALE: Cellar clearance-TR-3 parts assortment. complete wire wheelconversion - $60.00. Engine 2.2 conv. "D" Cam - balanced. 'cut flywheel,killerhead, etc. Reliable brakes, drums, discs - hydraulic cylinders. rollbar, complete rear end including gears, housing and axles, all trans. gears& shafts, many other various parts - make offer. Contact: Kay Smith, 70Mt. Kemble Ave.. Morristown. New Jersey. Phone: (201) JE 8-2892..FOR SALE: TR-3A purchased new, May 1961, original owners. Neverraced, never wrecked, serviced regularly, log book kept. Factory installedoverdrive and luggage rack. Tonneau cover, heater, hood stick cover, cigarlighter, oil filter. White body. soft top and side curtains, black interior.Good running condition, body and paint good. Contact: Antoinette M.Haley, Rt. 5, Crabill Rd.. Springfield. Ohio. Phone: FA 3-1670.FOR SALE: Judson supercharger for TR-3 or TR-4. Complete in originalfactory carton with full instructions. Like new condition. Used 2 months.Best offer over $100.00. Contact: L. M. Griffin, 2727 Central Ave., Columbus,Indiana. Phone: (812) 372-2581.FOR SALE: Bolt-on roll bar for Triumph Spitfire. Complete $40.00. Con-tact: Dick Hayden, 1435 Argyle Crescent, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Phone:(313) 665-5410.FOR SALE: 1960 TR-3 ready to race - consistently finishes well in the topof its class - blue streaks, mag wheels, O.D., 4.55 rear axle ratio, positi-traction, "F" eam, 87 mm pistons fully prodified, lots more. many, manyspares, including engine - $1.350. Contact: David B. Hammond, 1345Bancroft Way, Yuba City, California. Phone: (916) 673-3441.FOR SALE: New, unused luggage rack for a TR-4. 1963. Received aspresent from well-meaning brother after TR-4 was sold. Contact: DougJohnston. 674 Crescent Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. Make offer.FOR SALE: One of the fastest TR-4's in the country - Dick Htockton'sfully prodified car: 2nd in D Production, N.E. Division: 5th in DP atARRC, Daytona after leading for some time (overdrive quit) ; 140-145 mphon high bank at Daytona. Fully prepared for '66 season. A rare opportunityat $3.495.00. Call Dick at (215) TU 4-1690.

TSOA SUPERMARKETTRIUMPHJACKETSCustom-tailoredshower-proofwash-and-wearblue poplin zipper jacketswith silk-screenedTriumph logo on back; exclusiveto TSOA:specify size- s, m, I, xl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . " . .$9.50

TSOAHandbook '.'" .. ...,.. .~l.OO"PleaseDon't Dent Me" cards.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . .$1.00/100

local TSOAClub "Calling Cards". . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . FREEList of Triumph Dealers and Distributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .FREESTM Badge $1.50ReplacementTSOABadge $1.00StandardTriumphReviewSubscription.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.50jyearTR-3,TR-4CompetitionPreparationBooklet.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00SPITFIRECompetitionPreparationBooklet.. . . . . . . ... .. .. .. .. ... . .$1.25

SendCheckor MoneyOrder. NoC.O.D.'splease.

The TSOA NEWSLETTER is published monthly bythe Triumph Sports Owners Association, Box 3273,Grand Central Station, New York, N. Y, 10017. TSOAis a national organization of American sports car en-thusiasts who own a Triumph Sports Car (TR-2,TR-3,TR-4 or Spitfire), Herald Sports Coupe, 1200 Conver-tible, or Sports Six, or are interested in the purposesof the Association. Subscription is included with a$5.00 lifetime' membership in the club.

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