Georgia Triumph Association News and Notes

The Walter Mitty races at Road Atlanta were a lot of fun. The weather man was calling for a stormy day on Saturday and thank goodness he turned out to be wrong. We had a couple of sprinkles and that was it. We had a group of Ohio Triumph folks come down and join us at turn 5 for the overnight camping. There were a good number of GTA folks that came also. The racing was exciting and we got to see some really cool vintage race cars on the track and up close. Sunday we took a large contingent of Triumphs out on the track for the parade laps, which is always a lot of fun!

British Motorcar Day at Berry College turned out to be a great day! We had around 70 Triumphs come out for the show. The weather was perfect and everyone had a really good time. Pictures of the event are posted on the GTA web site.

Our next driving event will be on Saturday, June 21th. We will be taking a short drive to Athens to visit and tour the Terrapin Ale brewery. I plan on meeting at the Stone Mountain Outback Steakhouse parking lot at 10 AM, which is located on the corner of Hwy 78 and East Park Place. This is the same location we have met at before for trips to Athens and Stone Mountain. I hope to see everyone come out and enjoy the drive!

Saturday June 7 Barry Rosenberg will be clearing out all of his stock of
used cars and used car parts. GTA member Joe Earnest will be on site to
help with pricing. Look for great deals on Triumph, MG, and other English
car parts. 9am until 5pm.

Joe's cell is 678-778-6175

Directions
I-20 West From Downtown Atlanta
Exit Number 24 Highway 61 - Carrollton Exit
Make a right
Go until the roads comes to a T intersection.
Make a left onto Highway 101
Right onto Wesley Chapel Road
Left between the two stone markers after about 1 mile.
There will be balloons, flags, or some other marker to let you know where to turn.

The 23^rd annual Chris Gore Mountain Tour is Saturday April 5^th. Bring a picnic lunch, your Triumph and join the crowd for a great time. After lunch, Chris always leads us a spirited mountain drive that you will not forget! This is the trip last year that one of my front wheel studs was left a little long and I ended up with the GTA Bozo Award. Make sure your wheels are on tight as I will be watching everyone with a camera for this year’s Bozo nominee.

We will be going to Callaway Gardens for a day drive on Saturday April 26^th. We will meet at 9 AM at the Tanger Outlet Mall in Locust Grove (same meeting location as the last Polar Bear). From Atlanta, take I-75 South to exit 212, Bill Gardner Parkway. Turn left and then right on Tanger Blvd and right on Tanger Drive. We will meet in the parking lot around the Denny’s. The drivers meeting will be at 9:30 AM and I plan on leaving around 9:45 AM. We will be taking back roads down to Callaway Gardens which should put us there around 11:30 AM. If we have more than 15 people, the group rate to get into Callaway is $11.56 per person, including tax. Should be a fun trip and I hope to see you there!

The Walter Mitty races at Road Atlanta will be May 1-4. There will be many of us Triumph folks camping out over the weekend at turn 5 as usual. Bring your tent, sleeping bag and some beverages and join us for a great time. The vintage racing is great and camping with friends is a lot of fun! More details on this event are on the GTA web site.

As always, if you have any suggestions, please drop me an email or give me a call.

Two thousand seven was a dry year - one of the driest years on record in the state of Georgia. We made national news. The Governor prayed for rain. The lakes were drying up. The crops were dying. Water was at a premium everywhere. Would bathing be next? Something had to be done to help the people of our fair state.

On December 29, 2007, the Georgia Triumph Association sponsored the 8^th Annual Georgia Polar Bear Run. We may not have ended the drought, but 2007 turned out NOT to be the driest year in recorded history after our Winter Tour.

During the week leading up to the event, the weather reports called for a nice day on Saturday. On Friday night, the plan changed. We awoke to a light rain falling, but a surprising number of participants braved the elements to attend the Last Drive of the Year.

Sixty-five assorted classics arrived at the Tanger Outlet Mall in Locust Grove as the showers started and stopped. The hoods were all up, the “brollies” were out and everyone seemed to be enjoying the pre-drive social, despite the wetness. These folks came out to drive, and a little sprinkle wasn’t keeping them down.

The Drivers’ Meeting was held promptly at 9:30 (a PBR first!). It was kept brief as the drops were getting a little bigger. Participants got back to their cars and headed for the Mall exit to begin the driving tour.

The rain came down in buckets. But the Polar Bears pressed on. At the scheduled rest stop at High Falls State Park, there was a puddle at the entrance that was at least 18” deep. The rain continued on and off throughout the morning.

Surprisingly, very few participants aborted the drive. Most notable was Chris Sloan, who drove his MGA with a cut-down windscreen – a feature that prevents installation of the hood and full exposure to the weather. I believe Chris stayed with us until the water level in the car crested the tops of the seats… He certainly qualifies for a “Spirit of…” award for his optimism and enthusiasm.

The rain stopped almost the instant cars began arriving in Warner Robins. We had a large lunch at the Ole Times Country Buffet, then capped off the day at the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base.

The worst problem that was reported (other than flooding) was a TR6 fuel pump that failed about 5 minutes from lunch. That was quickly remedied with an electric model purchased at a local Auto Zone.

Marques in attendance included Triumph (always the featured make!), MG, Mini, Austin Healey, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen and a small pack of Fieros. Due to the rush to beat the rain, the attendance list is incomplete – and that’s too bad, because this is a group that deserves to be mentioned.

In other Polar Bear News, after PBR-7 was held in Alabama last year, the Birmingham British Car Club decided to host its own Polar Bear event this year. On the same day as the Georgia Event, Alabama skies were bright and sunny, and on official count of 107 cars came out to enjoy the day. Participants included everything from a Model A Ford to a few Ferraris. Congratulations to our friends to the west for a job well done!

Thanks to all who came out to participate in this year’s event. It would have been much easier to stay home in the warm and dry, but you came out to drive your leaky, unreliable cars in the pouring rain. Some would call you fools, but I would call you… well… ummm… fools. I hate being foolish alone! Thanks again.

Destinations for Polar Bear Run IX are already being considered. Suggestions are always welcome. We’re looking forward to another great year on the road!

Thanks to all who participated in the GTA Fall Rallye is on November 17. Our friends at the Georgia Sports Car Club put on a great event for us. Thanks to Rallymasters Tom Greig and Robert Harvey for their efforts.

So, now that all of the other clubs have pretty much shut down for the year, the GTA has one more driving event left in 2007.

The 8^th Annual Polar Bear Run will be held on December 29^th for our drive to the US Air Force’s Museum of Aviation in Warner Robbins. The gathering will occur at the Tanger Outlet Mall in Locust Grove (I-75 exit 212). Be there by 9:00 AM so that we can get off to a good start. The route is planned and all of our ducks are in a row, so the only thing left to do is to have everyone show up to participate. Spread the word – all are welcome to join in.

Last year’s drive to the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham saw over 130 classics on the road. Let’s see if we can top that one this year!

An interesting note is that the Birmingham British Car Club, who helped promote last year’s PBR in Alabama, has decided to start up their own Polar Bear event in their area. Let’s wish them great success, and hope the Polar Bear spirit continues to spread!

For those who have not yet heard the news, Joan and I have decided to take a long-overdue break from activities planning in 2008. We’ve been helping out since we joined the club in 1997, and it’s time for a little rest. That doesn’t mean that we’re going away, but we’re going to take a step back to let someone else lead the pack for a while. We’ll still be participating in all of the GTA events and helping out when we can.

The one thing that I ask of all of you is that you continue to come out to support our events like you’ve done so well for the past 10 years. It’s your participation that keeps the GTA alive – and we’re easily the most “alive” sports car club in the Southeast!!!

It has truly been a pleasure serving the GTA. I wish that my successors, and all who serve the Club, can experience some of the joy that I’ve been able to feel during my time in the lead car!

Fifteen cars showed up on Saturday morning (August 25) for breakfast at the Old Town Country Restaurant in Cumming. With the way the weather has been, it was a surprise to see so many topless cars during the heat wave of the century, but other than Russ Turner in his air-conditioned TR6, all were hood-less for the day’s drive.

After a brief comfort stop in Dawsonville, our good friends Chris & Poolie Gore took the lead to cover some wonderful back roads. The pace was relaxed, and we had a chance to enjoy some great scenery.

The drive to Blue Ridge was less than 3 hours, and the heat didn’t really become apparent until we were less than one mile from our destination, the Blue Ridge Days Inn. Joan even noted that it seemed to be a little cool as we set off on the drive.

We marked a special occasion as our youngest driver, Alex Pruitt, completed his first extended GTA run behind the wheel of Dad’s TR6. Congratulations to Alex, and we hope to see him in his own Triumph in the not-too-distant future.

Once we arrived at our destination, we all changed and headed for the pool for an afternoon of relaxation in the water before getting ready for the movie.

One thing about planning ahead with an event like this is that you can never be sure (except at Halloween time) what sort of movies you will be seeing. This time, the first feature was the big-screen adaptation of one of our all-time favorite superheroes: Underdog. And though most of the movie-goers in attendance were a fraction of the average age of the GTA folks, we all had a pleasant time.

Keeping with the animal theme, our second feature was the new Disney movie, Ratatouille. Yes, a rat with a culinary flair visits Paris and helps a young dishwasher become a famous French chef while melting the cold heart of a notorious food critic. Was it a coincidence that the rat’s father was played by none other than ex-Cheers mailman John Ratzenberger? I think not.

For those of us who spent the night, the next morning brought a dark cloud on the horizon. And it was a really big dark cloud. The west-side group prepared for battle and drove toward I-575, right into the heart of the darkness. As of the writing of this report, I did not hear how they fared.

The Gores and Forsters headed east toward Blairsville, then south on US 129. Joan and I made it all the way home without having to put our top up – finding only a few light sprinkles along the way. We were sure that the closer to home we got, the less chance there would be for rain to dampen our brown lawn. But in an unusual twist of fate, an hour after we had the TR3 in the garage, we had an hour or so of steady rain to give the grass a much-needed drink.

Another memorable weekend is behind us. If you weren’t able to join us this time, be sure not to miss the next one.

George & Joan Forster, TR3
Gary & Lois Wilmerding, TR6
Ben & Betty Turner, TR6
Mike & Sue Hurst, Stag
Chic & Patti Fries, TR3
John & Linda Boehmler, TR6
Russ Turner, TR6
Pat Turner, TR6
Mark & Zak Pruitt, TR4
Alex & Laura Pruitt, TR6
Bob & Marilyn Bryan, GT6

We just returned from our weekend in Blue Ridge to find my newsletter deadline reminder. I don’t always mean to wait until the last minute for these things, but it gives me the chance to give you the up-to-the-minute latest news!

There was a surprisingly good turnout for Drive-In Night, considering the continuing heat wave that is making life in Atlanta so unpleasant. Fifteen carloads met for breakfast and all but two continued on the drive. See details elsewhere in this newsletter.

Last month’s newsletter contained the flier and registration form for the Southeast VTR Meet at Jekyll Island. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so as soon as possible. We’re expecting this to be another excellent event. GTA will also be looking for volunteers to help with the Thursday evening reception and with decorating the banquet hall on Saturday. Please don’t be shy when it comes to volunteering when you’re at the event. Check the www.SEVTR.org website for details and reservation information.

I have contacted our friends at the Georgia Sports Car Club to help with the GTA Fall Rallye, to be held in November. We’re working on a date that works for all – we’re considering the Saturday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 17), but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. We should have a plan for next month’s newsletter.

Other fall events include the Norcross British Car Fayre (Sept. 8), the Carolina Trophy rally (www.carolinatrophy.com – on Sept. 9-14), Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta (Oct. 3-6), Autumn in the Mountains at Chimney Rock, NC (www.autunminthemountains.org – Oct. 5-6), Euro Festival at BMW in South Carolina (Oct. 19-21), Chattanooga British Car Day (Nov. 3), and the Hilton Head Island Concours (www.hhiconcours.com – Nov. 4).

We’ll officially cap off the year with our annual holiday party in December. As always, it will be a fine end to another great year.

The announcement is a little late in coming, but this year’s Polar Bear Run is being planned for a December 29^th trip to the US Air Force Museum in Warner Robbins. I’ve been told that there have been some changes since our last visit a few years ago, but it’s still offers a wonderful way to experience some of America ’s finest technology – up close and personal. The finer points are being ironed out, but you now have something to look forward to. Keep an eye on the GTA web site for details as they develop.

I’m sure you’ve all heard it before, but I just can’t help saying it: Is it August already???!!!

I’ve heard a few reports from the VTR National in Valley Forge , PA. A business trip planned for the same week kept Joan and I from attending, but a few GTA folks made the trip north. I understand that next year’s National will be in Detroit – it’s never too early to start planning.

Well, after our long trip to North Carolina in June, you must have been too tired, or are just getting ready for the VTR Regional in October. There were only 7 GTA bowlers at Chamblee Lanes on July 21, but we had enough fun for at least half of the club. And a warm July evening in an air-conditioned building with good beer and food isn’t too bad.

The August event is another old favorite: Blue Ridge and the Swan Drive-In on August 25. As before, this is sort of a 2-part event. Some will enjoy the drive through the mountains early in the day, others will show up at show time to see the movie – most will do both.

See information elsewhere in this newsletter for times, places, and overnight plans if you choose to spend the night. This will be our 5^th visit to the Swan, and it’s always been a popular event. Try to make at least one part of the event if you can.

Plans for the September picnic are almost ready at the time of this report, but we’re still short a few details. Stay tuned in next month’s newsletter for the final plans.

The time is drawing near for the Southeast VTR Regional Meet at Jekyll Island in October. Registration is underway, and the host hotel will start filling up soon. Don’t miss out on the largest gathering of Triumphs in the southeast. Check the www.SEVTR.org website for details and reservation information.

The GTA will be responsible for hosting the Thursday evening reception party, and for decorating the Convention Center for the Awards Banquet on Saturday night. There will be a bit of preparation work before we arrive at Jekyll Island . If you’re able to volunteer a little time, please contact your Activities Director. If everyone pitches in a little, we’ll have another impressive showing at the Convention.

Seven GTA members showed up to participate in a little bowling action on July 21.

Chamblee Lanes, along the Perimeter in Chamblee, recently remodeled and has gone a little upscale since our last visit. The balls and rental shoes are still the same, but the décor, full bar, and food service are a step up from the traditional bowling alley fare. It all made for a really nice evening.

The GTA Star of the evening was Michael Campsmith, who outrolled the rest of us, but there were plenty of strikes and even more laughs to go around. Everyone’s bowling seemed to improve once Samuel Adams showed up to give us that extra bit of confidence that we all needed.

Also competing for the GTA Trophy were Russ & Pat Turner, Jim & Cheryl Bennett, and George & Joan Forster. Almost everyone drove a Triumph, and as far as I know, everyone made it home without having to push (bowling is a great way to build the muscles needed to push-start a TR!).

This is a heads-up for the upcoming Drive In night, to be announced in the upcoming newsletter. We're going up on August 25. I'm going to have the group meet at the Old Town Country Restaurant on GA20, about 3 miles west of downtown Cumming, on the left. Breakfast will be about 9 AM, and we'll try to leave by 10. I called the Days Inn in Blue Ridge for a one-night rate. A room with one queen is $53.95 +tax and with 2 queens is 58.45 +tax (you can never have enough queens, I always say!). Give them my name or the Triumph club, and they'll hook you up. Phone # is 706-632-2100.

I have no idea what's playing that weekend, but it will be fun, as always. If you plan to spend the night, call early and get a room. We'll arrive around lunch time, and will spend the afternoon at the pool.

Let me know if you're thinking of coming, so that I can get an idea for the size of the crowd.

The GTA just returned from a Triumph-ant weekend at Fontana Village , where we conquered a Dragon, and had a few laughs around the pool. Sixteen cars full of members and friends visited the Resort in one of the most combinations of mountains, lakes, and roads in the world. See the article elsewhere in this newsletter for more.

Russ Turner asked that he be allowed to postpone his summer Pig Roast to a date in September that will be better for his schedule. We’ll provide all of the information in your next newsletter.

The Main Event in July will be the VTR National Convention in Valley Forge , PA during the week of July 16-21.

If you can’t make it to the National, the GTA will get together on Saturday, July 21 for a long-overdue Bowling Night. The plan is to meet at 6 PM at Chamblee Lanes, on Savoy Road (the I-285 access road at Exit 30, between Peachtree Road and Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. ). Please don’t think that you need to be a good (or even decent) bowler to participate. Our main objective is to have fun with friends, and no matter how bad you think you are, there is sure to be a regular Bowling Night veteran who will make you look like you belong on the Pro Tour.

And while on the topic of favorite events that haven’t been done in a while, it’s soon time for another GTA Drive In Night. Tentatively, we’re looking at August 25 for an early drive to Blue Ridge for lunch. There’s a lot to see and do in the little town of Blue Ridge , including the historic Swan Drive In Theater. The GTA is famous for occupying the entire front row for a twilight picnic on the lawn, followed by whatever movie is playing when we’re there.

Some come for the drive and return home in the afternoon, some show up late for the movie, and some take a room at the Day’s Inn and spend the afternoon at the pool waiting for movie time.

I’m still working out the details on this one. I’ll publish the facts on the GTA web site as soon as I can, and will have the final plan in next month’s newsletter, which will allow plenty of time for reservations and planning.

So with the Pig Roast moving to September, our next event will be the Southeast VTR Regional Meet at Jekyll Island in October. Check the www.SEVTR.org website for details and reservation information.

On April 7^th is we visited Chris & Poolie Gore for their annual Mountain Tour. There were about 50 cars on hand for the day’s events, which began with a picnic on the lawn of the Gore estate. The day was a bit on the cool side, but the skies were clear, and the day was wonderful.

May 5 is the date for the Orphan Car Show during the Snellville Days Celebration. Several GTA members participated in last year’s event at Briscoe Park , on Scenic Highway , just south of US 78. The show is dedicated to all marques no longer made or sold in the US .

Joan & I recently visited the resort to check out the operation under its new management. We were very impressed – especially by the improvements at the restaurant.

I don’t plan to make any special arrangements for driving up on Friday – I’ll leave it to everyone to make it there in your own good time. There will be plenty of time for togetherness once we’re all there. It’s easy to get to Fontana Village and driving up in a smaller group or alone might be a nice change for you.

The East Side people can head up US441 to Franklin , NC , and then take Hwy. 28 to Fontana Village . The West Side folks have that option, or can run up Hwy. 129 or 60 to approach Fontana from the west. Contact your Activities Director if you have any questions or need a buddy to follow up.

On Sunday, we’ll take the Cherohala to Telleco Plans to end the day in Blue Ridge – another great drive!

Rooms at Fontana Village have been reserved for the Georgia Triumph Association. Check out the resort’s web site for details: www.fontanavillage.com . You’ll have to call for reservations as soon as possible – The GTA is getting a 2 week’s advance on the available rooms. After that, we are offering remaining rooms to our LBC friends in western NC, eastern TN, and Alabama . I promised a certain number of rooms would be reserved to be offered these discounted room rates, and those rooms will be filled – hopefully by lots of GTA members! So if you think you’ll want to go, get your reservations made NOW, otherwise, you may be left out.

Lodge rooms (regular): $84
Lodge rooms (Deluxe w/ Fireplace): 94
Cabana Rooms (Poolside): $109

There may also be some cabins available for families or sharing. Ask for availability - discounts should be available for the GTA group.

Call the Resort for reservations: 800-849-2258 or 828-498-2211. Mention the Georgia Triumph Association for your special rates. Our reservation block will expire on May 22, so reserve as early as possible.

On Saturday, I’ll make some touring maps available for smaller groups to venture out to see the local sights, which include the Fontana Dam, Smokey Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, the Nantahala River (rafting), and of course, the world-famous Tail of the Dragon at Deal’s Gap. Or, you can do some hiking and hang around the pool at the Resort. If you haven’t been to this area before, you’re in for a real treat!

My schedule did not leave time for me to plan a driving event for May. If anyone would like to take charge of a driving event for June 2, the date is open. Look for last-minute plans in the next newsletter.

Actually that's not all for now. The 24th annual Atlanta British Motorcar Day is being held on Saturday, May 19th at Berry College once again. The response last year to the new venue was overwhelmingly positive and the BMCD committee has worked to fine-tune the event to make it even better this year. For details and directions see the GTA calendar or www.atlantabritishmotorcarday.com. See you there.

Thanks to all who participated in the March tour to Stone Mountain . Despite the short drive, we had a nice visit and learned a lot about the railroad. See article for details.

April 7^th is the date for the Chris Gore Mountain Tour. Load up your picnic baskets and join us in Dahlonega for another wonderful day of fellowship and great touring. See details elsewhere in your newsletter.

The Walter Mitty historic races are being held at Road Atlanta on April 26-29. Discount tickets are available on line through the HSR, Classic Motorsports, and Grassroots Motorsports web sites. Make sure to get your tickets early to save a few bucks – especially if you’re planning to be there all weekend.

My personal schedule is still pretty full, but I’m hoping to get us out for a little day-trip at either the end of May or the first week in June. I’ll have something to announce in time for the next newsletter.

I’m working on our GTA Spring Weekend Tour for the end of June. This time we’re going to take a trip to Fontana Village in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina . We haven’t been there in a few years, but the resort has undergone a recent restoration, and I’ve heard wonderful things about it.

I’m trying to nail down a weekend when there isn’t a motorcycle or Miata event planned – it will most likely be the last weekend of June. I won’t hear for a few more days, but keep and eye on the GTA web site and I’ll post the information as soon as I have something worked out with Fontana . If you like, drop me an email and I’ll contact you directly so that you can get your reservations in as soon as possible.

For the newcomers, our weekends usually start with a group drive on Friday morning. We’ll arrive early in the afternoon, and have some time to do a little sightseeing, hiking, or lounging by the pool before the evening meal. Some will want to come later, and that’s fine – if you can’t meet in the morning, be at the Village when you can – better late than never!!

Fontana Village has a nice Lodge with individual rooms, as well as a nice assortment of cabins if you want to bring the kids or share with another couple. Check out the resort’s web site for details: www.fontanavillage.com .

On Saturday, I’ll make some touring maps available for smaller groups to venture out to see the local sights, which include the Fontana Dam, Smokey Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge, the Nantahala River (rafting), and of course, the world-famous Tail of the Dragon at Deal’s Gap. If you haven’t been to this area before, you’re in for a real treat! And on Sunday, we’ll make a group drive back to the Atlanta area.

Plans for the Southeast VTR Regional event are underway for Jekyll Island in October. Check for updates at www.sevtr.org, and make your reservations NOW. Last time, some were turned away when the host hotel filled. Don’t be left out!!! The GTA will have some responsibilities at this event, and will be needing volunteers. Let me know if you’re able to help out – the more that help, the easier it is for all of us.

England in February

By Paul Logue

Former Englishman and GTA member Kevin Bowen has made other winter trips to England for a long weekend. One of the events to see is the International Triumph Vendor Show in Stoneleigh just a two and a half hour drive north of London. Prior to my retirement last year, I was unable to fit the trip in my schedule. This year, I decided to make the effort to join Kevin and Russell Sanders. As most of us know, individuals need to lead, follow or get out of the way. Kevin is the leader type and his style leads one to believe that his employees in Tampa either like him or don’t and nothing in between. His planning made this trip enjoyable despite the weather and disappointment. Kevin begins the schedule months ahead of time and includes a selection of hotel and reservations with reasonable prices. He made 2 car reservations to avoid getting one not to our liking. He researched the Internet and selected attractions besides the show. As an aid to navigation, he had printed Map quest directions for each day’s travel.

We traveled to London on Wednesday leaving Atlanta at 5:30 PM. Going east, we had a tailwind and the trip was about 8 hours arriving in London around 7 AM (2AM EDT). We got the Van over the full size sedan and began our drive to Kenilworth …… in the snow! It appeared that we arrived in England during the worst snow in 10 years. This was not good, since Kevin had made reservations to drive the single seaters at the famed Silverstone Racetrack just half the distance to Kenilworth. Driving on the left side of the road in the snow and dealing with the excess number of signs at the roundabouts was stressful. Even though Silverstone was not on the schedule till Friday, we decided to drop by and check their schedule. Prior to leaving Atlanta, they had told Kevin that they seldom canceled business because of weather. We arrived at the track in blowing snow and about 8 inches on the ground. As we expected, they had cancelled the schedule for Friday and were told that Saturday would be the next possible opportunity to drive on the track. As we would learn later, that part of trip would not happen. Check out the website for Silverstone Racetrack in the UK and see what we missed. (http://www.silverstoneracingclub.co.uk).

We arrived at Kenilworth in the snow and slush. We checked into our rooms, freshened up and met in the lobby to make our way to a pub for food and drink. Our walk to the “Virgins and Castles” pub took us through a large schoolyard filled with students on all kinds of sledding equipment. At the pub, we had a good meal and I had the first two of my 12 pints of English beer while in the UK. We walked back to the hotel through the little town and settled in for a welcome night’s rest.

We woke up on Friday to more snow, but decided to hit the road and visit our scheduled sites in nearby Coventry. The National Transportation Museum in Coventry didn’t open until 10:00AM, so we went by the Famous Coventry Cathedral to see the now ruins from World II. It’s amazing to see how the British have left some of the bombed structures in place for all to see. Check out the website at http://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/. The Transportation Museum includes items representing cars, bicycles, motorcycles and horses. Being a cyclist, this section was of great interest to me and until viewing this display, I thought I had seen every kind of bicycle. I will ask that Ashford to include photos of this and other places we visited. Here is the website for the museum: http://www.transport-museum.com/.

After the museum in Coventry, we made our way to the nearby Triumph Sports Six Club. Not to be confused with the Six Pack Club, this appeared to be a center for a distribution of third party parts for British cars. My favorite here was the display of the famous 1965 Macau Spitfire racer. I am including a picture here for viewing. The builder of this car was present and spent some time talking to us about the car. The rear deck reminds me of the Bugeye and the headrest was shaped from sheet metal and blended perfectly into the rear deck of the car. The stock windshield has been removed and a racing windscreen installed in its place. The bonnet is a GT6 look alike made from fiberglass and the engine is an 1196 hot-roded to 150 hp! The oil cooler installation was very technical and was the one I have been looking for to use in my Spitfire. See more on their site at http://www.tssc.org.uk/. Traveling and navigating around the roads on the left side of the road, tackling the roundabouts in the snow and jet lag wore us down quickly and we headed back to Kenilworth for food, drink and sleep.

Our first stop on Saturday was the well known, Canley Classics (www.canleyclassics.com/). I had seen their website and was surprised to see it’s location out in the country near Coventry. It started life officially in the mid 1980s in a 500 sq. ft unit on an industrial estate in Nuneaton on the outskirts of Coventry. Really only an extension of a lifetime's hobby (obsession) on the part of the proprietor David Pearson, Triumph was well and truly in the blood. In the early days it concentrated on restoration of a broad range of Triumph models. An early association with John Kipping led to the building and maintaining of the Kipping fleet of small chassis Triumphs including Herald Coupe, Herald Limo!!!, Herald Estate, Courier Vans, Saloons, GT6 and John's famous continent crushing Herald Rally Car. Unfortunately, the museum was closed for renovation, but we saw the original Macau Spitfire, a limo Herald and many parts, including quite a few manufactured from a lightweight aluminum alloy. It was unheated at Canley and the weather was continuing to be “dreadful”, so we went on to our next stop at the National Motorcycle Museum at Solihull, West Midlands. Truly a wonderful collection of motorcycles and more different brands and styles than you can imagine and all English !. There are nearly 700 bikes and they lost nearly 360 motorcycles three years ago in a fire in one of the wings. Thankfully many of the lost models were either restored or replacements were found within the market place. Luckily the collection was insured as some of these bikes are worth over $250,000. Each bike that comes to the museum is disassembled, restored and reassembled to look like new. The ingenuity and imagination of the British was remarkable even a hundred years ago. The collection included a 1955 650cc Triumph Streamliner, which Johnny Allen of Texas recorded a speed of 214 mph. Check the website for this wonderful collection. The site allows you to look at each cycle on display. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk. On our way back to the hotel, we made a pass by an aircraft museum and I elected to walk through the grounds in blowing snow.

As I said before, the driving at the Silverstone Racetrack was to be one of the highlights of the trip. Another venture was to be Kart racing at the Teamwork’s indoor Kart track in Birmingham. Kevin had pre-registered the 3 of us for the Gran Prix racing event. We arrived early to check the place out and then went to a pub next door for a quick sandwich and, of course, a beer. To our surprise, the karts were electrically powered. We were told in the pre-briefing that the karts had twice the hp of comparable karts and five times the torque. We would first experience this high torque on our practice laps around the road course inside this “meat locker” of a building. Yeah, it was freezing outside and no heat inside, so you imagine what it was like inside. Once in our driving suits and in the karts, the cold seemed to be unnoticed. We had 13 drivers in our group and the schedule included 5 heats with 6 and 7 drivers in each heat. At the end, the top 8 of all heats run a race for the top 3 spots. The entire event was computer controlled including the start through the finish and the results were displayed on monitors at the staging area almost immediately after each heat. We made the top 8 and Kevin made the podium in 3^rd place, Russell was 4^th and I was 6^th. The other 10 in our group were part of a bachelor’s party there in Birmingham. I think we all had good time.

The International Triumph Vendor Show didn’t start until 10:00AM on Sunday, so we got to sleep an hour or so more than previous mornings. Sunday was a beautiful blue-sky day, so we got to see some of the English countryside. Mike Hurst had purchased some Vendor passes to the show, so we were able to enter the event early while the vendors were setting up. It seemed like every Triumph part was in existence at this show. Too bad the currency exchange is so steep; else we could have picked up some reasonable deals. I was able to spend time with experts in areas of SUs, trannys, roller rockers, oil cooler installations, various rim installations, shop tools and other sundry items. There were some interesting cars at the Triumph show including a beautiful TR3 with colors very much like Chris Gore’s purple MG. There was the original prototype four door Herald sedan on display as well as several fuel injected TR6s and a few nice looking Stags. There was a rare TR5 with an asking price of 24K GBP’s….. that’s $48K! My favorite was an original Dolomite; a big two-seater convertible. We walked the floors for 4-5 hours before leaving and going on to the British Heritage Museum, which would be our last event for the trip.

The British Heritage Museum (http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/) is not normally open on Sunday, but part of it was on this day to allow the multi-day classic rally cars to get their tech inspections before the Monday morning start. These are very serious rally drivers/navigators. For better visual, the front of the cars have at least six more lights of some type and the cars are required to have a roll bar. The dash is covered with various computers and timers. All types of cars are entered and we saw one TR3. The 2 floors open on this day had some cars to view and these included a beautiful 2001 Jaguar open wheel Formula One racing car. There were several beautiful MG cars that were intended for future production, but never made it. I am sending photos to Ashford for viewing on the GTA website. Take a minute to see these cars. On our way into Kenilworth, with all the snow now melted away, we got to see the famous Kenilworth Castle built in the 13^th century and claiming King John as one of it’s residents. They were closing, so we were only able to see this magnificent structure from the outside.

Our flight back home was scheduled for a 1PM departure on Monday. The traffic back to London would be heavy, so we left at 7:30AM and made it in plenty of time. However, with so few opportunities to get gas along the way, we spent the last hour of the trip with the low fuel light on and the gauge was below zero when we got there. 521 miles on a mini-van VW! We made our flight and 9 ½ hours later we landed in Atlanta and as much as I love flying, boring has new meaning. Four days in England between two days traveling; now I know why this trip is done only every other year.

It was 7:30 AM and the skies over Newnan were heavy with clouds, but that didn’t stop the faithful from assembling for the start of the Seventh Annual Georgia Polar Bear Run. The weather reports called for only a slight chance of rain, but the sight of those clouds kept many from joining the fun.

Only 55 cars started this year’s winter tour, but by lunchtime, that number doubled. Several clubs from the Birmingham area joined the tour in Talladega, where the tour group was to stop for lunch. The western group met at a community college parking lot to watch the Georgia cars drive by, but the group from the east all pulled into the parking lot for an impromptu classic sports car show in a town known as a Mecca for stock cars.

The tour continued through the twisty, scenic roads in the hills of Alabama, and ended at the Barber Motorsports Museum, where still more cars awaited our arrival. In all, an estimated 130 cars participated in the day’s activities.

The best part was that after only a slight sprinkle following the start of the drive in Newnan, there was no rain for the rest of the day, although, we understood that the Atlanta area received quite a bit of wetness.

The Barber Museum is a wonderful place to visit. There are hundreds of vintage motorcycles on display, as well as several dozen classic sports and racing cars. If you missed the PBR and are ever in the Birmingham area, you would do well to spend an afternoon browsing the displays.

After the museum visit, a few GTA members spent the night in nearby Oxford, Alabama. The evening was spent occupying half of a Mexican cantina, where we feasted on fajitas and margaritas until the wee hours. Ole!

In the morning, most of the group took the Interstate back home, but a few brave souls found some lovely back roads to explore, and had lunch at the highest point in our neighbor state at Cheaha State Park. This will definitely be GTA weekend destination in the future!

Special thanks to the folks at the Barber Museum, the Birmingham British Motoring Club, the Newnan Police Department, and Allen Knight of the Mini club. And thanks to all GTA members who helped out and participated in another great event.

Polar Bear Run VIII will be scheduled for December 29, 2007 – your suggestions for a destination are always welcome. Happy New Year!

The GTA Fall Rallye was held on a rainy November 11^th. Eleven GTA entries braved the elements – especially fog – to complete the route and find most of the answers to the questions that were asked. When all was said and done, the Team Forster (TR3) edged out Team Turner (TR6) to claim the title. The score was so close that one answer’s spelling decided the First Place trophy. Thanks to Rallymaster Alan White and the Georgia Sports Car Club for hosting this event.

The route for this year’s Polar Bear Run is set. The drivers’ meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 AM on December 30. Be sure to come a little early to kick some tires and meet the crowd.

We’re doing something a little different this year for lunch. Since there isn’t any place to eat close to the museum, and we’re passing through downtown Talladega about lunch time, you will be provided with a list of all of the eateries along the route, and you can stop as you wish to grab a bite to eat. There are a few good BBQ shacks in Talladega , as well as an assortment of the usual fast food places. We expect to have a large contingent from Birmingham join us in Talladega for the last leg of the drive. I’m expecting about 150 cars by the time we reach our destination.

There have been a lot of questions regarding overnight arrangements after the Polar Bear Run. I tried to locate a suitable location in the Birmingham area to accommodate a large group, but that location does not seem to exist.

So rather than organize a large group gathering, I can offer places that you could spend the night comfortably if you don’t wish to return to Atlanta until Sunday morning. The best areas are at I-20 exits 185 and 188 near Oxford and Anniston, Alabama.

Exit 188 has a very new complex of motels, restaurants, and shops. Lodging includes the Jameson Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Wingate Inn, and several others. Restaurants are mostly within walking distance of the motels.

Among the motels at exit 185 is an Econo-Lodge in the older roadside motel style. It’s clean and inexpensive, and has 3 restaurants within walking distance. Joan and I will probably be staying there (256-831-9480), and will run the back roads to the Atlanta on Sunday morning. Feel free to join us.

FYI, the museum is about 130 miles on I-20 from the west Perimeter. You should have time to get pretty close by the time darkness sets in if you’re coming straight home

We’re also planning to spend Friday night in Newnan to get a fresh start on Saturday. Among the motels at I-85 exit 47, we’ll be staying at the LaQuinta, which is very close to the starting point. There’s also a Best Western, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Motel 6 in the same general area.

This year’s Polar Bear Run will be dedicated to the memory of our good friend Bob Kassow. Bob planned many driving events for the GTA, including the route for Polar Bear IV, which took us from Roswell to Dahlonega to the Dick Barbour racing garage at Road Atlanta. He will surely be missed.

Euro Auto Festival - 2006

The GTA was represented at the 11^th annual event held at the BMW Zentrum Factory/Test Grounds by Ray, Barbara & Jennifer Sinclair and Jennifer’s friend Matt, Alan Salvatore & friend, Francine and Bill Castleberry , entering a Herald, TR-7, TR-6 & TR-6, respectively. Al’s TR-6 won 2^nd place in the concourse for late model TR-6’s.

The show featured about 500 cars total with 77 Triumphs entered. The BMW grounds are excellent for displaying the cars and the test track facilities provide wonderful opportunities to drive their cars and our vintage cars. The museum was open and very educational re their progression of sports cars; the factory was closed to touring due to a model change.

Auto cross using the Z-4’s was a blast on Saturday, costing $20 for three runs; passengers rode free of charge. We could run with our vintage cars on Sunday. Also on Saturday, there were five driving events at their test track facility, costing $25 each or $100 for all five events. Coaches were available to assist drivers improve their skills in several of these events.

The Sunday Rallye covered 90 miles of the NC/SC country side which was bathed in Fall colors. The route took about 2-1/2 hours to navigate.

The Mariott in Spartanburg is an excellent hotel which did a great job with the Saturday banquet.

Bottom line, I personally enjoyed this event more than the BCD at Berry College due to the opportunity for driving events and the broad range of autos to inspect. We should plan on attending this event as a club in 2007!

Bill Castleberry

Things were a little quiet on the Activities front in October. Triumph was the featured marque at this year’s Euro Festival at the BMW, but we have not received any official reports as of the time of this report.

The GTA Fall Rallye will be held on November 11, starting at the Premium Outlet Mall on GA 400 in Dawsonville. The drivers’ meeting will begin shortly after 9:00 AM , so be a little early to discuss strategies for the competition. The Rallye is free of charge to any club member who brings an LBC, but there will be a $15 fee to the Georgia Sports Car Club for any late-model cars competing.

We are looking for a volunteer or two to help work during the Rallye. If you don’t want to compete, but would like to be involved, please inform your Activities Director. This may involve recording departure times of the cars, monitoring a checkpoint, and/or tallying the results. The rally-master will be glad for the help.

The GTA Christmas Party will take place over the first weekend of December. Be sure to make your reservations ASAP. As always, this will be a memorable event.

Polar Bear Run VII is shaping up nicely. The Birmingham British Car Club has expressed an interest in meeting us for the drive. If all of the Alabama clubs join in, this could be a record turnout for the winter tour.

Words cannot describe the experience of Russ & Pat Turner’s Pig Roast & GTA Summer Picnic on August 26. Just picture 50 GTA members sitting around the smoker, all fat and happy from the fabulous BBQ meat crafted by the club’s own grillmaster. If you didn’t make it to the party, don’t worry… somebody ate your share for you! Thanks to Russ & Pat for another wonderful afternoon.

We promised a driving event for September, but I’m afraid that we’ll have to cancel that one. Unforeseen circumstances kept us from planning a proper drive. I’ll do my best to make it up to you later.

The big news for this month is that we have a destination for this year’s Polar Bear Run. On December 30, we’ll be taking the group to Leeds , Alabama , to visit the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum (www.barbermuseum.org). The starting point will be in the southwest Atlanta metro area – the exact point will be determined shortly. Please keep an eye on the GTA web site for the latest updates. We’ll be inviting the Alabama clubs to join us on this one, so there should be a great turnout.

I’ve had a lot of requests to repeat last year’s Polar Bear overnight stay. Unfortunately, I’m having a terrible time locating a suitable place to host the group for the evening. If anyone has any ideas of any place to the north, south, or east of Birmingham that has over 50 available rooms (no minimum length of stay) with secure parking, dining, and lounge facilities either on site or nearby, please contact your Activities Director so that we can make arrangements.

Several members of the GTA have begun some very casual tech sessions to fix minor things and of course to share a little camaraderie. Mr. Joe Earnest shows the proper technique to accomplish said tasks.

The GTA & Friends enjoyed the July driving tour to the Talladega National Forest on July 15. The weather was pleasant up to our arrival at the picnic area, but a brief shower after lunch provided a little steam to warm things up in the afternoon. Thanks to Richard Waldrop and our friend Allen Knight from the Mini club for their efforts in planning an enjoyable day.

A few reports have trickled in from the VTR National Convention in Dallas. Heat was not mentioned, only the good times. Hopefully, we’ll have some reports soon.

The GTA Summer Picnic is on schedule for August 26. Be sure to be there, and please make sure that you call Russ & Pat to let them know you’ll be there. See details elsewhere in the newsletter.

The Roadster Factory’s Summer Picnic is coming up in August. Several GTA members are planning to travel to Pennsylvania for the event. If you’d like to go up and would like company on the road, post a message on the GaTriumph bulletin board to see who else is heading that way.

We were hoping to schedule a full day driving tour in September, but didn’t get plans finalized in time for this publication. The date would be later in the month – stay tuned for details as they become available.

In case you missed the articles on our recent trip to Hendersonville, NC, the GTA had a superb weekend. Thanks to all who helped with the planning and execution of our large meals. For those who weren’t along, we decided to cater dinner on both nights, rather than try to take a group of 30 people out to dinner. We bought all of the food at the local wholesale clubs and split the costs among the participants. For $20, each person had burgers and bratwursts with all of the fixin’s on Friday evening, and a multi-course Filet Mignon meal on Saturday. We invited the local British car club to join us for Saturday’s festivities, and we had a total crowd of over 50 people.

I had the opportunity to preview the July driving tour to the Talladega National Forest. Richard Waldrop and our friend Allen Knight from the Mini club have worked out a really nice route to take us from Fayetteville to the mountains of eastern Alabama. This will be a picnic basket run, so be sure to pack a lunch. Look for the full-page ad in this newsletter. We’re hoping to avoid the majority of the heat by leaving Fayetteville a little early – it should be much cooler once we get into the mountains. Then we’ll end the drive at a Sonic for ice cream, as a treat for the survivors! Don’t miss this one.

The VTR National Convention is going to be in Dallas in July. There hasn’t been a lot of talk in the GTA from people planning to attend, but if you’d like to go, information can be found on the VTR web site (www.vtr.org). You can also contact our VTR Liaison, Ronnie Babbitt for more details.

Russ Turner has reserved the mobile smokehouse for a GTA Summer Picnic on August 26. At this time, we are planning to have the event at his home, but there may be some last minute changes. For now, set aside that date and watch next month’s newsletter for any changes and directions to the party. As before, the GTA will provide the BBQ and soft drinks, and everyone will be asked to provide a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.

The Roadster Factory’s Summer Picnic is coming up in August. Several GTA members are planning to travel to Pennsylvania for the festivities. If you’d like to go up and would like company on the road, post a message on the GaTriumph bulletin board to see who else is heading that way.

The Norcross British Car Fayre has been set for September 16 in the historic district. This is adjacent to the location of our monthly business meeting. This year there will be a Grand Prize giveaway of 2 British Airways tickets to London. Registration for the show is $20 per car, day of show.

We’re hoping to schedule a full day driving tour in September. There should be info available in time for the next newsletter.

The Euro Festival at the BMW factory in Greer, SC, is featuring the Triumph marque this year. We expect to do our part to support the event.

The Autumn in the Mountains British car show, which the GTA has visited many times in Flat Rock, NC, is being held at Chimney Rock Park this year. For details on this show, visit the BCCWNC web site: http://www.autumninthemountains.org/.

Seventeen Triumphs loaded with friends traveled to Hendersonville , North Carolina , for the largest weekend gathering that the GTA has ever had, apart from the VTR regional events. Our new friend, Bob Branson provided us with his story – I’d like to fill in the rest of the story…

First of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to address any of you who have cars being restored and have not decided on a color yet. May I suggest the other color: NOT-RED.

Twelve of the 17 cars on our journey were the same color, which made keeping track of everyone quite a chore. “The red TR6… no, the other red TR6… no, not that other red TR6, the one behind the red TR3…” It was all very confusing.

Cars arrived a few at a time at the starting point in Franklin . The location worked out well, as small groups could travel quickly from home, and the waitress at the restaurant didn’t have two dozen diners arriving at the same time. We had a very nice lunch and were all ready to go at our scheduled time of High Noon.

We began on Hwy 28 in downtown Franklin and drove north to Bryson City . This is a gem of a road, and leads ultimately to the famous Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap if you forget to turn at Bryson City . We resisted that temptation and rode on to our rest stop near Cherokee.

As we arrived at the Smokey Mountains visitor center, we were greeted by GTA member Al Salvatore in his red (naturally) TR6. Al joined the group and we headed up to the highest point on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few photos and a glimpse of the superb view.

Just before our arrival in Hendersonville , we made another rest stop at the Pisgah National Forest , where we met a park ranger with a GT6! Anyone care to guess what color it was?

At the Cedarwood Motel, we feasted by the pool on brats and burgers. A few of the locals stopped by to see what we were up to, and we had a great evening. On Saturday morning, a group of cars from the British Car Club of Western North Carolina (BCCWNC) joined us for a drive of about 100 miles.

Shortly after the start of the drive, we came upon a tasty little stretch of road with a sign: Dangerous Road – Sharp Turns – 15% Grade. About 1.5 miles and 12 switchbacks later, we had a little problem. The gas pedal on my TR3 fell to the floor. The linkage from the pedal broke. I made a call to Dave at TRF to see if he could recommend a quick fix, but he said that he’d never seen this particular part break, and new ones are not available. The Devil is usually portrayed as being red – and he is vengeful. We tied a string to the front carburetor linkage and made a hand throttle so that we could get the car back up the 12 switchbacks (maybe it was 13???) and back to the motel for repairs. That was exciting. A tiny weld, courtesy of a BMW mechanic, and we were set.

After the rest of the group returned from their tour, we had a Happy Hour consisting of snacks, beverages, and the pool. We had invited friends from the BCCWNC to join us for dinner, and nearly 20 of them arrived to share the meal with us. Russ Turner prepared 30 pounds of filet mignon on the motel’s charcoal grill, and the Ladies Auxiliary, led by Joan, did all the rest. Mario Seguin brought a case of French (red) wine to share, and the meal was complete. We stayed out under the stars until the wee hours chatting with our new friends.

On Sunday morning, after our breakfast in the Gazebo, we snapped our group photo and headed for home. It was another great drive, with a fine lunch in Highlands, NC, and an ice cream stop when we arrived in Clayton , GA. All of us were home before 6 PM.

I’d like to thank my wife, Joan, and the all who helped to feed the masses (dinner for 50 on Saturday night) over the weekend. Thanks to Russ Turner for his efforts at the grill, and to Neal Weinmann and Carol Carter of the BCCWNC for their help in coordinating the drive and guest list for our stay.

Be sure to see the photos posted on the GTA web site, and be extra sure make your reservations early for our next weekend in the mountains!

Fourteen cars met at the freshly-out-of-business His & Hers buffet in Acworth for a bit of a late start. Construction on I-75 put about half of the participants a few minutes behind schedule, but everyone arrived in good spirits, and we eventually got the show on the road.

We had a perfect day for driving, and we did lots of it. We even managed to get a police escort through the little town of Euharlee . We felt that our leader, Bob Kassow, had something to do with it – his reputation precedes him wherever he goes!

It was just past noon when we arrived Cloudland Canyon State Park , near the northwest corner of Georgia . A pavilion was reserved for us, and the group laid out a picnic spread that was quite a sight (tasty, too!). And no matter which season that we visit, the view of the canyon is spectacular.

After lunch, we continued the drive, and ended up in Rome later in the afternoon. Thanks to all who participated.

Bob & Jane Kassow, MGB
Kevin Bowen, Sports 6
Bill Castleberry, TR6
George & Joan Forster, TR3
Mark Pruitt & Zack, TR6
Vic Richardson, Spitfire
Jennifer Sinclair, TR7
Ray & Barbara Sinclair, Herald
Rusty & Nancy Smith, TR3
Shawn Tarleton & Astrid, TR6
Ben & Betty Turner, TR6
Russ & Pat Turner, TR6
Steve Cripps, Mini
Eric & Ann Hoffman, Volvo P1800

The month began with the 21^st running of the Chris Gore Mountain Tour. As always, it was a wonderful day in the mountains near Dahlonega. Many thanks, once again, to Chris and Poolie for hosting such a wonderful event.

The Walter Mitty historic races will be at Road Atlanta during the weekend of April 28-30. Look for the British car parking just after you cross the bridge into the infield. Mike Munson will be representing the GTA on the field of honor. Come out to cheer him on and buy a GTA RACING T-shirt to support the cause!

A full day to Cloudland Canyon is being planned for May 20. See details elsewhere in the newsletter for details. The drivers’ meeting will be held at 0900 hours at the His & Hers Country Buffet in Acworth. Bring your best picnic basket and prepare for a wonderful day in the country.

The Cedarwood Inn is filling up quickly for the weekend of our Hendersonville tour. If anyone wants to drive up or back without spending the weekend, contact your Activities Director for information. Either drive will be worth attending if you can’t do it all. We are planning for some touring on Saturday with the Western NC club. It should be a great weekend.

Richard Waldrop has been working with our friends in the Mini club for a tour in July. The tentative date is the 15^th. An evening of barbecue will follow the drive. The proposed route will take us from the Fayetteville area to the mountains of eastern Alabama . It’s sure to be a lot of fun.

No final date on the Summer Picnic yet, but we’re expecting an August date. Please stand by.

The March 18 tour to Madison was a great day for all. Sixteen GTA cars showed up, and another 18 non-club participant cars joined us. We had a wonderful day and made a few new friends. After the event, we had one new member join the club, and another is considering membership.

The Chris Gore Mountain Tour will be taking place either just before or just after you receive this newsletter. Look for a report next month.

The Walter Mitty historic races will be at Road Atlanta during the weekend of April 28-30. The British cars will have a reserved parking area in the infield. This will be on the left just after you cross the bridge. There are apparently no separate areas for the individual clubs, but there should be plenty of room for all who wish to visit the Car Corral area.

A full day driving event is being planned for May 20. The starting time and place will be published on the GTA web site shortly, and full details will be included next month.

There will be a spring weekend tour to Hendersonville , NC in June. Look for details elsewhere in this newsletter. We will meet with members of the British Car Club of Western NC for a day of driving and an evening of LBC fellowship. We’ve been to Hendersonville as a group many times, and it has always been good. One caution is that you must reserve early if you want a room with the group. The “base camp” has only 18 rooms, and there is a good chance that all will be reserved well before our arrival.

A summer driving event is being planned by our friends in the Mini club. A date has not been set, but it may be in July. An evening of barbecue will follow the drive. The proposed route will take us from the Fayetteville area to the mountains of eastern Alabama . It’s sure to be a lot of fun.

We’re also looking at several dates for this year’s GTA Family Picnic. This will be in July or August. Stay tuned for more details.

The Norcross British Car Fayre has been scheduled for September 16. The event took a year off in 2005, but the folks of Norcross are eager to have us back for 2006.

The Chili Cook-off on February 18 went very nicely. The crowd was the biggest ever for this event. All in attendance ate well – probably more than any of us should have! Thanks to Pat and Russ for hosting the party.

The March 18 tour to Madison is all set. All we need is a crowd of cars to make the trip. Be sure to bring the kids along for this one – the Microcar Museum includes a collection of 50’s kiddie rides, which are all restored and free to ride. See details elsewhere in this newsletter for meeting time and place.

Be sure to pack a picnic lunch for Mountain Tour on April 1 in Dahlonega. This is always one of the most fun events of the year, and it’s a good chance to meet our British cousins from the other clubs. If you haven’t been to this one before, each car is given a detailed set of directions and a map for the 70-80 mile loop. There are several rest stops along the way, and each car can travel at its own comfortable pace. It is always one of the nicest events of the year. You won’t want to miss it!

The Walter Mitty historic races will be at Road Atlanta during the weekend of April 28-30. Large numbers of GTA members are expected to be there. Last year, discount tickets were offered through Classic Motorsports Magazine. Registration information is not posted at the time of this newsletter’s deadline, but keep an eye on the Classic Motorsports web site for updates and ticket information: http://www.classicmotorsports.net/mitty.php.

A full day driving event is being planned for May 20. Details will be announced soon.

Plans are being made for a weekend adventure to western North Carolina , which we’re hoping to schedule for mid-June. We will meet with members of the British Car Club of Western NC for a day of driving and an evening of LBC fellowship. Details will be available in time for the next newsletter.

To begin, I’d like to thank all of you who helped with all of the things that we were able to do over in 2005. It was a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to another good year on the road.

This month, Pat Turner is hosting her annual Chili Cook-off. This is always a fun time, and a good crowd. Directions and information are published on another page.

On March 18, we’re going to do a short driving tour to Madison for lunch and a visit to the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum . Bruce enlarged and remodeled the Museum in 2005, and he has invited us to come for a visit. Expect to see his 1976 TR6, and a few other goodies. The group will meet in Stone Mountain for the drive – about 70 miles of back roads to Madison . See details elsewhere in this newsletter.

Chris Gore has announced April 1 as the date for his annual Mountain Tour. For the newer members, Chris hosts about 50 cars on the front lawn of his home in Dahlonega for a picnic lunch every spring.