Standard & Triumph Rally

Latest News:

The dates for the 2010 Rally will be 4th 5th & 6th June

TSSC-Northants annual weekend took a new direction in 2009. With a new venue and a rally that was open to all Standard Triumph cars. The vision for the weekend was conceived on a summers afternoon a year before the event by Jonathan Ingram, John Fairey and myself Adam Easton. We stood in the arena field of Wicksteed Park and visualised it full of Triumphs. It filled us with excitement, anticipation and nerves, we booked the arena field and the Standard & Triumph Rally was on.

Northants area has always been a group that encourages the whole family to get involved. So it was important that there was plenty for everybody to do and enjoy. Our plans where finalised and advanced bookings came flooding in so it was clear that we would have a busy weekend. Before long the big day had arrived.

Jonathan and I arrived the day before the event was due to start to find some of our guests Mr & Mrs Dawson already there. They had pitched up and were enjoying the sun and the view over the lake. The weather forecast looked fine for the weekend so we settled in to enjoy the event. By Friday afternoon the campsite was alive with people setting up their tents and caravans. There was an air of excitement, for some it was their first camping experience so we were determined to show that the TSSC can have some fun.

Saturday morning we awoke to brilliant sunshine. The air was warm and still. A hot air Balloon drifted overhead and landed in the events field next to our camp. After breakfast we assembled for the convoy and set out to our first stop, Jigsaw Triumph Specialists new workshop. It was the first time that many of us had visited their new premises. It was good to see a thriving workshop that is entirely dedicated to the service and restoration of Triumph cars. The convoy continued onto the next destination, Foxton Locks where we had the opportunity to find out about the fascinating history at the museum, some took a boat trip on the canal and some enjoyed a pint, at the Foxton Locks Inn. The afternoon was spent watching colourful narrow boats ascending the 'staircase' of ten locks, as their crews turned the paddles and heaved gates open to move their boats up and down the hill. That evening it was our big feast BBQ, a time for us all to gather round and enjoy some food, fun and games. Jonathan’s theme of the naked chef lead to some blushing cheeks!

Sunday was our Rally day. Mark and Jo Field from Jigsaw arrived with ADU 7B, the only surviving ex Triumph Works Rally Spitfire, the most successful of the four original works cars built by the Triumph works to compete in the 1964 & 1965 continental rallies. ADU 7B is back in the UK for the first time since the 1960's, and is in the ownership of Mark Field. The car was re-launched at the Triumph Sports Six Club International Weekend at Stafford, August 2008. TSSC Northants are very proud to have this wonderful car to launch our very first Rally. 79 Standard & Triumph cars arrived to join us. I took a couple of moments form serving in the club shop gazebo to see our vision become reality. The cars sparkled in the sunlight, people chatted about their cars and families sat together having a picnic. The day came to an end and we were left with one final job the presentation of the People Choice Trophies. The distance award was won by Paul & Vie Mason with a journey of 135 miles. Butch Bagnells big day saw him win his first award. The dirtiest wheels competition. The day spent pointing out his grubby wheels was not wasted! The car of show runner up was awarded to Roger Buck for his lovely TR4 and the car of show was a stunning TR6 belonging to Neil from Leicester and Rutland TSSC and finally the Smart family won the weekends Quiz.

On behalf of us all at TSSC Northants I would like to thank everybody who came along to our very first Standard & Triumph Rally and made it a very special weekend. Also our sincere thanks to Mark and Jo Field of Jigsaw for their support.

We are very pleased that 79 Standard & Triumph cars joined us on the Sunday consisting of 13 Stags, 15 Spitfires, 8 Vitesses, 9 Heralds, 5 Dolomite's & Toledo's, 4 2000/2500, 16 TRs,7 GT6 and a Standard Vanguard.

Event presented by TSSC-Northants 

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