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NEC Classic Car Show

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 08:14
by John Clancy
I have actually advised previously that we hoped to be welcoming Gordon Birtwistle, the ex-Triumph high speed test engineer, onto the TRDC stand at the NEC but just in case anyone missed it thought I should do a new thread.

Gordon will be with us on the Friday so anyone planning on making the trip Friday is the day to meet one of the engineers responsible for bringing your car to market. I've suggested that his presence on the club stand at 2pm would be a good idea to give anyone who would like to meet him the opportunity to do so.

Gordon worked on everything from 1959 to 1980 and he has some fabulous stories to tell. He was tempted by a TR7 on eBay recently but resisted as he already has a concours Triumph 2.5PI in his garage. You can probably tell, Gordon is a very enthusiastic ex-member of the Triumph team. And if you're interested in Triumph's days at events like Le Mans then Gordon is the chap to speak to as he was there every time I believe.


<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/sales/codenamebullet.asp"]Buy the story of the Triumph TR7/8 on DVD here[/url]</b></center>

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 16:27
by omichaelshar
Hi John,

Any chance of capturing some video of Gordon's stories for posterity?

Some short interviews about things such as Triumph's Le Mans campaignes; the wedge works rally campaigne; design and testing of the wedge; other characters involved in the wedge (designers, engineers, and competition drivers) would be great for posterity.

Owen

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 18:10
by Ianftr8
Wow John thats some catch,

Such a shame I cant be there on Friday, its one of those odd occasions that I just have to be in work.
But I look foward to meeting friends on Sunday are we going to have a meet up time?

Cheers
Ian


Ian Freeman
1979 TR8 DHC California car that never crossed the pond, started life as KDU 315V.
1962 Triumph Courier

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 18:21
by john 215
Hi,
Cant do Friday either [:(]. Ian i think someone mentioned noon at the TRDC stand [?] see you there!
Cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)
Image
1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

Posted: 11 Nov 2008 19:05
by tr7inc
Hi John that is excellent news, great meting you last year at the show, cant make friday, through work commitments, but will be there sunday so hope to catch up with you then, like Owen asked any chance for those like myself and others who cant make Friday to capture the moment on camera for us to view??

Anyway to hope to see you and others on Sunday.

Image

Steve

Posted: 12 Nov 2008 08:17
by John Clancy
Afraid I can only be there on Friday this year as I can't afford such things as hotel accommodation at the moment.

Gordon has already been captured for posterity chaps - he's on the Stag disc and although I mainly included his input on the Stag for that one I did sneak in his TR5 crash at Mira which is somewhat legendary amongst the former Standard Triumph engineers. I do have him on camera talking about testing the US spec. TR8 at the Volkswagen test track in Germany but that will have to wait for a possible future release. He was heavily involved with the Spitfire Le Mans campaign and also the TRS cars before that. He purchased one of the Works TR4 rally cars (4VC I think) from the factory when they sold them off and was offered a Sabrina engine to go with it but sadly didn't have the room at the time. Some wonderful stories and they just go on and on.

<center><b>[url="http://www.triumphtr7.com/documents/sales/codenamebullet.asp"]Buy the story of the Triumph TR7/8 on DVD here[/url]</b></center>