The largest gathering of works Triumphs in one place ever?

I'm not sure even the Triumph competition department had this many cars in one place at one time? I have certainly never seen this many at any show (including the Abingdon celebration at Silverstone a few years back), race track, museum, or any other venue come to that. It's certainly making our insurers a bit jumpy. Chances are it's never going to happen again either, I certainly wouldn't like to try and organise it. Some of the cars here may never be seen in public again for all I know. In the next week or so the bulk of the cars will disperse ready for the new season (some of them still get used in anger) and my worries will be over (nice worries all the same). Mean while if the last car in the jigsaw turns up as promised in the next few days there will be ten works built competition Triumphs on the premises, eleven if you count our Vitesse 6003VC (OK I know it's the John Wooley version), or twelve if you count a car built by 'works' mechanics, from 'works' parts (in Coventry, but not at the 'works'). I'm sure some anorak may come along and point out that there were thirteen competition Triumph's at such, and such an event in the 60's, but I doubt it.

Courier stuff

Apologies for the rubbish photo. We are getting close to paint on one of our Couriers, and I thought I would take a snap of it in primer, and guide coat. This car like many Couriers was originally painted in economy spec grey. As much as it bugs me to paint one of our cars a none original colour I just couldn't face seeing yet another Slate Grey example, so this one is turning Wedgewood. This actual car was one of JK's (John Kippings) very first 'company car' Heralds, and as such had already had a very hard life in the hands of the workforce before I came on the scene. Relegated to one of the storage sheds here many years ago it was replaced by a succession of other Couriers that one day might find their way into the restoration queue. Whilst I am on the subject has anyone out there got a spare Courier grille? Four Couriers about the place and every grille has 'walked', If I cant track one down then I'll stick a 12/50 one on temporarily.

Arc eye!

I thought I had become immune to this phenomenon, but a mild dose of it earlier this week brought home how irritating it can be. A spell of concentrated welding on a couple of reconditioned Herald/Vitesse chassis for customers was the cause. We had wheeled out the chassis jig from the back of the workshop last week in preparation and gave the old girl a dusting. That piece of kit has done more jigging than Michael Flattery! Back in the day when the restoration trade was still flourishing it was being used on average 2 to 3 times a month. On a busy month I might do 4 chassis for JK (this was the early 90's) . Now we sell that many in a year! In retrospect it's probably a good thing as we couldn't sustain that throughput by finding suitable core chassis. A couple of containers full of units from New Zealand helped back then, plus JK was still breaking the odd Herald or Vitesse for spares. Having said that I'm still not sure how we managed to find enough as I am sure I have done over 100 chassis in my time. I used to keep records of each one, and numbered every one by welding that number on the front face of the chassis leg that runs under the engine sump. That stopped when I lost the book containing the records.
It's funny how the trade is changing, and what isn't selling now that used to do 15-20 years ago, still I'm not sure I miss all that welding, I know my eyes might last a little longer as a result.

Stoneleigh postscript

What a great show! Weather certainly helped, what a cracking weekend. Nearly talked myself horse to mates from both sides of the trading fence so to speak. Lots of familiar faces, and some new. It's always nice to put a name to a face after only previously talking to people via telephone/e-mail.
It was great to be finally relieved of the need to actually trade at Stoneleigh and spend more time on the other side of the counter. Over 20 years doing the rounds of the shows as a trader was starting to take it's toll, it's time now to ferkle amongst the other traders stuff.
Spent an enjoyable hour or so on the CT stand chatting to fellow enthusiasts, and mates from previous CT endurance driving events.
Got button holed by Bernie from the TSSC, we promised to get together soon and talk 'works' Spitfires and other things Triumph.
Hero of the show as always was Chic Doig (and Ian, and the other helpers) fancy coming all that way year, after year for a one day show what a star!
I went along armed with a bundle of cash hoping to find some tasty bits for several of my own projects, but in the end I only came away with 16 wheel nuts, a roll of cleaning cloth, and a Continental Touring Kit (cheers Doug). In that respect I found the show a little disappointing, it seems to be the same old stuff year after year in the autojumble, and the rest of it in the main hall is shiny stuff you can get easily (and some times far cheaper!) on the tinternet.
In conclusion as a social event I think Stoneleigh is one of the best, and if it needs traders there as a focal point to draw in the punters then fair enough, but I know which side of the table I shall be from now on.