Standard Triumph dominates the NEC Classic Motorshow 2016

The TR Register once again enjoyed a hugely successful season finale at the annual NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham. Held over the weekend of 11th - 13th November the show's organisers Clarion Events reported record breaking numbers through the doors with over 71,000 classic car fans in attendance to marvel at 2,500 cars on displays put on by 256 car clubs.

Manufacturers were also prominent with Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall all putting on impressive heritage displays. Silverstone Auctions also broke records for the event with their biggest auction ever totalling £5.76 million. The total was helped along by a world record breaking £174,375 being paid for the TV restored Aston Martin DBS which featured in the series "For the Love of Cars".

The event also hosted the annual Classic and Sportscar Club Awards in which TR Action Magazine was singled out as highly commended for the third year running.

The date for next year's show has been confirmed as 10th - 12th November 2017

A Royal Visit

On Saturday morning of the NEC Classic Motorshow, the TR Register were joined by motorsport royalty with a visit from Sir Stirling Moss. Accompanied by TR Register Press Officer, Wayne Scott and the team from Peter James Insurance Sir Stirling Moss was given a detailed tour of the Standard Triumph Forum stand. Sir Stirling then moved on to appreciate the beautiful collection of Triumph Italias and confessed that although he was sure he had not seen one before, he thought they were particulary handsome looking machines.

Sir Stiling Moss then concluded his visit by looking over the Sebring TR4A on the TR Register stand and inspecting the recently completed restoration of the Jabbeke land speed record breaking TR2. The TR2 was responsible for breaking the record previoulsy set by Sir Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damm in the Sunbeam. Wayne Scott from the TR Register and Sir Stirling Moss then recorded a TV interview where amongst other memories, Sir Stirling shared his recollections of the land speed record arms race of the mid - 1950s.

Sporting Standard Triumphs

This year the Standard Triumph Marque dominated its dedicated area of Hall 3 with the Standard Triumph Forum display covering all models from a 1933 Triumph Gloria Rally Monte Carlo to the Per Eklund Triumph TR8 rally car. The competition theme continued with the World Cup Rally Mk2 2.5PI Saloon, Standard Vanguard, Dolomite track car and a Standard 10 racer.

On the early TR front there was the Ken Richardson period rally recce TR3A owned by Iain Paul and the 1959 Le Mans TR3S tribute neatly mounted on the back of a Standard Transporter.

Swallow Doretti's were represented with three cars with the fast road model owned by Alan Gibb taking central position.

TR Register display

On the TR Register stand the gorgeous deep red concours TR2 of Paul Harris from Classic Tyres in Sutton Coldfield sat well alongside the TR6 of Bernard Weaver and a stunning orange TR7 fixed head coupe showcasing the timeline of TR body styles through the ages.

Celebrating Sebring

Representing the Michelotti cars however was the Sebring TR4A of Keith Files fronting up the display to celebrate 50 years since the 1,2,3 of Kas Kastner's TR4A team in the Sebring 12 hours in 1966. A tremendous achievement then and a tremendous competitor even now as a vehicle that is regularly campaigned in events such as Silverstone Classic.

Jabekke record breaking hero revealed

Taking centre stage and rising above the TR Register display at this years NEC Classic Motorshow however was MVC575. The Jabbeke land speed record breaking Triumph TR2. Unseen for decades, the car has undergone an incredible painstaking restoration by Glen Hewitt of Protek Engineering, Wallingford. This was the 1953 car's first public appearance in decades and was presented in the configuration that it broke the land speed record in for a production sports car under two litres in the hands of Ken Richardson. It was an event that would put the Triumph TR marque well and truly on the map and begin the long career of motorsport in which TRs would prove their rugged abilities. The car was inundated by press interest sporting its ice blue paintwork, metal tonneau and belly pan.

Record Breaking Triumph Italia 2000s

Opposite the TR Register main stand was the clubs 'Italia Register' with a record breaking six ultra-rare Triumph Italia's on display together, a spectacle never before seen in the UK. The line up included the race spec number 210 owned by Jeremy Woods. On the Saturday (12^th November) evening another record was set when 20 Italia 2000 Vignale owners from across the world, Sweden, USA, Germany, Holland, France and UK, assembled for a celebratory dinner at the Ardencote Hotel near Warwick.

Representing the marque Paul Harvey said, "If we had £100 for everyone who gave us the line, what are these I've never seen them before and aren't they beautiful I'd have enough for another Italia!"

Triumph Italia 2000 owners were on hand all weekend to talk to the public and share information about their cars and the stand also included visits from Brian Culcheth, the ex BL Works Driver and author Kevin Warrington who was on hand to sign editions of his new Triumph TR book. Italia luminary Adrian Sinnott was also on hand to raise money for charity with his superb cartoon artwork.

Concours Winner

Elsewhere Lawrence Holt's concours winning TR6 was representing the TR Register on the Meguiars stand following his victory in the clubs Concours D'Elegance at the TR International Weekend 2016 held in Lincoln.

Rally Beast

Hamilton Classic displayed the rally prepared monster Triumph TR7V8 campaigned throughout the last season by the car cover and event shelter specialists MD Alastair Flack.

TR Youth Group

In the Pavillion area of the NEC Classic Motorshow, the TR Register's Youth group were fronting up the young members section of the club with a display that included a left hand drive unrestored TR3 - oozing patina. A TR3A owned by 19 year old Clubmans Award winner Ollie Hibbert Gore , the supercharged and stripped down TR4 of Jon Dumelow and Wayne Scott's 4 litre Grinnall TR8.