Laurel News- The newsletter of TCNI

 December 2011

Welcome to the last edition of Laurel News for 2011. Where has the year gone?

We wish all our members and friends a happy Christmas and prosperous 2012.

Our Annual Dinner will be in the Ballymac on Saturday, January 21st   

Please contact Laurence Bell as soon as possible to book your place 028 38322865 or 07706 476440.

We are also planning to attend the AOVC Dinner on 25th February 2012. Tickets are available from John Scott 07818 077801                                                                      Venue is also The Ballymac Hotel.

Club Meetings

We continue to hold our club meetings in the Ballymac Hotel on the last Wednesday of the month at 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

There is no meeting in December. Our next meeting on Wednesday 25th January 2012 will be our AGM. Please come along and have your say in the running of the club

Membership Renewal 2012

Please renew you membership for 2012 the cost remains at f 15.

The Donegal Classic Weekend 30th September to 2nd October 2011

The forecast was not good, but the tea, coffee and scones at the Ballymac provided the traditional start for Triumph Club Northern Ireland's end of season weekend. Cars left shortly after 3.00 to join the Ballyronan contingent before heading off on the long run to Letterkenny. And of course the weatherman was right, so the rain fell and the wind blew, but by the time the main contingent had arrived things were looking up. Not everyone was able to travel in the main convoy, and for some the route to the south of Lough Neagh was preferred. Be that as it may, 25 classic cars were parked at the Mount Errigal Hotel in time for Dinner, and a leisurely evening.

The weather had improved for the off on Saturday morning for the drive to Fintown. Thoughtfully the route took us through the car-parks of the main shops at least once, to acquaint the ladies with the opportunities that would arise later in the day.

Then it was off, climbing steeply up the valley of the Swilley river, and falling just as sharply as we followed the headwaters of the Finn. Wild beautiful and barren countryside with the hills rising steeply, few houses, the odd sheep, and so to Fintown and its historic railway. Now the only remaining railway in Donegal the narrow gauge runs for three miles. Rattling along at approximately fifteen mph in a diesel railcar built in 1940, we had lots of time to admire the scenery along the shores of beautiful Lough Finn.

Then it was on to Glenties and a visit to the local chapel. Few, if any, took John's hint and merely parked there to walk to the Highlands Hotel for lunch. As is usual on these outings we did not leave hungry.

The afternoon was free, all we had to do was to return to Letterkenny, some 27 miles away.A few of us returned by the scenic route, across the Blue Stack Mountains and through Ballybofey. The map shows it as a main road but it is narrow and twists and turns, as it climbs spectacularly above the Finn Valley. Then it was shopping time in Letterkenny. Nothing to do with classic cars!

The evening five course dinner was a grand affair with many in fancy dress, followed by the opportunity to dance the night away. As always the raffle provided something for most people to take away as did the award which all entrants received; a picture frame with a digital clock and thermometer.

Sunday morning, and the weather was still fine as we headed for the Letterkenny Museum. After taking the customary diversions through the car parks our leader asked if there was not a more direct way and so we arrived at the museum which had been specially opened for us. The former workhouse had several very interesting displays.

We could have spent longer there but the sight of the famine pot reminded us that it was time to head onwards, returning North to Bridgend and the Waterfoot Hotel. Here Finola and Eilish entertained us with a fresh and different take on the history of the nearby city. Skirting quickly over its founding, with scarce a mention of the siege, we heard about the industrial and commercial life of the city, about those who left the area in Famine times, the attempt by James Coppin to create a major shipyard, and then the story of Watts Distillery which provided employment in the City for almost two hundred years. This interlaced with local music and song, passed the early afternoon as we waited for our late lunch.

All too soon it was time to say our farewells. And of course it started to rain as we crossed the Glenshane Pass and headed for the home straight.

Thanks again to John and Margaret Scott, to Laurence and Aileen Bell, and to all who
made sure that the Donegal Classic was a fitting and memorable end to the 2011
season.

Brian Linden

Desmond Shortt continues his report from the TR Register weekend where 50 years of the TR4 was being celebrated.

There was a large turnout of TR4s from home and abroad.

On the Saturday an autosolo was held. This is a bit like an autotest but without the reversing. Russ Swift was also entertaining the spectators with his two
wheel driving antics. However I was too busy searching bargains in the traders stalls and auto jumble to get any photographs.

 On the Sunday Graham Robson and Steve Redway did their usual commentary on interesting cars.

The three surviving works rally TR4's were present and appropriate to the occasion.	Other TR4 derivatives were also displayed. Neil Revington's Police TR4 was not quite finished but had been trailered to the show for display.

This derivative was based on a TR4 chassis and was described as the SLR — Sprinzel LawrenceTune Racing. Here Graham Robson talks to the present owner	This is one that got away the Triumph Fury. It has a six cylinder engine and monocoque chassis but never went into production. When the owner went to start it on the Sunday the battery exploded showering the engine bay with battery acid.

Laurel News  Autumn 2011

Welcome to the latest edition of Laurel News. My apologies for the delay in publishing the edition. I seemed to get tied up in other things like work!! .

Reports

Lisburn Classic Cavalcade

There was a good selection of vehicles on our Lisburn event at the beginning of August. It had been dry all day but unfortunately we had a shower as cars
started to arrive at the Island Civic centre. Nevertheless we had a good turn out and the rain went off allowing people to chat to each other.

A new Triumph out for the first time after restoration was a TR4A. Finished in light blue (the same as the rally TR4's} it looked splendid. I hope the owners will
get great enjoyment from it and we will see them out on many other club events in the future.

Blue TR4A recently restored	This Fiat 500 attracted a lot of attention
We had a good turnout of Triumphs at Lisburn, with TRs, Stags, Dolomites, Heralds, a 1300, and several of the big saloons present.

TCNI Summer Run 22"' August

We met at the Ballymac for Tea and biscuits before setting out on our Sunday afternoon run in August. It was all a bit of a mystery but we ended up at
Ballyronan marina on the western shore of Lough Neigh where the Irish Powerboat club was holding a competition. We had an enjoyable time watching
before we returned to the Ballymac for an optional evening meal.

Some of our cars	The Irish Powerboat Club in action

TR Register Weekend

I attended the TR Register International Weekend in Harrogate at the end of July. Harrogate is a bit over 200 miles from Stranraer and an easy run. I decided
to take the scenic route through the dales and avoiding the main roads. This turned out to be a good choice as there were major roadwork's on the northern
alternative route via Scotch Corner. I arrived in the late afternoon at the Swann Hotel in Harrogate where I was staying for the weekend.

The Register had organised a hillclimb day on the Friday at Harewood just south of Harrogate but didn't give a postcode or directions to the site. Driving
south towards Leeds I passed through the village of Harewood (must be near here I thought) looking for signs but there were none. Soon I could see two other
TR's in the distance behind me so I thought I must be in the right road. However I then arrived at a roundabout on the northern outskirts of Leeds and decided to
head back to the village of Harewood. I met the two following TR's who indicated they were lost too. We all stopped in Harewood Village and got
directions and were soon at the hillclimb venue.

Unusually the spectators car park is at the top of the hill with a great view down across the hill. The day was split into two sessions before and after lunch with a
cavalcade in between. I only saw one person have an "off' - he attacked a right angle left hand corner and spun 270 degrees but did no damage to the car (only
to his pride).

The Triumph Owners Club from Dublin was there in force and put in some quick times.

Two of the Dublin contingent at the weekend	A TR5 with lights ablaze nearing the top of the hill
A rare TR4 Dove on the hill	This TR2 had come all the way from Continental Europe
Triumphs were not the only cars out to play, as this Mini whined its way around	More exotic and absolutely beautiful. A Jaguar C Type

More from the weekend in the next edition.

Desmond Shortt.

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June/July 2011

Welcome to the latest edition of Laurel News. I hope you have been enjoying the recent good weather.

Forthcoming Events

Lisburn Classic Cavalcade Friday 5th August

We will be holding the Lisburn Classic Cavalcade on Friday evening the 5th August at the Lisburn Island Civic centre. Forms are included or you can enter on the night.

21st August Club Run

Our Summer Club Run will be on the 2151 August. Entry form is enclosed.

3rd September AOVC Autumn Run

Entry form for the AOVC Autumn Run enclosed.

TCNI Donegal Weekend 30th Sept to 2nd Oct 2011

We are returning to Letterkenny for out Autumn weekend. Full details are on the enclosed entry form.

REPORTS

Ballyclare 28th May 2011 

We had mixed weather during the morning for Ballyclare with some showers as the cars arrived at the Six Mile Leisure Centre. Nevertheless there was still a good turnout. A couple of unusual cars were a Fiat Topolino and a Vespa 400. Vespa is more normally associated with scooters but they also made a Vespa Micro car. The engine was a 393cc two stroke. It ran on a mixture of petrol and oil and gave 14 BHP.

Fiat Topolino	Vespa 400

AOVC Classic Show, Ballymena 25th June 2011

We had a good turnout on the TCNI stand at Ballymena. The stands were on grass this year. The early morning was bright with sunshine, but as the day the clouds rolled in, bringing occasional heavy showers.

The TCNI Stand
Some of the ladies enjoying their day	The Ulster Riley Club were opposite us.
The Stag Owners were beside us	The Jaguar Stand
MG MMM Midget under restoration	The MG Owners Club Stand