What a magnificent TR5, owned and presented by Alex Smithson at our last Club meeting!  This is what you miss out on if you don’t attend monthly TSOA meetings.  With logbooks due for annual renewal there was a larger than normal attendance, all of whom were able to inspect a beautifully restored Triumph.  And excluding our annual membership fee (which must be paid before 30 June), all it cost was the price of a raffle ticket and that’s not mandatory either.  Great enjoyment and great value!

And a giant thank you to Ian Rigby who worked solely and solidly for the whole meeting so that all logbooks presented were updated.  Ian had just driven back from Victoria, arriving an hour or so before the meeting to ensure that logbooks would be renewed.

Kaye and Lawrie Placing, with their mid week runs, are getting us out and taking us to venues that we mightn’t otherwise visit.  Their May run took members to the Meadows Hotel and although I couldn’t make it, I believe there was a good turn out.  Thanks Kay and Lawrie for your enjoyable and enthusiastic contribution.

As I am writing, we are 1 day away from the next Berlemon Weekender, this time to Barmera and Loxton.   Julie and I, together with more than 18 others, are looking forward to another interesting event.

2 meetings ago Rod Chivas from TSOA NSW introduced us to the workings of the Australian Motor Heritage Foundation (AMHF). By chance I was able to present him with a poster celebrating Triumph’s 50-year anniversary of civilised motoring.

Rod subsequently sent us this photo indicating it had been professionally framed and would be proudly hung in AMHF premises for all to see. They will also acknowledge TSOA SA as a contributor on their web site.

Don’t forget to pay your subs and get your logbooks sorted before 30 June 2023.  And remember the AGM is not far away (August meeting) so start thinking about a position on the Committee.  Confirmed vacancies include the positions of President, Social Secretary and Regalia.

Check out the social calendar.   I look forward to seeing you in June.

Kind regards,

Peter Davidge (President)

Calendar:

Friday 26^th May       Weekender meet at Chateau Barossa Lyndoch at 9.45am

Sunday 18^th June    Lunch run to Middleton (see Calendar on this site for details)

Sunday 25th June   MSCA Sprint – The Bend

Tuesday 20^th June  General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Wednesday 5^th July – Lunch get together at The Rezz (see Calendar on this site for details)

Tuesday 18^th July    General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Upcoming diary dates:

Sunday 17^th September    Observation Run

Sunday 16^th October         Day of Triumph – Civic Park TTG.

Socially Speaking for May / June

Wednesday 3^rd May was the Informal Lunch at the Meadows Hotel. Please thank Lawrie or Kaye for organising the Lunch.  Good turn up and it was lovely to see Tom and Judie Long at the Lunch

The Annual Weekender is coming up this weekend, and although a few people have pulled out, we still have 20 Adults and 1 Child attending. Looking forward to a great weekend.

Condolences to Cindy and Noel Schmidt, and the passing of Cindy’s brother.

Best wishes to Kaye Placing who is a bit under the weather at present.

Bill and I will not be continuing at social secretaries at the AGM – we feel its time to give someone else a go!

Bill and Margie

Wednesday 3^rd May Informal Lunch – Meadows Hotel – see flyer

Tuesday 16^th May   General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Friday 26^th May       Weekender meet at Chateau Barossa Lyndoch at 9.30am

Sunday 18^th June    Lunch run to Middleton (see flyer)

Tuesday 20^th June  General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Sunday 17^th              Observation Run – Save the Date – details to follow.

Our March meeting was another good one.  Surprise visitors were Rod and Maggie Chivas from TSOA NSW.  Rod is a keen supporter of the Australian Motor Heritage Foundation (motorheritage.org.au) and spoke to us briefly on its objectives.  If you’ve not heard of the Foundation, as I hadn’t, check out its website and, in particular, read the details of its origin.  A very impressive and professional beginning (from 2016) and although centred in NSW it aims to provide a basis of historical record for all Australia.

Rod was also around in the early 1980’s when the first National TSOA Meetings were inaugurated.  He was quick to acknowledge TSOA SA initiating the first 7 day National in 1981.  Auctioning the last remaining bottle of TSOA SA 1981 Port (how sweet it might be!) raised $100 for Club funds.

What a day at the Bend for Laps and Lunch (Wednesday 29 March)!   TSOA SA and the TR Register were there in force (12 cars) and had a ball.  Even behind the pace car some of the tight and blind corners on the 7.8km circuit were heart pumpers for both Julie and me.  $40 per person was unbelievable value for the 2 laps and a Michelin Star restaurant lunch.  I’d do it again in a heartbeat!  So, when the next event is organised make sure you’re there.

Our recent Committee meeting considered the forecast financial results for this year and next year.  I am pleased to advise that the approved 2023/24 budget provides for no increase in subscriptions.   Although a growing deficit is expected given no increase in subscriptions, the Committee considers the forecast deficit manageable.  Maintaining subs at their current levels will benefit all members, given increases in other costs elsewhere.

Looking forward to next year, there will be some significant retirees from Committee and club representative positions.  I will be stepping down as President and the Social Secretary (Bill and Margie Berlemon) and Regalia (Sue Smithson) positions will become vacant.  Elections occur in August, and I am asking all members to consider nominating.  The positions are important but not too onerous.  Speak to the incumbents between now and then and decide to contribute.

I’m writing this report from Perth and have been able to catch up with a few other car enthusiasts, including TSOA WA members (see above).  The beautiful Stag in the middle belongs to Ron and Leigh Marian.  Planning for the 2024 Nationals in Albany is well advanced and promises to be another great event.

With the mid-week run and Weekender coming up in May there is quite a lot to look forward to.  Check out the Social Report later in this edition.

To all members and your families, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you in May.

Kind regards,

Peter Davidge (President)

Sunday 2^nd April was the breakfast at Anembo Sports Park with a disappointing turn out with only three members participating.  The few who attended had a lovely morning, however very disappointing for Bill who organised it! Thanks to Neil Martin and Bob Kretchner for supporting the event.

Wednesday 3^rd May is the Informal Lunch to the Meadows Hotel at 12.30pm.  Please advise Lawrie or Kaye if attending.

Weekender: is on Friday 26^th – Sunday 28^th May – Riverland – Cost $220.00 per member.

Thanks to the members for my Get Well wishes – I am finally on the road to recovery!

Best wishes to Brian Argent who is also a bit under the weather at present.

Bill and I will not be continuing at social secretaries at the AGM – we feel its time to give someone else a go!

Bill and Margie

Sunday April 2^nd      Breakfast at Anembo Sports Park – North Terrace Mt Barker. Meet at the park with your breakfast 9.30am

Tuesday 18^th April   General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Wednesday 3^rd May Informal Lunch – Meadows Hotel – see flyer

Sunday 7th May        MSCA 6-Hour Regularity Relay, Mallala

Tuesday 16^th May     General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Friday 26^th May       Weekender meet at Chateau Barossa Lyndoch at 9.30am

Tuesday 20^th June  General Meeting Sporting Car Club King William Road, Unley 8.00pm

Our March meeting was very well attended and I was clearly out of practice with the microphone after missing last month’s meeting when I was in Melbourne.  Thanks to Alex Smithson for chairing the meeting in my absence.

March is looking like a busy month for club members as, by month end, we will have participated in

• the All-British Day at Echunga (5 March) – blustery conditions ruined our marquees and damaged 3 members’ cars
• lunch at the Junction Bar & Bistro, Morphettville Racecourse (8 March)- thanks to Kaye and Lawrie Placing
• life member Bob Farrell’s funeral at Centennial Park (10 March) – an exceptional representation of cars and friends from TSOA
• the normal monthly meeting (21 March) and
• Laps and Lunch at the Bend Motorsport Park (26 March)

I’ve not been to the Bend, but after some difficulty in arranging a day it’s on!  There should be 10-15 cars behind a pace car for 2 laps, followed by lunch in the restaurant.  Excellent value at $40 per head and I can’t wait to get my TR8 out on the track.

Dean Berlemon has volunteered to run the Day of Triumph later in the year (early October) and I thank him greatly for offering to take over from Ian Rigby.  Closer to the event, Dean will be looking for members to assist him on the day and I encourage you to start thinking about that.  Let Dean know if you are interested now, so he can work towards putting on a class show.

Margie (despite a fractured ankle) and Bill are in the final stages of arranging for our annual Weekender in late May.  Once again, they have arranged an unbelievable program.  Check all that out in their social report.

Victoria has come through with accommodation and program details on this year’s National Meeting in Warrnambool.  They have 97 registrants so far and I’m sure they could fit a few more in if you are interested.  Go to their website for details.

Thanks to Richard Sellers for standing in as Secretary at the March meeting.  To all members and your families, stay safe and I look forward to seeing you in April.

Kind regards,

Peter Davidge (President)

Some recent TSOA happennings . . .

Sunday 26^th February – MSCA run to Virgara Winery saw 26 members participate in the run from Civic Park. Chicken and Salad was provided for lunch which everyone enjoyed. Congratulations to Neil Martin for receiving his best in class Trophy.

Sunday 5^th March – All British Day at Echunga Oval saw 22 Triumphs on display. The weather was unpredictable, and saw, sun, rain and wind – causing some damage to a couple of cars and marquees.

Wednesday 8^th March-Lunch at Junction Bar and Bistro, Anzac Highway. Thanks to Lawrie and Kaye Placing for organising this.

Upcoming Weekender :

Friday 26^th – Sunday 28^th May – Riverland – Cost $220.00 per member.

Proposed itinerary :

Friday

Morning Tea – Chateau Barossa

Lunch – Waikerie Community Club

Visit to Machinery Museum, Nippys, silo’s

Onto Barmera Golf club – Country Comfort Motel for accommodation

Saturday

Visit: Rocky’s Hall of Fame and Pioneers Museum 

Morning tea – Bella Lavender Estate

Visit: Berri Men’s Shed

Riverland Wine Centre – Lyrup

Paringa silo’s

Black Stump – Paringa

Antique and Curios – Paringa

Sunday

Loxton Historical Village

See flyer for details.

Bill and Margie

Our esteemed president, Peter Davidge, and wife Julie are currently in Melbourne, finalising
arrangements for their permanent move there in the next few months. Peter and Julie’s daughters
all live in Melbourne with their families, so this is a natural move, and we all wish them well for the
next phase of their lives. Peter will be continuing as President until our AGM in August, and will be
keeping an active role in TSOA until then.

Our club is continuing to prosper, with 15 new members having joined since the August AGM. This
is quite an achievement and has kept our Membership Secretary and Historic Registrar, Ian Rigby,
very busy. Ian is also incredibly busy at work, and has now handed over organisation of the Day of
Triumph to Dean Berlemon. Thanks, Dean, for taking on this very important role in our club. Ian has
booked Civic Park at Modbury for Sunday 15th October, and so please put this date in your diary.
No-one can say they did not get plenty of advanced notice.

At this month’s meeting we heard the exciting news from Bill and Margie about this year’s
Weekender on the 26th and 27th May in the Riverland. This is always a very popular event and is
great fun and great value. Get in quick, and I guarantee you will have a good time.
TSOA had a great turnout of members to the MSCA Picnic Day on Sunday 26th February. Thanks
as always to the tireless team of Bill and Margie for organising the run and lunch. I was unable to
attend due to a prior commitment, but understand it was a great success.

Next Sunday is All British Day, and our club representative on the ABD Committee, Geoff Ellis, has
put in a huge amount of work on our club’s behalf to help make this huge event a continuing success.
TSOA has a large number of vehicles registered for the day, and I am sure we will be very prominent
as usual at this great event. Thanks Geoff for all your work on ABD Committee over several years.
For those members who do not have a car on display, come along anyway during the day as a
spectator and see the incredibly wide range of British vintage and classic cars at Echunga Ovals
next Sunday.

We hope to have some cars on stage for the next few meetings. I encourage all members to get
involved with our club, by attending normal club meetings and runs/social events. Lawrie and Kaye
Placing are organising a mid-week lunch in March (details below), and there is a club event almost
every month, that we would love to see more members attend.

Finally, I understand that the Victorian organisers of the TSOA Nationals 2023 will be contacting all
registrants in the next week or two with further information and accommodation booking procedures.
I understand that there are almost 100 registrants, and all should get their first choice of
accommodation. No action is required prior to receiving their email.

Kind Regards,
Alex Smithson
Vice President