Two months since the TR8’s been on the road, down for an electrical malady (surprising, I know 🙂 . My ace mechanic stepson and an equally talented friend did the initial troubleshooting a couple of weeks back but today I called in the master: Creig from SLTOA. I’ll tell you, when you’re of particular skill in reading and understanding Brit car electrical diagrams, you find you have many friends (and are invariably in great demand).

Three and a half hours later, one fried wire in the generator-battery sequence identified and removed (you know there’s a problem when Creig asks if you recall any smoke or burning smells in the past couple of months), partially put the car back together, jumped it…and the generator’s still not charging. Okay, check the local outlets and be prepared for an email order to BPNW or Victoria British tomorrow. Sigh…We’ll get it running reliably again, of that I have no doubt.

Speaking of tomorrow, the next Boeing Sports Car Club autocross is scheduled. Looks like I’ll be doing photos and course work again…The next SLTOA meeting is Tuesday evening, scheduled for Faust Park after 1700. Word is we might push the gathering back online; if you’re interested in checking out the club, monitor the web page at www.sltoa.org for a final determination on the meeting location, either live or via Zoom.

Nevada, Missouri, US 71, Monday afternoon. First I saw the Fiat/Bertone X1/9 parked next to the local Casey’s. Poor shape (massive rust under the rear bumper), paint’s in serious trouble.

Across the street? One of the more unique Porsche 914-4 modifications I’ve ever seen. Talked briefly with the owner, he indicated the running gear was stock. Over the years I’ve run across a number of modified 914s but this is first one ever where an owner went to the trouble of completely removing the targa structure behind the cockpit, Rather cool, actually…

Oh, the X1/9? When I went back across the street to Casey’s, it was gone; despite it’s appearance, it apparently ran.

BTW, if you think I’m making fun of Fiats (uh, don’t we all?), my ’76 X1/9 was one of the best cars I ever owned, much much better than the ’81 2000 Spyder that followed it. I am keeping my eye out for another X1/9…

Back to the search for LBCs…I’m thinking of driving to Lake Garnett in a couple of months for the annual racing event, bet I see some Triumphs there. Shoot, I might even drive the TR8…

Long as I’ve been a member of SLTOA – just over 12 years now – we’ve celebrated (?) summer heat and humidity with a mid-July, backyard gathering at the home of one of our members. Ah, but in this time of pandemic, social distancing and face mask requirements, crowding a bunch of cars and members/guests into said back yard in Chesterfield was a non-starter.

The solution? As devised by SLTOA Event Chairman Creig H, a rolling SweatFest: meet on a Saturday at a park in Fenton off MO 141 and MO 30, head out for two hours of spirited driving (“social distancing at 60 mph,” as it were…although plenty of the route’s curves, including a number of hairpins, required social distancing at 25 mph…or less), then return to the park for a picnic lunch under a shelter with either food brought from home or ordered from StL BreadCo.

It was a smashing success: perfect weather, about 24 participants in 14 cars (mostly Triumphs) and one hell of an entertaining drive (thanks Creig!). Everyone who took part thoroughly enjoyed themselves and, in holding a combined picnic/meeting, we set a standard for the remainder of the year, at least into the fall when the temps start going south.

SLTOA’s August meeting is scheduled for Faust Park, see the web page for details.