Stafford Review 2011

At the recent area meet I asked if anyone was willing to do a write up of the Stafford Show, thanks go to Ryan for providing this comprehensive report of Stafford 2011.

The Stafford show is an important date in any concourse triumph owners’ calendar and going for the third time this year it was, as always, a very worthwhile experience, this year having the slight difference of being able to buy for my own car, which is always fun.

Something I’ve noticed over all three of years of going is the lack of signs leading from major roads to the event, which may be a little on the pricey side but it would be a single payment as they could be used repeatedly, just to help the newcomers to the event, those without sat nav, find it with a lot more ease. On arriving, there was a wide range of cars in the field include a few great examples of heralds, vitesse’ and GT6s but no matter how good they where, they where, as usual, nothing in comparison to the cars inside.

Like the rolling road a few years earlier, the “trunnion oiling” was the hype of the older gentlemen who had oil, almost literally, in their veins. 

Gathered under the gazebo enjoying the technical expertise of the mechanics, asking what exactly there doing every time a new tool is selected or there’s a pause, or any other change in activity that might occur.

The stalls outside, as usual, where full of all sorts of body parts, trim, mechanical parts and anything in between, some perfectly priced, others not so much, a £10 homemade stainless steel gaiter ring comes to mind. It was nice to see a wide range of activities for the younger car enthusiasts and the older, slightly unhinged ones too, including sumo wrestling which if I had any money left at the end of the day I thought I might try..... I didn’t due to an extensive spending spree but maybe next year. 

Inside the hall was full from the off with some great examples like the single-seater and silver spitfire on the triumph club stand and as usual the red TR6 with its perfect brake discs and suspension. However all of these, where totally put to shame by a blue and silver Morris minor, it may have been on the small side and a not very standard pick-up truck edition but it was magnificent and I can say with total honesty that I, like many others, would have one in a heartbeat.

The stalls inside where a bit more organized offering a bit more of a professional feel to their selling but still as confused with their pricing, a £15 window winder handle comes to mind. The stalls, like the ones outside, where full of herald, vitesse, spitfire, TR, 2000 and Gt6 parts but dolomite parts were almost nonexistent, I did happen to buy most of what there was but the fact there was so little is something that I’ve been struggling with ever since I actually bought the car.

In the main hall I could say that the turnout was very impressive with lovely examples of every type of car including a rather nice green dolomite sprint that showed up later in the day (which I voted for people’s choice). Green Dolly Pic
Over all the Saturday of the show, only being able to stay for the one day, was a very good day and I do apologize to any dolomite owners for buying everything at the show.
Ryan