Two Factory TR8's Round Britain Rally in 1980

[Richard Connew]

I recently bought a Green rhd Factory TR8 NWK988W one of only a tiny handful (23-34 depending on what you class as a factory RHD) and this car along with a Silver rhd one MHP404V did a run with the Triumph Club in 1980.

 "The car was used by the factory on the Round Britain Rally in 1980 along with a Silver TR8 MHP404V. At the time it was done there had been no decision to not launch in the UK and it was still an active project. The tour was through the Triumph Club in London and it was setting off on a Friday night up to “John O’Groats” then “Lands’ End” and back to London on the Sunday night. It was done with the intention of getting some publicity for the RHD TR8 yet to be launched in the UK, and for club members to see the cars."

I have no more information than that and wondered if anyone knew any more and or there were pictures of the cars on the run?

Many Thanks

Richard

[thescrapman]

There is most likely only 1 person who was driving it, well me of the 2, so It is probably worth getting hold of a copy of Dereks book.

Mine is packed away whilst we are decorating so I can't have a look at the moment.

[PeteStupps]

Hi Richard,

In case you found thescrapman's message a bit cryptic, he's referring to a book written by the late Club President about the history of the Round Britain Run: 

 

I've got a copy in front of me and it says this about the 1980 event (no TR8 pictures I'm afraid):

"... finally resulted in sixteen starters including a TR8 driven by John Micklewright, then Managing Director of Rover Triumph, with a second TR8 being driven by Bob Train."

It goes on to note that Bob Train sadly died later that year, and that he was General Secretary of Club Triumph at the time. 

Hope that's of interest, sorry it doesn't say who was driving which car. 

Pete

[sparky_spit]

There is a colour picture on page 124 of one of the two works TR8 cars on the 1980 event, overtaking a milk lorry. It is dark in colour (British Racing Green?) with the registration NWK 988W.

See pic below.

Edited May 27, 2022 by sparky_spit

[sparky_spit]

[Richard Connew]

Thanks that's the one I now own. Elsewhere I read there were press photos but I've never been able to find any.  Posidon Green is the colour a dark metallic green. Oddly enough there is info in the latest mag I've just seen. 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Richard Connew

[sparky_spit]

It's worth buying the book for RBRR background. Its a good read and having your car pictured is a nice bonus, Just £10 from:

Books & Literature - Club Triumph Ltd

[Richard Connew]

Just ordered it. Thanks 

[Dale]

I think Derek was in his 2500S with Les Mills that year and then used one of his own ex-Works TR8s (the modified one) on the following Run

[Richard Connew]

Was given this photo today

[Tim Hunt]

I am sure Bob Train was in the silver car. He is standing next to it in the last pic and I took a picture of him standing in it while videoing other entrants' cars as we left the last control at Fleet Services for the Broadfields Garage finish. Unfortunately I cannot find this pic but  attach one of MHP 404V taken on the run by my co-driver Mike Hockaday (this was the first of our 17 RBRRs together so far) and one of a much younger Chairman at JoG. 

It is great that NWK 988W is in the Club Richard and would be good to see it on some events. How about the 2023 RBRR? Better start saving now for the fuel!! Incidentally I see that Derek gave the reg of your car as -988V on p124 of his magnum opus, strange since he proofread it.

On a weekend away in Chester in the early 80s by chance I spotted an original RHD TR8 in BRG with a tan soft top in the car park. I wonder if this was -988W. I spoke to the driver, who lived in Hertfordshire, but lost contact and can't recall his name.

Tim

PS don't ask me to post pics the right way up!!

[Richard Connew]

It was sold at Measham auctions late 1981 and then ended up in a private collection on the IOM. Unfortunately the owners wasn't keen on anyone seeing the car or talking about it so there it stayed hidden away for nearly 40 years when that owner died and his wife sold it to his friend in NI. I've run an Internet club for the 7/8 for many years www.tr7tr8.com earlier 90s it was on other domain names and it was with Connew. com I think when an ex manager from Solihull gave me a collection of documents on the cars history so I'd been trying to track it down for many years. Eventually I did find where it was but was firmly told it would never be for sale. Only chance and a program I run on my PC looking for TR8's allowed me to find it in a remote Irish farmers auction. So if you did see the car it must have been before Measham as it pretty much vanished after that. 

[sparky_spit]

This is a fascinating story and I applaud your tremendous efforts to track it down and finally own it. I particularly like the the bit about the "remote Irish farmer's auction"; I have visions of bidding remotely by phone/internet and accidentally ending up with 3 tons of hay and 10 pigs instead of the TR8!!!

As Tim says, it would be great to see it take part in one of CT's premier events again  at some point in the future.

Mike

[Richard Connew]

Right now the car has been looked at for many years in pretty much a glass case, but not driven or serviced so a lot of things are not right on it. I do plan to have it at Gaydon in July but we will see. I have written a lot of the story of the car up and it recently appeared in the TR Register mag and the TWOA in the US. I should really let Club Triumph have a version as well given the cars historic connection to the club. The auction was a lot of collectable tractor seats as it happens! Had the previous owner sold it in London this would have been a 40k plus car very easily, in the event I was very lucky and home work paid off, not that it was cheap by any means! One of the other RHD 8's sold last year for 28k and that was covered in rust requiring a full rebuild so God smiled on me that day. History as I know it so far attached. Once its running it would be nice to involve the car again, just have to get it running right, current issue the timing marks aren't what you would call constant often moving all over the place -  and yes vacuum pipe off. Oh and the Stromberg auto choke is a nightmare, still cant get it running right.

TR8 BACK ON THE MAINLAND.pdf

[Tim Hunt]

What fantastic history and provenence Richard. It seems as if all that is missing is Richard Hurdwell's inside leg measurement!! Since this is the only road going TR8 worked on by BL Motorsport it would be highly appropriate for it to be at Gaydon on 10th July if at all possible since the BL/BMC day will incorporate a celebration of Abingdon's activities (see attached).

Tim

[shenderson]

Interesting history.  If the engine has lost its WL9 camshaft, I've got one lying around that you are welcome to have.

[Richard Connew]

37 minutes ago, shenderson said:

Interesting history.  If the engine has lost its WL9 camshaft, I've got one lying around that you are welcome to have.

It is still in the car I believe, certainly it goes quicker than any other TR8 I've driven but would love a spare - email rconnew@gmail.com

 

3 hours ago, Tim Hunt said:

What fantastic history and provenence Richard. It seems as if all that is missing is Richard Hurdwell's inside leg measurement!! Since this is the only road going TR8 worked on by BL Motorsport it would be highly appropriate for it to be at Gaydon on 10th July if at all possible since the BL/BMC day will incorporate a celebration of Abingdon's activities (see attached).

Tim

It will be there on the Sunday fingers crossed. Richard Hurdwell is still alive so I have been able to talk to him at length. Hopefully later in the year I would like him to drive it again.