Standard Triumph Marque Day, May 17th/18th.

The weekend of May 17/18th saw a huge turn out for the Standard Triumph Marque Day at Prescott hill climb. After three cold, damp days, the sun came out on the Sunday, as Standards and Triumphs of all ages converged on Prescott Hill Climb.

To see a full screen slideshow of pictures click on the pdf icon

its a 5mg file

 (many of these photographs were taken by Gaisford Photographic)

Here is another pdf slide show of pictures taken at this event showing the other activities and cars

The Triumph Forum is an association of the clubs supporting the Standard and Triumph marques, with total club memberships exceeding 30,000. Each year it organises a national event at which members of all the clubs in the Forum can get together and celebrate their common interests. In 2006 and 2007 the event was held at the old Brooklands circuit.

For 2008, the event moved to another famous motor sporting location, Prescott Hill Climb, located in the Cotswolds, some 6 miles North of Cheltenham. This year’s event was sponsored by Moss Europe and was organised by Forum members Stag Owners Club, Triumph Sports Six Club and the TR Register.

On Saturday afternoon participants had gathered at the nearby Toddington terminus of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Over 80 cars departed for a gentle drive through the Cotswold countryside to Bourton on the Water, returning later to the railway for an evening Barbeque. Those choosing a less active day took a ride on the railway.

Early Sunday morning saw a stream of Standards and Triumphs entering the Prescott site. Nearly 300 vehicles had made advance bookings for the event and numbers were further boosted by those turning up on the day. Standards and Triumphs parked in Prescott’s Paddock while lesser cars parked in the Orchard. The organisers estimate that well over 500 cars attended, of which approximately 100 were Stags.

Prescott is situated in a bowl on the edge of the Cotswold scarp. The 60 acre site is well groomed and would pass as parkland- indeed it originally had been the entrance drive and park of Prescott House, situated at the very top of the hill. Since before WW2 the Bugatti Owners Club has owned the course and has improved and enlarged it over the years. The hill climb course is 1127 yards of smooth tarmac, winding its way up the steep escarpment face. The many vantage points on both sides of the course gave good views of practically the whole course, as well across the surrounding countryside. The course is host to the British and Midland Hill Climb Championship events and the massive VSCC event held each year at the beginning of August.

The main business of the Sunday was for participants to drive the course at their own speed. Timing and competition were banned for the day, which meant that vehicles of all ages could have a go and that passengers could be taken in the cars. The hill was opened at 10 o’ clock by Lesley Phillips, President of the Stag Owners Club, who stressed the important role of the Standard Triumph Forum in maintaining the Triumph heritage and the ability of the clubs working together in order to organise the annual Marque Day. Lesley was joined by, Nigel Clarke, the General Manager of TSSC and Chris Cunnington, Chairman of the TR Register to make the first ascent of the day in Guy and Suzie Singleton’s Standard, ‘Kenilworth’ Tourer, a forerunner of the Stag. After that a succession of classic, and even vintage, Standards and Triumphs started their runs.

Spectators watched the climbs, some gentle and considered, others accompanied by much tyre squealing and rubber burning. Incidents were few. An over- enthusiastic Vitesse continued to accelerate beyond the Finish line and found itself heading for the straw bales, and TR6 put its wheels in the gravel scattering gravel over the track.  A Spitfire suffered a suspension failure which then took it into the gravel at Pardon Bend. Otherwise incidents were limited to the spraying of gravel onto the track from those who had strayed into the run off areas on the outside of the many bends.

For those wishing to savour a climb in a competition car, there were three cars offering “Exciting Rides”. Jigsaw Racing had brought their Le Mans Spitfire, driven by Alistair Pugh, Tony Hart had brought his racing Stag and Simon Coldbreath had his sprint/hill climb TR4. Perhaps the most exciting ride of the day was made by SOC member Peter Clark in the Le Mans Spitfire. The car suffered a rear suspension failure, lost a wheel and ended up in the gravel trap, fortunately neither the driver nor Peter were hurt. The beneficiary was Tony Hart who made the remaining exciting rides scheduled for the Spitfire.

A pause in the proceedings at lunch time made way for a cavalcade. Some 200 Dolomites, GT6s, Stags, Standards, 2000s, Spitfires, TRs, Vitesses and many others wound their way in a stream up the hill.

Traders Moss, E J Ward, Jigsaw Racing and Robsport offered their wares and there was a small auto jumble.  Martin Pemberton of the TR Register was the main commentator for the day and Prescott Lodge, the on site catering facility, kept all fed and watered. For those with even higher ambitions, the Museum of the Bugatti Trust was open all day, showing motoring and other artefacts designed by Ettore Bugatti.

Several of the attendees had used the event as the centre piece of a long weekend, many of them camping at Prescott for two or more nights.

The hill was managed by Prescott’s marshals and St John Ambulance was in attendance. Everyone managed to enjoy themselves with no significant dents to the person or pocket. This was a very effective showcase for the Standard and Triumph marques and the packed parking areas were testament to its popularity.

Ian Evans, a Vice President of the TR Register, closed the event complimenting the SOC, TSSC and TR Register on the organisation of the event and paying tribute to Chris Cunnington the retiring General Manager and now Chairman of the TR Register.

Phil Collins and Mike Fisher