Well I
guess the cat is out the bag now and we better come clean.
Shaun and I
are all in it for the money, not for us but for the guide dog charity. So to
mark the anniversary edition of the RBRR we decided to up the ante a bit and
try to be the first ones to finish in a pre-war car.
The car is
a 1937 14/60 Vitesse, re-bodied from the original saloon body to an open tourer
body sometime in the 80’s. As far as I can make out it had the top cut off and
new side panels and doors installed. Weather protection comes from a foldaway
windscreen, a canvas top and 4 side panels that are held in place by 4 pins in
the top of the doors and rear.
Originally
bought to be used as a spares car for my other – unmodified - saloon it is in
far better condition than I first thought, good enough to try the blast round
Britain in it. An evolution of the older
Gloria’s it was Triumph first fully in-house build car. Whereas the older Gloria’s
used license build Coventry-Climax engines and gearboxes made by Austin the 1936
breed of cars used Triumphs own OHC 1800cc 4 cylinder engine and gearbox.
Vitesse of course is French for Speed and whereas original it denominated the
sporty version of the Gloria’s in 1937 it became a model in its own right, with
twin SU carbs and an uprated camshaft. Being lighter than the Dolomite fitted
with the same engine it was Triumphs fastest car to date.
Alternating
drives between the Renown and the older saloon you cannot fail to notice the
leaps of progress made during these intervening 10 years, Ride is much more comfortable in the newer
car, progress is more leisure and steering is far more precise, not that any of
it is up to today’s norms. Driving the pre-war is much more “hard” work, if you
are ever wondering what Bump-steer means, it’s meaning would come clear after
the first stretch of rutted country road you drive.
Still it
has 60 BHP on tap and was Triumphs first 70MPH car, so as the Renown had proven
this should be ample to finish the run. To ease the strain a bit on drivers and
mechanics we’ve decided to try and install an overdrive gearbox out of a T2000.
This coupled with the huge 17 inch wheels should give us a topspeed capable of
keeping up with modern day highway traffic, or with the HGV’s at least…
After a
strenuous process of vetting possible co-drivers I am glad to announce that the
co-pilot seat once more goes to Shaun, not only was he the only possible
candidate, but he is also mad enough to make the attempt with me. It also
helped that I made up his mind for him and just resend last runs paperwork to
Tim, crossing out 2014 and replacing it with 2016.
So there we
are, wish us luck, mock us, pity us or wish us to hell if you prefer, but send
your wager-money to Just-Giving care of the Guide dog charity with our
compliments!
Dirk
Devogeleer
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