The Guvna Blog. Redux.

[Tush]

Thanks Guv,

Cheers,
Tush

[L.O. Guvna]

Its good to be back. Its good to share some attention to a great car and good friend. Its good to participate here, and its very good to get help here. My daily reminder of this mark is facebook now. Like many here, I am in a few groups, even one I created for dallas TR6 owners. But the simple Triumph TR6 group, gets the most of my wall – and I don’t get facebook algorithms, but who does except china. But I really like seeing cars around the world, and I know we have an international following, but the member dots seem to be heavier as you get near Ohio. That was a guess.

Update
Just threw a quick question out on my decaying starter switch – very ghost like – car running with no key in it, draining the battery. Now I don’t mean to suggest this chitty chitty fires up in the middle of the night by itself, but that it won’t shut down when I pull the key. Never seen this before, and I’ve been around this mark since 1976. Now, even though with this quirk, I can drive it, and disconnect the battery. I won’t, cause that issue is decaying, and I don’t want to stand on the side of the road roasting hot dogs over my school car inferno. Idle is a little low, and I am considering asking Pool to do a swap on my carbs just to freshen this up. My dash glove box is still out – that is so tacky. Please, guv – replace that, cause you aint’ doing a dash right now.

Paint
David Hagenbuch
Throwback

Paintttttt
School car has some patina. I can cleaner wax this car every week, and it will eventually go a little flat in many areas. If I had kept this thing in a garage all the time, I’d still have great paint. Deep down, I wanted to change the color, something I don’t share often, and someone here may remember my waxing. Not that this lead to poor maintenance or care, but dang. To see a car go thru a full body off resto – that tub, on a rack, corners on sawhorses. Hard top fully stripped. Valences, windshield, hood, trunk….I’m getting drunk just typing this. Ed_h’s journey here, was really fun to follow. And then recently, I run out to Brittish Auto Specialists near Fort Worth, hang with Jeff for a bit for carb diaphragms, and I tell him how the car is – he used to service this car before I bought it in 1998. I tell him about the paint, and like a preacher, raises his arms, voice, eyes get big – “DON’T PAINT IT” leave it just like it is, goes into this update on how hot patina is right now – unrestored is the way to go, etc. We are literally having this conversation under a restored TR6 on a rack, repainted, etc….the mental anguish is painful. I so want a dark color. I really want it beautiful. But that is a ton of money. And right now, I can drive down the road in a patina original white TR6 which still gets thumbs up. Dammit.

The Roadster Factory Tech Superman, Dave
Dave Hagenbuch had a birthday yesterday. I know this because we are friends on facebook. I know him very well, almost to the stalker level. Dave …may know me by memory, but probably not. If he does, he will remember a complete idiot asking questions, but trying to follow his advice. I’ve asked him stuff at least since 1998, but most likely well before. I did business with TRF back when they first opened, catalogue and all. Like many I have blue and green catalogues, mine in binders. But this guy – is a celebrity to me. Taught me so much over the years – before we had this. My 6pack before 6pack. If you aint’ friends with him, at least go look at his wall, and get a feel for his background. I met him once in the shop, around 2007. On a Saturday. Headed back to Pittsburg Airport. Driving past Quaker carriages, to the shop, walking in, no one at the desk, standing next to that lovely TRS. I walk back past the warehouse of rows of shelves, glancing around, get to the back where I hear voices, and walk into to an area with Dave and another gent, talking albums. Sit with them, chat, talk albums, then walk back up front, get some hard top parts, shake hands, leave. And now he’s retired in Florida. This, just part of the fabric of my TR6 journey.

Throwback
I don’t think I ever shared my paint story on my 72 car. While we are paint, why not. That car – and it doesn’t have a name, so the 72 car for now, was originally white. Leyland white? Not really sure, but when we acquired it, it was some dark blue. At least with the doors closed and the hood down. Everywhere – and I mean everywhere else, white. Even under the rear vinyl of the top. Door jams, under the hood, under the trunk.

We take this car from NC to TX in 1980, and I wanted to paint the car back to its original color. Which we do. But thinking about this later, now. Even before we take this car to get it painted, what would have been the problem with polishing off the blue? It might have been a perfect white paint job under this **** job that was on the car. This is totally grass is greener for me, in my total TR6 journey – if you are paying attention to my sad brain. I want a white TR6. No, I want a dark blue TR6. No, I …..don’t know what I want.

Back to the paint. I find this guy from a referral. My first referral was some Porsche specialist, and I go to him, and he refuses to paint it – cause it aint german. Lightly insulted, he at least referred me to Mike – forget his last name. And Mike, painted the 6, to Old English White, a Jag color. Very bright, and it as beautiful. In a few layers of lacquer. Part of this job was replacing the trunk. I had a rack on it, and it was rusted around the mounts. And locally, back then, a junk yard would have tr6 body parts. So, I think for 100 dollars, I bought a replacement, no rack, rear trunk lid. And that worked great, looked really good. One of the nice tweaks Mike did to that car, was instead of replacing the front valence black….plastic, whatever that rust magnet is for the bottom of our grille’s – he repaired that area, shot it white, then went back, and painted that area off with black. That is what I would do, if I ever paint the car. With my new robbins top that I installed, my new carpet kit, that I installed, and my dash, that I refinished, the 72 looked very good. Mechanically? Train wreck.

Ok. Coffee needs a refill. I hope you’re dilemma’s are better than mine. I hope you have clarity. I hope you are enjoying what you have, and that your grass is as green on your side of the fence.

Enjoy your isolation. We are in a new world. The mark is a great diplomat. You help people around you with this car. Helps people relax, gives inspiration. You are a steward, a diplomat, and you are helping others, even if you just own this mark.

Remember to start the car with it out of gear and foot off the clutch. Smile when you drive, and take a kid driving.

cheers
G

[Tush]

You need another 6...a Blue one...then you don’t have to worry about it.

Cheers
Tush

[L.O. Guvna]

A week of good weather and decent health. My youngest was quarantined from school – a player on her school volleyball team tested positive, so the whole team was sent home for 2 weeks. Negative, and she gets to enjoy the bubble boy, or bubble girl life of doing P.E. in her room. Such a jacked up year.

Whats new
My ignition switch is most likely 2 frayed wires touching each other. Check that. 1 wire is exposed – maybe half inch. The other has this cut in it – and as I type – did someone try to hotwire my car? Brittle is one thing, but this is interesting. I have this tendency to go conspiracy, so lets park that right now. But to have RatRidgeRoadster jump in, throw his amazing stuff at this project – just speaks to whatever you need here – you can get it. Car needs a bath, and I need some gas. That may be my biggest fear these days is decaying gas. Don’t let your gas go stale folks. The aroma of laquer is distinct – and what gas does to these marks…..our new enemy.

I created a dallas tr6 page a few years back. I think for the first time, a few of us are going to meet for breakfast, or at a bar on a Saturday afternoon. I’ll keep you posted in my very slow effort to get a Dallas 6-pack chapter going.


The Hard top
Throwback


Greener grass
This segment will likely set off a trump/biden like war. But here goes. I like my hard top. I’ve had 2 tr6s, both sides of the tracks. My 72 car, 4 speed, soft top, 3.71 diff, was a revver on the highway. This back when speed limits were 55. I remember after my motor was rebuilt to rolling around 90 mph on some back roads in eastern NC, with Dick Motts, wind in our hair, and my revs were 4100 or so. I guess that isn’t that bad, but with a floppy tach, bad cable, I assumed my RPMS then were 3500. That doesn’t make much sense now, but I assume near 3K, and in that note where the engine gets louder. All I wanted then, was OD and the hard top. I was very aware of both, and even the 3.45 diff. I swore, if I ever got another 6, it would have these features.

Mentioned before, I am a member on a few facebook tr6 groups, and one of them recently had this great post of a new owner, red car, hard top, and on a trailer headed home. One of the first posts, a member comes on, congratulates him, and drops this comment regarding his hard top – that most of us in the registry don’t keep our hard tops because they are hard to store. Really. Most of us. I didn’t go look at the facebook poster, but all I could picture was this Sherlock holmes type with a pipe and a glass of snooty brandy, patting this guy on the head. It still bothers me as I type this. I did my best to politely tell the new owner, that its ok to own a hard top, that he will enjoy it, and find a way to store it. Like us freaks that do keep our hard tops and store them safely in our garages.

I love all versions of this mark – original, modified, v8 conversions….all of them. I hope I never give any impression that one is better than the other. I have a preference, but that is me. And I will never tell you, or push you…..check that, I will inspire those to swap gearboxes or running gear to save the revs, but if you want a hard top, great. If you don’t, great. But one thing that will never lay on this blog, or come out of my mouth is you aint a tr6 owner unless you have a hard top. Or if you are full time convertible. Ever. Ever.



Throwback. The junkyard
My first TR6, the rolling mess. Still working on a nickname for that exhausted sports car given to a teenager. From a kid who knew nothing about a tr6, I began to educate myself on the different years. I knew ours was a 72. I knew what the differences were with even a 73. And 76. And even 71. I got to know more about other years over the years, but once I learned what original cars had, I wanted this car to be more original. And this one was far from me, regardless of the rally driving the 2^nd driver did with it. From front to back – the grill had black mesh over it. Emblem removed, just a black mesh opening. Goodyear low profile tires. Dual exhaust that stuck out at 45 degree angles towards the rear corners of the car. Horrible sound and note. Sad blue paint, and a white softop, but aamco, with the silver strip, so oddly unique. Painted black steering wheel spokes – not original like a 69, but painted with a brush. There may have been other oddities, but these stick out today.

I had 2 thoughts and influence at that time. To get that crap off the car, and to somehow, make the car look like a later model 6. I loved the chrome upper and lower trim around the grille. Had to have it. And I wanted the Union Jack flags on the rear wings. And I wanted a front air dam. I figured if I had those 3 things, my car would look like a later model, even if it didn’t have the bumper tits. So, I gather up some money, go to the BL dealer, and order a front air dam. 20 dollars or so, and it was shipped to the greyhound bus station. I’ve shared this story installing it with Billy Holmes on a Saturday afternoon, full shade tree work with 2 teenagers, a drill and some nuts and bolts. Later, I find, somewhow, a junkyard 20 minutes away with a totaled yellow tr6 with parts for sale. Eventually. I go to the yard, and find this car, and sure nuff, the grille is fine – T-bone crash, that probably killed the driver. The won’t sell me the part cause insurance wasn’t done with the claim. So, I come back a month later, and finally buy that grill. Forget how much that was but lets say 30 dollars. All I can remember now is how much other stuff I wanted to buy off that car, even the motor. And this is debateable these days, but that motor wasn’t painted. I swear. And with no paint, was rusting.

I put that 76 grill on, new air dam, and sand off the black paint on my steering wheel. At this point, the car is coming together in my young opinion. The paint, recently discussed, is when the rear union jack flags go on. I have a 72 car, pretending to be something other than a 72 car. Today…to have a 72 car with a 72 grille, and TR6 logo on the rear panels is cooler to me. Funny how that works, right? But I will say, the air dam is a must. Regardless of year. Sacrilege


Enjoy your isolation. We are in a new world. The mark is a great diplomat. You help people around you with this car. Helps people relax, gives inspiration. You are a steward, a diplomat, and you are helping others, even if you just own this mark.

Remember to start the car with it out of gear and foot off the clutch. Smile when you drive, and take a kid driving.

cheers
G

[Tush]

I have a Hard Top...it’s currently stored in my CRAP room....that’s my Ex Wife’s, Ex Craft Room

Cheers
Tush

[L.O. Guvna]

A week of bad weather. Slowly getting ready for Halloween tonight, and unlike most years, the front of the house is not decorated. Yet. Youngest is back at school, but I suppose quarantines can happen again. At school, remote, life void of interaction. Or part of it.

Whats new
I have not fixed/tested the ignition switch with exposed wires. Jim Herter has given some inspiration, to test a few other areas, and Lou/LFMTR4 reminded me, in a headlamp post, maybe those thirsty Sylvania halogen silverstar headlights are pulling more amps than the wiring is designed for, and my bigger than stock 70amp tractor lucas alternator may not, over time, play well with others. I am going to shield those wires on the back of that starter switch, bump that starter, fire the car, and have a look, but I am going to follow Lou’s advice, and add wire to the battery and alternator.

Car is still dirty, needs a bath, and my glove box cover? What is that – the piece of the dash that flips down….is being replaced today. And washed, cause my flimsy Dallas TR6 group on facebook is meeting for the first time at a local brewery at 3pm. For a few hours. 3 cars, so far. Its how some of this starts, I reckon.


Politics
Work podcast
Throwback


Red and Blue
Not sure why I’m throwing this in. Maybe cause I think this car reaches across the isle. I hope so anyway. A car constructed during a socialistic brit leadership, is owned by various levels of wealth? Status, whatever…I really don’t want to go down that road cause I could give a ****, personally. But I do like that anyone can own this car, financially, and you don’t have to be a country club member to stand in a crowd to talk this mark. There are barriers to this mark, but I don’t think politics is it. Thinking now, is politics a barrier anywhere in vintage car ownership? Maybe that is a good thing. That we have an escape. That we can put that polarizing **** aside, and help each other with a half shaft on the side of a road. This mark has the normal barriers, money and politics aren’t part of that. I hope. This mark, as I have said, is a diplomat.


The California Lodging Investors Conference Podcast
Part of what we have done in this crisis, is give back, and help those with support that they didn’t have, or had lost from their brand support. We created a series of webinars for 2 hotel associations, and in that time, got invited to sit in on a few podcasts around the country to talk about our work, our support, and why we did and do what we do. One of them is the CLIC podcast, which I have sat in on twice now, and next week, the day after the election, I will be on with them again, this time in a zoom type meeting. I’ll pitch my biz, catch up with the host, Craig, and talk more about what we are doing.

Why did I tell you this. Cause I will be outside for this meeting, in a chair in my driveway, sitting next to the school car. I’ve thought all week, what my backdrop will be. I thought of several inside the house, my normal backdrop for the webinars, even my daughters tree house. But the more I thought about my talking points, and to the diplomat comment above, this car is a reminder that we will survive. That we will make it through this. That this car will outlive me, and you. And that we have to keep going, and keep helping others. That is the essence of this forum. Not a penny is passed when any of the works guys come on and hand you a wrench. This car, this forum, is an example of what we are and what we do.

My new redlines
Since most of my original content was lost in the website conversion, I struggle to remember what I wrote the first time. I write in a blank email, then copy paste into the site. You’d think I would still have this content somewhere, but I don’t. So, I take the risk that I am repeating myself like an old man – damn, G, you just told us that a few months ago.

I keep going back to the 72 money pit lately. Someday I’ll track that thing down and have a fun conversation with the current steward. I hope its being cared for, and even active here. Wouldn’t that be funny – having a long thread discussion with someone only to find out, like in the movies, hey, that’s my old car.

Part of that revivial that I mentioned recently, to get it to look and feel like the other TR6s, at some point you realize, you gotta have Michelin red lines. I remember thinking, good god, imagine how much better this car will drive with those tires. These goodyear, low profile tires looked wrong. They handled ok, I guess. The truth is, and I didn’t know it then, but those goodyears were very grippy, and handled really well. They wore fast, and were softer compound, and none of this mattered to me, cause I was certain that as soon as that car needed tires, the redlines would go on.

Dad’s best friend was a Michelin exec. His family had a tire business in the small town I was born in, and Cecil – moved into Michelin corporate, and to New Jersey with his family. Time comes for new tires, I’ve got support of Cecil, and its my job to get the car out to the tire shop, and have them put on. Like Christmas. Rims are in good shape, and while tubes were recommended, I remember these being mounted without tubes. This is small town NC, and the tire dealer made this decision.

I don’t remember much spirited driving out of that place, but I do know this. Over time, all I could think was – um, are these tires going to get any better? There is this country road by the airport, with a long straight parrellel to the runway, and at the end, is banked, and turns 90 degrees. It’s a smooth turn, almost race track like, and its fun to run thru that corner, apex, and all that and let the car drift out. Decent load even on a street car. I could run thru that corner at about 60 as a teenager with the goodyears. I was sure I would fly thru this corner with these Michelins. Nope. Same speed, and probably not as fast, frankly. And to top it off, I had set up a section of another country road for stopping distance – don’t ask me how I knew all this then, cause I don’t remember, but I measured 70-0 stopping on both tires. The goodyears were better.

After all that disappointment, I didn’t care. I had redlines on the car, and that was enough. Those tires are intoxicating, and a staple of this mark, even today. The rims too. But to sit here today, my 5 rims stacked in my garage, my current redlines long gone, I feel less nostalgic about them. Its fun to wax, but like asbestos, I can do without them today.

That’s it for today. Happy Halloween.

Enjoy your isolation. We are in a new world. The mark is a great diplomat. You help people around you with this car. Helps people relax, gives inspiration. You are a steward, a diplomat, and you are helping others, even if you just own this mark.

Remember to start the car with it out of gear and foot off the clutch. Smile when you drive, and take a kid driving.

cheers
G

[poolboy]

Maybe it's already been decided but is there some other place for Chris's blog ?
Supposedly this section is for...
"New to TRs and thinking about buying, this area is for you to ask questions. Don't be shy..."

I'm sure there are people who find "the Guvna Blog" interesting, there's bound to be a better spot for him, though, huh ?

[SapphireBlue72]

General Chit-Chat Forum. Non-Tech Talk would work.

[skootch13]

https://forums.6-pack.org/blogs

[L.O. Guvna]

Sounds good - Ken, you are an administrator here - Please move it to where you think it should be, let everyone know, and I'll move forward there. Thanks!

[poolboy]

No...I'm nothing but a Forum participant

[Tush]

Yeah, I don’t think there are any admin’s anymore.

Cheers,
Tush

[wemattson]

Guvna,

Just finished reading through these posts and have to say "thank you". It has been a very informative and entertaining read to date. It has also inspired me to do more with my TR6 and take my youngers nieces and nephews out for some rides. I'll be looking forward to future updates.

Cheers,
Wayne

[L.O. Guvna]

Thanks Wayne,

The gents above are part of what I consider the Works TR support. Or Werks - need some way to extract them from the commoners like me, as they are truly legends here. To see Pool say he is just a forum member is crazy modest. Tush - if you haven't found this guy on youtube, you need to get there, and watch his videos. This place, as......desolate as it feels right now, is a plethora of insight, especially from almost forgotten knowledge. Marks like a TR6 tend to fall off in knowlege - friend tells a friend, tells a friend, tells a friend, and at the end, its Johnny and the mothers are playing at the savoy tonight. Borrowed from Johnny Dangerously, but you get the jist -

I really don't care where my blog goes. i am considering moving it to outside 6-pack, or at least finding a way to help others beyond 6-pack. Facebook, youtube, 6-pack, are all great forums, and ways to connect, and help each other. And I appreciate your comments, as they are intended to help anyone with this mark. In the beginning for this blog? which is now in its second life, started around 2008, and I put it here cause I thought those swimming around this car, nervous about it, worried they could or should own one, could take solace from me and my fumblings, and also share my history with this mark, now almost 40 years. damn, i'm old.

cheers to you. cheers to everyone.

LO Guvna

[wemattson]

Johnny Dangerously was a great flick, although I don't think the "88 magnum" line would be well received nowadays. In any case I hope you keep the blog here because I don't follow any social media. I do spend a lot of time on Youtube though. Some recent events in my life have really woken me up and I have found some real joy tinkering with the TR and taking it out for drives whenever I have the time and weather cooperates. There is something profoundly simple about these cars that reassures us that we can keep these guys on the road for as long as we have the spirit and motivation. In this age of ever encroaching technology that seem to be overtaking all aspects of our life, it is nice to know that we can still enjoy the simple mechanical purity of the TR6.