Every now and again I walk past it and think with another weeks work I could get those panel gaps much better, and a decent paint job would really finish it off. Or how about fixing that damage to the sill a certain Mr Chinn inflicted on the poor thing in one of his off road incidents in the 2,500 mile 2003 Club Triumph 10 Countries Run. Or why don't I spend an hour or two fitting that bespoke rear spring I had made at vast expense to improve the rear ride height. Or it would only take a couple of days to tidy up the trim and then I could get a few more wedding bookings (it's already done a few, there are some strange folk around!). Only trouble is if you add all those odd days together it would become weeks and I simply don't have enough weeks spare anymore (or ever likely to). To be honest we have had our fun out of it (the 10CR being a highlight), and to save me ever lifting a spanner to it again it's time to say goodbye to the Streeeeeeeeeeetch.

http://www.canleyclassics.com/carsforsale.asp?article=stretch.xml

Although yet to be confirmed officially we were saddened to hear of the tragic death in yesterdays private jet crash in Farnborough of Richard Lloyd.

Richard was recently famous as a Touring car team boss, but also had success with team Bentley that did so well at Le Mans, culminating in an outright win in 2003.

For us Triumph people Richard will always be synonymous with Gold Seal Racing and the highly successful plastic Spitfires from the late 60', early 70's.

Our condolences to his wife and three daughters, the rest of his family, and those of the the other passengers, and crew.

It's been a love hate relationship with my Yokohama A520's over the years. At best they grip like s**t to a blanket, and have lasted really well. At worst they are noisy, and have been the most prone to tracking on white lines etc of any tyre I have ever had. I thought my old 205/60/15 Pirelli P6's I fitted to a succession of TR's, Stags, and 2.5PI's in the 80's were bad, but I have had some equally scary moments with the Yoko's. The Yoko's came about as a result of a special offer by a tyre purveyor in the trade who made me a superb offer I couldn't refuse, so good I bought 3 sets of 195/50/15 A520's from them. They have seen their life out mostly on our old MKI PI (now moved on), the Chicane (the ones in the picture), and the V8 saloon. The ones on the V8 are approaching slick status, and the Chicane ones aren't much better.

To be honest I can't wait to change them as we have found a much better tyre that really suits the big Triumphs, one of Continentals newest offerings. The wife has gone through two sets in her PI, and they are absolutely superb on all counts from start to finish.

If I didn't like my 6J X 15 KN Gemini's (also pictured above), a proper alloy wheel from the 1960's so much, I would also have long since gone up a diameter or two on the wheel size. 15" is the bair minimum diameter I will have on my saloon's/Stag's etc these day's. If I do chance to drive someone elses car on 14" (or god forbid 13"!) wheels, and tyres it scares the hell out of me!

I wonder if it would be possible to get KN to do me a few sets of new build 7J X 17" Gemini's?