TR Register 2014
Sunday, 6 July 2014
TRs from around the campsites
As promised we will update you with TRs spotted around the campsites and circuit throughout the weekend here are a few more caught near Tetre Rouge:
Race 2: Grid 4: Triumph TRS (Neil Revington / Richard Bull) Update
The Triumph TRS tribute has been running strong throughout the Le Mans Classic 2014 and in Race 2 that form continued. Neil Revington piloted for the opening stint and by the time Richard Bull took over at the scheduled driver change, dawn was breaking along the pitlane.
The driver change and pitstop was probably one of the quickest and most efficient we have seen from the Penrite Le Mans team all weekend with the car being held only to satisfy the 60 second stop rule that applies to all competitors.
Race 2 ended with the Triumph TRs tribute running 7th in class and 38th overall.
You can watch the driver change and pitstop on the video below:
In the final stages of Race 2 , the Triumph TRS headed into dawn, looking spectacular at the Ford Chicane:
The driver change and pitstop was probably one of the quickest and most efficient we have seen from the Penrite Le Mans team all weekend with the car being held only to satisfy the 60 second stop rule that applies to all competitors.
Race 2 ended with the Triumph TRs tribute running 7th in class and 38th overall.
You can watch the driver change and pitstop on the video below:
In the final stages of Race 2 , the Triumph TRS headed into dawn, looking spectacular at the Ford Chicane:
Race 2: Grid 3: Triumph TR3S (Barry Siddery-Smith / John Sykes) Update
Race 1 for the Triumph TR3S tribute of Barry Siddery-Smith and John Sykes didn't conclude ideally. Despite returning very fast and consistent lap times, the car failed to complete the session after running out of fuel. It was thought that the last fill up had been miscalculated, however it soon became apparent in Race 2 that the problem was more serious.
Barry Siddery Smith took the opening stint in Race 2, but lap times were noticeably slower, even despite the fact the some light rain had begun to fall around parts of the circuit.
After 3 laps Barry Siddery-Smith came in for the scheduled driver change and pitstop reporting that the car had become very difficult to control, with suspected fuel starvation making matters worse.
The problems were confirmed by another competitor who had come charging up the pit lane to inform the Penrite TR Team that the car was losing fuel, and lots of it!
John Sykes took over the car for a few laps but inevitably the car headed back to the paddock for work to begin on solving the fuel leak. The source of the leak at present time is unknown but seems to have affected the handling of the car so it looks likely that some of that fuel is finding its way onto the tyres. We'll update with further information after dawn.
Barry Siddery Smith took the opening stint in Race 2, but lap times were noticeably slower, even despite the fact the some light rain had begun to fall around parts of the circuit.
After 3 laps Barry Siddery-Smith came in for the scheduled driver change and pitstop reporting that the car had become very difficult to control, with suspected fuel starvation making matters worse.
The problems were confirmed by another competitor who had come charging up the pit lane to inform the Penrite TR Team that the car was losing fuel, and lots of it!
John Sykes took over the car for a few laps but inevitably the car headed back to the paddock for work to begin on solving the fuel leak. The source of the leak at present time is unknown but seems to have affected the handling of the car so it looks likely that some of that fuel is finding its way onto the tyres. We'll update with further information after dawn.
Race 2: Grid 2: Triumph TR2 (Neil Fender / Guy Broad) Update
There were problems in Race 1 for the Triumph TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad, when a broken rear hub caused them to retire after 2 laps. However, with a renewed rear halfshaft in place Guy Broad took the first stint of Race 2 starting from the back of the grid. After just one lap, Guy Broad had taken the TR2 up 20 places and continued on that form throughout the rest of the race.
The final result for the Triumph TR2 in Race 2 (Grid 2) was the result of that blistering initial pace:
Position 32 overall and 1st in class. A great result for a car that is now running strong once again.
Elsewhere in the same Race and Grid a French Triumph TR2 was also managing a strong performance:
The final result for the Triumph TR2 in Race 2 (Grid 2) was the result of that blistering initial pace:
Position 32 overall and 1st in class. A great result for a car that is now running strong once again.
Elsewhere in the same Race and Grid a French Triumph TR2 was also managing a strong performance:
Race 2: Grid 2: Video Footage
Into the depths of night and Race 2 for Grid 2 proved to be a wet but exhilarating racing. Here is just a taste of the action in this video shot from the pit wall (play fullscreen and turn it up loud!) :
Race 1: Grid 4 Triumph TRS result and video interview
The Triumph TRS tribute car, driven by Neil Revington and Richard Bull finished Race 1 under safety car conditions after a solid performance in Grid 4.
16th in class and 50th overall, but to use a Le Mans cliche, "its a long race...."
See the video interview with Neil Revington after his stint here where he gives an insight into how the car is running and what it feels like to be driving a Triumph TR at this legendary event:
On board video with the Triumph TR3S tribute car at Le Mans Classic 2014
Jump on board the Triumph TR3S in Grid 3 with Barry Sidery-Smith as he takes on the legendary Le Mans Circuit at night :
Click the box button the the far right of the YouTube bottom menu bar to play fullscreen.
Click the box button the the far right of the YouTube bottom menu bar to play fullscreen.
Saturday, 5 July 2014
Race 1: Updates on all TR's
As reported in our last blog, the Triumph TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad only managed 2 laps during race 1 in Grid 2. We thought that the issue had something to do with the suspected propshaft noise.
The propshaft noise in fact turned out to be a failed left rear hub, where several of the bolts had sheared.
Neil says, "I hit an odd camber in the road, the car just began to fish tail violently and I knew there was something not right, it was then just a case of limping back with rear wheel steering and getting the car back to the pits in one piece."
Phil Tucker, who's family business is one of the sponsors alongside Penrite in the TR campaign at Le Mans this year was on hand to assist.
"With Phil's help we have replaced the halfshaft on the car and will run as normal in Race 2 later tonight" Neil said.
Meanwhile in Race 1 for Grid 3, the Triumph TR3S driven by John Sykes and Barry Sidery Smith had a strong race, lapping consistently quickly as the session went on. The team nearly completed the stint in 29th position overall and 3rd in class, but the car stopped out on track near the end of the session after running out of fuel. They will return in Race 2.
Currently Grid 4 is out on track in which the Triumph TRS of Neil Revington and Richard Bull putting in an equally stout performance. Currently 10th in class and 37th overall they have just completed the latest round of pitstops and driver changes but the session has been slowed under safety car conditions. See the pictures below:
The propshaft noise in fact turned out to be a failed left rear hub, where several of the bolts had sheared.
Neil says, "I hit an odd camber in the road, the car just began to fish tail violently and I knew there was something not right, it was then just a case of limping back with rear wheel steering and getting the car back to the pits in one piece."
Phil Tucker, who's family business is one of the sponsors alongside Penrite in the TR campaign at Le Mans this year was on hand to assist.
"With Phil's help we have replaced the halfshaft on the car and will run as normal in Race 2 later tonight" Neil said.
Meanwhile in Race 1 for Grid 3, the Triumph TR3S driven by John Sykes and Barry Sidery Smith had a strong race, lapping consistently quickly as the session went on. The team nearly completed the stint in 29th position overall and 3rd in class, but the car stopped out on track near the end of the session after running out of fuel. They will return in Race 2.
Currently Grid 4 is out on track in which the Triumph TRS of Neil Revington and Richard Bull putting in an equally stout performance. Currently 10th in class and 37th overall they have just completed the latest round of pitstops and driver changes but the session has been slowed under safety car conditions. See the pictures below:
Race 1 - Grid 2 / Grid 3 so far...
The first race featuring TRs was GRID 2 which got underway just after 6pm local time with a traditional "Le Mans Start" with drivers needing to run from the other side of the track, jump into the cars and set off.
The latest news on the timing screens is that Car 57, the Triumph TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad completed only two laps of Race 1. It may be that the earlier issue with the proposhaft noise has caused them issues, we'll give you more details from the pits when we have them.
Currently on track is GRID 3 in which the Triumph TR3S of Barry - Sidery Smith and John Sykes is running strong, consistently lapping faster as John Sykes confidence grows with the car last lap being 5:54:171 - which is nearly 6 seconds a lap faster than they were in qualifying!
GRID 2: Triumph TR2 Neil Fender / Guy Broad - 68th after 2 laps completed.
GRID 3: <still underway at 21:19 local time> Triumph TR3S Barry Siddery-Smith / John Sykes - 31st overall - 2nd in class!
Race day preparations
Today has given teams a chance to complete final preparations and adjustments before race start Saturday evening at 18:00.
The TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad is still running with issues from a propshaft coming into contact with something on the underside of the car. Speaking to Neil Fender earlier today he said, "It's a problem that is annoying, we cannot seem to see anything out of place underneath the car but we will see how we get on during the first race session. Hopefully it won't get any worse."
There were a few pre-race niggles for the TRS of Neil Revington and Richard Bull as well, mainly electrical related neccesitating a starter motor to be changed and a few other connections renewed. It's suspected these failed due to a combination of the heat and vibration. All in all the car is running and sounding very well indeed.
The Triumph TR3S of Barry Siddery - Smith and John Sykes has had a fantastic run so far with no problems to report.
All teams have been supported of course by Penrite Oil who as sponsors would be keen to know that no oil changes have been required, all oil pressures are remaining high and constant and the oil is still clean and looking as good as new!
Below are some pictures from the TR paddocks from Saturday evening, moments before racing began:
The TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad is still running with issues from a propshaft coming into contact with something on the underside of the car. Speaking to Neil Fender earlier today he said, "It's a problem that is annoying, we cannot seem to see anything out of place underneath the car but we will see how we get on during the first race session. Hopefully it won't get any worse."
There were a few pre-race niggles for the TRS of Neil Revington and Richard Bull as well, mainly electrical related neccesitating a starter motor to be changed and a few other connections renewed. It's suspected these failed due to a combination of the heat and vibration. All in all the car is running and sounding very well indeed.
The Triumph TR3S of Barry Siddery - Smith and John Sykes has had a fantastic run so far with no problems to report.
All teams have been supported of course by Penrite Oil who as sponsors would be keen to know that no oil changes have been required, all oil pressures are remaining high and constant and the oil is still clean and looking as good as new!
Below are some pictures from the TR paddocks from Saturday evening, moments before racing began:
Friday night free practice video report
The Penrite TR Team went into Friday nights free practice sessions with some strong qualifying positions under their belt. Friday night free practice is an opportunity for further testing on the cars before race start tomorrow and importantly, a chance for the drivers to get to grips with the difficult Le Mans 24 hour circuit in the dark.
First out was Neil Fender and Guy Broad in the Triumph TR2 PKV 693. They are really happy with their qualifying position although the car will need work tomorrow morning. On sharp left hand bends like the Porsche curves and Dunlop esses the propshaft is coming into contact with the exhaust, a problem that the team are relaxed about solving but will need to be rectified pre-race tomorrow.
Elsewhere, John Sykes had his first night session of the campaign in the Triumph TR3S tribute. In the video below watch his pitstop and hear his initial reactions with an interview fresh from the car!
Finally, Neil Revington continued to build confidence in the Triumph TRS with his night session and you can catch his last pitstop of the evening in this video:
All the Penrite Team were keen to encourage the drivers to check their ever improving lap times against the competition following each pitstop:
First out was Neil Fender and Guy Broad in the Triumph TR2 PKV 693. They are really happy with their qualifying position although the car will need work tomorrow morning. On sharp left hand bends like the Porsche curves and Dunlop esses the propshaft is coming into contact with the exhaust, a problem that the team are relaxed about solving but will need to be rectified pre-race tomorrow.
Elsewhere, John Sykes had his first night session of the campaign in the Triumph TR3S tribute. In the video below watch his pitstop and hear his initial reactions with an interview fresh from the car!
Finally, Neil Revington continued to build confidence in the Triumph TRS with his night session and you can catch his last pitstop of the evening in this video:
All the Penrite Team were keen to encourage the drivers to check their ever improving lap times against the competition following each pitstop:
Friday, 4 July 2014
Video footage from practice and qualifying
For those of you not able to be at the spectacular Le Mans Classic 2014 event this year, you can experience some of the magic with some video clips from the practice sessions today:
Simply click the YouTube video below to watch and turn it up loud!
Early in the afternoon, Grid 1 took to the circuit. Although no TRs are entered into this grid I am sure you will appreciate the magic of seeing such vintage machinery driven in anger:
Grid 2 is the first of the grids to be graced by a Penrite TR, here you can see Neil Fender in action posting a really string qualifying time amongst some stiff competition and very fast machinery!
Finally, just because they sound so truly amazing, some of Grid 6 - the 1970's sports prototypes:
Simply click the YouTube video below to watch and turn it up loud!
Early in the afternoon, Grid 1 took to the circuit. Although no TRs are entered into this grid I am sure you will appreciate the magic of seeing such vintage machinery driven in anger:
Grid 2 is the first of the grids to be graced by a Penrite TR, here you can see Neil Fender in action posting a really string qualifying time amongst some stiff competition and very fast machinery!
Finally, just because they sound so truly amazing, some of Grid 6 - the 1970's sports prototypes:
Qualifying Results - phenomenal positions for the TRs
Le Mans Classic 2014: Qualifying results
On the whole the weather conditions for the first sessions on the weekend were pretty favourable. A short sharp shower gave rise to some incidents and the ultimate red flagging of the Qualifying session for Grid 2 but apart from that all the other sessions passed without incident and with some very solid lap times.
So how did the Penrite Oils TR Team do? The results are in....
GRID 2:
The Triumph TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad had a very strong qualifying session and qualified the fastest of the Triumphs 22nd fastest overall and 4th in class:
Pos. 22 - Neil Fender / Guy Broad - Triumph TR2 (1954) Car No. 61 - fastest time of 6:01:021
Elsewhere in Grid 2 in was an all Jaguar line up at the top of the field:
POLE : Alex Buncombe - Jaguar C-Type (1952) Car No. 29 - fastest time of 4:57:162
Pos. 2: C. Joy / G. Pickering - Jaguar D Type (1955) Car No. 4 - fastest time of 5:02:980
Pos. 3: C. Monteverde / G. Pearson / A. Smith / J. Twyman - Jaguar D Type (1955) fastest time: 5:04:992
GRID 3:
The Triumph TR3 of Barry Sidery-Smith, John Sykes, Richard Bull and Neil Revington qualified 8th in class and 45th overall, a phenomenal result that car owner Paul Hogan will be pleased with on his birthday today!
Pos. 45 - Sidery Smith/ Sykes / Bull / Revington - Triumph TR3S (1959) Car No. 57 - fastest time of 6:13:331
Elsewhere on Grid 3 it was Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus. The pole siting car driven by the well know Gary Pearson co-driving with motoring journalist from PistonHeads, Chris Harris.
POLE : G. Pearson / C.Harris - Jaguar D-Type (1955) Car No. 16 - fastest time of 4:53:925
Pos. 2: T. Alexander / A. Willmott - Aston Martin DB4 (1960) Car No. 4 - fastest time of 5:02:555
Pos. 3: M. Malone / R. Hall - Lotus 15 (1959) fastest time: 5:06:724
GRID 4:
The final grid containing one of our Penrite TR's and it is the much revered Triumph TRS of Richard Bull, Neil Revington and John Sykes. This car looked truly spectacular out on track today and qualified in a strong position managing 55th overall and 6th in class.
Pos. 55 - Sykes / Bull / Revington - Triumph TRS (1961) Car No. 57 - fastest time of 5:52:673
Elsewhere on Grid 4, and since it was for 1960s sports cars it was quite rightly an all Ford top three:
POLE : D. Ferrao / M. Stretton - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 72 - fastest time of 4:37:446
Pos. 2: C. Dumolin / C. Van Riet - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 68 - fastest time of 4:39:381
Pos. 3: H. Hugenholtz - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 12 - fastest time: 4:39:661
All in all a fantastic start to the Penrite TR teams campaign at Le Mans Classic 2014. The cars will be out again tonight for night time practice before race start tomorrow evening.
Of course, all the updates will be on these pages and on the Twitter feed you see to the right hand side (not on mobile app versions).
Full qualifying results to download here:
Grid 2
Grid 3
Grid 4
On the whole the weather conditions for the first sessions on the weekend were pretty favourable. A short sharp shower gave rise to some incidents and the ultimate red flagging of the Qualifying session for Grid 2 but apart from that all the other sessions passed without incident and with some very solid lap times.
So how did the Penrite Oils TR Team do? The results are in....
GRID 2:
The Triumph TR2 of Neil Fender and Guy Broad had a very strong qualifying session and qualified the fastest of the Triumphs 22nd fastest overall and 4th in class:
Pos. 22 - Neil Fender / Guy Broad - Triumph TR2 (1954) Car No. 61 - fastest time of 6:01:021
Elsewhere in Grid 2 in was an all Jaguar line up at the top of the field:
POLE : Alex Buncombe - Jaguar C-Type (1952) Car No. 29 - fastest time of 4:57:162
Pos. 2: C. Joy / G. Pickering - Jaguar D Type (1955) Car No. 4 - fastest time of 5:02:980
Pos. 3: C. Monteverde / G. Pearson / A. Smith / J. Twyman - Jaguar D Type (1955) fastest time: 5:04:992
GRID 3:
The Triumph TR3 of Barry Sidery-Smith, John Sykes, Richard Bull and Neil Revington qualified 8th in class and 45th overall, a phenomenal result that car owner Paul Hogan will be pleased with on his birthday today!
Pos. 45 - Sidery Smith/ Sykes / Bull / Revington - Triumph TR3S (1959) Car No. 57 - fastest time of 6:13:331
Elsewhere on Grid 3 it was Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus. The pole siting car driven by the well know Gary Pearson co-driving with motoring journalist from PistonHeads, Chris Harris.
POLE : G. Pearson / C.Harris - Jaguar D-Type (1955) Car No. 16 - fastest time of 4:53:925
Pos. 2: T. Alexander / A. Willmott - Aston Martin DB4 (1960) Car No. 4 - fastest time of 5:02:555
Pos. 3: M. Malone / R. Hall - Lotus 15 (1959) fastest time: 5:06:724
GRID 4:
The final grid containing one of our Penrite TR's and it is the much revered Triumph TRS of Richard Bull, Neil Revington and John Sykes. This car looked truly spectacular out on track today and qualified in a strong position managing 55th overall and 6th in class.
Pos. 55 - Sykes / Bull / Revington - Triumph TRS (1961) Car No. 57 - fastest time of 5:52:673
Elsewhere on Grid 4, and since it was for 1960s sports cars it was quite rightly an all Ford top three:
POLE : D. Ferrao / M. Stretton - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 72 - fastest time of 4:37:446
Pos. 2: C. Dumolin / C. Van Riet - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 68 - fastest time of 4:39:381
Pos. 3: H. Hugenholtz - Ford GT40 (1965) Car No. 12 - fastest time: 4:39:661
Of course, all the updates will be on these pages and on the Twitter feed you see to the right hand side (not on mobile app versions).
Full qualifying results to download here:
Grid 2
Grid 3
Grid 4
TR's at Le Mans - a misty eyed moment
So far, the Le Mans Classic has begun in fine style. As I sit here in the press room, overlooking the pit straight I am reminded of just how magical a place Le Mans really is.
I am no stranger to media rooms, usually arctic grade air conditioning and stale coffee and this one is no different, except it is at Le Mans and that means it has a certain magic, a real atmosphere - much like the actual 24 hour race in fact!
Whether you're passion lies in the latest modern day prototypes from Audi, Toyota and Porsche, modern GT's or like the thousands of people who have flocked to La Sarthe this weekend; you prefer indulging in the romantic history of Le Mans - the experience is one not to be missed!
Even better this year as we have a trio have fantastically prepared TR's supported by Penrite Oils racing in Grid 2, Grid 3 and Grid 4. Watching the TR's sliding around Arnage corner earlier this afternoon was a stark reminder of how important the racing heritage of the Triumph TR marque is and what an opportunity Le Mans Classic 2014 presents to experience that history in all its glory.
I am no stranger to media rooms, usually arctic grade air conditioning and stale coffee and this one is no different, except it is at Le Mans and that means it has a certain magic, a real atmosphere - much like the actual 24 hour race in fact!
Whether you're passion lies in the latest modern day prototypes from Audi, Toyota and Porsche, modern GT's or like the thousands of people who have flocked to La Sarthe this weekend; you prefer indulging in the romantic history of Le Mans - the experience is one not to be missed!
Even better this year as we have a trio have fantastically prepared TR's supported by Penrite Oils racing in Grid 2, Grid 3 and Grid 4. Watching the TR's sliding around Arnage corner earlier this afternoon was a stark reminder of how important the racing heritage of the Triumph TR marque is and what an opportunity Le Mans Classic 2014 presents to experience that history in all its glory.
Twitter feed running for Le Mans Classic 2014
To keep you updated with the racing as it happens please refer to the Twitter feed on the right hand side of the blog page as well as the main posts here.
So far, Friday afternoon practice and qualifying is underway with The TR2 of Guy Broad and Neil Fender having a clean run in Grid 2. The session was cut short after 40 minutes due to a rain shower.
As often happens here at Le Mans, it rained heavier through the Porsche curves area of the track than it did at Mulsanne or Arnage. This faces the drivers with a huge challenge as conditions differ on every corner of the track.
As a result marshalls red flagged the session while a an accident involving cars further down the field was dealt with. Happy to report that the Penrite TRs all look to be running well as out on track for Grid 3, the TR3S of Barry Sidery Smith, Richard Bull and Neil Revington start their practice session.
More updates to follow both on these main pages and on the Twitter feed on the right.
TRs around the campsites
Throughout the weekend, we'll be capturing as many of the TRs as we can spot from around the campsites, here are a few of the earlier arrivals at Maison Blanche.
TRs of all nationalities have gathered to enjoy the racing:
Some are veterans of Le Mans Classic returning again after enjoying it back in 2012:
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