TR5 trip with added value through England and Scotland
10/08/2017
In May, June and July 2017, I was on the road in England and Scotland with my Triumph TR 5. During these months, I traveled for six weeks and also attended a language school in Bristol. This fulfilled my wish to learn English after my retirement. I was also able to enjoy my classic car hobby to the full.
My 1968 Triumph was the ideal English classic car for this trip. I was asked about the TR 5 countless times along the way. Many expressed their delight or told me about their own experiences with classic cars. I got to know the British as very talkative, nice and friendly people and, surprisingly, not only men but also older ladies spoke to me about the vehicle.
The Turin designer Giovanni Michelotti has created a very pleasing body for the Triumph TR 4 and 5 with a pithy character and a very high likeability factor. Many Brits love British classic cars and you see them a lot in everyday life. They also cultivate this passion at countless classic car meetings and have many classic car museums that are well worth a visit.
So of course a visit to the Haynes International Motor Museum, south of Bristol, was a must. There were countless British rarities to admire.
Traveling in Great Britain has left me with lasting impressions. In the north of Scotland, the "North Coast 500" runs mostly along a beautiful coastline, and this Route 500 will remain an unforgettable route for me in the northern Highlands. I would also like to highlight the Bealach na Bà pass road to Applecross. It was simply sensational for me with its single-lane, often adventurous route in the breathtaking Highlands.
The route from Eilean Donan Castle to Invergarry through Glen Shiel is also one of the highlights for me, as the yellow gorse was in bloom everywhere in May. The month of May was the ideal time for me to travel, with mostly beautiful weather and few tourists.
The Highlands with their countless plains, valleys, lochs and mountains made me want to stop again and again. I reached the northernmost point in Scotland at John o' Groats and the westernmost point in England at Land's End. Many car and motorcycle enthusiasts make a pilgrimage to these places as they represent the beginning and end of the "end to end" route in Great Britain and Scotland.
Of course I had to visit Coventry in England, the birthplace of my TR 5. Apart from a memorial, there is only a small original Triumph Motor Company house to see, which is now used as a Triumph clubhouse.
I also had the opportunity to visit the Rimmer Bros company in Lincoln, which has a very large stock of countless parts for English classic cars. As I had problems with the trip counter on my trip with the TR 5, I wanted to replace it at Rimmer Bros. Unfortunately, they didn't have this exact item in stock, but by loosening two screws on the back, I was able to find the cause of the problem myself. All the internal parts were very dirty and the lubrication was no longer working at all. After cleaning and oiling, the Smiths trip counter was running perfectly again and for me, this was the stand-out of the day.
I quickly got used to driving on the left, as the English drivers always supported me with their friendly, careful and calm manner. Using the horn is a no-go for most of them, something I had never experienced before in any other country. The 2.5 liter six-cylinder engine with fuel injection has sufficient power reserves and a super torque with its 150 hp. The braking system cannot keep up with modern vehicles, but the braking distance is correspondingly longer. Driving with foresight and keeping sufficient distance were a must.
I had problems with the British road conditions in many places. The countless potholes are a real challenge for classic cars and it is almost impossible to avoid them all. The independent suspension on my TR 5, which was very advanced in its day, was of little use, as these kinds of bumps come through to the driver almost unfiltered!
I really appreciated the hospitality in the beautiful Bread & Breakfasts and hotels in Britain and driving this monument to British roadster design in the UK was a special privilege. The TR 5 showed its best side in all respects on this trip and also opened many doors for me.
