Club Triumph

Derek Pollock’s love affair with Triumph TRs began in 1954 when he bought his first one, a TR2. That had to be substituted for a Standard Ten immediately prior to the arrival of his first daughter and was then itself replaced by a TR3A. Another daughter and a Standard Vanguard estate followed before the purchase of his beloved TR4 in 1963. He was to ensure that this car was kept constantly maintained, running and on the road until his death, and indeed, thereafter.

It was in 1961 that he joined the TAA, which led to the formation of Club Triumph, after which he duly used the TR4 through the next three decades on a variety of Club runs, tours, autotests and rallies, though never on the RBRR due to the availability of several ‘Works’ cars for his use and later, cars of his own including his 2500S and more particularly his ‘breathed on’ TR8. Derek owned, in his time, a great many Triumph cars including a Gloria Southern Cross, several Heralds and two TR8s, one a genuine UK model.

Derek on the RBRR in 1969 and 1971

During a Club visit to the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1966 he and his great friend Les Mills wondered whether it might be possible to drive all the way around mainland Britain in one go; not perhaps in 24 hours, but maybe in 48. They drew up their plans and successfully completed the run later that year with a handful of fellow Club members in six cars representing the six models then offered by the company. Since then the Round Britain Reliability Run, as it is now known, has grown into a much larger event with around 120 – 130 crews taking part every two years. In 1990 Derek came up with the idea of raising money for charity by getting crews to gain sponsorship for completing the event. Since then the event has raised over £750,000 for a variety of charities with over £100,000 raised on the last Run in 2018 alone.

Derek with his 2 daughters after receiving the MBE

Derek held various positions within the Club for many years including Secretary, magazine Editor (concurrently for part of the time) and latterly President and magazine proof reader as well as regularly contributing material of historical, technical and humorous nature. He was regarded by many of those who served the Club alongside him simply as ‘Mr Club Triumph’ for several decades although it is true to say that you would have to go a long way to find someone as gentlemanly, humble, approachable and funny as he was. Like many of his generation who, dare we say, ‘Triumphed through adversity’ in the 1940s, he will be sorely missed.

Derek with his TR4 which he owned and drove for 56 years

Club Triumph is proud to announce its Annual Awards Dinner to be held on the 29^th February 2020 at Shendish Manor Golf Course and Hotel near Kings Langley.

Follow the link above for full details and to book <<via the ENTER button>> (look to the panel on the right of the event page)

Club Triumph is pleased to announce the Essex Winter Rally, which will be held on Sunday 17th November 2019. The event is a non-timed 12 Car navigation rally suitable for Experts, Novices and Beginners. Click the title above to link to the event page for further details and to ENTER.