TR6 360,000+ miles on a TR6

[tr6nitjulius]

My TR6 has drawn my attention to the odometer each time as it scrolls to all zeros since 99999 we just got it like that

with that said 6 months 8K+ miles into having my TR6 back from being held hostage by body shop for 2 years (trade off they did an incredible job) decided didn't want to see 360,000 scroll up TR6 N IT in everyday area like by the ocean or some familiar road pondered with what to do week prior.

Intended to drive to TRF Summer Party but wasn't getting good vibs about subjecting myself/TR to potential risk of issues going on in some states east of Mississippi I'd have to traverse 2nd option All TR Drive In Canada time to decide on that journey used up by waiting for vibe to change. Weekend of ATDI during Therapy session with TR in TR Cave we decided to treat each other achieving majestic milestone 360,000 miles on same engine (rebuilt in 1990 with 150K on it) in a majestic scenario.

Tuesday morning hit the road @5am Inland Empire to San Dimas (215 to 210 fwy) @this 50 miles hit the going to work crowd exited fwy several blocks north to Foothill Blvd Route 66 for 25 miles parallels 210 fwy stops lights but way better than stop & go fwy stress back on 210 fwy west of Pasadena at this point rush hour traffic other side of fwy. I-5N though less time by 1-2 hrs vs other north routes necessary evil hot/dusty/straight/boring however gets cast iron engine block hot enough long enough to blow out stop & go carbon avg 70 mph for several hrs 6 settled in for 10 hr 546 miles other than petrol/road kill/Cali duster mini detailing @petrol stops to Redding, Ca

Tentative route I-5N to Grants Pass, Or then 199 to 101/Hwy1 Crescent City, Ca spend the night @Curly Lodge in motel made out of 1 giant Redwood Tree retro motel built in the 50's main purpose for my TR6 individual parking space covered/separated by 4x4 planter talk about anti-door ding. Up @ crack of dawn through selected Majestic Scenario for the TRIUMPH Moment Majestic 360,000 scroll on my TR6 odometer back to 101S then home.

Arrived in Redding around 3 pm shared route with gas station clerk he stated approx 5 hrs to Grants Pass then another 1 1/2 to Crescent City he suggested I take hwy 229 W Redding to 101 to Crescent City 210 miles 4 hr 15 min pulling away from the pump decided didn't want event to occur in the dark nor be driving in twisty Redwoods after night fall (wildlife out & about) 226 W great choice me & my TR6 never been on that road we were impressed with it, freshly repaved avg speeds 55-70 mph twisting 4 lanes most areas with numerous passing lanes when road got down to 2 lanes did hit a stretch where road widening was going on pilot car escort 5 miles of pre-pavement packed gravel but still TR & I loved it got to motel just b4 8 pm. Town shuts down @9 pm had time to grub/clean TR/watch some Olympics before retiring for the night

Crescent City harbor across hwy1 from motel devastated 1964 by tsunami from 8.8 Alaska quake smaller tsunami hit again 2011 from Japan quake so leaving crack of dawn was a good thing topless & bundled up set out for 227 miles 5 hr down hwy1 S to Mendocino looking to make it pass already traveled route Fort Bragg & hwy 20 (nice twisties) to head east to 101. Brought cell phone (old flip) but no car charger so it had died no worry as I do & have traveled so many miles without one or GPS.

6:30 am TR6 raring to go roared to life, the next day after several hours drive they are a different animal performing/running better. Still shy of 360,000 miles my destination the Majestic/Serene Avenue of the Giants 35 miles stretch through the Redwoods as 59999 experienced yet another Majestic TR Moment scrolled to 60000 Mission Accomplished tooted the horn/pumped my fist/let out a woo woo/kissed my index finger tapped the dash/Big Grin & said Thanks Baby for all the TR Moments 360008 we were driving through a Giant Redwood at Drive Thu Tree Park Leggett, Ca believe it's the same one on Dodge truck commercial

Before leaving home using google maps I wrote down couple routes to refer to at certain points, back in the day it was road maps, google allows me to zoom in & see actual road pave etc. In search of Stewart's Point for road that looked like TR heaven twisty in & out of forest to 101 S Healdsburg ended up behind CHP who pulled in roadside nose in parking area near Dark Gulch I think to set up radar.

I pulled in 20 ft ahead got out flashed big smile & peace sign walked towards patrol car CHP exited her unit. Briefed her on my adventure retired on a need to get away 2 day Me & My TR6 moment, left Riverside area yesterday, enjoyed 226W spent the night in Crescent City headed back home been on hwy 20 out of Ft Bragg several times but wanted to drive a road yet traveled, asked how far to Stewart's Point for cut over to 101 she suggested continue south on hwy1 about & hour to Navarro Pt take 128 W which is a nice 2 lane road even offered to look up route on her cell phone GPS I said that's ok I'm in no hurry we both smiled as I said Thank You Very Much mutual Have A Nice Day as I turned to walk back to my TR she said nice car enjoy you ride I turned my head towards her with that lustful smile you get after bonding with you 6 on the road & said Oh I most definitely will started up/left turn signal on/merged onto hwy1 back to the Pleasure of Driving my TR6 & complete the 6 hr 236 miles Crescent City to Navarro Pt.

She was absolutely correct 128 W twisted 2 hrs 60 miles in & out of forest/open meadows/small towns/wine country with numerous passing lanes though not needed as majority of route only traffic was oncoming to Cloverdale 101 S to 580 S to I-5 S on the TR'n menu 9 hrs 545 miles hit 4 pm rush hour near Santa Rosa exited to refuel & de-road grim/grub & take back road to Petluma that my Baby Sis turned me onto when she lived in Santa Rosa, hit Bay Area 7ish rush hour thinned out & moving 55+ mph at the 580S/I-5 S it was 8ish knowing it was just 5 hrs 360 miles to home night fall, TR6 loving the cooler air, hot engine/stop & go carbon blownout another at the wheel decision as it was dark didn't have to look at the flat dusty landscape I-5 Tracy to L.A. other than other drivers sort of tunnel vision headlights/road treat myself & TR6 besides essentials fuel/grub/pitstops do in one shot!

44 yr old 1972 TR6 I bought for my 30th Birthday present to myself in 1979 with 86,000 on odometer as demanded ran Flawless performed Masterfully the near 1700 mile road trip driving heat of the day hot/dusty I-5 N L.A. to Redding added 1/8 qrt oil none needed after that, week later had her mechanic make a house call for few expressions of my ongoing Love Affair & appreciation R&R oil/filter/new plugs/wires/dizzy cap/electronic ignition/timing/spray wash undercarriage & wheel wells/detail which not as time consuming as prior due to total Expel Vinyl Wrap took to align shop as hit several potholes @70 mph stated alignment remains where it was set 6 months ago. As of today 9/2/16 360,913 miles as we await our next TR Moment to TRIUMPHest 2016 Ventura, Ca so my TR6 can visit/share with other TRs what we enjoyed.

I Love My TR6
TR6 N IT Julius

 

[Andrew Mace]

Two things:

1. AWESOME!
2. Just goes to show that even "toys" can last with proper care (which ain't rocket science, folks)! It's by far not the first Triumph I've heard of that has zeroed its odometer several times, but it's always exciting to hear of another one doing so. Heck, why should some old red Volvo get all the attention?

 

[mrv8q]

Great story, Julius. Having seen your car, I had no idea it had so many grin-producing miles; it truly is a spectacular looking car.

It's been a while, but I'm looking forward to seeing your rejuvenated '6!

 

[NutmegCT]

Bravo! Keeping these old cars on the road - and in public view! - is both a challenge and a reward. Congrats to you for your victories!

Tom M.

 

[myfirsttr]

Probably a good story but gave up.

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Two things:

1. AWESOME!
2. Just goes to show that even "toys" can last with proper care (which ain't rocket science, folks)! It's by far not the first Triumph I've heard of that has zeroed its odometer several times, but it's always exciting to hear of another one doing so. Heck, why should some old red Volvo get all the attention?

1. Thanks
2. One example of Proof in the pudding, like taking care of one's body preventive maintenance more effective often times less costly than fixing broke. Not to mention TRIUMPH is hands on most issue for the relics of British Iron can be fixed in a few days by the owner relative to modern day 30 Gs plastic cars that have to be computer diagnosed. Comparitive I got my 1st/Only/Last TR built it to fix/suit me

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Great story, Julius. Having seen your car, I had no idea it had so many grin-producing miles; it truly is a spectacular looking car.

It's been a while, but I'm looking forward to seeing your rejuvenated '6!

Thanks Kevin that's why you always see me with the perma-grin Driving my TR6 is a Passion that continues to be satisfied by same TR owned 37 yrs
Appearance of Trailer Queen https://www.triumphexp.com/registry/CC77306L that will never see a trailer as long as I own it Keep it clean &Drive it! painter had it for 2 yrs hate that but love the results each stage of paint hardened out side in Inland Empire sun/heat going to TRIUMPHest 2016 Ventura hope to C U there
Julius

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Bravo! Keeping these old cars on the road - and in public view! - is both a challenge and a reward. Congrats to you for your victories!

Tom M.

Thanks Tom Even with the headaches at times I continue to Love every TR Moment it has provided me

 

[glemon]

Picture is worth a thousand words, I had not really been paying much attention, but when I looked down at the odometer on the TR250 while autocrossing last weekend noticed this:
First trip around as far as I know

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Picture is worth a thousand words, I had not really been paying much attention, but when I looked down at the odometer on the TR250 while autocrossing last weekend noticed this: View attachment 44578
First trip around as far as I know

Congrats to your TR250 for having you in the seat Driving when you zero'd out! Always look to see mine do the scroll says a lot about the longevity of the power plant

 

[tdskip]

Thanks for keeping her out there to be seen, and great story.

 

[glemon]

Thanks, I do drive it a bit, but will have to live a pretty long time to reach 360k at this pace.

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Thanks for keeping her out there to be seen, and great story.

Needless to say my Pleasure glad you enjoyed one of many TR Moments my TR has provided me, 37 yrs later I remember the first to the last we'll be back @it Thurs in route to TRIUMPHest 2016

 

[tr6nitjulius]

Thanks, I do drive it a bit, but will have to live a pretty long time to reach 360k at this pace.

"I do drive it a bit" mileage not important as the DRIVE 'EM Spirit!

 

[GTP1960]

When I got my current 3, three years ago, I imagined I would be driving it a lot more.
however putting all this time and effort Into bringing her back seems to make me paranoid.
I don't like driving it in traffic, or parking it in busy parking lots.
to many thoughtless folks out there.
( I think about bad days like Terry, Geo & Randall's experienced)

so I'm pretty much a Sunday driver on the open back roads.

 

[tr6nitjulius]

When I got my current 3, three years ago, I imagined I would be driving it a lot more.
however putting all this time and effort Into bringing her back seems to make me paranoid.
I don't like driving it in traffic, or parking it in busy parking lots.
to many thoughtless folks out there.
( I think about bad days like Terry, Geo & Randall's experienced)

so I'm pretty much a Sunday driver on the open back roads.

Share your driving in traffic/parking lots/thoughtless folks feelings, these days they've ventured out onto the backroads pretty much all we can do anytime behind the TR wheel is drive like it has a bulls eye on it. Safe Motoring!