It’s always a pleasure to see all of our “Regulars” at the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show. We’re honored to have them, whether they’re spectators, vendors, or participants in the car corral. A few Import Car Corral “Regulars” have decided to get their club involved at our October 18, 2015 event by accepting an invitation to be our Featured Car Club. It’s always fun to see two or three Triumph sports cars in one place, however the attendance of 20 Triumphs from the Southern California Triumph Owners Association (SCTOA) at one swap meet will be a sight to see. Whether it’s the TR250, TR3A, TR4A, TR6, 7, 8, GT6, Spitfire or Stag, they’ve got them all, and they drive them all! As club member Gary Hunt states, “TR’s seem to bring out the best in all people, and to see the smiles, waves, and thumbs up from people as you drive by is truly a treat. Nothing like a line of Triumphs to put grins on faces and gain a friendly wave from any and all who see this rolling tribute to British motoring and sports cars!”

These British car nuts have stayed active and have kept people smiling for years now. From their first meeting of seven guys in a park in Long Beach, CA, to where they are today, the Southern California Triumph Owners Association has been a group of folks who enjoy life as much as they enjoy their Triumph sports cars. Right from the start, SCTOA has been a different style of car club. The “requirements” for membership are this simple: that a person has an interest in Triumph automobiles. For several years the club secretary did not even own a Triumph!

In the first 2 years, the club grew to over 200 members through the hard work of the Board and the club members. As a group, they attended every event they could find. They took a lot of Trophies and awards at car shows for club participation. Their monthly meeting at Me-n-Eds Pizza in Long Beach, CA would bring together about 50 folks every month. To build membership, they hosted all kinds of driving events, tours, dinners, tech clinics, and just about anything else they could think of to find Triumph owners… even birthday parties.

In the fall of 1985, The Board, led by Billie Burroughs (President), convinced the rest of the Western States Triumph Clubs to allow SCTOA to host Triumphest ’86. This event is held every fall and Triumph clubs from the 10 western states come together to celebrate the fun of owning a Triumph! The Big Show!!! The club treasury only had about $600.00 total, had no location, no hotel, and absolutely no idea of what they were doing!!! The entire club pitched in in every way possible, and in the end “Triumphest 86” Pismo Beach, CA went down in the books as a super success in every way.  They believe that it was this success so early in the club’s history that helped make SCTOA the great club it is today.

Over the years, the quality of the cars has greatly improved because the members are always looking for effective ways to keep these great cars running, and looking better and better. An SCTOA member informed us, “When driving British, you quickly learn there is safety in numbers; caravanning is a way of life for the club. When a car breaks down, every one pulls over to the side of the road, wrenches flying, and parts coming out of everyone’s trunk! Whatever it takes, we will get there together. This spirit of everyone helping each other carries on into helping each other in our personal lives. Whether it’s a car repair, a home repair, a friend to lean on in a time of need, someone will be there.” I say, “what a great way of life” and it reminds me that car clubs are not just made up of “car nuts”, but incredibly caring groups of people!

Today SCTOA continues to be an active Triumph Sports Car Club, where the cars are just a starting point. Friendships, great drives, fun and enjoyment of life, with good people and fun cars is what is really important. The club enjoys an annual trip to Cambria, CA each June, where they eat, drive, eat, and drive some more, all while enjoying the company of the friends around them. The majority of the club’s events really do center around driving their cars. This year, Triumphest 2015 will be held in Del Mar, CA from October 8-11. The activities include: Autocross, Funcours, social events, and great drives cruising to some of San Diego’s 90+ micro-breweries and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. The club members also attend various car shows and cruises, as well as putting on their seasonal parties.

If you’re a Triumph enthusiast, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by joining the club, attending a monthly meeting, or attending some of their many events. Their monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at Geezer’s, 12120 Telegraph Rd., Santa Fe Springs, CA, 90660. To find out more about the club and their activities, please visit the SCTOA website.

Come out to the October 18, 2015 Pomona Swap Meet and give the club a smile, a friendly wave, and a thumbs up. You’ll find the SCTOA parked on the Main Aisle in the Import Car Corral.

If you’re a car club member and would like your club to enjoy a day at a future Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show as our guests, please contact Matt by email or at (714) 538-7091.

-Matt Zarzana