The TR Drivers Club has paid homage to late Standard-Triumph development engineer Tony Lee by retracing the firm’s unofficial test route to Bwlch y Groes in Wales, called the Bullet Run and held from 17-19 June.
Tony Lee, who died in September 2015, featured in a series of well-known photographs taken in the area with the first TR7 prototype, which served as inspiration for the tour. The original 300-mile test route was used regularly by management and senior staff and became known as ‘Ride and Drive’ by those at the Canley factory.
Around 60 club members undertook the challenge, which saw the convoy set off from near Stratford-upon-Avon towards the Oswestry Services, where a further batch of cars driven by the Lee family – including daughter, Cate, and son, Kevin – joined the group. After just 30 miles the scenery opened up with fantastic views of Lake Vyrnwy before a series of single track roads signified entrance to the Snowdonia National Park.
By early evening the participants had reached their final destination, where after a celebratory dinner they were treated to never-before-seen historic Triumph films and a fascinating interview with Gordon Birtwistle, Triumph’s high-speed development engineer and long-term friend of Tony Lee.
The club is set to announce details of next year’s Bullet Run at the 2016 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show.
