Nearly 200 Triumphs and their owners gathered at the Radisson Hotel in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin, for the 2018 VTR National Annual Convention. A reception Tuesday evening kicked off the show’s autocross competition, riverboat rides, local driving tours, and rallies. The big events — the Participants Choice and the Concours Show – blossomed Friday along the mighty Mississippi in Riverside Park.
Among the entrants were three rare Triumph Italia 2000 GTs from eastern Pennsylvania. Each was restored by Ragtops & Roadsters, with body, paint and upholstery work done by its sister shop Pollock Auto Restoration. Ragtops specialize in restoration and preservation of all British and European sports cars. From left to right; Vignale #194, restored by R&R in 1995, earned a Preservation Award with 385.5 points out a perfect score of 400 points — not too shabby after 23 years! Finished in dark blue, Vignale #295, with just 130 miles on the odometer since a concours restoration, earned one of the highest scores in recent VTR history: 399.5 points! On the right, finished in Silver Birch, Vignale #122 scored 397.5 points. This car has been awarded at every concours entered since debuting at the Amelia Island Concours in 2015.
Only about 10 of these rare Michelotti-designed, Vignale-built Italia cars, based on Triumph TR3a running gear and chassis, are on the road in the US. All three will receive VTR Gold Awards and — who knows – might even regroup at the next VTR National in Dripping Springs, Texas, in October 2019.
Note: Thanks to Dave Hutchison of the Vintage Triumph Register for this report.
