CAT California Association of Sunbeam Tiger Owners
TIGERS UNITED XXX "Now that's Tigering"In 1974 Tigers United started with an event to bring together Tiger enthusiasts from California and the Pacific Northwest. The oldest of the Tigers were only 10 years of age and most attending were daily drivers in the hands of their first owners. Although the consensus was "lets do this again" none could have imagined that 33 years later (the missing 4 years were skipped to allow attendance at SUNI 1 - 4) some of them would celebrate their Tiger ownership again in Grants Pass, Oregon right where it all started. "BACK TO OUR ROOTES" June 21st through the 24th was an unconditional success.
While discussing history, this is a good time to jump ahead to some awards presented for the first time at the Banquet. "Gold Star Awards" were presented for perfect attendance at all 30 Tigers United. Terry and Maria Taylor, Stan Clark, Tom Hall and Peter Phelps participated in all 30! Yes they had to be present to win. Bruce Fountain was given a special Founders Award for organizing the first Tigers United. Bruce is credited with the quote in the title above "Now that's Tigering" and if he had seen all the Tigers gathered and participating in the events he might have said it again. Unfortunately Bruce, who was expected, was unable to make it.
The Riverside Inn on the Rogue River was the event HQ hotel. By final count 143 registered participants showed up with 77 Tigers. Those of us arriving on Thursday enjoyed seeing friends from all over including many we do not get to see very often. Bonnie does membership and there are C.A.T. Members we know only through E-mail and telephone including Alan & Bernadette Rees of Richmond, B. C. and John and Joan Baker who drove their Tiger down from Grand Prairie, Alberta to earn the Long Distance Award. Over 1,300 miles! John and Angela Dandy attended representing S.T.O.C. and the United Kingdom. Aussie regulars Ken and Louise Jacobs and Peter Thomson came up top for another United.
Arrival and Rallye Day pictures:
The first event was a Rallye which took most a little over an hour to complete. Rallye Masters Frank and Cindy Cardiff steered us down some very pretty roads. Last place in the Rallye and also a "Dumb Ass" award went to C.A.T.'s Gary and Karen Rathburn of San Pedro who took over 4 hours including lunch and some shopping. (The Rallye instructions were clear that winner would be determined on time... questions were tie breakers). No one at the start knew what that time was but it apparently did not include even a quick bathroom break. Even the winner drove it 2 minutes over the bogie time. From Rick's notes: 2. Gary and Joan Haslip, 1. Steve and Cheryl (sic) Metcalf, 3. Bob and Mike Hokanson, 4. Buck and Claudia Tripple, 5. Mark Theroux and Joe Jasinski. (I had reported the Haslips 1st here and in Tiger Tails. Steve and Cheryl Metcalf were the winners as corrected in red. Like me Rick)
The Tiger Quiz on Friday was put together by Rob Guerra. 1. Gary Haslip, 2. Tom Hall and 3. Bill Martin.
Quotes from the Hellgate Jetboat and Dinner on Friday included. "Exciting and more action than expected." "The Boat drivers tried to get everyone wet and did" "I froze on the way back with no jacket and soaking wet" "The dinner was better than I expected and there was more than enough". Bonnie and Rick skipped the optional boat and drove to Crater Lake and back. We had never seen it and were happy we went. Unique geology and to see it in person we found the pictures cannot do the lake justice. Especially the deep blue of the water and there was still snow around the rim.
Saturday was the Autocross. Tom McDaniel was Volunteer in Charge as 65 men and women took timed runs on the "track". The event was not the usual run through a slalom of traffic cones in a parking lot. This Go Kart track is miniature road racing circuit with more than a dozen turns. Most turns were first gear and depending on gearing many drivers never needed second gear. The start straight was relatively long giving advantage to horsepower right out of the gate. Some turns were banked including the fast first turn allowing some aggressive driving to pay off. See some of the results (elsewhere).
The consequences of exceeding the capability of the car and/or the talent of the driver is different on a track. Spinning out in a parking lot is a little safer because the car never (usually not) leaves the pavement while scattering the cones about. On a track you can and should "use all the track" but beyond that is "off track" which is not as smooth as the track and it is not paved. Although Tigers are not considered off-road vehicles there were a few going into that untested region. The Mk II of Jeanne Haslip, driving her third and final run through the course did depart the pavement in fine "Dukes of Hazard" style and plow up some of the pasture. While the car did not show any external evidence of damage there was a growing puddle of coolant under it. The bouncing resulted in the fan and radiator becoming intimate. The usual army of helpers offered opinions, helped get the parts and supervised the work to allow the car to drive back to Grants Pass in time for dinner.
Participants then move on to a parking lot event in Grants Pass on Sunday morning. The Concours is a most serious affair of judging the Tigers presented in the three established classes (Autocross event also recognizes these classes) . Modified, Personalized and Stock. It is also a fun car show and time for socializing and planning the free afternoon (The Mueller's of Irvine, CA and the Repoza's of Roseville, CA went wine tasting in the nearby Applegate Valley.) before the closing Awards Banquet. The results of the Concours (along with results of Popular Vote, Rallye, Quiz and official placing in Autocross.) are withheld until the Banquet. David Dunn chaired the Concour and managed an army of judges.
The Social Hour featured a great slide show of images from Tigers United of the past. Deborah Phelps put it together and the show was a great idea as everyone raved about it and the good memories represented. Raffle Prizes and Door Prize were conducted before and during dinner. Claudia and Buck Tripple organized the drawings which were spread throughout the evening. The last competitive event ... each participant getting food from the buffet line, went very fast with two, two sided buffets making lines of people disappear without breaking stride. The food was fine too.
The newly professionally restored black Mk1 of James and Anna Morris was presented a deserving "Popular Vote" as well as first place, Stock, in the Concours. The Morris' also were presented the Howie Shoenfield Award Perpetual Trophy for the Tiger most representing the definition of stock. The Lord Rootes perpetual trophy is the most prestigious award and is won by the participant who puts together the highest composite score participating in all the Tigers United Events. The 2007 Lord Rootes Award was presented to Gary Haslip. Congratulations to all participants and particularly to the organizers. Thanks to Chairman Max Pahmeier who took on the challenge and pulled off a very successful event. Marlene and Jerry Vanderpool did the registration, the Popular Vote and were always available. Apologies to anyone I missed as there were many volunteers helping with the Welcome BarBQ and the Hospitality Suite and other things which make a Tigers United.
Rick and Bonnie Mueller
Web Master Rick
Help me if you see anythng needs fixin or you have a correction
Contact web dude
