Wednesday's drive was a success but was way too short, so Thursday I decided to build on that success and give the car a proper shakedown, the first time taking it beyond the nearby local area since buying it seven years ago and doing all the endless work.
I went a total of about 160 miles, up into the ridge-and-fold of the Appalachians. Getting there required both slogging through congested suburban traffic and a sustained 80 MPH on a highway. One of the roads I went to is often counted among the best sports car/motorcycle roads in the USA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAh14pSThfc (not my video, to be clear)
One humourous moment, stopping for fuel just after setting out, a chap at the next pump sees the car, is instantly smitten with it, and starts begging and pleading me to sell it to him, saying the higher figure of what I think it's worth is fine with him despite all the works that remains to be done. Thanks but no, I'm keeping the car!
I did take it carefully up there for a couple of good reasons, including the fact that the tyres are 18 years old! New ones have been ordered, but the old ones still performed admirably.
So how did it do?
I started with a full tank but the gauge read a quarter down, and then read a half down at the end- I'll keep a close eye on it to determine just how it differs from reality across its range. The temperature gauge stayed within acceptable numbers even in the congested areas, although ambient temps stayed below 60F/15C. The new exhaust system keeps the cabin much more civil than before, but the dull, bass-y hum of the tailpipe still overwhelms a bit- however I haven't yet started refurbishment inside the boot so maybe some additional mitigation back there will help. The carbs and ignition still need a little tuning but power-delivery was nevertheless quite enjoyable, though the aluminium flywheel's lack of momentum did remind me at times that it's been a decade since I drove a manual 'box on a regular basis. A little brake-squeal here and there, a couple of small clunks from the right-front corner under braking, a little panel-rattle under hard acceleration, but no other bothersome noises. The seat needs more lumbar-support!
So I'm quite chuffed that the car is now operable, that I can think of it as being in the 'rolling restoration' phase and I can start enjoying driving it. And just in time too, as next weekend the regional Triumph club is putting on its annual Polar Bear Run, an all-vehicles-welcome drive that's always fun. I'll be proud to show off Yelotus at that!