TriumphTR8

Triumph TR8 Racing

The TR8 had three seasons with Jaguar Rover Triumph's official team and the best part of two decades in amateur and private hands, from a class win at Watkins Glen in July 1979 to a lone car at Mosport in 1998; the rally cars that used its papers were TR7 V8s.

About the pictureThe engine of a racing car lettered TR-8 at a show in 2019, whose history is not known

A racing V8 with yellow rocker covers and eight polished carburettor trumpets, TR-8 lettered on the panel in front of it.
Stand-in Four twin-choke carburettors on the V8 of a racing car lettered TR-8, at Techno-Classica, Essen, in April 2019: a racing engine, not identified as any car on this page.Thomas Vogt from Paderborn, Deutschland, CC0

From 1978 BL's works rally cars ran on the TR8's papers, though they were entered as TR7 V8s. The TR8 itself first raced in July 1979, with Bob Tullius's Group 44, and the first convertibles took the best part of a year more to reach American showrooms. In the years that followed TR8s raced in IMSA's GT series and the Trans-Am, in the SCCA's amateur championships and in Canada. The results below are drawn from racingsportscars, with each car's place overall and, where it gives one, in its class.⁠1​2​3​4

Group 44

Group 44 raced the TR8 for three seasons, from the Watkins Glen 6 Hours of July 1979 to the Sebring 12 Hours of March 1981. Tullius drove No. 44 in every race; Bill Adam joined him in 1980, sharing No. 44 in the longer races and driving a second car, No. 4, in others. The best year was 1980, with five class wins in IMSA's GTO category, beginning at Sebring in March. The team's page tells its story and gives its results.⁠1​5

A white racing TR8 coupé with green stripes and wide arches, number 144, on axle stands under a paddock gazebo.
Under a gazebo in the paddock at Lime Rock, Connecticut, in September 2021: a TR8 in Group 44's colours, one of the team's cars by its photographer's account.Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0

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SCCA production racing

In the SCCA's national championships for production cars, the TR8 ran in C Production, and Jaguar Rover Triumph offered its drivers prize money:

Effective June 1, 1980, drivers of TR7 models in "D" Production and TR8 models in "C" Production are eligible for $500 for first, $300 for second, and $150 for third.

Jaguar Rover Triumph Inc., Competition News, 1980

Mike Cook writes that "Huffaker Engineering, the West Coast team, developed a winning SCCA Production TR8". Lee Mueller, entered in a TR8 for two Trans-Am rounds in 1979, at Portland and Trois-Rivières, started neither. At the Runoffs at Road Atlanta in October 1980, where the national titles were decided, four TR8s were entered in C Production: Ken Slagle's own, Bruce Qvale's for Jaguar Rover Triumph, and Ron Hunter's and Lee Mueller's for Huffaker; racingsportscars prints no result for any of them, which may mean only that their results are missing. A year later, at the same circuit, Slagle won the C Production national championship in a TR8.⁠6​2​1

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Showroom stock and endurance

TR8s went on racing long after the factory stopped making them. Cook himself drove one in the SCCA's Escort Series for showroom-stock cars, at Road Atlanta in 1985, and that March a TR8 entered by KJJ Enterprises started the Sebring 12 Hours and retired.⁠2​1

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Canada and elsewhere

In Canada the TR8's racing name was Peter Bulkowski's. The Mosport 6 Hours saw him in a TR8 four years running, from 1980 to 1983, each time sharing it with different drivers; twice, at Mosport and Trois-Rivières, he drove one alone in the Trans-Am; and his best result came in the 6 Hours of 1982. Two other drivers were entered in TR8s for Trans-Am rounds, at Trois-Rivières in 1981 and Kent, Washington, in 1982, and started neither. A TR8 was still racing at Mosport in 1998, in Canadian GT, where it finished 24th.⁠1

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Rallying

The FIA recognised the TR8 for Group 4 on 1 April 1978. In North America the TR8's own name was used: Cook writes that John Buffum began 1978 "charging through the woods in a TR8", and Car and Driver reported in 1980 that he had "cleaned up in pro rallying by winning the SCCA's drivers' championship and NARRA's manufacturers' title in a TR8" in 1979. A rally TR8 for 1981 was planned at Abingdon, but Richard Hurdwell's memo of December 1980 records that it had been scrapped.

A red, white and blue TR7 V8 rally car, number 63, at speed on a sandy forest track.
On the forest rally stage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2021: a TR7 V8 rally car, of the kind the works ran on the TR8's recognition, not a TR8 itself.Neil, CC BY 2.0

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Le Mans, and racing today

One more car is filed under the TR8 by racingsportscars: the turbocharged V8 entered by Janspeed and ADA with the TR Register, which failed to qualify at Le Mans in 1980 and was entered at Silverstone and Brands Hatch until 1982. Motor Sport called it "A TR7 for Le Mans", and it belongs with the TR7 too.

TR8s still race. triumphtr8.com notes that cars run in historic racing with FIA Historic Technical Passports and the RAC's papers, and a TR8 in Group 44's colours was in the paddock at Lime Rock in 2021.⁠1​9​10​5

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Results

A yellow year marks a win.

  • 1979

    Trans-Am, Portland, June 1979

    10 June 1979, Portland, USA. No. 8, Lee Mueller: did not start⁠1

  • 1979

    Watkins Glen 6 Hours 1979

    7 July 1979, Watkins Glen, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Brian Fuerstenau, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 7th overall, 1st in Group 4 – Grand Touring⁠1​2

  • 1979

    Trans-Am, Watkins Glen, August 1979

    5 August 1979, Watkins Glen, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 4th overall, 1st in Trans-Am Category I⁠1

  • 1979

    Trans-Am, Trois-Rivières, September 1979

    1 September 1979, Trois-Rivières, Canada. No. 8, Lee Mueller: did not arrive⁠1

  • 1979

    Road America 500 Miles 1979

    2 September 1979, Road America, Elkhart Lake, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Brian Fuerstenau, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 6th overall, 1st in its class⁠1

  • 1979

    Road Atlanta 100 Miles, September 1979

    23 September 1979, Road Atlanta, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 13th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1979

    Trans-Am, Laguna Seca, October 1979

    14 October 1979, Laguna Seca, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 11th overall, 1st in Trans-Am Category I⁠1

  • 1979

    Daytona Finale 250 Miles 1979

    25 November 1979, Daytona, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: retired⁠1

  • 1980

    Daytona 24 Hours 1980

    February 1980, Daytona, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, John McComb and John Kelly, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: retired: gearbox⁠1​11

  • 1980

    Sebring 12 Hours 1980

    22 March 1980, Sebring, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 6th overall, 1st in IMSA GTO⁠1​7

  • 1980

    Riverside 5 Hours 1980

    27 April 1980, Riverside, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 27th overall, 11th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Laguna Seca 100 Miles, May 1980

    4 May 1980, Laguna Seca, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 9th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Laguna Seca 100 Miles, May 1980

    4 May 1980, Laguna Seca, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: 13th overall, 5th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Lime Rock, May 1980

    26 May 1980, Lime Rock, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 4th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Lime Rock, May 1980

    26 May 1980, Lime Rock, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: 5th overall, 3rd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Brainerd 100 Miles 1980

    15 June 1980, Brainerd, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: retired⁠1

  • 1980

    Daytona Paul Revere 250 1980

    4 July 1980, Daytona, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 6th overall, 1st in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Daytona Paul Revere 250 1980

    4 July 1980, Daytona, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: 7th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Mosport 6 Hours 1980

    17 August 1980, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 8th overall, 1st in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Mosport 6 Hours 1980

    17 August 1980, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 42, Peter Bulkowski and Bruce Kulczyk: 22nd overall, 5th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Road America 500 Miles 1980

    31 August 1980, Road America, Elkhart Lake, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 7th overall, 1st in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, heat 1

    21 September 1980, Road Atlanta, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 12th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, heat 1

    21 September 1980, Road Atlanta, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: retired⁠1

  • 1980

    Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, heat 2

    21 September 1980, Road Atlanta, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 16th overall, 8th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, heat 2

    21 September 1980, Road Atlanta, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: did not start⁠1

  • 1980

    Daytona Finale 250 Miles 1980

    30 November 1980, Daytona, USA. No. 4, Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: 7th overall, 1st in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1980

    Daytona Finale 250 Miles 1980

    30 November 1980, Daytona, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 8th overall, 2nd in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1981

    SCCA Runoffs 1981

    1981, Road Atlanta, USA. Ken Slagle, in Ken Slagle's TR8: 1st in C Production⁠1​2

  • 1981

    Sebring 12 Hours 1981

    21 March 1981, Sebring, USA. No. 44, Bob Tullius and Bill Adam, in Group 44 TR8, No. 44: 10th overall, 4th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1981

    Sebring 12 Hours 1981

    21 March 1981, Sebring, USA. No. 4, John Kelly and Pat Bedard, in Group 44 TR8, No. 4: 20th overall, 9th in IMSA GTO⁠1​11

  • 1981

    Mosport 6 Hours 1981

    16 August 1981, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 42, Peter Bulkowski and Berhar: 18th overall, 5th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1981

    Trans-Am, Trois-Rivières, September 1981

    6 September 1981, Trois-Rivières, Canada. No. 42, Luc Behar: did not start⁠1

  • 1981

    Trans-Am, Mosport, September 1981

    12 September 1981, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 42, Peter Bulkowski: 18th overall⁠1

  • 1982

    Trans-Am, Kent, July 1982

    4 July 1982, Seattle International Raceway, Kent, USA. No. 48, Richard Barwell: did not start⁠1

  • 1982

    Mosport 6 Hours 1982

    15 August 1982, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 42, Peter Bulkowski and Armstrong: 15th overall, 4th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1982

    Trans-Am, Trois-Rivières, September 1982

    5 September 1982, Trois-Rivières, Canada. No. 42, Peter Bulkowski: retired: suspension ("Lower control Asm")⁠1

  • 1983

    Mosport 6 Hours 1983

    14 August 1983, Mosport Park, Canada. No. 8, Peter Bulkowski, Fesar and Lechnowski: 18th overall, 6th in IMSA GTO⁠1

  • 1985

    Sebring 12 Hours 1985

    23 March 1985, Sebring, USA. No. 32, Bossom: retired⁠1

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Sources

Sources are given as plain text; their addresses are on the sources page.

  • Primarymade at the time, by the maker or by people who were there
  • Referenceserious later work: clubs, specialists, magazines, books
  • Databaseresults and listings, entry by entry
  1. racingsportscars.com, "All Results of Triumph TR8" (1979–1999), all results of the TR8, 1979–98; Group 44's race pages, 1979–81; 1980 US Champions, Road Atlanta, C Production entries; 1981, Slagle 1st; Trans-Am 1979, Portland and Trois-Rivières; Sebring 12 Hours, 1985; Mosport 6 Hours 1980–83; Trans-Am, Mosport 1981, Trois-Rivières 1981 and 1982, Kent 1982; Canadian GT, Mosport, 1998; Le Mans 1980; Silverstone and Brands Hatch, 1980–82; Trans-Am Portland 1979, results page; Watkins Glen 6 Hours 1979, results page; Trans-Am Watkins Glen 1979, results page; Trans-Am Trois-Rivières 1979, results page; Road America 500 Miles 1979, results page; Road Atlanta 100 Miles 1979, results page; Trans-Am Laguna Seca 1979, results page; Daytona Finale 250 Miles 1979, results page; Daytona 24 Hours 1980, results page; Sebring 12 Hours 1980, results page; Riverside 5 Hours 1980, results page; Laguna Seca 100 Miles 1980, results page; 1 h 30 min Lime Rock 1980, results page; Brainerd 100 Miles 1980, results page; 250 mile Daytona Paul Revere 1980, results page; Mosport 6 Hours 1980, results page; Road America 500 Miles 1980, results page; Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, Heat 1, results page; Road Atlanta 50 Miles 1980, Heat 2, results page; Daytona Finale 250 Miles 1980, results page; 1981: US Champions Road Atlanta [CP]; Sebring 12 Hours 1981, results page; Mosport 6 Hours 1981, results page; Trans-Am Trois-Rivières 1981, results page; Trans-Am Mosport 1981, results page; Trans-Am Kent 1982, results page; Mosport 6 Hours 1982, results page; Trans-Am Trois-Rivières 1982, results page; Mosport 6 Hours 1983, results page; Sebring 12 Hours 1985, results page. Database
  2. Michael L. Cook, "1981 Triumph TR8: Fast and Last", Special Interest Autos, no. 156, Nov–Dec 1996, pp. 10–17, p. 13, Group 44; Slagle; p. 13, Huffaker Engineering; Slagle's title; p. 13, Cook's own showroom-stock TR8, 1985; p. 13, Buffum in 1978; p. 13. Reference
  3. Chris Turner (credited by the club), "The Works Triumph TR7 V8 Rally Cars" and the car pages (group), TR Drivers Club, the works TR7 V8s from 1978; FIA recognition, 1 April 1978; the works TR7 V8s. Reference
  4. Michael Lamm, "1st Drive in the Triumph TR8", British Car, Feb–Mar 1999, pp. 46–48, p. 48, in dealerships in May 1980. Reference
  5. Wikimedia Commons, "Category:Triumph TR8", Group 44 Triumph TR8 at Lime Rock 2021. Database
  6. Jaguar Rover Triumph Inc. (via the Triumph Wedge Owners Association), "1980 Competition Awards Program – SCCA National Events" (Competition News release), 1980, Competition News: SCCA National awards from 1 June 1980. Primary
  7. Don Sherman, "Triumph TR8" (road test), Car and Driver, Aug 1980, pp. 36–40, p. 38, Buffum's 1979 titles; p. 38. Primary
  8. R. Hurdwell (BL Motorsport, Abingdon), "TR8 Modifications" (memo, 4 pp.), BL Motorsport (via the Triumph Wedge Owners Association), 16 Dec 1980, the rally TR8 planned for 1981. Primary
  9. Jeremy Walton ("J.W."), "A TR7 for Le Mans", Motor Sport, May 1980, p. 37, "A TR7 for Le Mans". Primary
  10. triumphtr8.com, Pages (group): "TR8 VIN/CHASSIS", "TR8 Paint Codes", "TR8 trim codes", "TR8 Documents", "TR8 Adverts", "TR8 Clubs", "TR8 Efi – Injection system and sensors", "WL9 Camshaft", "Leyland Special Tuning", "TR8 FIA RAC", "TR8 Auto Choke", "TR8 Badges where do they go?", parts pages, posts "RHD TR8 UK SPEC" and "Round Britain Reliability Run 2023", TR8 FIA RAC. Reference
  11. racingsportscars.com, Driver pages (group): John Kelly (USA), John McComb (USA), Pat Bedard (USA), Ken Slagle (USA), Lee Mueller (USA), Bill Adam (CDN), Peter Bulkowski (CDN), Bruce Kulczyk (CDN), Luc Behar (CDN), John Kelly (USA); John McComb (USA); John Kelly (USA); Pat Bedard (USA). Database

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