WHEN A CAR feels quick howling along an old USAF runway, deep down you know that ‘quick’ isn’t really the right word. Instead, you start fishing for something far stronger during the brief moments when sane cohesive thought is possible.

    Your vision remains welded on the approaching scenery as it rapidly rushes toward the TR in a tense blur before disappearing with diminishing vigour in the rear-view mirror; it’s strange how speed feels so much more intense and yes, frightening when you’re not the one in the driving seat.

     I have just been out for a quick half a dozen laps, taking care not to crash it into a parked Avro Vulcan, with Mathew from Racetorations who took me out for a demonstration. After a very literal white knuckle experience, I can safely predict that all subsequent rides in sidescreen TRs are bound to be anti-climactic.

Subtle improvements and modifications have been incorporated into the Racetorations TR3A to make it better and more practical.

    What makes this car so special? Totally rebuilt by Racetorations, one of Europe’s leading Triumph TR specialists, this £50,000 TR3A is one of the company’s ‘pivotal cars’ a TR which raises the bar and breaks into new territory. Given the company’s high standards you expect to be presented with a fast, well sorted and capable TR which is beautifully screwed together, but such ‘pivotal’ cars don’t come around too often. The last similar car being a TR3 built 12 years ago for a German powerboat racer.