Burlington Diary September, 2006
Fri.01.09.06.The journey to Triumph Nuts was tedious, having to negotiate the centre of Warrington at 2.00pm proved difficult, seasonally hot, needlessly congested, extremely frustrating. From Stockton Heath through to the M56 was equally uncomfortable, consequently when we eventually arrived at ‘Nuts’ the temperature in the car was simmering just below boiling point.
Merely one miniscule echelon above Richard in Sheffield there was, at least, some semblance of order with cars in various states of decay untidily outlining the entrance to the stores/workshop. A dirt floor shed was home to shelves of rusting salvaged Triumph parts, two ‘poorly’ semi- restored vehicles, a leaning, teetering sales counter bordered by at least three dimly lit adjacent store and workshop spaces. This was not the place that appeared in ‘Classic Car’, the colourful full page ‘ad’ depicting an ordered, well-organised, professional space.
There was little evidence of imported or in house reconditioned parts, a modern brightly illuminated, ‘tooled up’ workshop or even the air of calm, calculated, focussed efficiency. This was a scrapyard with dangerously overloaded ‘dexion’ racking. The childlike excitement, invigorated enthusiasm from the evening before was evaporating quickly, nevertheless, quite surprisingly Chris remained up beat. He had spoken to Steve earlier to arrange our visit and was certainly impressed with his knowledge of Triumphs, his no nonsense descriptions supported by his apparent honest appraisals of his rivals, ‘Rimmer Brothers’ and ‘Flitchetts’. The environment was a definite negative but perhaps the ‘man’ could dispel the doubts.
Steve arrived smiling and welcoming; he was of indeterminate age, with oily black joggers topped by a grubby cream jumper, he immediately and proudly escorted us around his premises. He could well have been Richard’s blond twin, mistakenly separated at birth at the Sheffield Royal in the 70s, 80s or possibly the early 1990s... “I bought my first Herald for £75.00, stripped it down and sold the parts for £2500.00, that’s how I got started.”
He answered all our immediate questions, confidently supported with gusto, colourfully embellished by various wounds sustained after skirmishes with angle grinders but mainly by personal experience. He could better any of his competitors on price, supply quality stock within seven days notice for cash and with a smile. Certainly, the recommendations he made for the engine and gearbox upgrades was faultless. He offered a Spitfire Mk IV overdrive box for £250.00, a reconditioned head for £225.00, twin one and half SU’s for £200.00, a pair of Spit seats for £60.00, a steering rack for £35.00, five original four and half inch painted wires for £350.00, plus he would guarantee lower prices on the order that had been destined for Rimmers. Steve was another pleasant yet eccentric anorak typical of who we continue to meet throughout the Burlington project.
Chris has clearly developed a greater degree of tolerance over the past few months when dealing with these characters otherwise he would not even have stepped out of the car when we first arrived at Chez Steve; but the information and insight that flowed from this Triumph Nut had beneficial substance. Nonetheless, it still remains debatable whether any purchase will be made from Steve, but it has not been an unpleasant encounter, we will always require ‘hands on’ knowledge, which Steve possesses in abundance. On the surface this has been another wasted day but not unforgettable.
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