What’s different about this year’s TRials?
For 2024 we have arranged the schedule so that it will be possible to attend both the British Car Day event and the traditional TRials event. Having travelled with others to past TRials, the journey with other Triumph owners to the various TRials locations has been a large part of the overall TRials experience. This year we plan on extending the schedule. Starting in Oakville, Ontario Canada and travelling through the fall foliage and wine country in Southern Ontario, Western New York State and the Finger Lakes region of New York. We’ll travel as a caravan and visit many optional interesting stops along the way. Finally we will be ending in Corning, New York with considerable time in Watkins Glen, New York.
Several Triumph legends will be involved in this year’s motoring adventure. Steve Riddell will be travelling with us for the entire journey after he arrives in Ontario from his home in Michigan. Steve famously drove his beautiful blue TR6, with his son, all the way to Alaska and back along the Alcan highway.
Jon and Claudia Korbin have been followed vicariously for several years as they have driven their Magenta TR6 to the Eastern US from Los Angeles, California. The two of them are also planning on travelling the entire route from Ontario to Corning and Watkins Glen with us and we can experience the travel with them first hand!
Do I have to drive a Triumph to attend TRials?
No. You can drive a different vehicle. You may not be able to fully participate in the track events or the car show, but you can still attend them.
Do I have to be a 6-Pack member to participate in TRials?
Yes. You have to be a current member to fully participate in TRials. You can submit your dues with registration – just fill in the appropriate part of the registration form.
Where are we staying?
September 14th to September 16th, 2024 The Sandman Hotel Oakville, Oakville, Ontario Canada
Call (416) 798-8871 to reserve discounted rooms – specify Oakville location, ask for 6 Pack group rate.
Website: Sandman Hotel Oakville | Oakville Hotels | Ontario (sandmanhotels.com)
September 16th to September 17th, 2024 Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino
Call (877) 873-6322 ask for 6 Pack group rate
Website: Nothing Else Comes Close – Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino – Niagara Falls, NY (senecaniagaracasino.com)
September 17th to September 18th, 2024 Hampton Inn Geneseo
Call (585) 447-9040 ask for 6 Pack group rate
Website: Hampton Inn Geneseo, NY Hotel by Letchworth State Park (hilton.com)
September 18th to September 21st, 2024 Radisson Hotel Corning
Call (607) 962-5000 ask for 6 Pack group rate
Website: Hotel in Corning, NY | Radisson Official Site | Radisson Hotel Corning (choicehotels.com)
What’s planned for the extended event?
Day 1 – Saturday, September 14th
We’ll begin by arriving in Oakville, Ontario Canada on the day before the 2024 British Car Day show. Check-in at our host hotel, The Sandman, is 4 PM or later. Their address is: 3451 South Service Rd West, Oakville, Ontario L6L OC3 .
Dinner on your own. Several of us will be going to Jack Astor’s around 5 PM. Their address is: 3130 S. Service Rd, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3J3. They have parking behind the facility and we can sit on the back porch and eat, drink and visit while watching our cars.
Day 2 – Sunday, September 15th
We’ll begin by having breakfast at or near the hotel. (There is a Denny’s in the building). We’ll then travel the few minutes to the Bronte Provencial Park show car “Fastlane” entrance and park in an area reserved for 6 Pack cars within the TR6, the TR250 or GT6 designated show areas. The show will continue until the awards are made around 4 PM. There will be food and drink available at the show. Following show, we will return to the same Sandman hotel. The “Fastlane” entry pass is now available online here: BCD-Registration-Form-2023.pdf (britishcarday.com).
Please be sure to indicate 6-Pack as your club affiliation on your registration form so that you will be directed to park in special 6-Pack areas by model.
(Dinner recommendations will follow) There is a Chop steakhouse in the building.
Day 3 – Monday, September 16th
We’ll begin by having breakfast at or near the hotel. We’ll then travel surface roads along the northern shore of Lake Ontario through wine country to the Village of Niagara-On-The-Lake Ontario. We’ll spend some time exploring the scenic gardens and shops along Queen Street. Then we will have an early lunch at an Irish pub which opens at 11AM.
Website: Home | Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce (niagaraonthelake.com)
Website: The Irish Harp Pub – Home Is Where The Harp Is
After lunch, we’ll travel to Niagara Falls Ontario and visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World from the Canadian side of the border.
Website: Niagara Falls Canada | Official Destination Website (niagarafallstourism.com)
We’ll motor along the river and the border to Fort Erie, Ontario where we’ll cross the border to the USA via the Peace Bridge. We’ll rendezvous at the duty free shop on the Canadian side and then caravan across the bridge to the USA. The Peace Bridge Authority personnel have offered to video our crossing for their use in social media platforms (cool). We will then motor from Buffalo, NY to Niagara Falls, NY and visit the Falls from the US side. The US side features a 30 minute trolley ride to see the Falls and the Rapids for $3.00 /person.
Website: Niagara Falls USA Tourism (Official Site) | Niagara Falls USA
We’ll check into the Seneca Casino property after 4 PM – parking in their covered parking facility. There are several good dining options within the casino – an excellent buffet (with discounted prices on Sundays and Mondays), a very nice high end steakhouse, and a nice café. Nearby is a favorite restaurant of ours – The Red Coach Inn. This place is located at 2 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY. They have a nice outdoor patio and are across the street with a view of the rapids above the Falls.
After dinner – spend some time at the casino or view the nightly fireworks show over the Falls, or both.
Day 4 – Tuesday, September 17th
Breakfast, then travel to the Naval Park in Buffalo New York. Visit the park and the Western terminus of the Erie Canal.
Website: Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park | Family Museum (buffalonavalpark.org)
Website: Tours & Travel Guide in Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Waterfront
Travel to the Anchor Bar and have an early lunch as soon as 11AM at the original home of Buffalo chicken wings.
Website: Home – Anchor Bar
Travel to and tour the Pierce Arrow museum. The museum is very close to the previous stop and the owner has told me that if can arrive by 12:30 PM he will give us access to some new, additional museum buildings where we can see even more vehicles.
After exploring Buffalo’s rich automotive history, you can start your eastward trek by seeing the rich heritage of New York State’s second largest city. You will see some of the architecture that caused the international Society of Architectural Historians to hold their 2013 convention in Buffalo, and the site where Theadore Roosevelt became President of the United States. You will drive the unique layout of streets shared with only one other city in the U.S. and experience the parkway system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who is famous for having designed New York City’s Central Park.
Website: The Buffalo Transportation Pierce-Arrow Museum
Leave the city and travel through fall foliage and wine country to Geneseo New York.
Check into our hotel any time after 3 PM. (Dinner suggestions to follow)
Day 5 – Wednesday, September 18th
Breakfast at the hotel, then travel to Corning, New York to the beginning of the traditional TRials weekend. We’ll be driving to Letchworth State Park and see even more waterfall scenery. Note that there is a $10 fee to enter the park, New York State residents 62 years old and older are admitted free on weekdays. We anticipate lunch at the historic Glen Iris Inn followed by a scenic drive through fall foliage and wine country to the host hotel in Corning, NY.
TRials onsite registration open 4 PM to 8 PM in Registration/Hospitality room
Day 6 – Thursday September 19th
TRials onsite registration open 10 AM to 6 PM in Registration/Hospitality room
Technical Breakout sessions
Welcome party – Cash bar, heavy Hors d’oeuvres.
6-Pack movie night at the hotel
Day 7 – Friday September 20th
Drive to Watkins Glen, NY
Drive old Watkins Glen circuit.
4 PM Watkins Glen International Raceway to complete paperwork and prepare for track time.
5:30 PM Laps of the full Watkins Glen International Raceway track (including the boot!)
Photo opportunities at finish line
Travel to Seneca Lodge for drinks/dinner and then back to Corning Hotel (or choose to return directly back to Corning Hotel)
4 PM until 9 PM Harvest Festival begins on Market St. in Corning, NY (Gaffer District)
Day 8 – Saturday September 21st
9 AM 6-Pack Car show on Market Street Corning, NY
Visit Corning Glass Museum
TRials Banquet
11 AM until 8 PM Harvest Festival continues – Market St. in Corning, NY (Gaffer District)
Day 9 – Sunday September 21
Breakfast, then leave until next year’s TRials.
Dates to keep in mind:
Now – Fastlane British Car Day passes are available for purchase on line.
August 1st, 2024 – Last date for discounted TRials car registration
August 14th, 2024 – Last date for discounted rooms at Sandman Hotel Oakville
August 17th, 2024 – Last date for discounted rooms at Seneca Niagara Casino
August 17th, 2024 – Last date for discounted rooms at Hampton Inn Geneseo
September 20th, 2024 through September 21st, 2024 – Gaffer District, Corning New York Harvest Festival on Market Street in Corning, New York
Website: HARVEST (gafferdistrict.com)
Border crossing requirements
If you are a citizen of Canada, you will need either a valid Passport or a current Nexus Pass.
If you are a citizen of the USA, you will need either a valid Passport or a current Nexus Pass. If you reside in the states of New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont or Washington you may also travel with an enhanced driver’s license.
Who’s Hosting?
Chris Holiday has been the owner of many Triumph automobiles. He currently enjoys his Concours winning TR250 and has travelled to many national and international events in both it and his TR6. Chris is an active member of the Greater Rochester Triumph Touring Club.
Website: Greater Rochester Triumph Touring Club (rochestertriumphclub.org)
Skip Gould began restoring and driving Triumph automobiles in 1973. He still owns nine of them including a TR6 and a TR250 that have each won best in class awards at past TRials. Skip is an active member of the Toronto Triumph Club as well as a current member and past President of the British Car Club of Western New York (2019-2023).
Website: British Car Club of Western New York (bcc-wny.com)
Website: British Car Club of Western New York | Facebook
David Tushingham makes his living as a chef in the Toronto, Ontario area (and beyond). David owns many Triumph autos including TR3s, a TR4, TR6s, a TR250 and a TR8. David is an active member of the Toronto Triumph Club and previously co-hosted TRials in 2012 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. David currently hosts a YouTube channel, with more than seventy-five hundred subscribers, mostly focused on restoring Triumph TR series motor cars. Dave’s TR3, Tr4, Tr250 and TR6 have all won awards at past 6 Pack TRials.
Website: (4) cheftush – YouTube
The three hosts have travelled together to several past TRials and British Car Day events.
We look forward to seeing you at these events and know that if you can’t make the entire trip (you’ll be missing out), you are still welcome to join us for the part you are able to attend. TRials car shows provide awards for various classes of the three featured Triumph six-cylinder varieties, but there are also classes for other Triumph and other British cars.
