The ISOA FAQ File
This page was last updated on August 31, 2003.
Quick List
Q. Why is a Triumph car club called a Sports Owners Association?
A. Way back when, during the time when Triumph cars were new, the factory sponsored its own national car club, the Triumph Sports Owners Association, and supported a number of local clubs. Established in 1956, TSOA supported all Triumph Sports cars (TR2, TR3, etc.) until Triumph as we know it ceased to exist in 1981. At that time, TSOA was folded into the Vintage Triumph Register, an all-volunteer organization that was established in 1974 to support owners of any Triumph that was more than ten years old. With the demise of the marque and the merger with TSOA, VTR began to support all Triumphs regardless of age or type. Originally named the Illiana Sports Owners Association due to the geographic distribution of its members, ISOA later changed its name to the Illinois Sports Owners Association.
Q. When and where do the ISOA meetings take place?
A. Unless otherwise announced, our meetings are held on the first Sunday of every month in the basement meeting room at Mack's Golden Pheasant, 668 W. North Avenue in Elmhurst. Mack's Golden Pheasant is located immediately west of the Shell station on the southwest corner of Illinois 83 (Kingery Highway) and Illinois 64 (North Avenue). Parking is becoming a problem since the lot is small, and we're no longer allowed to use the lot for the former comedy club just west of the Golden Pheasant. Mack's Golden Pheasant has a web site with links to their banquet, lunch and dinner menus. Unfortunately, there is no map on their site. If you need a map on how to get there, click here. Meetings are supposed to start at 7:00pm, but why not come early, have a beer and share some Triumph stories with your fellow enthusiasts?
Q. What is the ISOA Cup?
A. The ISOA Cup is a new award inaugurated in January 1996 at the Big Bash. Points will be awarded for attending the monthly meetings (1 point per meeting), writing articles for the SNIC-BRAAAPP (5 points per article), participation in Triumph-related events (5 points for designated moving events and car shows, 10 points for participation in ISOA events, with 5 bonus points awarded for attending these events in a Triumph), and hosting or sponsoring an event (25 bonus points are given). The person that has accumulated the highest number of points by the end of the calendar year will be awarded the ISOA Cup (formerly known as the ISOA Member of the Year Award) at the Big Bash awards banquet. The type, size, and color of the ISOA Cup have yet to be determined, but rumor has it that it will be sized to fit the member. Ann Buja has been the "Keeper of the Points" for the last three years. She also happened to be the winner of the 1996 ISOA Cup. No, there was no conflict of interest - she actually won by a 25 point margin. Her award was unveiled at the 1997 Big Bash. Unfortunately, it did not fit her. Jack Billimack was the winner for 1998, and sad to say, his award did not fit him, either. Joe Pawlak was the winner of the ISOA Cup for 1998. As you can probably guess, while the ISOA Cup is a garment, it will probably never fit the winner.
Q. Does everyone have a nickname?
A. Not every ISOA member has a nickname, but it sure seems that way. Some people bring their nicknames with them into the club when they join, others get them by the things they do with club members. For example, "Whiz Kid" got his nickname after making a number of relief stops during a trip to a car show. "Gastro Boy" has the amazing ability to produce large quantities of abdominal gas on command. "Stalker", a single person, seems to be always on patrol for someone to end his single status. "Mustang Sally" drives one when she's not in her GT6. You get the picture...
Q. What is the Peter M. Roberts Award?
A. This award is named after the inventor of the Craftsman quick-release socket wrench, whose efforts went unrewarded by Sears for quite some time. The Peter M. Roberts traveling trophy, a pewter tankard and wooden stand, is awarded at each monthly ISOA meeting by popular vote to the person deemed to have done the best unrewarded Triumph-related deed during the previous month. The award also includes a free drink at the bar, but you don't have to fill the tankard with it...
Q. What is the Boomer Award?
A. The Boomer began its life as a shiny new wire wheel. After its owner did something amazingly stupid like driving it into a curb, rending it worthless for its original purpose, it began life anew as the ISOA Boomer Award. (Incidentally, after striking the curb and leaving the road, the car rolled several times. This wheel was the best looking of all four, and the car was unrecognizable.) It is also a traveling trophy, awarded at each monthly ISOA meeting by popular vote to the person deemed to have done the stupidest Triumph-related deed during the previous month. By the way, failing to return the Boomer to the next meeting automatically makes you the winner at the next meeting.
Q. What is the Super Boomer Award?
A. The Super Boomer Award is presented at the Big Bash annual awards banquet. Candidates are chosen from the previous 12 monthly Boomer Award winners. As you can see, it's really not in your best interest to keep the Boomer in your possession any longer than you have to since that just increases your odds of getting the Super Boomer Award.
Q. Who has won these awards?
A. Records are sparse, but here are a few recent winners: June 96 Boomer: Jeff Rust, for a nauseating gas attack in the middle of a crowded bus during the Champagne British Car Festival Pub Crawl. A second nomination was made due to his rude attempts to gasp for fresh air after launching another attack only minutes after the first. A third nomination was made since he forgot to bring the Boomer to the June meeting... Due to the overwhelming number of nominations, none of the other nominees had a chance of winning it. June 96 Peter M. Roberts: Barb Billimack, for patiently holding the remnants of what used to be sidecurtains in place in Jack's TR3 during the downpour as they drove to and from the Champagne BCF. December 96 Boomer: Jeff Rust, for failing to: notify the VP of that the location of the Board meeting had changed; notify the Round Up that the location of the Board meeting had changed; make brunch reservations for 20+ ISOA members as last month's brunch tour. December 96 Peter M. Roberts: Bill & Sheri Pyle, for graciously providing their 1949 Triumph 2000 Saloon as the limousine for Keith and Chris Gill's wedding. Additional Boomer award "winners" can be found in our Boomer Award Hall of Shame.
Q. What is the Society of Historic Illinois Triumphs?
A. While ISOA is Northern Illinois' largest, most active Triumph Club, the Society is its poorer cousin. As such, it only has sufficient funds to publish a newsletter on April 1. The Society's only successful event to date has been a driving tour to the internationally famous House on the Rock. The event usually takes place on April 31. Historically, its membership gets so fed up at that point that they all resign in disgust.
Q. What is a Potato Fest?
A. After ISOA hosted the 1995 VTR Convention in Rockford, the club had all kinds of beer, pop and food left over. The "problem" was what to do with it. Jake and Donna Jaquet came up with the idea of having a post-convention party at their home during the Labor Day weekend. This party was to celebrate a successful convention and to eat and drink up the spoils. (We did consume it all that year.) Before the day was out, the potato guns came out of hiding, and the rest is history. The party was a huge success and was dubbed The Potato Fest. It was decided to continue the event each year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend,
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