samoht
July 28th, 2022, 03:02 PM
Way back in year one of the pandemic, the online racing group 27Racers organised a 100-mile enduro at Le Mans in the E-Type in memory of Norman Dewis, the famous test driver who raced one of the prototypes across Europe overnight for display at the Geneva show. One of the group is a PR exec at Jaguar (SVO), and he arranged for the prize for the podium finishers to be a visit to Jaguar Classic and a chance to drive a real E-Type.
History records that I did not, in fact, finish on the podium; I think my tyre strategy left me on old rubber at the end and finding one or two gravel traps. Notwithstanding this, the constraints of geography and time meant that not all the winners could make it, and Mike got down the list as far as me.
We started with lunch at a garage-themed cafe, pretty decent. Joe's Yaris, my FD, and Mike's press fleet F-Pace SVR. Lewis is a bit younger and came with his dad in his mum's car (not pictured).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLW4_41gKg9HHHZr74UbKuaSDhyquS8dzpmQTgTrFg4l1CYW4 0kFOyFIfvTxmFZtzmpLBIXcCbWGe3SBC6P1TtHnBVacMPDNHPb 2AguiHP4S3JPlV-GepT06Ws6nrXxGSsaUI9hWLjdhxnDT873kbq403A=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Next was a look around the Jaguar Heritage collection at the British Motor Museum. This is open to the public, but made a good activity for us, I honestly hadn't realised what was here.
XK120
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLX0FY-OTSv4r_cskUcXXcIBhMAEtowlNmzHQfbTootu_Pin1mXBxpzrx 1ucUsGeA7g44EELdZtVqRQzQoHbS0ESSFcUF5nJDHV9suYa0RL qM8xiFN3ID32cQksTS9lcV0_oQp2CSRxelEeWXjEi2QdmNw=w1 200-h900-no?authuser=0
Bond Baddie car
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLX7Z8Jf9rPgH8ESL4LsHorO7jC9-YKdeAv249oStCaz8FOzl1VUr6nyrnTdTXmoqzSNOYXFb1-DcnLUAayEU6YSoNg7uMuFK3FhJUPzHPgCVxspKCZvttBQI8B23 iR01-Ua6UrvDhtAZbzc5w-MhhdvOQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Totally production-looking XJ40 estate, which apparently came fairly close to being launched
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLWwPUz8-ouZJkDmd3QT7gzKj-rlZ19ynog7FWbuOujZB6syTMgrC6FvS3K1Zb4I98Kd9fh-i6o_skwBOThVRk6jRBunHFUPmz1IBnscb7GoYHZ5uiV8VGUkhQ EZJ9VEdG9FbVN61zxusYSN0EojRE3Q3g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
The original XJ220 show car with the racing V12 engine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXh4ak53xVYfqPBXRxIN6jmhaNLsQN42XpxJRl1J_DEVEQ1g MPbZlDigJv4ihFdSJafNxl_8bWFG4pV9_qEDvLIF8ZuEWXWeWL fidN2B5lmRYbGQDvJhrOO-dlg5PwiC0POt6qba8IgPSua9phNyPpqWQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
R Concept, love this (Ian Callum)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXnQC6M9JpGvJQP9_4U3Ka04hxCVHpt7_jPrFNbPInE4MN8D wJ0CwQEOBThlEWch4c2sxZNoT8QTQRNmCP7nAFBmnsB0Pn7R_I aCnf1og1NHowFf-vQdSKbQjhjppTYl0_2Z_a6Z-uSwxt78EbpEhlRVg=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
RD6, ditto
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVKbvlBufBiSqsl4A3tmVjiOcnxEeLY-Lb2j6joBzSVWFWsr-M99xSiq7dPrMZpcvqJUGK618ZsmrHBISl3c58xjexLnKkPExuc pqmB0wtXh_Tg-xxgFcjuRA05ed0QRkdN2F0_0pYmXZDoVAe_7cgh5w=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Remember the long string of 'will they, won't they' "F Type" stories, scoops, rumours and concepts?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVL3KSu97axGxcaWM5hs3yOu6VQdLPpgiO79Gu9itClBN0Ga ebxvrn8zNyrrVyY7NJF2va9wmbnycr0SQDH7ueSoIamjudxib2 ANnoGdA9XkLfjBQUiLIv5bn6YuoV8jCndDO-6iqbh9gBdLjTnCzag2A=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Project 7, with Project 8 and CX-75 either side
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVRL0AIjZcVt16_Z6VonxezdCRkjRUlZxAc4ueLMuP2aHlmz Xy2BTRk4T4HiUH-MVGdj9xO9cZ1V9VWi7gADUfqAZOIW9UOk2JdSEYM7SrNNPC-vk4P07lil3ex2mcVJLCEPHCe372cIjZDMGTHvAiILQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
XJR-9 Le Mans winner
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXiQGj__miVGlVFGLb2m9rhaXpsP06x8hH1GAjcI5Mji-blc4EQRJ2L4y4-pU6sZoWHxeB-27T9qXw74iPpHadnFBtWXirJA3nA2f371TM_uU3XS60z59sOdC Y5p9KmZJqpz6kiMOaKtDOYZYW8XUvSgw=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUD2UCzn6KTCwigByqr9UImWw9SuWuKBqIq4e4NOfKIY0TX8 mwrq3-ibEjqr4GcP4Bsk5SDKtLMWpNVUrsJiIg72bcteuyEb78NJquOz 5V2ukB8gZRJjWd0OSwsN4u8V1Fl8V4uTV2sSPhe6ZmdZz0g6A= w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Then we went to Fen End, JLR's development test track. And got to drive an E-Type around it, with a kind and helpful instructor in the passenger seat
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUio2zpeaMG6VmhQ06GLQTRkL987iT0pto89vfmYUUFi3dbZ CfbQ4Ea3ipUjXjM0A5BCpa_o2d0b6B7JDYrhHUsggdYGOMZ55p G7GbVOUi5Du1EqhQpBZeKSJJ4EYB0z99cn3EoyrfntxWAM21Y7 HYgRw=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXCdj3uM0_NeeqiaU6LL0BzjU5DS8SSOBFfn4nomDf87fJsS HcOl635h4GuM8ZjJ2wTOsDz9tQeEildTzDK1sC_HfGr70SyRRC hP-3EWGmD7h7auDK29vMYh4gJSoJ6HMZueH1YtolABWpTy3WrT6vw-g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVCaVpNqtoM9_vUjjPGQc5gJAd2pxRIHS6v021Q8rvfv_s0E 5YOIHS9nRwIr1MjNJZfwGX0jX7-DydUynH4KpYXW1kfnueUkR7iZxmZEqihirETmwMul8NWVn11IN BLDEPNV22FyMYvAofLQu8YyzwX5g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXVKTgJIkV99AVcqrFkDm9RlUCs9rnRUrKZNL645c2kAgDt6 UGuS_beKt5k8WAPwMZMo_QL512MJQmIDD3eB64bewkK4amLSAH CltbY6xFphMeQOl1zIefIYoMd2ueE1NHQvlFyUhV34P3dDgVNv RI09g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUJ7x2thI98UQzJShi1VTN-7YrgPgZVqUeWq6q7fkPmLGM57acbPOVOShB3_k2zu8H8A3QBum uuWynKX8DZnN3PGPchbca6hg7ysVN-TDTBXFeYSI98UOzOWnnW624tGpJfbznxU7lpRVt4QePIHXGxaA =w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
The one I drove is an early model - flat floor and external bonnet latches. That also means it's the 3.8 engine with the four-speed 'Moss box', which is known to be fairly cantankerous. Having said that, I found this (doubtless very well maintained and set up) example ok. I mean, I graunched a few changes, but it felt like a bit of familiarity and you'd be able to work out where to put the revs to make each new gear go in smoothly. It arguably wasn't much harder to get in or out than my RX-7; the ergonomics weren't great, with the wheel at an angle, but was workable. The steering was less heavy than I'd expected, only had to get the car rolling to be able to turn fairly easily.
The engine is fab, really tractable and torquey low-down - no wonder they put it into light tanks. Not scary-fast, but fast enough for the car I think. We got up to about 70. It was quite noisy tho, and only some of that was the gale blowing over the screen, the engine seemed like it would be a fairly constant companion at a motorway cruise. It felt reasonably secure in the modest cornering I was able to attempt, not sure how it'd feel approaching the limit.
Very cool, although I think if I was in the market I'd want a coupe, and a later dropped floor one, I felt sat rather high in this behind the not very tall screen. I'm still finding knots it put into in my hair!
After this was a ride with one of the staff driving a lightweight E-Type. This was actually a 2014 'Continuation' car, so a new build but made almost precisely as the originals were, and thus qualified for historic racing. Unfortunately I missed getting pics. They reckon the 3.8L XK straight six is making 390 bhp on 105 octane leaded fuel, pushing just around a tonne with alloy panels and engine block. This was quite an exciting ride, the way it pulled from around 4,000 rpm up to the 5k that was being used as a maximum in third gear was really eye-opening. I was laughing for much of the ride :D
Seemed to have plenty of grip, too, felt good cornering. Only slight oddity was that the driver had to blip the throttle on the way down the box, but wasn't able to heel and toe so had to come off the brakes for each downshift - I think the throttle is a bit low for this, the instructor in my car said on his own E-Type he's put a pedal extension on to make it easier.
And then there was the D-Type; I didn't get a ride in this but others did. Somehow it sounds like you think a Spitfire does, although Merlins don't actually sound like this being larger and slower revving, it has that sense; quite distinct from the other cars despite being the same basic engine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXPiUAzqXXZswo5ZfN9uJyIa3OK5uluJRLJsp-iIc8wOYLKeMr47dGMStDU0nBRMIHmK5O2tS1jNwJYEXxK74CPT CLnwURAvfSEv3DEgl9qxGFYeuFVKaDs1v71Kle-WDTnU9IU44GpUGzTm7uyFAuqSQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXIXbSW8j7b8sLTx0jZIv62IqN20OefTYOaqZbeBABimXtip LZHH4BoJ26ZQs4y2Z-PsYRwMaPEDOuwoG4FaxOSlynL3CzLMIhfzJ6M1gx0Vf-KtwUzSRJr5OXJ8lriWZ_u-vatP9GhNSAlCxo8APqkUQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXonN_9D0iEa0LQSPXXafw0b9F9AV0HEhKwIP9fo9KLhvGU-mzXSEZ33SgVejKv6M47vMJigJ0IVsp1hJzVemL_yMwTqgVYioJ ZQvmIv7P_RBFFBzSckgT5I6UMEtMw2I7CC9WwCHwXWqigLPJGb oa-KQ=w1200-h600-no?authuser=0
And then I got back into my RX-7 to drive home, and felt how light and slick the controls are, and yet it still captures most of what's good about the E-Type, the proportions, the torque, the FR balance.
My first time driving a car older than I am. I don't think I need to own a classic like this, but it certainly is a lot of fun to have a chance to drive one occasionally. I feel very lucky to have had this chance, and to see, hear and ride in the cars - one could almost have imagined we were taking part in a testing session prior to Le Mans, back in the day, with the different cars around in various states of tune.
History records that I did not, in fact, finish on the podium; I think my tyre strategy left me on old rubber at the end and finding one or two gravel traps. Notwithstanding this, the constraints of geography and time meant that not all the winners could make it, and Mike got down the list as far as me.
We started with lunch at a garage-themed cafe, pretty decent. Joe's Yaris, my FD, and Mike's press fleet F-Pace SVR. Lewis is a bit younger and came with his dad in his mum's car (not pictured).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLW4_41gKg9HHHZr74UbKuaSDhyquS8dzpmQTgTrFg4l1CYW4 0kFOyFIfvTxmFZtzmpLBIXcCbWGe3SBC6P1TtHnBVacMPDNHPb 2AguiHP4S3JPlV-GepT06Ws6nrXxGSsaUI9hWLjdhxnDT873kbq403A=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Next was a look around the Jaguar Heritage collection at the British Motor Museum. This is open to the public, but made a good activity for us, I honestly hadn't realised what was here.
XK120
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLX0FY-OTSv4r_cskUcXXcIBhMAEtowlNmzHQfbTootu_Pin1mXBxpzrx 1ucUsGeA7g44EELdZtVqRQzQoHbS0ESSFcUF5nJDHV9suYa0RL qM8xiFN3ID32cQksTS9lcV0_oQp2CSRxelEeWXjEi2QdmNw=w1 200-h900-no?authuser=0
Bond Baddie car
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLX7Z8Jf9rPgH8ESL4LsHorO7jC9-YKdeAv249oStCaz8FOzl1VUr6nyrnTdTXmoqzSNOYXFb1-DcnLUAayEU6YSoNg7uMuFK3FhJUPzHPgCVxspKCZvttBQI8B23 iR01-Ua6UrvDhtAZbzc5w-MhhdvOQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Totally production-looking XJ40 estate, which apparently came fairly close to being launched
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLWwPUz8-ouZJkDmd3QT7gzKj-rlZ19ynog7FWbuOujZB6syTMgrC6FvS3K1Zb4I98Kd9fh-i6o_skwBOThVRk6jRBunHFUPmz1IBnscb7GoYHZ5uiV8VGUkhQ EZJ9VEdG9FbVN61zxusYSN0EojRE3Q3g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
The original XJ220 show car with the racing V12 engine
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXh4ak53xVYfqPBXRxIN6jmhaNLsQN42XpxJRl1J_DEVEQ1g MPbZlDigJv4ihFdSJafNxl_8bWFG4pV9_qEDvLIF8ZuEWXWeWL fidN2B5lmRYbGQDvJhrOO-dlg5PwiC0POt6qba8IgPSua9phNyPpqWQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
R Concept, love this (Ian Callum)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXnQC6M9JpGvJQP9_4U3Ka04hxCVHpt7_jPrFNbPInE4MN8D wJ0CwQEOBThlEWch4c2sxZNoT8QTQRNmCP7nAFBmnsB0Pn7R_I aCnf1og1NHowFf-vQdSKbQjhjppTYl0_2Z_a6Z-uSwxt78EbpEhlRVg=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
RD6, ditto
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVKbvlBufBiSqsl4A3tmVjiOcnxEeLY-Lb2j6joBzSVWFWsr-M99xSiq7dPrMZpcvqJUGK618ZsmrHBISl3c58xjexLnKkPExuc pqmB0wtXh_Tg-xxgFcjuRA05ed0QRkdN2F0_0pYmXZDoVAe_7cgh5w=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Remember the long string of 'will they, won't they' "F Type" stories, scoops, rumours and concepts?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVL3KSu97axGxcaWM5hs3yOu6VQdLPpgiO79Gu9itClBN0Ga ebxvrn8zNyrrVyY7NJF2va9wmbnycr0SQDH7ueSoIamjudxib2 ANnoGdA9XkLfjBQUiLIv5bn6YuoV8jCndDO-6iqbh9gBdLjTnCzag2A=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Project 7, with Project 8 and CX-75 either side
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVRL0AIjZcVt16_Z6VonxezdCRkjRUlZxAc4ueLMuP2aHlmz Xy2BTRk4T4HiUH-MVGdj9xO9cZ1V9VWi7gADUfqAZOIW9UOk2JdSEYM7SrNNPC-vk4P07lil3ex2mcVJLCEPHCe372cIjZDMGTHvAiILQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
XJR-9 Le Mans winner
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXiQGj__miVGlVFGLb2m9rhaXpsP06x8hH1GAjcI5Mji-blc4EQRJ2L4y4-pU6sZoWHxeB-27T9qXw74iPpHadnFBtWXirJA3nA2f371TM_uU3XS60z59sOdC Y5p9KmZJqpz6kiMOaKtDOYZYW8XUvSgw=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUD2UCzn6KTCwigByqr9UImWw9SuWuKBqIq4e4NOfKIY0TX8 mwrq3-ibEjqr4GcP4Bsk5SDKtLMWpNVUrsJiIg72bcteuyEb78NJquOz 5V2ukB8gZRJjWd0OSwsN4u8V1Fl8V4uTV2sSPhe6ZmdZz0g6A= w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
Then we went to Fen End, JLR's development test track. And got to drive an E-Type around it, with a kind and helpful instructor in the passenger seat
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUio2zpeaMG6VmhQ06GLQTRkL987iT0pto89vfmYUUFi3dbZ CfbQ4Ea3ipUjXjM0A5BCpa_o2d0b6B7JDYrhHUsggdYGOMZ55p G7GbVOUi5Du1EqhQpBZeKSJJ4EYB0z99cn3EoyrfntxWAM21Y7 HYgRw=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXCdj3uM0_NeeqiaU6LL0BzjU5DS8SSOBFfn4nomDf87fJsS HcOl635h4GuM8ZjJ2wTOsDz9tQeEildTzDK1sC_HfGr70SyRRC hP-3EWGmD7h7auDK29vMYh4gJSoJ6HMZueH1YtolABWpTy3WrT6vw-g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLVCaVpNqtoM9_vUjjPGQc5gJAd2pxRIHS6v021Q8rvfv_s0E 5YOIHS9nRwIr1MjNJZfwGX0jX7-DydUynH4KpYXW1kfnueUkR7iZxmZEqihirETmwMul8NWVn11IN BLDEPNV22FyMYvAofLQu8YyzwX5g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXVKTgJIkV99AVcqrFkDm9RlUCs9rnRUrKZNL645c2kAgDt6 UGuS_beKt5k8WAPwMZMo_QL512MJQmIDD3eB64bewkK4amLSAH CltbY6xFphMeQOl1zIefIYoMd2ueE1NHQvlFyUhV34P3dDgVNv RI09g=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUJ7x2thI98UQzJShi1VTN-7YrgPgZVqUeWq6q7fkPmLGM57acbPOVOShB3_k2zu8H8A3QBum uuWynKX8DZnN3PGPchbca6hg7ysVN-TDTBXFeYSI98UOzOWnnW624tGpJfbznxU7lpRVt4QePIHXGxaA =w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
The one I drove is an early model - flat floor and external bonnet latches. That also means it's the 3.8 engine with the four-speed 'Moss box', which is known to be fairly cantankerous. Having said that, I found this (doubtless very well maintained and set up) example ok. I mean, I graunched a few changes, but it felt like a bit of familiarity and you'd be able to work out where to put the revs to make each new gear go in smoothly. It arguably wasn't much harder to get in or out than my RX-7; the ergonomics weren't great, with the wheel at an angle, but was workable. The steering was less heavy than I'd expected, only had to get the car rolling to be able to turn fairly easily.
The engine is fab, really tractable and torquey low-down - no wonder they put it into light tanks. Not scary-fast, but fast enough for the car I think. We got up to about 70. It was quite noisy tho, and only some of that was the gale blowing over the screen, the engine seemed like it would be a fairly constant companion at a motorway cruise. It felt reasonably secure in the modest cornering I was able to attempt, not sure how it'd feel approaching the limit.
Very cool, although I think if I was in the market I'd want a coupe, and a later dropped floor one, I felt sat rather high in this behind the not very tall screen. I'm still finding knots it put into in my hair!
After this was a ride with one of the staff driving a lightweight E-Type. This was actually a 2014 'Continuation' car, so a new build but made almost precisely as the originals were, and thus qualified for historic racing. Unfortunately I missed getting pics. They reckon the 3.8L XK straight six is making 390 bhp on 105 octane leaded fuel, pushing just around a tonne with alloy panels and engine block. This was quite an exciting ride, the way it pulled from around 4,000 rpm up to the 5k that was being used as a maximum in third gear was really eye-opening. I was laughing for much of the ride :D
Seemed to have plenty of grip, too, felt good cornering. Only slight oddity was that the driver had to blip the throttle on the way down the box, but wasn't able to heel and toe so had to come off the brakes for each downshift - I think the throttle is a bit low for this, the instructor in my car said on his own E-Type he's put a pedal extension on to make it easier.
And then there was the D-Type; I didn't get a ride in this but others did. Somehow it sounds like you think a Spitfire does, although Merlins don't actually sound like this being larger and slower revving, it has that sense; quite distinct from the other cars despite being the same basic engine.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXPiUAzqXXZswo5ZfN9uJyIa3OK5uluJRLJsp-iIc8wOYLKeMr47dGMStDU0nBRMIHmK5O2tS1jNwJYEXxK74CPT CLnwURAvfSEv3DEgl9qxGFYeuFVKaDs1v71Kle-WDTnU9IU44GpUGzTm7uyFAuqSQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXIXbSW8j7b8sLTx0jZIv62IqN20OefTYOaqZbeBABimXtip LZHH4BoJ26ZQs4y2Z-PsYRwMaPEDOuwoG4FaxOSlynL3CzLMIhfzJ6M1gx0Vf-KtwUzSRJr5OXJ8lriWZ_u-vatP9GhNSAlCxo8APqkUQ=w1200-h900-no?authuser=0
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLXonN_9D0iEa0LQSPXXafw0b9F9AV0HEhKwIP9fo9KLhvGU-mzXSEZ33SgVejKv6M47vMJigJ0IVsp1hJzVemL_yMwTqgVYioJ ZQvmIv7P_RBFFBzSckgT5I6UMEtMw2I7CC9WwCHwXWqigLPJGb oa-KQ=w1200-h600-no?authuser=0
And then I got back into my RX-7 to drive home, and felt how light and slick the controls are, and yet it still captures most of what's good about the E-Type, the proportions, the torque, the FR balance.
My first time driving a car older than I am. I don't think I need to own a classic like this, but it certainly is a lot of fun to have a chance to drive one occasionally. I feel very lucky to have had this chance, and to see, hear and ride in the cars - one could almost have imagined we were taking part in a testing session prior to Le Mans, back in the day, with the different cars around in various states of tune.