Jaguar Tales

In preparation for the autumn rallying season, the XJ-S was scheduled to have an upgrade during the summer, with the fitment of a sump guard, some added protection for the rear suspension and a little cosmetic attention. None of the above was ticked off the list as one by one, other family cars developed more urgent needs to take up my time.  The one taking most time and trouble was Davina's Range Rover Sport.  I had replaced a failed alternator earlier in the year, a job that I thought could not have be more inconvenient if had been designed that way.  Little did I know that a few months later, the designers had a better treat in store! Returning from Cornwall (a round trip of 600 miles), as we exited the M25 a few miles from home, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree with instructions to stop the car IMMEDIATELY.  Obviously I ignored the warnings and bongs and continued home. The following morning an ominous puddle of oil was spreading on the drive underneath...

 The XJS coupe had remained tucked up in storage for much of the remainder of 2023 until the MOT became due.  This prompted a call to action:  Use it or lose it. A few longish trips ferrying Max from Essex to Loughborough blew the cobwebs out of the V12. A few running repairs were needed:  The petrol tank started to leak (again), but, naturally, the second time around, it was much easier to extract and refit the tank. The enormous Cibié spotlamps needed rewiring, but came in useful on a Winter's evening when in order to keep the mental cobwebs away, Dexter and I competed in a 12-Car navigational event organised by the CSMA NWL in February 2024.  We were pleased to record a class win and 2nd overall with zero navigational penalties, and despite a largish time penalty when we overshot a junction by some miles! The weather remained frightful, with the UK recording one of its wettest ever Winter and Spring.  This was preventing any useful work being carried out...

You may carry weapons and ammo in your checked luggage, but don't you dare smoke, skateboard or loiter in the terminal. The USA never fails to amaze. January and February 2023 passed all too quickly with no motorsport action at Jacoby Jaguars.   The XKR celebrated its 21st Birthday by having total electrical failure at 70mph in lane 3 on the M25, at night.  Amazingly the engine kept running, but all other electric/electronic systems disappeared:  No lights at all, no gear changes, no indicators, horn, windows etc. Fortunately we were due to exit at the next junction and a few miles later, some electrics reappeared:  Side lights and gearchanges.  As we were heading into London, we had no need of headlamps.  We arrived for (a lovely) dinner at cousin Robert's apartment in Belsize Park.  After an evening of good eating and excellent company (and getting to hold a real Oscar, brought over by a neighbour), Robert kindly lent us his monster Audi RS5 to ...