September 2024 | Issue 770 | Page(s) 3 | Gaynor Cauter
Welcome to another bumper issue of Jaguar Driver. Some of us are happy just to hose the mud off our cars and slap a bit of polish on for good measure when the fancy takes us but, for others, Autoglym runs in their veins and just the sight of a chamois gets them quite excited. As many of you will know, my veins are full of something quite different, but that’s not to say that I don’t admire those of you who devote long hours to perfecting your cars.
September is the time for you and your car to shine – quite literally – because on Sunday the 22nd, we will be at Gaydon for this year’s Champion of Champions. Only five cars made it through the heats at National Day to earn a place in this grand concours final and by this time next month, one of them will have been crowned as the ultimate Jaguar. Paul Crowther set the benchmark pretty high last year with his Series 1 E-Type so it will be interesting to see how these latest contestants fare. Turn to our special preview for full details of the event and the cars competing for this year’s Champion of Champions.
If you can’t wait until the 22nd to get out and about, don’t forget the Road, Rail and Ale Festival at Statfold’s heritage railway museum on Sunday 15 September. The Club will be there, as usual, for this brilliant family day out with something for everyone – from classic cars, tractors and commercials to traction and showman’s engines, plus rides on the steam train. See the ad at the back of the magazine for details of how to obtain your £5 ticket or go to www.jaguardriver.co.uk/events.
I’m pleased to say that we will be back at Stoneleigh (CV8 2LZ) for the autumn Spares Day on Sunday 20 October, with all the usual traders, stands and items for sale. The doors open at 10:00am and it’s your last chance this year to stock up for those winter projects. And don’t forget that you don’t just have to buy – you can sell, too. If you have some spares in need of a good home or a car to sell, email info@jaguarsparesdays.co.uk to book a table or a bit of floor space. It’s a great social occasion as much as anything, with visitors coming from all over the country and Europe, so please join us. Full details are at www.jaguarsparesdays.co.uk.
By the time you read this, Steve and I will (hopefully) have made it to Germany and back for our annual visit to the wine festival on the Rhine. Like its owner, the XJ8 has been showing its age recently and I have my great mate Rob (who is happier fixing Land Rovers and tractors than Jaguars) for replacing an ABS sensor, topping up the air-con and locating an infernal rattle from the X350’s underparts. Speeding down the Autobahn with what sounds like a string of empty Red Bull cans in our wake would have been rather embarrassing. As it happens, Rob found an inner front offside bit of wing had come loose and the noise has disappeared... for now. There’s nothing the XJ (and I) enjoy more than blowing out the cobwebs on the German motorway and I will report on how the trip went next month.
Until then, enjoy what’s left of the summer and we hope to see you at Gaydon on 22 September, if not before.
Gaynor
