This page details developments on the Jaguar up to February 2002. The photos below were taken after returning from the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club track day at Mallory Park race circuit on Thursday 21st February 2002. Re-assembley had been completed around midnight just two nights before!
The day was cold, started dry, but rain descended for the afternoon. Dad took his ARDS course, giving him a competition race licence...
Many thanks to Terry Dye of the JEC, and all the other organisers, and the Marshalls at Mallory Park, who's hard work helped to make this such an enjoyable day.
Apologies to Dad for spinning his car out at Devil's Elbow (MPEG, 7 seconds, approx. 1.9Mb), and filling his new wheels and brakes with grass and mud (and to the other participants who then had to wait whilst the track was cleared)!
Developments on the car since the last update include:
The car is currently still running the 3.6 litre unit's ECU, and retains the auto-selector switch (you have to remember to ensure this is in "Park" prior to starting the car!). More power is anticipated once (if) the 4.0 litre ECU can be wired into the loom correctly.
What happened to cheap motorsport Dad?!
The clutch master cylinder seals gave way part way through the day, leading to interesting cornering around the hairpin when a gear could not be selected. Good job Dad is handy at driving without an operational clutch! Thankfully clutch fluid had been brought for the day, so the reservoir was simply kept topped up, and the pedal pumped vigorously whenever it went dead. The brakes are excellent, and the grip outstanding, bearing in mind that this is one heavy car.
Dad managed a controlled (though unintentional) power slide, and commented later that the car is now very balanced. Its quick, though not yet up with the V12 powered cars, but seemed to out-handle and out-brake all but the fully developed race-only motors at the circuit that day (at least, when Dad was driving!).
The noise is a glorious Jaguar growl. Fantastic!
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