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Goodwood Jaguar XK & E-Type Track Day - 15th April 2008Event Report by John Davies Roberts What a wonderful April day it turned out to be with highs of 12 Degrees and not a cloud in the sky! At 08:30 we were briefed on the fact that this was not a Race Day and that there were fellow XK owners with road-going cars only, so BE CAREFUL!! There were about 25 Jaguars comprising XK’s, E-Types, with some ex-Works racers belonging to Richard Wills and Nigel Webb running in his latest racing acquisition, a Jaguar Mark II. The day started well and I took the car out to warm it up and for me to remember the circuit I should race (I mean drive!). I was testing some new petrol also, as I am still suffering from engine overruns when I switch off and when the engine is hot. So I was trying BP Ultimate which is rated at 102 Octane. The results were that I felt there was more power but the overrun on shut-down still exists. I had invited Peter Dixon to Goodwood who is responsible for Jaguar Inspections for the MSA in gaining FIA approval for cars built to Appendix ‘K’ (Period) specification. Having put the passenger seat in for this track day, I strapped him in and off we went to get some heat into the tyres. He said he was really impressed with the car’s handling as we slid round the bends at Madgewick and Lavant. We achieved 120mph down the Lavant Straight, before braking hard for Woodcote. I did check his pallor afterwards to note whether there was any paleness, but he was fine and he thoroughly enjoyed it! I also used the day to play with the car’s handling by stiffening the suspension via the adjustable shocks and found an even better level of handling. In an attempt to improve my race craft, I invited Rob Newall, a Professional Race Instructor and, who also races a beautiful XK140 Fixed Head Coupe with me in the XK Challenge, to come out and give me some tips on reducing my lap times. The net result was that he gave me some valuable advice on Toe-and-Heeling, when changing down going into corners. This certainly smoothed out corner exits and reduced ‘Snatching’ in lower gears, especially at St. Mary’s, Lavant Corner and The Chicane. By the end of the afternoon, my client Steve Andrew and I set a 1 min 40 sec lap time with of course, 78 Kgs of Steve, a passenger Seat of 12 Kgs and a full tank of petrol. This probably translates into a 1 min 38 sec lap time with only one body in the car. This is only 2 seconds off Nigel Webb’s Le Mans Jaguar ‘C’; type which raced at last years Goodwood Revival. (Interesting Statistics for those of us who analyze such important things)! Lunch was supposed to be at the Flying Club’s Restaurant but it was too full. So we retired to the NAAFI wagon parked just outside the Main Paddock, for a sumptuous cheese burger and yet more tea and a chat with the lads on racing, set up, ‘Power Curves’ et al. This was a great day for all of us as can be seen from the photos. Hopefully we can do it again this year, time permitting. The next event will be back to racing at: We would love to see you there where we will be brandishing our new 2008 MWS banner and the latest MWS product brochures at the Marquee displaying: John
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