This year with over fifty cars venturing out on track and more than seventy drivers participating our track day at historic Castle Combe it was our largest track day ever. In addition, we had in excess of two hundred members and guests attending throughout the day. Many took advantage of the chance of some high-speed hot passenger laps in one of the fleet of five Swallows Racing track prepared Jaguars.
JEC Chairman Enjoys another outing
Our Chairman Ray Seales has also been bitten by the track day bug taking his fire breathing Italian Racing Red XKR-S on circuit. Both Ray and our novice drivers benefited from expert tuition on the day from our friendly ARDS instructor Ray Ingman. Highly experienced, Ray helps drivers gain confidence and increases ability to safely get the most from your car.
It was impressive to see the broad range of cars taking to the track and included some expensive classics from an XK120 with a racing pedigree including outings at Sebring and Watkins Glen. The XK being joined by several E Type Jaguars including a beautiful blue LHD car that has raced at Le Mans Classic and a rare E Type rally car. Classics were additionally represented with an S2 XJ6 Coupe looking great on the circuit.
Classic mix with the new cars
As well as 2021 being the sixtieth anniversary of the E-Type it is the same anniversary for the beautiful Michelotti designed Triumph TR4 and we were delighted to also be able to have one on track.
Crossing to the ‘modern classics’ spectators were treated to seeing XJS’s, X300’s and XK8/R’s (X100). These all proved to be very capable on Castle Combe’s exciting circuit, alongside a sprinkling of JEC race cars from the same era.
Our track days are proving to be very popular now with owners of more modern performance Jaguars as could be seen by the XFR’s, XK’s and F Types that were out in force.
During the lunch break we were served more exotic machinery being captured by the media including our own roving reporter Wayne Scott. Wayne was busy interviewing guests for the Podcast (listen to episode 66 ‘Live from Castle Combe’) and filming new content for YouTube.
It is all about the cars
It can’t be everyday you get to see the original Jaguar XJR-15 on track, driven by owner Andrew Maynard and interviewed by Wayne alongside our own Richard West who witnessed the birth of these cars whilst working for TWR. Look out for a future special ‘Richard Remembers’ coming soon! If that wasn’t enough our tame racing driver Tom Robinson took to the track in the F Type Rally car on loan for the day kindly by Jaguar Classic before lapping in his own race prepared XJR6. Finally, for afters we had the sight of the ‘Ring Taxi’ the Jaguar X351 SVO that was famous for hot laps of the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) being driven by JDHT volunteers.
Proving that track days can offer something for everyone including those who don’t want to take their cars on track, the JEC Track Day offers so much more. A car show, a live arena and a track day all rolled into one, and even the weather was kind.
Pencil into your 2022 diary 4th October for next year’s event, which we hope to confirm soon.
