Vol. XXIII, No. 8 - October 1999
Vol. XXIII, No. 8 - October 1999
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 no, my cat's not sick! My jaguar leaks oil! |
President Message
by Russel Glace
Believe it or not Season" is upon us. Summer was supposed to be relaxing, however with all the planning with our board haven't noticed any spare time. Every moment has been consumed with family, business, travel or club events. The next few months your board has planned wonderful venues. I represented our club at the Jaguar International Festival, please see article. Our regional concourse, as well as our own club event will be next month. The plans for this event will make our "Millennium Concourse" the best one ever.
Our club has gone to great lengths to outdo ourselves. Our host hotel, our award winning banquet and various committees are putting together something quite special.Alpine Jaguar, our club sponsor, with the support of Jaguar Corporate has backed our efforts like never before. For those of you that attended last years Equestnan Event," we have made that event a Benchmark" to which we wish to aspire.
During our next few meetings we will be looking for support from our clubs membership. There are many various committees that need volunteers to make our concourse and other planned events a success. For all the people who, over the course of the year, say they will gladly help; now is the time to step to the plate. For the silent majority, now is the time to do something for yourself as well as the club. Come out to the dinner meetings to find out first hand what this club is all about.
I have been asked to go even further with my club involvement, I have been nominated to represent our region as a J.C.N.A. director. If elected I will certainly and graciously accept the nomination and feel honored to represent our club as well as our four other clubs in the region. Mr. Tom Palisi, the present directors' term will end next year. If elected I would attempt to fill the shoes of a true gentleman. Tom has performed a great service for our regional clubs. He can never be replaced. I can only hope to be as honorable as he. Using Tom as my mentor perhaps I can be successful.I am not asking anyone for a long term commitment, but becoming involved is a true sense of self worth and fun at the same time.
Get involved, help your own club, it's great.
Russell Glace
President
Suncoast Jaguar Club
Concours
by Rick Hartwell
The Suncoast JC returned to the beautiful Belleview Biltmore in Clearwater Florida on August 7th to hold their annual concours d'elegance. Mike Rosenberg and I headed out early Friday afternoon, he driving his beautiful XK8 Conv and I following behind trailoring the MKIX sedan. We were to caravan over together but Mike could not handle the 50mph pace (and I cannot blame him) so he went on ahead and we met up at the hotel later for dinner.
The morning of the show was overcast but clear 'so Mike and I headed out to clean the cars for the show. We were about finished when this huge c~ud rolled in and dowsed us with rain. Time for another wipe down. I had forgotten just how big the MKIX was!We moved the cars to the display area then settled in for breakfast. They had a good turnout with about 30 cars on the field with a good mix of championship and driven cars.The setting behind the Biltmore is great for showing the cars and as the sun popped out from behind the clouds, we knew we were in for a good day.
We had a good showing from our club, with Frank Rubino showing his 1950 XKl2O, Pascal Gademer with his 1972 XKE 2+2, and Mike and I with our cars. The banquet was held at the hotel in grand style that night and we had a chance to visit with alot of old friends. The highlight of the evening for me was when they honored Diane and I by presenting us with the Dan Ligas Memorial "unsung hero award" for all the work we have done for the clubs. This is quite an honor for we held great respect for Dan and his family.
The next two shows are in Orlando and of course Boca Raton. These shows are not to be missed (especially ours!)
See you there !
THE LIMEROCK EXPERIENCE
by Russel Glace
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit the North Western Connecticut area for the Dodge Vintage Festival and the Skip Barber Racing School.Thinking that accommodations would be plentiful, I, as normal called approximately four weeks prior to my visit date. I found that the festival events book a year in advance. I called the school and they sent me a list of hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. I lucked out when a local inn the, Wake Robin Inn, that had a cancellation. The Wake Robin Inn is a converted 1816 Treonic school for young ladies. This 24 room Georgian colonial mansion is located on a 12 acre estate with a separate motel building located on the grounds. The inn had all the amenities you would expect from a four star facility.
The activities started Saturday morning. After a traditional English breakfast it was off to the Limerock track. Following the directions from my inn keeper I meandered the beautiful country roads through the mountains to a very modest sign in the village of Limerock, Connecticut. At breakfast I met two Keno brothers, Lee and of New York, New York both are vintage racers. Luckily they had described the entrance to the track and warned it was very easy to miss. Once at Limerock they invited me to the pit area for Sassco Racing, the provider of support1 mechanics, and transportation for their vehicles a Vintaae Lola and Cosworth.Nestled between the mountains sits the world famous track staging area, pit, vendor, midway, and the Skip Barber School. The Barber school offers a variety of driving possibilities, from defensive (112) half day through (5) five day race programs. I was enrolled in the (3) three day race event, that started on Tuesday, after the festival.
Sunday was the concourse hosted by Shelby American Automotive Association. Also that day was Limerock Park Auto Swap meet, S.C.C.A. (Sports Club of America) car show, and registration for driver and crews. The Concourse was primarily Ford and Dodge since Carol Shelby was the guest and Dodge is a sponsor of the Skip Barber School. The Vintage race cars were intermixed with classic and sports cars. There were several Jaguars, both vintage racers and show cars. The photographs taken of the Jaguars 1 had introduced myself and invited each owner to send a story of their individual cars. As pleasant as the Sunday Show was, the excitement was building to the main race day on Monday and my impending race school.Labor Day, race day, is a historic day at Limerock. Many records were made and broken here. The weather was ominous, off and on showers and absolute downpours. The rain played havoc with the racers, many incidents resulted in accidents, luckily, none life threatening. The racers, twelve each, with twelve laps ranging from pre-war through 70 Vintage, were many of the same entrants I previously reported on for the Pittsburgh Grand Prix.
Finally, what I had been waiting for Race School, the Skip Barber 3 day program is a true experience. After an 8:00A.M. introduction we were in the cars by 10:00 A.M. The vehicles were Dodge Neon powered open wheel race cars. At first it seemed like an oversized go cart with a rocket engine. They teach fundamentals. The first day your maximum speed is about 35mph through a slomb course, that relates to about 3300 rpm's Day 2 represented an increase in rpm's and related speed. The rain presented a challenge. We had to know what they refer to as a dry line and wet line. Both paths can be treacherous, minor spin outs to all out accidents. Day 3 Graduation Day. This was no doubt the most exciting. The rpm's were unlimited, and there was all out racing. We were taught in the classroom how to pass and be passed. Now was the time to take all the classroom knowledge and mix it with our limited track tirne.My classmates were of varied age, backgrounds and experience.
The concern I had was not my knowledge or lack there of, but the other ~uy and his knowledge or lack there of Prior to the ~open racing" we had more practice. This time when I made a mistake I was no longer scared, I was angry with myself, knowing I should be able to execute what I was taught.After lunch was showtime. It was so exhilarating, I was anxious to see what could do. By this time I knew what the flags signified and the locations of the spotters or flag men and women.My first run, one of two eleven lap races, I was first out of the pits. In the first lap we were blacked flagged, this means stopping the race and return to the pits. I wondered what had gone wrong. 1 kept the lead with no one passing or attempting to pass. I found that there had been two unauthorized cars on the track.
My second race I took my car to the limit. It was as good as it gets, to the point that the cornermen and startifinish line gave me a rolled black flag - pointed directly at car 16 as a warning for potential hazard. As a result I had to slow down and two of my classmates made the pass. On the last lap I was making my move to take the lead and the race was over. I finished third but after the race I was told that I would not have been sanctioned for my driving had it not been for my rookie status.
The Skip Barber School is very professional and 1 recommend it to all enthusiasts, male, female, young, and old.(See next months article "The Skip Barber Experience).
ON TRACK
by Michael Sean White
THE MAN WHO BROUGHT JAGUAR BACK TO LeMANS Bob Tullius was Jaguar's saviour in the US sales market by bringing them back to offical racing before they (Jaguar) had intended. He made many dreams come true by taking his Jaguar back to LeMans. In 1971, Bob Tullius had not been given the acknowledgement he deserved, but he , and his team, dragged Jaguar back into big-time racing, and heralded an exciting new era in the Company's proud competition heritage. Even more significantly, he helped Jaguar survive in it's most important export market with the use of an outdated V12 E-TYPE!!
When it was unveiled on March 29, 1971, the Series III introduced the Jaguar V12 engine to the world when the influence of British Leyland was biting hard and the fuel crisis was at it's worst. Leading experts concluded that the gas guzzler had a limited life span. Who could have forecast that 28 years later it would still be a yardstick for engine refinement, with a competition record the envy of other manufacturers! Jaguar maintained an iron-clad policy of keeping away from racing. Therefore, it isn't difficult to appreciate Group 44's effort to win the support of Jaguar Inc. in the US when the UK parent opposed it! However, Jag's share of the US market was falling drastically, and Group 44 was demoted to "Specialist Car Divition", comprising Jaguar, Triumph, and Rover. Graham Whitehead, the British expatriate who headed British Leyland there, introduced the V12 E-TYPE alongside Sir William Lyons,engineer Harry Mundy, and Mike Dale who, like Whitehead would be a key player in Jaguar's resurgence. Despite the excitement of the V12 engine, sales of the E-TYPE slumpped further amid rumors of an imminent release of the "F-TYPE", (XJS). Funny how things never change, isn't it! The fuel crisis, restricted emission controls, and fading charisma made matters even worse.
Desperately, Whitehead, and, Dale in particular, decided the v12 could spark a resurgence, and they returned Jaguar to the track 18 years after it left. Plans were implemented and their comeback year was 1974. Mike Dale commissioned two teams to build and prepare their own V12 E-TYPEs : on the West Coast, Huffaker Engineering. On the east it was Group 44. Jo Huffaker operated out of San Rafael, near San Francisco, and was an engine builder of strong repute with much racing success. One of his Series 1 B-TYPEs chalked up 39 wins from 42 starts between 1963 and 1965. That is incredible by today's standards. Group 44 was headed by the softly spoken, but equally determined and talented Bob Tullius. A native New Yorker who had been a salesman for Kodak, he became the pioneer who presented a truly professional team to SCCA production car racing in 1961, when that form of racing was considered suitable for amateurs only. Tullius went on to win the SCCA division four years in succession and formed his own professional and immaculate Group 44 team. By the end of the 60's, every racing enthusiast knew the stunning white and two-tone green Group 44 Team. By the time Mike Dale decided to race the V12 E-TYPE, Group 44 was a natural choice.
The aim was to put Jaguar back into the mind of potential buyers, and to do that would mean defeating the' all-conquering Chevrolet Corvettes, something which, if it happened, would ensure national publicity. On August 11, 1974, Jaguar simultaneously came back to racing with the silver Huffaker V12 B-TYPE Roadster and the Group 44 car which debuted at Seattle and Watkins Glen respectively. This was undoubtedly the moment of conception for what turned out to be Jaguar's great IMSA, WSPC, and LeMans victories of the late 1980's and early 1990's Tullius sat on second pole position and led his race until the gearlever broke off three laps from home and Lee Mueller, driving for Huffaker, scored a run-away victory. On the following two Sundays, Mueller scored victories while Tullius did even better with four wins over successive weekends. Both Jaguars were the champions for their respective Northern Pacific and North Eastern divisions. The Title was to be settled at Road Atlanta on November 3rd for the grand finale. Mueller went out early with a flat tire, but Tullius battled well only to lose by less than one second to a Corvette, the 14th of 17 National titles for the awesome Chevys.
Both teams had greater success in 1975, again putting both cars in the final with Mueller taking pole position from Tullius. The pace car that year was an XJ-S driven by former World F1 champion Phil Hill. On the warm-up lap, however, Mueller's Jag had a total rear end lock up, leaving Tullius to represent Jaguar against a hoard of Corvettes!continued on page 3continued from page 2 After heated battle, Bob Tullius's Group 44 v12 B-TYPE blitzed the entire field to win the 45 mile race from Corvette and Porsche! The result was Tullius's most significant win, despite his team s 13 US National victories and his 5th personal title. It led to an even closer alliance between Tullius and Mike Dale who, with Graham Whitehead, guided Jaguar back to the forefront of popularity and sales strength. Surprisingly, after the SCCA win, Tullius and Huffaker both announced this was the last race for their B-TYPEs (with the release of the XJ-S) and neither indicated that they would race a Jaguar again. Yeah, RIGHT!
These E-TYPBs won 22 races between them and were later sold off, Huffaker's remaining in the US and Tullius's going to Britain. Through out the years after, Group 44 developed and paved the way into racing history with their entry at L~Mans in 1985. This marked the return of Jaguar to the top of racing form. Jaguar went to LeMans in 1986 & 1987 with the TWR Silk Cut XJR-8, based on the Group 44 700+hp V-12, and would win in 1988, thus proving again that a "BIG CAT" can't stay on any porch!! Hats off to Bob Tullius and his Group 44 Team.. gone, but not forgotten.
Source: Jag Mag - Edition 84
MONTHLY MEETINGS (Except October, see below )
Monthly meetings are held on the first tuesday of the month, at this new location :
THE HOLIDAY INN, 1950 GLADES RD, BOCA RATON TOWN CENTER
PHONE 531-338-5200
DIRECTIONS FROM I 95 :
exit 39 Glades Rd, travel west to the first traffc light, make U-turn Hotel
entrance on right
FROM TURNPIKE :
exit 75 Boco Raton, east on Glades Road for 3 miles, Hotel on right
South Florida Jaguar Club
c/o PO Box 8148
Coral Springs, FL 33075
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Copyright © 1999 South Florida Jaguar Club, last revision 9/3/99