Vol. XXIII, No. 9 - September 1999

President Message
by Russel Glace

Welcome to both new and existing members. Also, a welcome back to all of our members that are seasonal, both domestic and international.

Now is the time that our "South Florida Jaguar Club" needs to muster up the support of our membership for our 1999/2000 season.Your board of directors has planned an event filled calendar (see enclosed) with an exciting venue for all of us. November 13, is our regional concours. We plan to make this year's 2 day event the envy of our region, as well as J.C.N.A. (see enclosed). To make this event the best, we need your help and support. This letter, like all of my messages, is a plea for your help, please call our concours chairperson, Mike Rosenberg at 561-75O-7O25, and offer to fill in one of the many openings he has.

To date your board is doing all the work. If faced with all the work required to host events for our 130 members, a handfull of "workerbees" will surely "burnout". Don't get me wrong, your board loves what we do. However, we can't and shouldn't be expected to do all the work, all the time.Please remember our next meeting is the election of new officers. I know that there will be openings that need to be filled. It's important to have new faces, enthusiasm and fresh ideas with each years elections.

Please consider the positions that are available. Your board consists of the following:

President    Vice President    Membership     Treasurer    Newsletter Editor     Webmaster    Events Coordinator     Secretary

All of these categories are open to any member. The existing board can run unopposed and retain their position, however many may wish to retire. Therefore, please contact any of your board and volunteer to fill these openings. There is also a need for special committees. Almost all positions have a need for committees to support the special work required for each task. If you are interested feel free to contact any of us, we will freely explain what the position entails.

Please be at the beautiful Holiday Inn - Glades Road and 1-95 for our regular 1st Tuesday of each month membership meeting. And by all means attend your November 13,1999 Concours.It is a pleasure serving as your president.

Sincerely,
Russell Glace

October Meeting in Miami
by George Harrisson

The SFJC  informal dinner meeting was held Tuesday October 5th at Tony Romas in the Kendall area of Miami.  We gathered at the upstairs banquet room in which our guest speaker and fellow club member,  Frank Rubino shared his experiences in professional car racing.  Approximately 25 members and guestslistened to an informative and entertaining Frank relive his adventures. 

Starting with local club racing to then progressing through the various classes finally into the major sponsored prototypes running at the Miami Gran Prix.  What helped make Frank's presentation even more interesting was all his"visual exhibits".   There were photos of all his cars from the racing days well as artist's color illustration layouts of his corporate sponsorship requirements.  Everything from the location of the graphics on the actual car, to the design of the driver and crew uniforms, all dictated in detail by the sponsor.  Frank ended the evening answering various questions from our enthusiasticgroup. 

We thank Frank Rubino for recalling his colorful pro racing career for our October meeting.

George Harrison
Vice-president

MONTHLY MEETINGS  

Monthly meetings are held on the first tuesday of the month, at  :

THE HOLIDAY INN,  1950 Glades road,  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

SFJC Christmas Party

JCNA festival, part 1 : the trip to Colorado
by Pascal Gademer

from September 27 to October first, JCNA organized the first International Jaguar Festival in the beautifull setting of Colorado Springs. Our club was represented by its President Russel Glace, members Karl Schaefer, Richard Irving and Pascal Gademer who drove his silver 72 E-type 2+2 (which took
first in its driven category, 4th in the Rally and an automatic first in both slaloms as the only entry in class ). In this first article, Pascal describes the trip to Colorado Springs.


It all started as a one of those "what if" crazy thoughts when I first heard about the first International Jaguar Festival that JCNA was putting together in Colorado Springs. I thought about it but said to myself... it's too far away... I can't take a whole week off... etc... etc..

Then after a few days, the thought of driving my 72 E-type ( a 2+2 ) a little over 4500 miles in a week, up the 14 110' Pikes Peak and on scenic Colorado roads became very appealing and the not so reasonable side of me took over. After all, since I bought the car at the end of march, I had spend a good amount of money and effort to make it reliable and I was confident that It could make the trip with a minimum of problems.

By the time I decided to go, around july, the Broadmoor hotel where the social side of the festival was held was booked up. anyway, while certainly luxurious and beautifull, it is a huge resort and I prefer the smaller personalized bed and breakfast; thru the internet, I booked a very nice place in Manitou springs, 10 minutes from the Broadmoor. My wife refused to drive so I booked her a flight... and then a second one when our 5 year old daughter started crying that she didn't want to stay in Miami.

Then I faced a family conspiracy ( my wife, my parents, etc ... ) about driving to Colorado alone... I suddenly had become crazy and irresponsible in their eyes... "think about your children... your business... " so to appease everyone, at the september club dinner, I asked if anyone wanted to come along for the ride. Long time club member Richard Irving did and saturday, september 24th we were leaving south florida heading north.

The trip as mapped by the MapBlast internet site had us heading up thru Atlanta, Nashville, St Louis and Kansas city for a distance of 2030 miles. Richard was the navigator armed with a AAA trip ticket book. Luckily, weather remained nice all along, as soon as we left Palm Beach behind the rained stopped and we got clear skies all the way.

The trip up turned out to be uneventfull. Because of my schedule, it had to be no more than a 2 days trip ( saturday and sunday ) with the monday just in case... so no sightseeing, no lenghty food stops. Just drive and stop for gas.... a lot of gas considering how thirsty a V12 can be when you drive it the way it's supposed to be driven...

After Atlanta, I75 became a little more interesting with rolling hills and curves, and then Nashville. Nice skyline at night. Since we were making good time, with nice weather and a 75 mph average including fuel stops, we decided to press on as late as possible. After the only traffic jam of the trip, crossing St Louis around midnight, we decided to stop for the night. That was 1150 miles, in about 16 hours. Not bad so far.

Next morning, back on the road around 8am, for the second part of the trip, the long westerly stretch of I 70. It also turned out to be uneventfull except that the road surface was rough and a lot of construction along the way, with single lane runs at 60 mph stuck behind trucks.

Lunch stop took place in the middle of nowhere, that's Russel Kansas, hometown of Bob Dole as the sign on I70 said... we where a long way from south Florida to say the least... but the burger was pretty good !

4 pm, we pull in Colorado Springs... and as we start looking for the La Quinta that Richard had booked... he doesn't have the address... Got to stop for directions... I've never done that before.... thanks Richard !

At first Colorado springs is disapointing, that side of town is like any other place... fast foods, car dealerships, shopping centers and construction. But then the other side, from the Broadmoor on, is much nicer, and the old main street leading into Manitou springs has that look typical of the west and the Rockies... it was worth the 2000 miles.... 5 PM and I pull in the Blue Skies Bed n Breakfast where I am not disapointed, the place is just georgeous !

So that was 2030 miles in 2 days, without any mechanical problems at all, at an average of close to 75 mph including pit stops. No, i didn't even get a
speeding ticket, but don't ask me how fast we drove !

Next day, monday, things get started at the Festival and my wife is flying in with our 5 year old daughter.

Side notes
... monday morning, my office gets a call from American Express... I return the call to be connected to their security department, as their computers have flagged my account number for possible fraudulent use because of the high number of gas station charges in a very short amount of time... After the usual ID check questions and they are reassured that indeed all that gas purchased every 230 miles or so halfway across the country was for my personal use !

... I was suprised to see very few nice cars along the way, we are spoiled in south florida... I didn't see more than 3 Jaguars, no Porsches, no Ferraris, and the number of Mercedes, BMW, Corvettes, etc... could be counted on my fingers... but,... non stop SUVs, minivans, Cadillacs and Lincolns... all usually in the left lane, with the cruise control set exactly at the speed limit.... most of them ignoring polite requests (left side turn signal ) to please get out of the way... We did run into a cuple of hot rods along the way... always nice to see on the road...

... a few drivers along the way probably were surprised to see that, yes the V12 badge on an E type means business and the four tail pipes are not there just for good looks... Somewhere in Tennesse, we came behind some kind of mid size car loaded with trim accessories and a license plate that said "PASS YOU" or something very close to that... it was funny passing him after we got stuck behind a slower car, I could tell he had it floored to try to out accelerate us... I didn't even had push the engine or downshift to 4th to cruise by.... childish but fun !

... an E-type doesn't look like a car that would be very confortable on long trips.... BUT, it was unbelievable how after 27 hours in 2 days, I wan't
even tired, no muscle or aches of any kinds, no stiff legs, nothing ! The seats are very comfortable and provide great support.

... on highway trips, the 5 speed box is amazing... 2500 rpm in 5th gives about 80 mph, and the car could cruise all day around 3000, effortlessly.
This is not just a show car... it's meant to run !

to be continued... 

Pascal Gademer

An E-type with Florida plate... in the SNOW !

THE SKIP BARBER RACING EXPERIENCE
by Russel Glace

I hope you had the opportunity to read last months article "The Limerock Experience". In this newsletter, I briefly touched on the Skip Barber Schools. The school offers the following:1/2 day driving school, One day driving school, Two day driving school, Introduction to racing course, 3-day racing school, 5-day racing school Speedweek plus, Car control clinic, Lapping, Practice, Computer lapping, Race weekend

All of these offerings are conducted by professionals in an enjoyable but serious manner. A fair portion of the employees I had the opportunity to meet had automotive experience. The instructors are, or were, race drivers.As you enter the racing arena. The Limerock Track exudes history. Racing legions have been created at this very track. The 3-day race school was my challenge. There were 28 men and women in my program. For efficiency we were broken into two groups of 14 and then into two classes of 7. The program was so well planned that each class of 7 had three instructors. This methodology assured personal attention to each student at an almost 1 for 2 ratio. My instructors, "The Three Amigos", Bruce, Brett, and Stephean were a well balanced team in age, personality and attitude. The mix of professionalism, humor, and sarcasm made even the most timid student feel at ease.After a thorough introduction we were at last in the race cars. All cars were identical custom open wheel, Dodge Neon powered 2300 Ib. racers. The only difference was color and car numbers. In my group of 2 classes we were assigned a partner from the other class of 7 students. We helped each other in and out of the cars, observed, and critiqued each others performance.

The first time out we were taught the art of slalom. Learning to drive through cones taught us the proper approach and exits. A new vocabulary was starting to be recognized. Terms such as apex, contact, patch, double clutching, load transfer, oversteer, threshold braking, track out, trail braking, trailing-throttle oversteer, turn-in point, and understeer were what is explained.

At the Skip Barber Racing School "The Three Amigos" taught techniques and theory. This knowledge transcends Limerock Park. If you understand the fundamentals you can use these teachings anywhere.A smart racer takes the time and expends the energy to be one with the track. Before any race he or she walks the course and studies the pit area. My instructors made this very clear. Weather is always a factor. It rained every day during my stay, and the harder the driving rain, the bigger the smiles on our instructors. When the fellow students were convinced that we could not drive in this weather, our seemingly sadistic instructors, "The Three Amigos Insisted they taught us the difference between "The Dry Line" and "The Wet Line". In retrospect that was the most important lesson we learned.

As our instruction progressed, the bar was raised. The R.P.M. increased and tasks were more challenging. By the second day friendships were starting to form. The students shared personal experiences and interests with each other, as well as getting to know and understand our instructors a little better. Even though the span of ages ranged from seniors to teens, the common denominator was the love of the automobile. The Limerock Park area is quaint with a good selection of lodging, eating and drinking establishments. Many of my classmates get together to share our stories of the day, many of us stayed at the same inns, hotels, and bed and breakfasts. It was interesting that in my class three of us shared the occupation of architecture. Our last day skills increased, confidence increased, and our learning curve lessened. It became clear that some were destine to continue with this sport. While others were satisfied with this 3 day experience. Our instructors were masters in building confidence within their rookie drivers. Not only did they critique our mishaps, they were equally willing to praise our successes.

Our last day was the crescendo to our experience. We were taught the art of passing other competitors as well as being passed. We also learned the language of flags, and how they are the only form of communication the race drivers have while on the track. We were now allowed to race and pass in a restricted area of the track.

To summarize my Skip Barber Racing School experience, it was a dream come true. Being taught by a team of professionals such as Brett, Bruce and Stephean made this a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The Limerock Park area provided a beautiful venue for this adventure. The Barber program is offered throughout the country. For more information contact E-mail Speed@skipbarber.com

As an observation this sport, auto racing, is not for the faint of heart or faint of wallet.

Sincerely,
Russell Glace
Group 2 race car #16

JAGUAR ANNOUNCES PRICES FOR 2000 XKR

DEL MAR, CALIF., Sept. 20, 1999 - Jaguar today announced pricing for its new flagship sports car, the XKR. A special high-performance model based on the XK8 sports car, the XKR will go on sale in the United States and Canada Oct. 14th with the rest of Jaguar's 2000 model year lineup.

In the U.S., the 2000 XKR coupe carries an MSRP of $76,800 and the convertible version is priced at $81,800. In Canada, the price is CDN $102,950 for the XKR coupe and CDN $110,950 for the convertible."

The XKR provides an ideal platform on which to demonstrate Jaguar's leading-edge technology," says Michael H. Dale, president of Jaguar North America. "The combination of such advanced features as the supercharged AJ-V8 engine and Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension positions XKR squarely among the top-performing sports cars in the world."

The XKR's centerpiece is its supercharged 4.0-liter AJ-V8 engine, which produces 370horsepower. The XKR coupe will reach 60 mph from a standing start in 5.2 seconds (5.3 seconds for the convertible; zero to 100 kph in 5.4 seconds for the coupe, 5.6 seconds for the convertible), making it the fastest -accelerating car in the Jaguar model line

.The XKR is distinguished from the naturally aspirated XK8 by its wire-mesh radiator grille, functional hood louvers, a modest decklid spoiler and 18-inch-diameter alloy wheels fitted with Z-rated Pirelli tires. The car's performance credentials are balanced by a full complement of luxury features, including the classic Jaguar interior treatment of burl walnut and Connolly leather. Exterior badging is given a special treatment for the XKR with a red background applied to the hood growler and front-fender badges, and XKR lettering on the trunk and door sills.

Conceived as a premium, fully equipped model, standard equipment includes traction control, premium sound system with six-disc CD changer, heated seats headlamp powerwashers and rain-sensing windshield wipers. Only one option is available for XKR - an integrated navigation system (not available in Canada), which sells for $2,400.

ON TRACK by Michael Sean White
FIRST FEMALE INDY DRIVER STARTED IN XK12O

Janet Guthrie, forever famous as the first woman to compete in the Indy 500 in l977, 1978, and 1979, came to the 1998 Greenwich Concours as Jaguar's special guest and addressed the welcoming dinner at the Greenwich Country Club. In 1978, her second Indy 500 start, she finished 9th out of 33 starters.

Her pioneering competition career began behind the wheel of an XK120 coupe that was entered in local hill climbs in the early 60's. From 1963-67, her latter XK14O was a fixture at Sports Car Club of America sanctioned events. She finally took a Chevrolet Camaro to a first place finish in the 1971 N.Y. 400. In 1973, she secured the North Atlantic Road Racing Championship behind the wheel of a Toyota Celica that she had builtand maintained herself.

Guthrie's break into big time motorsports came in 1976, when she tested a car for the Indy 500 (seizing the woman's closed course speed record until 1985). She also became the first woman to compete in a NASCAR super-speedway stock car race, finishing 15th out of 40 starters in the World 600 at Charlotte N.C.

In 1977, during her historic first run at the Brickyard, she set the fastest lap time on opening day of practice. That same year she was voted Top Rookie at the 1977 Daytona 500 after finishing in 12th place.

Now that her helmet and driver's suit have been retired to the Smithsonian Institution, Janet Guthrie lives with her husband in Aspen, Colorado. She now writes for magazines, and has just completed a book about her racing adventures due out in early 1999.

Source: Jaguar Journal, October, 1998

South Florida Jaguar Club
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Coral Springs, FL 33075
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