Autumn Track Day
Our track day with the JEC on 20th October proved to be a huge draw with over 160 people attending. With Covid and social distance measures in place it didn’t detract from what was a very successful event and our grateful thanks goes to our volunteers from JEC Somerset Region that marshalled the gate and made this possible. With our own track cars (Palmersport XKR, Palmer JP1 and XJR6 Race Car) giving the usual passenger rides it was also the perfect opportunity to test the manual conversion of our Palmer XKR to the six speed ZF box which proved to be trouble free and very successful.
After the safety briefing held in the pit lane to ensure social distancing, sighting laps were held followed by a novice only session, before some of the more exotic machinery took to the track. We were delighted to see our friends from the Series Elite Project 8 racing programme (https://f1.co.uk/) with Racing Manager Graeme Glew and partner Eve along with Racing Driver Immanuel Vinke. Regular on the Jaguar show scene Neil Blaxill arrived with his very unique Mk2 with its V8 Supercharged engine sourced from a XJR along with much of its running gear and interior and was driven track by Rob Jenner and our own Colin Porter. A little of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival was present as well with Grant Williams who is famous for lighting up tyres with spectacular ‘burn outs’ in his Mk1 BYE1 at the Festival of Speed. On this occasion he was at Castle Combe with his newly restored Mk2 JAG400 a car that raced in period with Jack Sears and also driven by Sir Stirling Moss. Grant kindly offered passenger rides to a lucky few attendees.
A bit of a show stealer however was the track car we recently completed for our client Chris Saunders. This is a 4.0 XKR, fitted with a manual gearbox, stripped out, roll-cage fitted, race seats and harnesses. The car is also fitted with Tarox brakes https://swallows-jag.co.uk/shop/?fwp_make=jaguar&fwp_categories=brakes , and Quantum suspension https://swallows-jag.co.uk/shop/?fwp_make=jaguar&fwp_categories=suspension&fwp_brands=quantum with engine upgrades consisting of a Kenne Bell supercharger, supercharger pulley, injectors, and stand-alone ECU. The car now has 650 BHP on tap and we were delighted to see it out track for the first time and Chris enjoying many track session throughout the day, the car both looking and sounding glorious on track.
During the lunch interval Tom was on track with the XJR6 race car with a photo and film shoot for the JEC with up and coming British Super Bike star Olii Warren who kindly brought his Yamaha race bike. Interviewed by Wayne Scott, Tom and Olii discussed the differences and similarities of racing a big Jag and a race bike. With a couple of demonstration laps completed on the Yahama, Olii climbed into the passenger seat of the XJR6 with Tom at the wheel Olii was able to appreciate how well Jag handles. Olii is a dedicated JLR owner and brought with him his XE road car and his latest acquisition a ‘Twisted’ Landrover.
Friend and Swallows supplier, tuning shed specialist Steve Dowell (Performance Vehicle Engineering https://www.p-v-e.co.uk/ ) came along with members of his track club and his Super & Turbo charged Mini Monster which after recent work is now producing over 300 BHP.
After a year of events not happening including the track day in March it was wonderful to finally be able out enjoying cars and company again, thank you to all of those who attended and helped to make this our best track day so far. 2021 track day dates are in the planning and we hope to be able to announce these soon on our news pages.
