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We swear that Snetterton in Norfolk has its own micro-climate, so often, cold, windy, wet, or foggy, but for once in the middle of September largely sunny. Over the years Snetterton has often been a happy hunting ground for the Swallows team, yielding some great results, so we travelled east for the official Friday practice with optimism. Jack was holding a narrow six-point lead in the championship, some achievement in only his second season and in a new race car. Practice went well for Jack in the XK8 and for Andrew…

You have to go back a full six years for the last time the Jaguar Saloons and GT’s raced at Croft Circuit. But that 2017 season holds some happy memories. It was the debut season for Swallows Racing, and Croft produced Tom’s first podium finish. From our home in Somerset, it is nearly a 600-mile round trip to the circuit near Darlington but it is a journey well worth making to one of the most exciting circuits in the country. With this being the first time Jack Robinson and Andrew Maynard…

The races have been coming thick and fast for the Swallows team. Our ‘home’ track of Castle Combe was first up for 10th/11th June weekend and only an hour from base. As we have all season, we were running four cars, Jack in the XK8, mended after the ‘off’ at Brands Hatch and the trio of XJ40’s with Andrew Maynard, Damian Gray and Joe Osborne driving. Castle Combe was hot, very hot, but we were fortunate to have shade from the race truck to keep the cars and drivers cool. With…

Racing is so often about the highs and lows; I always refer to it as the racing roller coaster! Our April race weekend had a fair amount of both, but as Robert F Kennedy once said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve, greatly.” Once again, we rolled up in the race truck with Jack’s XK8 on board and the three XJ40’s for Damian, Andrew and Joe. We were able to also look forward to having our own dedicated Jag grid after having to share on the Silverstone…

The unveiling of the product of Swallows Racing winter labours at Silverstone GP circuit was much like aristocratic young ladies being wheeled out for the first time at a formal society ‘Debs’ ball. The XK8 was wearing a fine set new threads and looking extremely glamourous and it wasn’t long before a crowd had gathered around her with their envious eyes. They were out of luck, this labour of love already belonged to Jack Robinson and he was about to spin her around the dancefloor for the first time. Joining the…

Typically, we first see a car in the Swallows workshop when the manufacturers warranties have expired. Many owners wrongly believe that they must get their new car serviced at a main dealer to preserve their warranty. Whilst this may have been true many years ago it isn’t the case now and hasn’t been for some time. The main dealer monopoly was ended by EC Block Exemption Regulation when it was introduced in October 2003 and allowed motorists more flexibility in selecting where they can get their cars serviced or repaired. Thanks to this…

The prestigious British Automobile Racing Club end of season awards dinner were held at the luxury Old Thorns Resort in Hampshire on 4th February. The glamorous ‘black tie’ event saw recognition with a host of silverware being handed to BARC Champions including the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Champion Tom Ingram and Rokit Formula 4 Champion Alex Dunne. Joining them on stage was our very own Tom Robinson collecting the BARC Trophy for the 2022 Berkshire Jag Components Jaguar Challenge. Tom topped the points table last season with eleven outright…

When we were approached by the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club towards the end of 2021 with an idea for a new track project as you could imagine, we were all ears. We had previously been involved with supporting JEC track days at Castle Combe in the past. But what they were proposing was a more formal arrangement to support a programme of events throughout the 2022. Having heard the plan, we liked the idea, and we subsequently gave passenger ‘Hot Laps’, technical support, and manned trade displays at Mallory Park, Harewood Hillclimb…

I thought this month it would be interesting to take a case study where we have put all we have talked about so far into one car and see the difference it has made.  Jaguar launched the new XK (X150) in 2006 replacing the highly successful X100 that had enjoyed a ten-year run. The X150 was a big departure from what had gone previously with its all-new aluminium body and very different chassis dynamics. Ex-F1 and Le Mans driver Jonathan Palmer was big fan of the new Jaguar and ordered a…