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The Award Winning Newsletter of THE JAGUAR CAR CLUB OF VICTORIA Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Issue #66 May 2009 E ID NS I • THE DECLINE & FALL OF BRITISH LEYLAND • SAY NO TO CAR WASHES • JAGUARS ON THE ISLAND 20082009 DIRECTORS President: Ian Cameron 250-652-1260 [email protected] Vice-President: Isabel Weeks-Lambert 250-383-1928 [email protected] THE JAGUAR CAR CLUB OF VICTORIA Secretary-Treasurer: Doug Ingram 250-370-2820 [email protected] 2017 Cadboro Bay Road, Box 112 Director: Steve Koerner Victoria BC Canada V8R 5G4 250-384-3367 [email protected] www.jaguarcarclub.ca Director: Mark Mayo [email protected] 250-477-0335 [email protected] founded 2003 Director: Graham How The Island Growler is published monthly, and is distrib- 250-383-9473 [email protected] uted by mail and digital file to members of JCCV. Director: John Gordon Submissions are encouraged. 250-477-4695 [email protected] Copy deadline is the first of each month. Adjunct Director: Tim Leslie-Spinks All back issues are available by digital file. 250-217-5899 [email protected] All information and advice is presented in good faith, and Past President: Howard Liptrot no liability whatsoever will be assumed by JCCV. 250-389-0755 [email protected] Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of JCCV, the Directors of JCCV, or of the Editor. APPOINTED POSITIONS Layout Editor: John Gordon JCNA Chief Judge: Gregory Andrachuk 250-477-4695 [email protected] 250-595-7453 [email protected] Events Editor: John Fitzgeorge-Parker 250-598-4626 [email protected] JCNA Representative: Doug Ingram Members’ Stories Editor: Peter Williamson 250-370-2820 [email protected] 250-658-3380 [email protected] MEMBERSHIP ADVERTISING Membership in JCCV is open to anyone interested in and Display advertising of interest to Jaguar enthusiasts is enthusiastic about Jaguar automobiles. There is no need accepted. For rates and other information, please contact to own one of these fine cars to be a member. Tim Leslie-Spinks, 250-217-5899 [email protected] For information, email us at [email protected] or drop us a note in the mail. We’ll send complete details. Classified advertisements can be placed at no cost, and will run for a minimum of three issues. Please send de- If you believe that a Jaguar is more than just a car, you tails to the Layout Editor. are one of us! MEETINGS COVER PHOTO Carol Bird’s beautiful, indigo 2006 X-Type is the “Sports JCCV meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of each Edition”. A body kit of special spoilers, front and back month, except December, at 7:30 pm in the Chiefs & (see page 18) and on the sides, was installed in Eastern Petty Officers Mess, CFB Esquimalt, at 1575 Lyall Street Canada, before it was shipped west to Jaguar Victoria in Victoria. Our AGM is held with the November meeting. where Carol bought it. Marke and Carol believe We are affiliated with that it is one of only two such cars that came to The Jaguar Clubs of North America Victoria with this kit. www.jcna.com Carol says that the lower clearance is a worry sometimes when parking but that she “loves” her X-Type. It shares garage space with another X-Type, the Rolls and the Alfa Romeo Photos by Nic Harvey page 2 WORDS FROM THE EDITOR’S PRESIDENT NOTES Ian Cameron John Gordon I started last month’s words with the news that I was off to I must start this column with a very earnest apology, to all New Zealand, and I’ll start this month’s by telling you you faithful readers, for being so late in getting this issue about it. I don’t know about 20 or 30 years ago – by all out. Things came to a head, from at least three different accounts, NZ was the last developed country to move into quarters, on the first weekend in May - it was almost like the late 20th Century – but it’s now a thoroughly modern being a tax accountant on April 30th! I had produced a country, with all the conveniences (and some of the in- first draft of the JOTI brochure two weeks before but had conveniences) that Canadians enjoy. If I were going to not had a lot of reaction since; suddenly the realization hit leave Victoria, that’s the place I’d go. The people are that we had to have it finished and printed in time for the wonderful, the climate is even better, I saw no pollution, All British Field Meet at the Van Dusen Gardens on May prices are not as low as in places like Chile and Panama, 16. Arrangements were finalised, new information came but then, the people in NZ make a reasonable wage, and in, debate erupted and a lot of changes to the brochure that’s the difference. were required. I had a long standing commitment, on that In daily life, they have the same cars, similar appliances, weekend, to manage monies coming in and going out at same degree of comfort. There are far fewer homeless the UVIC Plant Sale and some procedures had been people than here: I don’t know what they do differently, changed, requiring more of my time than usual. The first but there sure is a difference in the city street scene. Peo- weekend of the month is, of course, when I usually settle ple seem to be happy, and they are at least as polite as down to process the material, for the Growler, gathered Canadians. The cities and the countryside are cleaner during the preceding month. Since the first two crises than here, and far, far cleaner than most of the USA. could not be deferred, the Growler was - but the UVIC Plant Sale was very successful and the JOTI brochures Food is as good as here, about the same price, except for were distributed at the ABFM. wine, which is cheaper (and can be bought in grocery stores), and fish, which is much cheaper. If you’re a fish- I hope to get back to my usual schedule with the June erman or a hunter, that’s the place to go. No limit on fish issue but I do not yet have in hand a feature article for it. or deer (which are not native and considered vermin), and A couple have been promised to me but may still be the fish are easy to catch. 10 to 20 in a day is pretty com- works-in-progress. I do have lots of pictures, sent in to me mon around most of the coast. from May events, notably the Prowl and the ABFM. If all else fails, we can give you a “picture book” with collages As to tourism, if I lived anywhere else in the world, I’d tell and a minimum of text. you to go to NZ for a vacation. But living in Victoria, I have to say that it’s a lot like home. If all you want is In this issue I would direct you first to page 9 to consider warmth in winter, Hawaii is closer and Mexico is cheaper. the attractions of Doug and Eileen’s “BC Spectacular - (And closer, but a bit more dicey.) Mountains and Valleys” summer tour July 13 - 19. If you are interested, please contact Doug quickly as time is get- On the last day, I was picked up by a member of the ting late to settle bookings. Auckland Jaguar owner’s club and taken to their rendez- vous point, and thence to a collection of Maseratis. There Several couples who are unable, because of other com- were 24 of them, owned by a guy about my age who mitments, to go on Doug and Eileen’s tour, are organizing does this as a hobby – or obsession. None of them is in a shorter, Up-Island tour to Gold River, with a trip on the the million dollar range, but some of them would be worth Uchuck from there to Friendly Cove; leaving Victoria July a fair amount - $50,000 to $100,000. All are done by him 16 and returning July 19. Members, in similar circum- with a couple of friends lending a hand. Not brilliant resto- stances, who wish to join them, can contact Bryan Bailey at 250-656-7104 or [email protected] rations, by and large: I saw some engine compartment work that was less than perfect, but they are all very nice Articles in this issue include Peter’s interesting history of drivers, as opposed to trailer-queens. British Leyland (page 5), Doug’s advice on mechanical If you go, get in touch with the local Jaguar Clubs before car washes and pictures from Tasmania (page 7), reports you leave. Nice people. And by all means consider rent- on the Turkey Head Coffee Klatch and the OECC Fair ing a camper. Double bed, shower and toilet, $35 per and Swap Meet (page 11), Peter’s “Jottings” on the X- day, and that’s NZ $, which are $.70 Canadian, so in our Type and Mark’s presentation at the April meeting (page $$, that’s $25/day. What a deal. 13) and Gregory’s enthusiastic ambition to fill the Show field at JOTI (page 15). Also, from Sports Car Market, we have their 2009 Price Guide for (old) XK Jaguars (page 6) and an auction report covering the sale of two interesting PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS Jaguars at a Paris auction (page 15). Enjoy! page 3 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS keeping you informed We currently have 247 members from 140 households, down a little from a year ago when we had 265 members from 148 households, but up considerably from two years ago when we were at 219 members from 120 house- holds.