The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or the Kent Area Committee – no liability will be accepted in any case of dispute.

KENT AREA COMMITTEE 2011 Chairman & Area Representative - Jeff Webb, 01732 822607 [email protected]

Treasurer - Vacancy! Jaguar Drivers’ Club - Kent Area 4 - Regional Magazine

Secretary – Brenda Webb

Kentishman Editor – David Barnes, 01233 712350 [email protected]

Committee Members :-

Alan Mobbs, 020 8337 8077 [email protected]

Ted Partridge 07889 657291 [email protected]

Phil Saunders 01322 614627 [email protected]

Kevin Simmons 01622 687324 [email protected] Ray Tyler, 01276 63114 [email protected]

It would be appreciated if members do not telephone committee members before 10:00 am or after 9:30 pm

KENTISHMAN magazine is available by post only for an annual sub- scription of £10 payable to’ JDC Kent Area 4 Kentishman’. New sub- scribers should send their cheque plus their name, address, email and details of the they own to:- Goodwood Festival of Speed 2011 - A view of the E-Type sculpture from Alan Mobbs ‘Ramornie’, Warren Street Road, Charing, KENT TN27 0HL

Any items for inclusion in the Kentishman should be sent to David Barnes at the above address or emailed to [email protected]

Visit Area 4’s Website at :- www.jdc-kent.co.uk 8 Classic Jaguar Jeff’s Spot Launched the same year

Well what a change for the better with the weather at the as the E-type, the Mark X “Cars on the Green” show at Bearsted on the 25th Septem- saloon is almost as swift ber it was dry, warm, and mainly sunny, this year there was also a “Farmers Market” at the same time which gave us as its famous something else to have a look round I’m sure David has got sibling. some pictures elsewhere in this issue as he was clicking For many years, the Jaguar Mark X suffered from a slight image problem. Intended by Browns Lane as the away with his camera in the afternoon at least this years transport for heads of state, diplomats and film stars, the Mark X was all too often driven by the type of "businessman" associated with such phrases as "knee-capped" and "very good to his old mum". The bro- shows ended on a high, weather wise. chures promised a world of jet set glamour with Laurence Harvey lookalikes arriving at their Mayfair clubs Octobers club night on the 17th features one of our regular while the reality was quite frequently a swift getaway from a bookmaker's parlour somewhere in Streatham. And the Jaguar was rather adept at swift getaways, for despite its quite awe-inspiring bulk – it is nearly 6ft speakers “David Render”; this time his talk is entitled 5in wide – the Mark X could be fairly described as the nearest approximation to a four-door E-type. It is often forgotten that 1961 was the year that Jaguar launched two new cars and that the Mark X garnered al- “Something Concrete” which I’m sure will be both inter- most as much publicity as the E-type, both as the replacement for the long-running Mk IX saloon and for its mechanical specification. esting and entertaining, as you may know David does not A sophisticated independent rear suspension system was unheard for a British of the early 1960s charge us for his talks, he just asks for a collection to be and when this was combined with the 3.8-litre, triple carburettor engine as fitted to the E-type it gave Jaguar a flagship with a top speed of 120mph and genuine sports car handling and which still cost less than half the made on the night which is donated to an ex servicemen’s price of a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. Then there was the brilliantly menacing coachwork, from the reverse-angle nose with its quad headlamps to charity that he supports. its bulbous side panels that made negotiating narrow streets somewhat perilous. Inside, the Mk X offered picnic tables, adjustable steering and an elaborate heating system that clanked to no useful purpose. Trans- It’s getting towards that time of year again when we start to mission was either the ageing Moss four-speed manual gearbox or the more common Borg Warner auto- think about Christmas and elsewhere in this issue you will matic. The unitary body, the largest in the UK at that time, was especially designed by Jaguar to ensure refinement see an advert for our Christmas meal which replaces the in the worst of road conditions, especially those of the USA, the nation for which the Mark X was specifi- th cally designed. December club night on the 5 December the cost is £16 Unfortunately for Jaguar, the early years of Mk X production were plagued with unofficial strikes and within a few years it was becoming apparent that a new power plant would be needed in the face of the Detroit per person, and bookings are now being taken. Numbers horsepower race. From late 1964 onwards the Mark X – and the E-type – were fitted with a 4.2-litre straight- are limited so book with me early to avoid missing out. six and in this form the "Big Jaguar" achieved true magnificence, defying its driver to take hairpin bends with the ease of a Cooper – even if he would have to use folding armrests to anchor himself on the front split Finally we are starting to look at events & speakers for bench seat. But despite the press acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic, the Mark X never attained its projected sales next year if anyone has any ideas or suggestions they wish targets. In the USA the chic coachwork was regarded by too many motorists as being redolent of the early 1950s in an era of razor-edged Cadillacs, while in its homeland the Jaguar was variously "the Wardour Street to put forward for consideration then please let one of the Bentley", "the spiv's Silver Cloud" or, simply, "too big". When Jaguar decided to replace all of its saloon committee know. range with a single model, the resulting XJ6 of 1968 used the Mark X as a template – albeit on a somewhat more modest scale. The last Mark X was made in 1970, retaining its separate starter button and leaping cat mascot until the very end. The few that have survived the ravages of rust – and the modern-day Visigoths also known as banger racers – are preserved as prime examples of the last really louche Jaguar; a link to a lost world of chorus Jeff Webb girls, black market gin and looking out for a police Wolseley in the rear view mirror. Area Representative & Chairman All that, plus a boot large enough to accommodate the most incompliant of "business acquaintances". 2 7 CLUB NIGHTS On the 3rd Monday of each month, members meet in a comfort- able air-conditioned private function-room with it’s own bar at The Dog & Bear Hotel in Lenham (just off the A20 between Maidstone & Ashford. Meetings frequently feature guest speakers covering a wide At THE DOG AND range of subjects BEAR

October 17th “Something Concrete” , a talk by David ON Render MONDAY 5TH DEC.

November 21st Mince pies, sausage rolls & Quiz

December 5th Christmas Dinner at The Dog & Bear Leek & Mustard soup

January 16th Annual Review & committee election. Roast Norfolk Turkey With the usual trimmings

PUB NIGHTS Christmas Pudding

On the 1st Tuesday of each month, members get together at a dif- ferent Kentish Hostelry for a bar meal or just a social evening out. Mince Pies Further details from Trevor Lang Tel:01622-757816

October 4th The Woodman, Goathurst Common, Ide Hill, Coffee Sevenoaks, KENT, TN14 6BU Tel.01732-750296 Price £16-00p per person MAIN EVENTS

E-Type Jag reborn: Lean, mean and 'green', a October Friday 7th to Monday 10th Weekend Away at 186mph coupé for the 21st century the Suncliff Hotel, Bournemouth

December 5th Christmas Dinner at The Dog & Bear .

Contact Jeff Webb in good time to avoid disap- pointment as space is limited.

6 3

What a super day it was at Bearsted this year. Warm sunshine and a good turnout C-X75 Concept car made all the difference and the addition of a farmers’ market added to the inter- Just a few pics from this year’s event. The sculpture est. celebrating the E-Type stands 28 metres tall and weighs over 175 tonnes - equivalent to 135 E-Types. The E93A Ford Popular below left wouldn’t usually feature but just look at that XK engine under the bonnet. The rocker covers are hand chased

4 Aerial view of pavilions 5