The Jaguar marque celebrates two anniversaries in 2011. The E-Type is 50 years old, while 60 years have passed since the C-Type brought Jaguar its first win at Le Mans. Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, set in the delightful English countryside, is the oldest motorsport venue in the world still in current use, and provided an ideal location for the celebrations.
Making its first run since its restoration by Classic Motor Cars was the Peter Lindner and Peter Nocker low-drag lightweight Jaguar E-Type. The car was virtually destroyed in a 1964 accident at Montlhéry in which the unfortunate Lindner was killed. The restoration project took four years and the car made a fine sight as it ascended the hill in the demonstration runs together with some other famous Jaguars.
A number of C-Types were present, including XKC 045 (Reg. NDU 289), now owned by Jaguar Heritage, which was once hillclimbed by Silvio Moser, and XKC 042 (Reg. KSF 182) belonging to Ecurie Ecosse and driven in period by Jackie Stewart’s brother Jimmy among others.
One of the other Ecurie Ecosse cars that Dick Skipworth had brought along—in the superb transporter he has restored—was the D-Type XKD 561 (Reg. MWS 303) driven in period by Ron Flockhart and Desmond Titterington, restored in 1994 by John Pearson and demonstrated by Barrie Williams.
Jaguar Heritage also brought along a long-nose D-Type (393 RW) and the 1950 Coupe des Alpes XK120. They also had on display at the bottom of the hill (although not running on this occasion) the rare XJ13, which looked immaculate in the late spring sunshine. All in all, the event proved to be a fitting tribute to this iconic marque.
By Pete Austin
