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Seeing Races up Close and Almost Free

March 6, 2010 by Leighton Irwin Leave a Comment

After being a spectator for years I finally became old enough (21) to get involved. I wanted to race but not enough money. So I decided to marshal. It was also the year Mosport opened. CRCA, the first organized marshaling group had been organized just a couple of years earlier. With Mosport opening membership jumped from around a 100 to close to 300. I was one of the newbies.

Big and I mean big Harry Johnson was the President and he and his crew managed to deal with the influx and somehow conducted training, both classroom and at the track. My track training was under the guidance of Al Robinson and he was great. I earlier told about my first race as a marshal. Everybody was learning to a large extent as a real road course was far different than the airfields. But what a deal. For a club membership and CRCA membership you got to see the races free and close up. Real up close back then! One or two weekends and you were ahead financially.

Originally the marshal area was more or less behind where the restaurant now is and not far from the current marshal area. CRCA had a large tent where the one and only Muriel Knap presided over the issue of coveralls. CRCA issue was mandatory. I soon learned to arrive early. Have you ever seen some 6 foot 2 guy trying to get into a small? Or a 5 foot nothing into an extra large. Early and you got something that more or less fitted. You were also shown how to fold them at races end and you had better do it right or Muriel would tear a strip off you.
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Angry Kitty: 2010 Jaguar XK-R

October 19, 2009 by Gary Grant 2 Comments

Next up in our series of videos from the 2009 IMPA Test Days in the Pocono Mountains, we let the 2010 Jaguar XK-R out of the cage. There is little more to say other than this is one serious cat.

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Cruisin Venice: The Space Cat

February 23, 2009 by Gary Grant 5 Comments

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You’ve gotta wonder what the story is behind this spaced out Jag. Do ya think the brolly is effective at shielding the Lucas electrics?

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Meat on the Cat

November 14, 2007 by Jeff Bressler 1 Comment

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Jaguar is banking heavily on its new XF sedan to put some meat back on its starving cat.

From the initial look this week in LA it seems the brand might be ready for the resurgence they have been hoping for.The XF has two different 4.2 liter V-8 power plants. One a naturally aspirated variant turns out 300 horsepower and 310lb-ft of torque, while the other a supercharged powerhouse that turns out 420 horse and 408lb –ft of torque.Both come with six speed automatic with prices ranging from $49,975 – $55,975. The XF hits showrooms in March.

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Default Thumbnail2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio

2007 Jim Clark Memorial Award Goes to TV Host

May 22, 2007 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

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Named for the legendary Scottish driver, the Jim Clark Memorial Award is awarded annually to a Scottish citizen who has made a difference to motor racing. The 2007 recipient is TV host Lee McKenzie. 28 year old Lee has been chasing her journalistic dreams since the ripe old age of 15 and has covered F1, DTM, Porsche Supercup and currently is traveling with A1GP. She even got her WRC co-driver’s license and has competed in several WRC rounds, proving that she can put her knowledge of the sport to good use inside the car as well as on screen.

Ford Media release after the break
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2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio

March 6, 2007 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

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Jaguar’s of the last few years have gone a long way to reclaiming some of the marque’s previous glory. At the forefront of this renaissance is the Jaguar XKR, which has built a mystique of it’s own that’s worthy of it’s heritage. Jaguar is determined that the XKR should stay at the pinnacle of automotive lustability, and with that in mind, they are offering the 2008 XKR Portfolio.

An all aluminum, supercharged, 420 hp V8 feeding a six speed automatic with paddle shift, twists the 20 inch Cremona 5 spoke wheels. At 4.9 seconds zero to sixty, the cat is slowed by the biggest brakes ever fitted to a production Jaguar. Odd then that the top speed is electronically controlled to a lowly 155 mph. Surely society can accept a British sports car with a wicked top speed. Perhaps Jaguar are hiding their potential for the 2008 Le Mans event!

Jaguar press release & more photos after the break:
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Leaping Cat Caught at Toronto Autoshow

February 15, 2007 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

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The artiste was working hard during press day at the Canadian International Auto Show. We’ve got lots of images to follow, as we get the galleries set up. For now, enjoy the classic Jaguar front view.

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Blogosphere talks street racing

June 6, 2006 by Gary Grant Leave a Comment

Like it or not, street racing is part of our culture. Long romanticized by song writers and authors, there is no denying that songs like “Dead Man’s Curve” are anything but a glorification of the danger surrounding street racing.

I was cruisin’ in my Stingray late one night
When an XKE pulled up on the right
And rolled down the window of his shiny new Jag
And challenged me then and there to a drag
I said, “you’re on, buddy, my mill’s runnin’ fine
Let’s come off the line, now, at Sunset and Vine
But I’ll go you one better if you’ve got the nerve
Let’s race all the way
To Dead Man’s Curve”

But isn’t that part of what it’s all about? The danger of getting caught. The risks. The humbling experience of losing. Somewhere along the way though, the reality of those same dangers sets in. Killing an innocent bystander is not an acceptable byproduct of some fun today, nor do I suspect it was a very welcome outcome in the Fifties.

Over at Left Lane, there was a bit of talk about Toronto’s own Jim Kenzie’s recent article about some possible upcoming legistlation to ban performance mods in the wake of the tragic death of a married couple. Joe at MyFordDreams2 and Jalopnik have posted about similar laws coming in the Bay area in sunny Cali. What nobody noticed though was the news from the day after Kenzie’s article was published.
A 31 year old Torontonian died when he wrapped his late model Porsche 911 around some immovable object while racing his cousin. It’s not just teens who do stupid things. You would think that this guy would have discovered the Driver Advancement days held by the local PCA region.

As true enthusiasts, it is all of our jobs to show the green, testosterone filled racer wannabes that there are safe places to drive their rods. Most car guys really have no training & the first time they have any advanced training they are blown away by how little they really do know about car control. A couple of weekends of autocrossing will change a driver’s skill level and awareness forever. All for about the cost of a decent lunch.

By all means folks, let’s keep enjoying the fun, impromptu stoplight battles. Just a little common sense and a little less cajones and maybe we can stop killing people in the name of fun.

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