[xj-s] Racing XJ-S

XJ-S
1

Sunday past we drove down to Phillip Island to see the historic car
races which were going the whole weekend.
The island is 150km south east of Melbourne and the circuit is in
almost open country right on the sea. This circuit has to be one of
the most attractive locations you can imagine for racing.

It was a blue sky day and quite warm at 30deg C, great day for a drive
in the convertible.
A fellow Jaguar owner treated us and other friends to a day in one of
the club lounges, and very nice it was too.

The most interesting car of the day was an XJ-S belonging to Mike
Roddy, a member of the local Jag club who has a Jaguar workshop in Melbourne.
This ex-TWR car was one of two that finished first and second in the
Australian Bathurst race back in the mid eighties, and I think it was
also a winner at Spa but I am not 100% sure about those details.

It was either 5th or 6th out of a field of 12 in its category at
Phillip Island, the winner being a turbo charged AWD Nissan.
If the winner was decided on the merits of the exhaust note the XJ-S
would have been a mile in front, it was spectacular and made the other
runners sound very average.

I have photos of the car and engine bay, but using Photoshop I just
can’t trim and edit any of them under 200k to qualify for posting on
Jag-Lovers.
If anybody stateside wants to host them on a site for public scrutiny
I can send the 6 originals, typically 2.5M each, or they can be edited
down to 0.5M first.

The engine bay is very neat and has a number of interesting features.
Soon as there is a chance I will ask Mike to explain.
This car has not been running in competition for very long, so it
might get to be more of a threat to the competition.

You can Google mikeroddy and see some of the other XJ-Ss Mike plays with.
One shot shows another of his XJ-Ss at Phillip Island with the sea as backdrop.

Richard Dowling, Melbourne, Australia.
1979 XJ-S V12 coupe, 1988 XJ-S V12 convertible, 1985 XJ6.

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2

In reply to a message from Richard Dowling sent Mon 10 Mar 2008:

try this

http://bluefive.pair.com/pixresizer.htm--
'95 XJS 4.0 2+2 Convertible Sapphire/Cream
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–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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3

Richard

According to Les Hughes (editor of Jaguar Magazine) and his research team,
that car IS the Bathurst AND Spa winner TWR004.

Kevin
74 XJ12L “Ted”
83 XJS “Carmel”
83 XJS “Joanna”
Brisbane Australia-----Original Message-----
Subject: [xj-s] Racing XJ-S

This ex-TWR car was one of two that finished first and second in the
Australian Bathurst race back in the mid eighties, and I think it was also a
winner at Spa but I am not 100% sure about those details.

Richard Dowling, Melbourne, Australia.

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4

In reply to a message from Kevin Wilmink sent Mon 10 Mar 2008:

Richard, thanks for your report. As always most complete but you
fail to mention the romantic side of the drive, speeds attained to
and from. How the handsome and charming Mrs. Dowling occupied
herself as you perused the machines. What of the festive dancing,
food and music?
Yes please do find a way to allow us to see the engine bay, Etc.
What size wheels and tires, and how did the exhaust system as
installed create a healthy tone. Best, JW–
The original message included these comments:

that car IS the Bathurst AND Spa winner TWR004.
Australian Bathurst race back in the mid eighties, and I think it was also a

–
86XJ-S cpes, Ballet I, Act II, 288 Dana
Fresno, CA, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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5

Richard, thanks for your report. As always most complete but you>fail to mention the romantic side of the drive, speeds attained to

and from. How the handsome and charming Mrs. Dowling occupied
herself as you perused the machines. What of the festive dancing,
food and music?
Best, JW

Speed around the 100kmh legal limit, no point in taunting the radar operators.

The food was pretty good, all laid on with as much to drink as you liked.
You would be a fool to have more than a couple of glasses of wine, the
cops often have a road block on the way home from these events for
random breath testing. Over 0.05% alcohol and you are in trouble.

No dancing at this venue I am afraid, nor music for that matter.

It would not qualify as the most romantic drive either, but who knows
what the future holds ?

Richard Dowling, Melbourne, Australia.
1979 XJ-S V12 coupe, 1988 XJ-S V12 convertible, 1985 XJ6.

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