Goodwood Revival 18-20 Sept 2009

[Forumadmin]

I will be there from Thursday to Sunday taxiing VIPs around the circuit. Lots of Jowett enthusiasts already have tickets, so let me know if you intend to come.

I will be in the taxi rank, 'GlamCabs' , 50m to the left of the main entrance Gate 1, opposite the Jazz Band for most of the time.

Period dress (1950s) is advised as then you can get into places that you could not normally get to!

[Keith Clements]

See pictures on http://picasaweb.google.com/keith.cleme ... evival2009#

The highlight was taking Sir Stirling and Lady Susie from their hotel to the ball at the Goodwood Revival. I politely asked when they were sitting comfortably in the Javelin whether they wanted me to drive sedately or normally. 'Normally' was the rapid response. After a couple of hundred yards, just after we entered the Goodwood House grounds, Lady Susie asked if I could drive a bit faster. As we approached a right hander I suggested I should slow down as the road was wet and I was on crossplies. Sir Stirling said 'there was plenty of run off', so I continued and with a lot of lean the Javelin did not need the run off.

This corner was followed by a very sharp left and then once again I was encouraged to go faster. As we approached the gate house approaching 70mph there was some comment from the back about brakes, which were then applied which met with approval about their efficiency. Thanks to Ben Shaw who fitted power brakes in the 60s.

We then took a back gate into the circuit, crossing the grass onto the track. I was now asked to try to enter Woodcote at 100mph. We had a go; but since it was dark and I had not practiced this corner before, and I did not want to damage my esteemed passenger before his birthday party, I probably only got to 60mph. I then asked if Sir Stirling could sign the glove box of the car beside the signature of Gerald Palmer who also rode in the car. Lady Susie suggested I stop before we entered the marquee. Sir Stirling moved to the front, duly found his pen and inscribed the wood.

The Javelin delivered its precious cargo to inside the marquee where 1500 VIPs of the motoring world were assembled, dressed in black ties and ladies with a Spanish theme. We lingered while photgraphs were taken and greetings exchanged. Many commented on the Javelin's presence.

This journey was one of many taking people to and from the circuit and around it, exposing the delights of the Javelin to new eyes, ears and noses. Thanks to Jenny for the polishing and the special wax she uses to make the seats smell. Thanks to the Dellorto carbs and separate air filters that were in keeping with the competitive car sound which brought many comments as the Javelin pulled from 20 to 65mph in third gear.

I will be back next year, so hope to see more of you there. It is by far the best event in the world for cars, motorbikes and planes as well as fashion and good honest side-splitting fun.

[PAUL BEAUMONT]

Sorry Keith, to be flippant on such a fabulous post!

Ben Shaw? didn't he make lemonade somewhere in Yorkshire? I never realised the canny folk at Jowett used it for brake fluid!!!!

[k. rogers]

Keith, the Rogers clan were there and we saw your beautiful Javelin but unfortunately didn't see you. What a fantastic and enviable experience for you. From the impression I got Sir Stirling did not stay still the whole weekend - I hope I've got his energy at 80!!

[Forumadmin]

Sir Stirling was suffering and it was only because of Lady Susie's insistance that he forced himself out for yet another social evening. It seems, however, once in a car, he lights up.

It really is a lovely way to meet your idols; having, not only them, but their partners alone with you for perhaps half an hour.

In this case we recalled together the Pirelli Marathon where I competed against Sir Stirling and Zoe, his navigator (as Lady Susie recalled). Drummond and I were beating them into the last day; but had suffered a broken diff at the very end, so fell well back.

They both asked if I could pick them up after the ball; but I explained that Lord March would probably organise his Rolls to take them back.

My fellow taxi drivers kept ribbing me all evening in the Drivers Club and the Goodwood House bar that I would be in deep doo doo if Sir Stirling was left stranded. However, a few beers and a bottle of champagne donated by a passenger and shared with friends at the campsite soon relaxed me.

Another encounter developed when an interested party was looking at the car whilst I was parked in the taxi rank. I wound down the passenger window and then invited the gentleman for a ride. It turned out he was a director of Goodwood. After I impressed him going right the way up and down the hill climb at reasonable pace, Brain Allinson said he would recommend Lord March (whom he was seeing later) have a similar experience.

You will also see pictures of some of the entertainers who used the transport. the five large bodies and I did manage to squeeze into the car. When we arrived at the hotel, the ones in the back seat were so stuck they could not access the door handles and James Bond had won against Goldfinger and Dr No. with Odd Job powerless. The six of us were laughing so much we were incapable of coherent speech.

[Forumadmin]

Ben Shaw was the only other owner of XMG 258. He worked for the BBC and was camerman at the Coronation in 1952. It is alleged he did over 500000 miles in XMG. Ben was a superb craftsmen of many materials and his modifications to make the Javelin faster, safer, more reliable and comfortable created a unique car which is now being enjoyed by many.
The mods can be seen on-
http://jowett.org/jowettnet/dt/tech/mods/mods.htm

[Drummond Black]

Your recalling our mishap on the 1989 ??? Pirelli Marathon certainly brought back memories. The Diff started to go on the Friday afternoon during the closing stages with the Rally due to finish on the Saturday in Cortina. Can you recall our discussions during the evening meal along with Geoff McAulley and Frank Wooley as how we could improvise a temp repair. After crawling away from the start we hit a local garage an put the Jup up on the ramp, took off the rear cover and I welded the diff solid with what welding rods he had. It worked for about an hour but you said it was a pig to corner with the car bouncing all over the road.

The diff then tore inself apart. We then got towed to about 100 yards from the finishing line and parked up awaiting our official time. our final act of desperation was to jam a fork , borrowed from a local cafe, into what was left of the sun wheels to give us final drive. We succeeded in crossing the finish line at out allotted slop an took a finishers award.

MEMORIES, --- WE WERE ONLY TEENAGERS THEN !!!!!!

[Forumadmin]

I still have the 'bits' in the trophy cabinet with all the other results of rallying and racing 'mishaps'--

-holed pistons,
-curiously formed valves,
-broken rocker shaft.
-welding rod used as wiper motor by Drummond in the Dolomites
-stones collected inside the chassis going across the piste in Morrocco
-rope used to hold the engine in on the Marathon when the front chassis tube broke
-cracked wheels
-bent wheel stud when wheel came off on Cortina hairpin

Others still linger on the car-
-bent up petrol pump support from the diversion across a lawn on the Le Jog caused by a large stone that signified the start of the lawn and the edge of the road,
-bent chassis tube from rock carefully placed by a local on the yump in Morrocco
-welded up block caused by the same incident but not found for 10 years
-reformed headlight surround from the excursion into the tyre wall at Donnington

[Forumadmin]

Added pictures of signatures on http://picasaweb.google.com/keith.cleme ... evival2009#

[ian Howell]

I also recall meeting Ben Shaw on a number of occasions during the 60's when I was first a member of the JCC, I even organised a rally on a farm near the Bluebell Railway on one occasion. (Anyone else remember it?).

Always interesting, jovial, interested and informative, he was a significant encouragement to me - and I am sure to many others- during my early Jowett days.

I seem to recall other less obvious modifications, such as cast bronze 'chrome' strips along the wings and doors of the Javelin, and cast solid bronze hinges on the Jupiter.

Are my memories correct, or have the mists of time corroded the grey matter?

[Forumadmin]

I had better go and check; but I think not. I think they are standard.

[Forumadmin]

Booked loads of tickets for friends for next year's Revival. So if any of you want to go let me know.