Aiming high

[Chris Spencer]

Just thinking overnight on my previous posting - any one had thoughts on getting a display to either the festival of speed or revival at Goodwood - do we have among the membership a sporting example that could be sent up the hill ?? - this really is a golden opertunity for the club to raise it's profile (not that we are lacking) any one else out there with ideas on a big scale on banging the drum on behalf of the club ?? (Apologies if I am treading on anyones toes)

[Alastair Gregg]

Hello Chris,

Welcome to the Forum,

You are asking reasonable questions but more importantly demonstrating commendable enthusiasm. Please continue we need people to ask questions, its only when you ask and the club does not have answers we realise where we are lacking.

Several members attend the Goodwood festival and if you are keen to go may I suggest you contact Forum Admin he had Sterling Moss in his Javelin at the last revival and is the chief getter of tickets.
http://jowett.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1181
However a display, a good idea but where and who should we approach, do bear in mind we are A Yorkshire manufactured marque and "brass don't grow on trees tha knows" but a good idea non the less.

I'm not sure which section you belong to or what part of the country you are in, but the Midland section will be ascending the Hill at Prescott at the beginning of May, some quickly and some less so.

I am aware of two groups of Jupiter owners preparing their cars (three cars in total) for racing both groups of which hope to be at the historic Le mans race in 2010. They also intend to race in leagues in the UK. I won't publish names but if you want to contact them then PM me.


You are 100% correct when you say we have a golden opportunity to raise our profile in this next year, our Golden Year.

Tony has spoken on another post to you about Noel Stokoe our publicity officer he would be happy to hear ideas.

Please keep posting and asking questions

[Chris Spencer]

Alastair - Many thanks for your response and encouragement - I reside in West London and am a member of the Southern Section, However, I was born and lived in Yorkshire for over 25 years. I appriciate your comment about funding for something on this scale but equally so a 'Frugal man can travel far and wide on very little'. If we are capable of bundling Stirling Moss and his lady wife in to a Javlin and keeping them entertained throughout the journey then we are capable of exhibiting a worthy display and promiting the club worldwide. Being largely instrumental in the ' Barnsley Vintage Vehicle Show' for many years - I am not so new to vehicle displays. What we need within the the membership is a member with a significantly early model or a model with a strong historical motorsport background. Throw in a few other examples and we have a display. I know - easier said than done but all very acheivable. I can help with making the contacts, vehicle transportation, safe secure storage of vehicles, research, presentations and what ever else is required to make it happen - who do I need to talk to, to start to make it happen - Keith ? / Southern Section Committee ?? - Are we in or out ?

[Alastair Gregg]

Good places to start.

Also:-

You will probably be aware that we scooped the first prize at the NEC for "A Small Car Club" This was mainly (but not exclusivley) built, organised and manned by the Midlands section so their Chairman (I think its Les White but if he's not then he will point you to the right person) is a good place to ask where good stands come from. Les is not on the Forum so look in your membership list and you will find him.

If you have the contacts then gather a posse and lets make a splash

[Forumadmin]

This has been discussed at the JCC exec committee meeting last year when I promised to investigate and did by alerting the organisers; but read on...

As you may have read the Javelin took one of the Directors of Goodwood up the hill climb this year. Unfortunately nobody was a watching. I have also been down the hill many times competitively in the soapboxes I designed and built for the Festival of Speed.

A number of club members are Goodwood Road Racing Club Members and so can take their cars on track days to the circuit.

However, getting a slot on either event is very difficult as there are many 'special' cars and 'special' drivers around.

The Jupiter R1 was invited last year but was driven too slowly to impress, possibly because of earlier problems with brakes and fuel. Thus organisers, having many cars to choose from, may not relish another Jowett. The problem as I found when competing is that there are very few cars in the same class as a Jowett. If you did the mods that most of the other guys on the circuit have done to their 1950 cars you would have to sell your house! There are no competition parts for Jowetts like Porsche, Jaguar, MG.....

That said my Jupiter and Javelin have been displayed at the Festival of Speed and Revival for the last 8 years and usually in prominent positions. Any GRCC member can buy a ticket to the Lavant bank and display their car and some marques set up a small display area.

Surprisingly I sometimes have been unable to give away tickets to the Revival! Although this year it may be unlikely.

If someone wants to promote a Jowett gathering at either event (but the Revival is more appropriate) I can assist by 'selling' to the organisers, many of whom I know. However, they need more than 'it is the centenary', or that 'a Javelin raced here in the 50's'.

It needs lot of work, which I might be able to do when I am retired. I will try to find out the theme this year and see if Jowetts are appropriate. We have the skills in the club, particularly in the Midland section who have done NEC and other brilliant stands in the past.