Weston, White and spotted
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:13 pm
My report from the Weston weekend is a bit delayed, for good reasons I may add, which will become clear later on.
I drove up from near Portsmouth on the Saturday before and visited the Black Country Museum in Dudley where I have been promising myself a day out for a long time. Just as I parked the XJ-S, a coach load of pensioners from Coventry on a day out arrived. It seems most of them worked at Browns Lane at some time or other and they thought I was part of the exhibit laid on especially for them. Lots of pointing, waving and thumbs-up ensued, from me as well as them, so every one was happy. As an amateur metal basher myself, I found the museum a damn good day out and would highly recommend it.
After staying the night near Dudley, I set the sat-nav for Weston Park. I think I need to get a new sat-nav or at least update it. I'm sure there is a better route then going up a muddy farm track, then having to reverse for ages due to a tractor coming towards me. Still, going through the ford washed off most of the dirt, although one should really avoid an 18” depth of river in an XJ-S it being so low to the ground. Right after the ford was a tee junction where I had to wait for a while before pulling out as I had disappeared in a cloud of steam and couldn't see anything. Eventually, the sat-nav pronounced my arrival, unfortunately it was at a five-bar gate half way along a lane. There were a few other Jaguars all equally lost so maybe it wasn't just me. I followed them and by luck arrived at the correct place.
As others have already said, what a great day. Many thanks to our club officials for making this work so well. While most of us were tucking into hotel breakfasts I am sure there were many of them running around pulling their hair out to ensure we all enjoyed ourselves, let alone the prior organising that is involved with an operation on this scale. It was great to meet up with so many friends both old and new. There were too many highlights to mention them all, but it was good to meet 'Jaguar Mike' and see his hatchback XJ-S. A subtle yet expertly converted coupé which is a credit to his engineering skills.
I was on a mission to record as many white XJS's as I could. I am biased, but for years I have been saying how good white ones look. For a long time they were generally unloved, I blame white van man, but at last they seem to be respected once more. I counted ten in various guises, and have attached their photos below. If I have missed yours then I can always add it, the forum would love to hear from you.
I had to leave Weston relatively early as I needed to get back to Portsmouth to collect Mrs Rivet then leave early on Monday to drive up to North Wales for the week. I'm rubbish at logistics! I know others experienced mechanical problems during their trip and I hope that it all worked out well in the end for them but I am pleased to say that my 3.6 XJ-S didn't miss a beat. As much as I love the V12 engine, I even had one myself for a while, but for normal use I absolutely love the later 3.6 straight six. Quiet, relaxed, no fuss, just gets about its business with great fuel economy. Step out of that leather seat after hundreds of miles of driving and its as if you had only been down to the shops. Sometimes on a motorway run I have often had that adrenalin panic rush when you can't hear the engine and think it has cut out. Then you look at the speedometer and rev-counter, nothing is wrong, all is well, it was just better tarmac!
So there we are, there were some lovely cars at Weston, but these are MY top 10!
Pop
I drove up from near Portsmouth on the Saturday before and visited the Black Country Museum in Dudley where I have been promising myself a day out for a long time. Just as I parked the XJ-S, a coach load of pensioners from Coventry on a day out arrived. It seems most of them worked at Browns Lane at some time or other and they thought I was part of the exhibit laid on especially for them. Lots of pointing, waving and thumbs-up ensued, from me as well as them, so every one was happy. As an amateur metal basher myself, I found the museum a damn good day out and would highly recommend it.
After staying the night near Dudley, I set the sat-nav for Weston Park. I think I need to get a new sat-nav or at least update it. I'm sure there is a better route then going up a muddy farm track, then having to reverse for ages due to a tractor coming towards me. Still, going through the ford washed off most of the dirt, although one should really avoid an 18” depth of river in an XJ-S it being so low to the ground. Right after the ford was a tee junction where I had to wait for a while before pulling out as I had disappeared in a cloud of steam and couldn't see anything. Eventually, the sat-nav pronounced my arrival, unfortunately it was at a five-bar gate half way along a lane. There were a few other Jaguars all equally lost so maybe it wasn't just me. I followed them and by luck arrived at the correct place.
As others have already said, what a great day. Many thanks to our club officials for making this work so well. While most of us were tucking into hotel breakfasts I am sure there were many of them running around pulling their hair out to ensure we all enjoyed ourselves, let alone the prior organising that is involved with an operation on this scale. It was great to meet up with so many friends both old and new. There were too many highlights to mention them all, but it was good to meet 'Jaguar Mike' and see his hatchback XJ-S. A subtle yet expertly converted coupé which is a credit to his engineering skills.
I was on a mission to record as many white XJS's as I could. I am biased, but for years I have been saying how good white ones look. For a long time they were generally unloved, I blame white van man, but at last they seem to be respected once more. I counted ten in various guises, and have attached their photos below. If I have missed yours then I can always add it, the forum would love to hear from you.
I had to leave Weston relatively early as I needed to get back to Portsmouth to collect Mrs Rivet then leave early on Monday to drive up to North Wales for the week. I'm rubbish at logistics! I know others experienced mechanical problems during their trip and I hope that it all worked out well in the end for them but I am pleased to say that my 3.6 XJ-S didn't miss a beat. As much as I love the V12 engine, I even had one myself for a while, but for normal use I absolutely love the later 3.6 straight six. Quiet, relaxed, no fuss, just gets about its business with great fuel economy. Step out of that leather seat after hundreds of miles of driving and its as if you had only been down to the shops. Sometimes on a motorway run I have often had that adrenalin panic rush when you can't hear the engine and think it has cut out. Then you look at the speedometer and rev-counter, nothing is wrong, all is well, it was just better tarmac!
So there we are, there were some lovely cars at Weston, but these are MY top 10!
Pop
E948 AET! And Mick at no. 10 would not be appy! 
