The Lyons Roar by David Harrison, VJC President

I recently returned from two weeks in the land of the Jaguar , visiting family and friends. Having said that, I have to report that few Jaguars were seen on the road, which are now filled with small, fuel efficient cars driven at high speeds, on and off the motorways. I was impressed by the motorway infrastructure, which in many ways has surpassed the US Interstate system. Road surfaces and signs were excellent, in contrast to our patched up and bumpy local interstates. There were no old bangers other than obvious classics out for a weekend run, everyone seems to have new or newish Peugeots, Volvos, Skodas, and the usual riceburners. Some of the cars advertised on TV bragged of mpg in the sixties and seventies, along with their low emission levels, now important as the road tax is based on emissions. Another indication how far behind the rest of Europe we are getting.

I rented a Ford Focus 1.6L with 5 speed and liked the car a lot, it was quick and comfortable and averaged 38 mpg despite being loaded with luggage and driven around a lot of hilly country lanes in second gear. It took a while to reacquaint myself with driving on the left, with roundabout protocol, with high speed driving and with petrol at a pound a litre (about $7 a gallon) The slow lane on the motorways runs at 60 mph, the middle lane runs about 80, and the fast lane is mainly reserved for the Bimmers, Lexuses and Mercedes at 90-100. One retraining influence is the everpresent camera system and the latest gimmick, the average speed calculator. You get your fast driving award by mail. Once off the motorway I had to get comfortable squeezing between parked cars and oncoming traffic, aware of the 600 pound damage deductible pre-charged to my credit card. You need a keen sense of gap vs car width, but having said all of the above, UK driving was never boring and I took the Focus back without a scratch.

I did manage some car-related visits, wearing my MG hat this time. Last year I met John Clark at MG Silverstone last year, he has the sister car to my 1933 Alpine/Brooklands MG L2. Our two cars survive from the team of three MGs which won their class in the 1933 Alpine Trial and the Relay Race at Brooklands. John lives in a lovely half timbered house in the Shropshire hills. His garage houses the L2 along with an unrestored MG TC built on his birth day, and a really nice and original 1934 Riley saloon. We met the Clarks and the Jim Alcorns from California (small world) at an olde worlde rural pub. They were driving a TC and MGA twin cam respectively, and the pub car park was full of prewar Austin Sevens. The sight and sound of these old cars made me giddy, or was it the Old Speckled Hen and steak and kidney pie. Later, I kicked tires in Roger Daniell's wonderful old garage, filled with two racing MGAs, an MG J1, an Allard under restoration, a nice E type coupe, a couple of unfinished Lagonda open wheeler specials and a recent addition, a racing A40 saloon. Last but not least we visited some recent friends, Peter and Judith Farmer, owners of a splendid 1924 Lagonda and two pretty MMM (overhead cam) MGs. These magnificent machines reminded me what we have lost with the demise of the British car industry. Of course we seem to be heading in the same direction.

Some upcoming VJC events are worthy of mention. The June event will be a visit to Abacus racing in Virginia Beach on Saturday June 27 at 10.30 am, followed by lunch at Bubba's famous waterfront eatery at Lynnhaven Sound. Don Jackson is hosting this event, and he or I will send a reminder, directions and convoy instructions for the Richmond contingent.

Our annual Pool Party and (more importantly) judging refresher school will be on Saturday July 25 at Chateau Harrison. VJC Concours judges need to mark this date on their calendars ! The date is a bit later than last year because our Chief Judge, Wayne Estrada is, after 20 years free as a bird, getting Married July 4th in Memphis and will be honeymoong up until are usual mid month meeting. Wish him congrats! Meanwhile, the Concours team of Steve Kelley, Lisa Sweet and Bruce Murff are working hard on the September Concours.

Last but not least, the VJC will be hosting the 2011 JCNA AGM in Richmond, with Dr Ron Gaertner as VJC 2011 AGM Chair. More on this later, as plans progress.

Happy Jagging, see you at Abacus.

David