There Can be No Greater Endorsement!
The event attracting some 290 cars, was the 21st running of the Classic Car run and the 9th Kit, Replica and Sports Car run. In celebration, the event was started by Sir Stirling Moss. Sir Stirling did a fantastic job talking to entrants on the start line and signing route books on request.
We approached the start line in our Nostalgia XK120 Replica and stopped. Sir Stirling came up to us and said "It's in beautiful condition."
"It's a replica." we replied.
"It's a replica!" said Sir Stirling in an astonished tone.
"It took 5 years to build from a Jagur XJ6." we said.
"Anyway you've made a beautiful job of it." replied Sir Stirling as he signed our route book.
Then with a wave of the flag we were off feeling pretty pleased with ourselves
Sir Stirling Moss flags us away
Jaguar XK120 & E Type at Bentley
The route headed out, skirting around Dorking and Leatherhead on to quiet country roads. The threat of rain receding as we progressed through Headley,Charlwood, Newdigate and Colwood mostly on deserted roads with the occasional meeting of a fellow entrant. We reached our lunchtime destination, The Bentley Wild Fowl Trust & Motor Museum. some 56 miles in to the run. Bentley was a brilliant place to stop with an amazing collection of ducks, geese and swans and a variety of walks through the park land. For the petrol heads among us, the motor museum was literally crammed full of classic machinery, from motorcycles to a Beneton F1 car, Jaguar was represented by an XK120 and E-Type, to the ill fated De-Lorean and many many more.
Fed and watered we set off to tackle the remaining 29 miles to Brighton
The last part of this run can be busy and slow from a traffic perspective, navigating Lewes town centre is unavoidable, before heading up over Ditchling Beacon and on towards Woodingdean. The slow heavy Sunday afternoon traffic meant there was time to admire the magnificent views over the South Downs. 5 miles to go we were aware that we could see the sea as we headed downhill and turned on to the coast road at Rottingdean. Now it was all plain driving, following other entrants that we have caught up, however we couldn't rely on them and carefully followed the route book. Past the famous Roedean school with it's impressive facade and views out to sea, we remembered the memories we have of Brighton in the 50's and 60's.
Bathed in glorious sunshine, we turned off the coast road and down to the finish at Madeira Drive.
The finish
Our route book signed by Sir Stirling Moss
All participants were photographed and interviewed at the finish.
The commentary paused as we approached. Looking hard at the car and finally in to the cockpit, the interviewer said. "It's not a genuine XK120 is it?"
"No it's a Nostalgia XK120 Replica." (But he had to have a close look at it before he worked it out)
"How do Jaguar owners feel about it being a replica?" he asked.
We thought about the many friends we have made via the JDC and the JEC and that both clubs have a Replica register and treat us as Jaguar owners and drivers. We recounted our experience of meeting Sir Stirling Moss at the Start. There can be no greater endorsement than that.
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