The Cat Tale
A Publication of the Jaguar Club of Tulsa, Inc.
February, 2004

 


 

EVENT PLANNING PARTY

SUNDAY, FEB 15TH

HOME OF LES & JOAN NEIDELL 

            It is a brand new year and time to plan for club events that will provide something for everyone.  Planning club events for a whole year is to big of a job for anyone person.  So to prevent one person from carrying to whole load, we are going to involve the entire club in this process.  We have scheduled a gathering for Feb 15th at the home of Les and Joan Neidell, 5526 E 65th Place, in Tulsa. (481- 0227) This meeting will start at 3:00 pm and combine two of our favorite things, food and fun.  Members are ask to bring two items; (1), a “finger food” type hors d’oeuvre to share and (2) an idea for an event in 2004. Beverages will be provided. To get to Neidell’s home go south on Yale to 66th St. and turn left.  Follow 66th St., until it changes names, turns to the left and goes up the hill.  Turn right at the top of the hill and the 3rd house (taupe colored ranch) is it.

            Think of things you have read in the paper that might be fun; is there a terrific restaurant you know about?  Been to any historic sites?  How about a tour involving a rally or other car game?  We haven’t done an overnight trip to someplace interesting in quite a while.  Vineyards?  Tech sessions?  Craft fairs or swap meets?  Car shows? Museums? Parades!   We are looking for lots of different ideas and so everyone will be able to attend something during the year, events can be on weeknights or weekends.    

We have many things to consider such as; we have lots of kids in this club so we want some “family friendly” events.  We have members who live in Arkansas and Missouri and we would like to see them more often than just once a year at Concours. Everyone in this club seems to like to eat and drink so anything including food and beverage will no doubt be a hit.  Doubly so if we have to drive over great curving roads to get there! 

As anyone who has been in the club for a while knows, this is a fun loving group and we are up for about anything.  So bring on your ideas, we want to hear them!  If for some reason you just absolutely can’t make the meeting, please send your idea to the Cat Tale Editor at mmra@gte.net . Otherwise, jot down your idea (if you are like your Editor, your mind goes blank frequently) and we will see you on the 15th!


 

              

SPECIAL AFTER BREAKFAST TRIP

SATURDAY, FEB. 7TH  

            Our regularly scheduled breakfast meeting will have an added dimension this month.  We will meet at the usual time, 9:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Hotel for breakfast and then at 10:30 we will drive to Bartlesville to view “The Art of the Alfa Romeo” currently on exhibit at the Price Tower museum.   

            The local Alfa Club brought together numerous items about the history and design progression of this automobile for the Price Towers’ use in this display.  Admission to the Museum is $3.00.  Tours of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed tower will also be available to those who would like to know more about this historic structure.  A tour will start at 2:00 p.m. and those interested need to sign up when they arrive at the museum as space on the tours is limited. 

            After we have viewed the Alfa display, we will stop for a break at the Price Tower restaurant for a light snack of dessert and coffee.  If we have at least 20 in the party they will put us in the private dining room.   

            This drive and museum tour is just what we need to break out of the after holiday doldrums.  Meet your fellow members for breakfast or if you are coming from Arkansas, Missouri or other points north of Tulsa, plan to meet the group at the Museum between 11:30 and 12:00 p.m. 


  

 

AGM – MARCH 11-14 

            The JCNA Annual General Meeting will be held in Long Beach, CA.  This is the meeting wherein rules, policies, awards, etc. affecting the operation of the National organization and its affiliates are discussed and voted on.  Each club has two designated delegates who have been authorized by their clubs to vote on any and all issues on the agenda and our delegates this year will be Scott Young and Larry West.  The meeting is open to ALL members and can be quite interesting on occasion.  It is also a chance to meet with fellow Jaguar drivers from across the nation when we can have a great time and not have to clean our cars!    

            This year the Tulsa club has an item on the agenda concerning the formation of duplicative clubs.  There have been a few instances in the recent past where a 2nd club has been chartered in an area where an active club already exists.  Unfortunately, these situations are rarely smooth.  Our existing national policy does not offer any guidelines for this situation or a way to prevent it from happening.  Our club began the process in 1999 to address this issue so the JCNA board and the membership can welcome new clubs or decline a new charter where it may not be warranted.  This has been a long and laborious task, but if the proposal is passed, we believe that all of the JCNA affiliates will benefit. 

            This year the Jaguar Owners Club is hosting the meeting aboard the Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach.  They have also planned some extra events such as a trip to the Getty Center and the Petersen Automotive Museum.  There is a full description of what will be going on at the AGM in the Jan/Feb Jaguar Journal and also on the JCNA web site.  ALL members are invited to attend so if you think a short trip to sunny California might be in order, please feel free to come along with several other JCTI members who are planning to attend. 


                   

 

ANOTHER RALLY!! And ANOTHER RALLY!!

February 21 & 22 – East Texas 

            The Jaguar Association of the South West has sent us an invitation to a 2 DAY rally.  This is being held in conjunction with the 14th Annual East Texas Auto & Cycle Show in Tyler, Texas.   

            The JCNA sanctioned rally will start on Saturday in Addison, Texas, just north of Dallas near Plano, and end in Tyler, TX.  There will be a nice reception for Jaguar drivers at the home of JOASW member Billy Hibbs, then on to a snazzy dinner at the Kiepersol Winery & Restaurant on Saturday evening.  The second day of the rally will be on Sunday, starting from Tyler and end at Cydar Bayou on Lake Texoma.  

            The car show is not a Jaguar Concours but there will be plenty of interesting cars and cycles to look at and more that 9000 visitor are expected.  Those who may be interested in entering their cars may do so and the information is on the JOASW web site at joasw.com.             If you still have some questions after checking all the information on the club web site, e-mail JOASW President Cliff Mathews  jaguarxj40@yahoo.com.         

Looks like the Red X will come out of winter storage for a rippin’ good trip on the highways and byways of Texas.


  

 

Mac McGlumphy

1918 – 2004 

            Tulsa and the community of auto collecting enthusiasts lost a friend with the passing of Delray “Mac” McGlumphy.  Mr. McGlumphy was best known in the area as the man behind “Mac’s Automotive Museum.  Last July the Oklahoma City and Tulsa clubs had a joint meeting and toured Mac’s collection of cars and had the privilege of meeting the man, himself.   Growing up in Tulsa, Mac recalled admiring the sleek auto’s of the ‘20’s and ‘30’s as he delivered “The Tulsa World”.  Later as a successful business man he began buying those much admired cars of his youth.   As the group saw the cars Mac told them about how each car was acquired and  interesting stories about the cars.  

            We offer our deepest sympathy to his family, Mrs. Frieda McGlumphy and his three sons on their loss and we hope his treasured collection will pass on to others who will love the cars as much as he did.   

            In memoriam, friends are contributing to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a charity that Mac supported. 


 

           

NEW CAT IN TULSA 

                A Jaguar named Pepito is on the prowl at the Tulsa Zoo.  Pepito was brought here from Guatemala as a mate for the resident female Tavi.  The Tulsa Zoo is part of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Jaguar Species Survival Plan and it is hoped that a bit of romance may strengthen and expand the Jaguar gene pool. 

            The cats have been moved into the zoo’s Jaguar exhibit and so far they are tolerating each other.  The zoo keeper explained that this is tedious business and Pepito and Tavi spent several weeks separated by partitions that allowed them to see each other before being released into the exhibit.  A few snarls and snappish fights have ensued but they seem to be adapting to each other.   

            Let’s hope that romance blossoms and the couple is blessed with the sound pattering little Jaguar paws. 


  

 

LOCAL RALLIST WINS BIG 

            Mike Halley of Sand Springs has won the top SCCA Pro Rally Roy Donison Cup.  Mike is the son in-law of long time club members Andy and Bea Pierson.   

            To those of us who are not familiar with this award, it is like wining the “Oscar” of the Pro Rally world.  Mike, who has worked hard for this honor with nearly 30 years of rally racing experience, says he was shocked to receive the trophy.  Mike expects to continue rally racing with his 1999 VW Beetle “StudBug”.  Maybe we could get Mike to give us a few pointers on how to run a rally sometime.


 

 DETAIL TIP            Remember those micro fiber polishing cloths that everyone likes so well?  Right now Bed, Bath and Beyond on 71st street has packages of 5 on close out for half price at $4.99.  It’s a good deal! 


 

 

JAGUAR F1 PREPARES FOR 2004 SEASON

                                                            By – Linda Young 

            The Gran Prix season will get underway for Jaguar with a new car, a new driver and a new attitude.  Racing executive Richard Parry-Jones, has revealed that the team has curbed its lavish spending. No more luxury motor coaches, grand parties, sensational unveilings and extravagant spending on non essentials.  Instead, the money saved will be pumped into developing the R5.  Jones reflects the feelings of many F1 teams when he says the cost of F1 racing is getting out of hand.  Formula 1 will have to find a way to cut costs on this spectacle or the entire program is headed for disaster.  

 Jaguars’ budget for the 2004 season is $170 MILLION.  Considering that each team must pay Bernie Ecclestone a $10 MILLION entry fee to join the field, it is not hard to believe that costs are becoming a big issue.  Some teams like Ferrari and Toyota are spending $300 million and more this year. Rules are being changed and now teams may field a third car, but not many can afford it.  Some teams like Minardi and BAR are struggling for money. Since 2001 the teams of Proust, Benetton and Arrows have disappeared. Compared to F1, NASCAR is cheap!  Obviously this cost escalation can not continue but no one seems to know how to stop it.   

            Preparation for the 2004 season is in full swing and Jaguar unveiled the new R-5 in Spain at Circuit de Catalunya where teams have been testing their new cars.  Christen Klein has joined Jaguar as Webber’s teammate.  Rookie driver Klein, a 20 year old from Austria, is stepping up from Formula 3 and bringing with him sponsor Red Bull and a considerable amount of sponsorship money.  Klein is thrilled to have this opportunity but knows he has a steep learning curve with the first race in Melbourne only five weeks away.  Webber, however is confident that Kline is up to the challenge.  Webber says the goal is to build on last years good qualifying and carry that momentum through the race and to a podium finish.   

            Jaguar’s return to F1 racing has been fraught with bad decisions, poor management and fits of ego.  It appears that all of that is behind them now and there is a cohesive team with good leadership working well together to put Jaguar at the front of the pack.   

            Gentlemen, Start your engines!     


       

HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING EVENTS  

The Jaguar Club of Tulsa and Hallett Motor Racing Circuit have once again teamed up to give members a chance to really drive their Jaguars.  Two dates, April 24-25 and September 25-26 have been chosen for HPDE events. 

            A High Performance Driving Event works like this; drivers are given class room instruction on how to drive on a race track, what the flags mean, and what the penalties are for mistakes.  The object of the instruction is to make sure everyone understands how things operate on the track so everyone will be safe, there will be no car to car contact and everyone will have a great time.   

            An experienced driver will ride along with you to give you pointers on how the use your car and drive the “line” to get the most speed possible out of your car.  The instructor will ride with you until you feel confident enough to take to the track yourself.   The on track sessions are 15 minutes each, which does not sound like much but, after you have driven a session or two you will change your mind.  There can be as many as 30 other cars on the track at the same time but no passing is allowed in the corners and no car to car contact.  This is not a race.  This is an opportunity to learn how your car handles and become a better driver.   

            This year the driving events will be held on Saturday and Sunday.  This will give more people a chance to drive, especially if they are sharing a car.  Costs have remained the same, a $35.00 annual license and a $75 per day entry fee for each driver.  HPDE days have become very popular and are being offered at numerous tracks around the country but nowhere is the cost as low as it is at Hallett.  In addition, Hallett runs these HPDE days on the last weekend of every month of racing season.  This means once you have your license you can participate on any weekend, not just on the two dates the club has chosen.   

            If you have not participated in a High Performance Driving Event before, give it a try this year.  You will have more fun than you ever thought possible.  Just ask a few of the people who have already done it.  Just be forewarned, be prepared to hear some stories because these people LOVE to talk about HPDE.   


  

CLASSIFIED

Classified ads are free to club members.  To place an ad, e-mail to mmra@gte.net. or call (918) 258-8320 

For Sale – 1953 Mk VII – Solid car with no visible rust, slight rear body damage from rear bumper being pushed against trunk lid.  Seats are vinyl, paint black on black, interior wood good shape but will need refinished. Four Speed transmission. Car was running when parked but all hoses, etc need checked and fluids changed before starting again.  Needs brake work.  Owner’s illness forces sale.  For more information and price negotiation, call Bill Watkins, Rogers Ark. (479) 636-2168     

“Jaguar, The Classic Marque” by Steve Kennedy.  This definitive book on Jaguar automobiles will make a wonderful present for the Jaguar lover on your list. The book is available for $79.95.  There are some special editions, slip cased, signed and/or leather slip cased still available.  You can get all the information and order the book on line at   http://www.jaguarbooksite.com.