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


    Pictures to be added "overnight" or sooner

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RIVER ADVENTURE &

OLD FASHIONED PICNIC

Saturday, July 17th

Starting at 6:00 p.m. 

            Our lake outing has turned into a “River Romp” and is going to offer something the entire family will enjoy.  Rather than driving along the river, we will ride ON the river.  Nope, not a canoe trip.  No danger of tipping over into the drink or dragging the canoe across the sand bars.  We are going to have a sunset ride on the Arkansas on an airboat. 

            This marks the 3rd year that Captain Steve Smith has been piloting the air boat up and down the Arkansas.  The view from on the river is quite different than what we can see standing on the bank or whizzing down Riverside Drive plus we will be doing this at sunset when the Tulsa skyline is its’ most beautiful. 

            The cost of the ride is 20$ per person and the boat will accommodate four people at a time.  We will embark from a private dock and travel approximately eight miles on the river.  What will we do while we are waiting our turn for the ride?  Well, EAT, of course!    

Captain Smith has a pontoon boat for our use and we will be having an old fashioned “church social” picnic of fried chicken, potato salad, baked beans, cake, watermelon and beverages on board.  The entire spread will be provided by the club. 

            What could be better than a relaxing evening on a pontoon boat with friends and good food!  Make plans to be there.  Here is the important part; we must have reservations so time slots for the air boat ride can be scheduled and so we know how much food to order.  Call Sheila Rexroad at (918) 455-3466 or e-mail her at germanchoc52@aol.com by Thursday, July 15th

            Here is another plus; we will park our cars on  the lot at the corner of 18th & Boston in front of the old gas station/fire house and Captain Smith will take us to the dock in his big RED & YELLOW BUS at no extra charge!  We will be leaving the parking lot at 6:00 SHARP so don’t be late! 


    

GOBMC ALL BRITISH SHOW

CARTHAGE, MO, July 24th 

GOBMC members invite us to slow down and take a step back in time to a vintage town square setting, a farmers market and lots of interesting shops.  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy under the shade trees surrounding the American Classic court house.  This is a picture right out of Norman Rockwell.  The town square in Carthage, MO will fill up with British cars and the atmosphere will be relaxed and fun.  Last year there were more than 100 cars in the show and no doubt, there will be that many again. 

 Every year the show gets better and since there was such a great turn out of Jaguars last year, the organizers have added more Jaguar classes to accommodate the many different models.  Go the club’s web site at www.gobmc.org and download the pre-registration form and mail it in ASAP.  The organizers of this show greatly appreciate as many pre-registrations as possible.  The day of the show gets very hectic, especially when you have more than 100 cars show up.  There will be  registration forms for this show available at our regular breakfast on Saturday.   

If you wish to make this a weekend event, there will be a tail gate party at the Econo-Lodge on Friday evening, a driving tour after the show concludes on Saturday and an Awards banquet on Saturday night.  Sunday morning there will be a “Breakfast Drive Out” to Historic Kendrick Place.  All of the details are on the club web site. 

There will be a caravan of cars heading toward Carthage on Saturday morning.  We will meet up at the old Builders Square parking lot at 71st and Memorial (it’s now Mardel’s) and leave promptly at 7:30 for the drive to Carthage.  If there are some of our members from outlying areas who would like to hook up with the group enroute, please contact Linda Young (918) 258-8320 or mmra@gte.net and we will make arrangements. 

Remember, this is an ALL BRITISH show, so if your Jag does not want to make the trip for some reason, your MG, Triumph or other English car is welcome to join in.  This is a really nice show and we want to see lots of British cars from the local area attend.


 

FIRST SATURDAY BREAKFAST

JULY  3rd – SHERATON HOTEL

            Just a reminder, the informal monthly breakfast get together will be on July 3rd.  Start the weekend with a great breakfast at the Sheraton Hotel, 41st and Garnett and good conversation with fellow Jaguar drivers.  The coffee is always ready, so ya’ll come!


  

“FIRST START UP”…Part III of the continuing saga of rebuilding a Series I XJ6

By – Stan Lacky 

Having spent a fair amount of $$ on this project, and having learned a new trade; “Mechanics Helper,” the first start up of the new motor felt like a new birth. A birth that had been in gestation for the 18 months!  

Hoses and belts were checked and double checked. New wires were tested, and every thing was prepared. Having worked so hard on this project, there was kind of a silent consent to take a day off, and just rest before the “Big Day.” The day for the “first start up” was set for Sunday. 

Saturday seemed to be the shortest (and longest day) of the year, and Sunday seemed to come all to soon. As the day started Tony and I looked like to we were about to make a moon launch. Check lists came out, and the new engine was “cranked” by hand to assure us that there was oil circulating through the motor. I manned the ignition while Tony leaned over the hoodless engine compartment.  

“Ignition on“, was the first command, “ON” was my response, a few seconds of silence and then “SHUT IT OFF!!”  With the ignition on, fuel was “free flowing” from the carburetors. Too much fuel pressure. A trip to the parts store, and a pressure regulator installed. “Ignition on”. “ON”.  “Looks good, now crank it”.  Crank, crank.  “SHUT IT OFF”.  Hummmm, no spark?  Back to the store and a new set of points installed.  

“Ignition on”.  “ON”.  “Looks good, crank it”.  Crank, crank.  Vroom! and she “lit up”. Tony yelled “check oil pressure!”  “Oil pressure coming up.”  Ten pounds, 20 pounds, 40 pounds, 80 pounds, (Tony) “SHUT IT OFF!”.  What the hell?  80 pounds of oil pressure?  Back to the manual to look for the problem.  Ahhhh, wrong wire on the oil pressure sending unit.  A quick change of wires, and back at it. 

“Ignition on”.  “ON”.  “Crank it!”  In the first few seconds of this 4th attempt at the ”first start up”, I had visions of my self in my newly restored Jag.  Visions of driving at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, in the front of the pack of course, of accepting a first place slalom trophy from a member of the JCNA, and of effortlessly “Jag-n” across the open plains of the western US while getting 25+ MPG. After a few turns of the new motor my dream state was interrupted by a new sound, Vroom. Whoa, she lit up!  

Now, I would like to say that all was fine, but not so. From some where in the motor there was a Knock.  Not being a mechanic I couldn’t tell where the knock was coming from, but in that instant that “knock in the motor” gave me the mental pain of a tooth ache, Mexican food stomach problems and a remembrance of every other internal pain I had ever experienced. My dream state was interrupted by, “SHUT IT OFF!” 

All I could think of was “Wow, what a road I’ve traveled to get to this point?” Having thought that I was only days away from the realization of driving my “new Jag”, I was faced with yet another problem to solve.  Hearing the “KNOCK” in the motor, I flashed back to the 18 + months that I’d spent saving (and spending) money on this project. I was also in serious hopes (and doubts) that I could, #1. endure “a cure”, and #2. afford “the cure.”  As I stood there dumbfounded Tony looked at me and said,” I think it’s in the valve train”.  All I knew was my “new motor” wasn’t working as planned, and I was bummed! 

After a few more “test runs” we decided to remove the valve covers and check the valves. With cam covers off and plugs removed I began to crank the engine. To our amazement as the motor turned over the intake cam was oscillating next to the third cylinder. It turned out that the intake cam from the donor motor was warped!  

A quick call to Scott Young, two “special” head tools borrowed, and with the cam replaced we were ready for another attempt.  

“Ignition on.”  “ON.”  “Crank it.”  “Cranking.”  Vroom!  “SHUT IT OFF!” The KNOCK was still there!  Could it be a bearing or wrist pin knocking? The only way to find out was to drop the oil pan. Fortunately the front end of a Jaguar unhinges like the jaw of a snake. This doesn’t make it EASY, but I guess I could say it makes it “less difficult”.  

Another “special tool” borrowed, and the oil pan was off!  With the pan off we checked the rod bearing on the offending cylinder (# 3) and all was fine. Crap! The next step was to remove the head and have a look at the piston itself.   

Removing the cylinder head we then inspected the #3 piston and cylinder. The head was fine. It appeared that either the piston was not round, or the cylinder was larger at the top than the bottom, resulting in piston slap!   

Nine to one Pistons were (are) about $100.00 each, and (to be safe) it now looked like I needed 6 of them. I still had the original 4.2 motor, and it was suspected that all that motor ever needed was a “ring” job. We decided that before I get any deeper in to this project that we would disassemble it and see what we could do to make IT work.  

With the old motor dissembled, and all the parts (pistons and cylinders) mic’d, it was decided to take the balanced crank, and balanced rods out of the new motor and simply rebuild the original series 1, 4.2 motor. 

Now, I have to tell you that I’m either the most determined guy I know or the dumbest, only time will tell. Please Stay tuned for the saga of “The Next New Motor!”, and “FIRST Start Up, Round TWO!


 

A WORD FROM OUR LEADER

By – Gary Grover, President 

As a thirty year member of the JCTI, I have to reflect on the progress made by the

marque and our membership. When I joined the club I was interested in help keeping my 1963 XKE (aka THE ROACH) running with some reliability to get to work & back. Many others were in much the same boat. The Prince of Darkness was a VERY familiar foe.The stories at our gatherings were hilarious with comments like "you'll never guess where I was stranded yesterday", etc.  

We just attended the PIG OUT in Arkansas which included about 250 miles of driving by many Jaguars and others by some 30 to 40 brave souls. Only one vehicle had to be left on the roadside. NOW THAT'S PROGRESS!!! 

Another indicator of progress was the occasion of having to ask for duct tape for our FORD Taurus and not one person had any   Scott Young did have some masking tape that fixed my problem but EVERYONE knows that all real Jaguar owners should carry a roll of duct tape at all times.  Allen Jefferson’s XK 120 did provide a glimpse of what I am talking about when Larry West had to work on a bad distributor cap to get it back into the garage. Thanks Allen for the FLASHBACK and thanks for a wonderful event.


 

2004 TULSA CONCOURS

                           By Greg Timo 

 The Jaguar Club of Tulsa is hosting its 32nd Concours d’Elegance on September 11, 2004.  For those of you who have never attended this annual event you have missed out on viewing some of the finest new and restored Jaguar vehicles in the country.  This year’s show promises more of the same quality automobiles. 

            If you plan on showing a vehicle, we have the perfect show sight.  The DoubleTree hotel located at 61st and Yale Ave offers a grass show site which is tree lined for shade and comfort. Incase of inclement weather we have the ability to show in an indoor parking facility.  Security is provided Friday and Saturday nights if you park your vehicle in the parking garage. The hotel has once again offered us very reasonable room rates for participants. 

At the conclusion of the show on Saturday there is a dinner and awards presentation on the 19th floor of the II Warren Building.  The view from this newly remodeled dining room gives you a stunning panoramic view of the Tulsa skyline and surrounding area. The dinner is buffet style with beef and/or poultry being served with numerous side dishes. Of course deserts are included.  The price of the meal is economical for the quality of this dinner. 

There are two major shopping malls close by if during the weekend some of your party decides to go shopping. 

I guess the point I am trying to make is that the Tulsa Concours is fun and above all affordable. So, if you have the time, give our show a try and we will make it a pleasant experience for you.

For more information:            (H) 918-369-5967 or (W) 918-596-5882


 

A credit to Jaguar – Sir Stirling Moss

Press release from Jaguar Heritage magazine 

Jaguar Heritage was launched just twelve weeks ago, since then it has become one of the fastest growing magazines in the UK, gaining huge support for it’s unique editorial style and uncompromising quality of pictures and paper stock used in its production. 

We are delighted that the magazine is now available in the United States – Jaguar Cars biggest export marketplace. With no changes to the great production values which has made the magazine such a success in the UK – so US readers will enjoy 84 full colour pages on a high quality paper stock, with unique photos every single month. 

Jaguar Heritage is a unique magazine, packed with a wonderful insight into Jaguar Cars, the people, the races and the dedication which guaranteed its survival. 

Publisher, Simon Beales commentated “using the massive archives of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust ensures that there is always exclusive editorial coupled to numerous unique images. The magazine promise’s to tell the amazing story of one of the world’s most exciting automotive brands”. 

From the original sketches made by Lyons, to seeing the actual car being driven to an inch of it’s life by one of the many talented drivers who have raced for Sir William Lyons, such as Mike Hawthorn or Sir Stirling Moss. 

Every element of each model’s progress will be uncovered, interviews with those who worked on the cars through to pictures and comments from the assembly line. 

There is a special subscription offer on for JCNA Clubs and their members – subscribe by the 30th May 2004 and you will save xxx % on news stand prices and receive four free Turner Prints plus a fantastic binder all for only $93 for twelve issues.  

All our subscriptions have a “no quibble money back guarantee” if you cancel your subscription at any time during the year any unused element will be returned.  To subscribe go online at www.jaguarheritagemag.com where you can either subscribe or print the order form out and fax it to +44 1442 862225 or call +44 1442 866944.


CLASSIFIED ADS

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

For Sale – 1961 MKII Jaguar.  Has all the right stuff.  3.8 engine with less than 5,000 miles since overhaul.  4 speed with overdrive, power brakes, chrome wire wheels.  Car is white with dark blue interior.  Has the original air conditioner and reclining seats, which if you travel much, are great.   Many minor changes to make it more drivable.  Car is past winner in both Driven and Championship JCNA classes.  Contact Don McArthur at (913) 649-7674