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


See pictures of the 2004 Concours d' Elegance in Kansas City

See pictures of the "Slalom Ladies"


 

  

TOUR & “PIG OUT”

JUNE 26 & 27  

Get ready for a great weekend adventure in Arkansas.  Alan Jefferson and some of our Arkansas members have planned a weekend that includes scenic drives, great food, interesting sights and lots of good friends.   

This will be a weekend adventure starting on Saturday morning.  We will meet at the old Builders Square parking lot at 71st and Mingo (There is a Mardel’s in the building now) at 8:30 a.m. for the drive to Tonitown to Hanna’s Candle Outlet.  This will be a short rest stop for candles and other necessities and we will meet up with the Arkansas/Missouri contingent and continue on to Altus at 10:30 a.m.  This drive will take us through some of the most beautiful country the Ozarks has to offer and we will stop at the Wiederkehrs Winery for lunch.  There should be time for a tour of the winery and a leisurely lunch. 

After this break we will continue on the back roads to Lowell, Arkansas.  These roads are all paved, curvaceous and scenic and are not troubled with heavy traffic.  Our destination is the Jefferson’s home in Lowell, AR where we will have sumptuous evening meal of pit roasted pork.   

For those who choose to stay the night (who wants to get back in the car now?) Alan has made arrangements for rooms at the Baymont Inn in Springdale.  The room rate will be $60.99 for 2 beds or $64.99 for a king. The phone number is (479)751-2626 and be sure to mention the British Car Club.   The Baymont is located one block past the highway 540 overpass on the right, behind Dennys. 

There may be some members who want to attend this event but can’t make the entire drive.  Not a problem.  You can meet with the group for the evening dinner at the Jeffersons home.  Here are the directions to Lowell once you get to Fayetteville: 

Exit 412 at 540 north and go to exit 76 on Wagon Wheel Road right and go 2 ½ miles to the stop sign.  Turn left to the traffic light.  Turn right at the light (Hwy 264) and go about 7 miles to a “T” in the highway, continue left ½ mile to Lakeview Drive, turn right to the last house on the right.  You should see a crowd of British cars parked here.  If you get lost the phone # is (479) 756-6717. 

            Those who have attended some “Pig Out’s” in the past know what a great event this is.  For those who have not been to one, don’t miss this it!  You will have a fun day driving your Jaguar over some of the most beautiful roads in the Arkansas/Oklahoma area; you will be rewarded with great food at the end of the road and you will spend time with a group of like minded Jaguar and British car owners.  The lawn at the Jefferson home will be parked so full of beautiful English cars that you think you happened upon a Concours!   

              Pack up your lawn chairs and a big appetite, and meet up with your fellow club members for the Saturday drive.  We expect a large turnout for this great weekend event so make those hotel reservations now and be set to enjoy a great weekend getaway.  


              

FIRST SATURDAY BREAKFAST - JUNE 5TH

             Just a reminder, the informal monthly breakfast get together will be on June 5th.  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!


  

A PEEK AROUND THE CORNER....

At next months events

            Mark your calendars now for the July events and you won’t find yourself saying “Darn! I forgot! and I missed out on a great time” 


 

“Water Babies” Picnic

July 17th

            Can cats water ski?  We will find out when we take a flotilla to the Lake Ft. Gibson cottage of Jeff and Mendi Dunn for a day of fun in the sun and water.


 

Greater Ozarks British Motoring Club

Car/Cycle Show, Carthage, Mo

July 24th 

            Gather round the town square for and even bigger GOBMC all British car and cycle show.  Pack a picnic lunch and take the whole family to this fun and friendly event.  You can download the registration at the web site www.gobmc.org.  All of the pertinent information about the show is there.  There has been such a good turn out of Jaguar’s that this year they have added more Jaguar classes to accommodate the different models.  Mark this date on your calendar and don’t miss this great all British show.


      

Ahhhh, IT ONLY TAKES MONEY!!

The second installment of restoring a Series 1 XJ6 – By Stan Lacky 

While I expected to spend a fair amount of money on engine and transmission parts, I had no idea how much I would be spending on ancillary things like hoses, clamps, and enough new tools to start a rental yard! Actually I think that I have, in essence, bought a new car, ala cart.  

This “rebuild stuff” started when I tried to change out the thermostat on my car and ended up breaking the manifold!! Had I been successful with that thermostat attempt, I might have been satisfied to just continue to feed my car MASIVE quantities of oil and limit my “Sedan Stan” experiences to Wal-Mart runs.  

My first serious purchases were a 3 carb set up (for a quicker track time) and GM 4 speed automatic transmission for better gas mileage.    

My next big purchase was a “donor” motor.  As it turned out the donor motor had 8-1 compression pistons (lower HP) while the original motor in my car had 9-1 pistons. The 9-1 pistons were a better starting point in my quest for faster track times, as well as better mileage and over all efficiency.  On e-bay I found and bought a set of 9-1 pistons to install in my new motor.  

With the motor rebuilt, and having gathered all the other parts needed for the “restoration” it was now time for me to get to work.  The thermostat experience had demonstrated to me that if I was ever going to get this project off the ground (not to mention FINISHED) I needed the help of a “team of pro’s”. I enlisted the aid of an ASA certified master mechanic, Tony Gregoris, a professional body and paint guy named David. David is from the east LA area and has had the distinction of having cars that he painted featured in “Low Rider” magazine three times.  After working with David for a few days, and although he IS good, we now refer to him by his new name, “Two-Beers-One-Door.”  

The engine removal, says Tony, was “routine”, however, the first engine hoist I rented would not lift the engine, nor would the second.  We were reduced to removing the front tires and “pushing down” (a serious understatement) on the front of the engine to get the engine transmission combo out.  I couldn’t believe the number of wires, hoses and “stuff” that were left when we were finished.  While I was preping the engine bay, Tony was busy rebuilding my GM transmission, and front suspension. Talk about a pro, he did all this using hand tools and after two days of wallowing on that gravel road underneath the car Tony looked, in the biblical sense, liked he had been stoned!  

With the old motor out I spent the next 5 days scrubbing 33 years of grease out of the engine compartment frequently using a tooth brush preparing it for paint.  With the engine compartment properly scrubbed and painted it was time for the installation of the new motor, transmission combination.  For the installation, I borrowed a 1 ½ ton hoist from a friend.  With the new hoist, (and three guys) we were able to install the new motor in the car in a mere 4 hours!  That 4.2 engine and GM transmission were such a tight fit that we had to use a 6 foot pry bar to manipulate the motor in to position while Tony was under the car “manually” directing the efforts. 

As spring came into full bloom I built a 16 X 24 foot building around the project.  Using 2x4’s, PVC pipe, and clear 4 mil plastic I attempted to “secure” the work area from the spring weather.  Not only did I get the car out of the weather, but I also managed to create a new “eco system”. Upon finishing my building project it seems that every horse fly from miles around came to live in the clear plastic roof of that building!  Like that wasn’t enough, in about two days the lizards discovered this new “reptile cafeteria” and so it was horse flies by day and lizards by morning, and evening!  I knew it wouldn’t belong before the local snakes would also discover that there was a new “deli” in town (shudder).  

After I built my “light weight” building the wind started to blow.  For 5 days the wind blew, gusting up to 40 + MPH.  Not being anchored to the ground (except by gravity) I soon discovered that what I had really built was a 16 X 24 foot box kite!  One afternoon a gust of wind came through the trees and lifted the building about 3 feet off the ground.  As I tried to hold the building down I was wondering where I had put my ropes (the original anchoring plan) and just how soon could I get some serious stakes in the ground to secure my new building / box kite.  I guess that didn’t really much matter because a week later a wind storm / tornado came through and blew the roof of my building down.  The second roof was black plastic.  Ahhhh, no more horse fly’s.  A new dent in my car, but no more horse fly’s.  

After the engine / trans were installed it was discovered that the gas tanks were rusty, and that I didn’t have the right throttle linkage to make the 3 carb set up work.  Needless to say I was off again to the parts house, the fabricators shop and Jaguar Services to TRY and get this process to an end.  

With newly coated gas tanks, and the throttle linkage fixed we were just about ready for that “FIRST START UP!”  To be continued next month.


 

  TULSA CONCOURS COMING SOON!

By Greg Timo

 The Jaguar Club of Tulsa is hosting its thirty-second Concours d'Elegance on September 10–13, 2004.  

 Last year over 40 Jaguar cars were judged thanks to the hard work from the show participants and club members of JCTI. We are anticipating fielding even more Jaguars at our upcoming September show. 

Arrangements have been made with the DoubleTree Hotel, Warren Place, as the host hotel and show site.  Friday afternoon (9/10) through early evening will be show registration in the hospitality suite.  Saturday is the Concours and an evening awards banquet.  Sunday, a JCNA sanctioned slalom will be hosted by the Jaguar Club of Tulsa to end our Concours weekend. 

Jaguar of Tulsa and Rupy Robateau are donating the picture plaques featuring each entrants car to the first fifty Jaguar cars registered for the show.  The Club would like to thank Jaguar of Tulsa and Rupy for the support that they give the Jaguar Club of Tulsa year around.  Dealer support is given to the club in many forms: door prizes, car detailing, weekend use of a Jaguar, Concours support and printing of our monthly newsletter. 

 I will keep you informed, as more information becomes available about the Concours. Should you have a question please contact Greg Timo (B) 918-596-5882, (H) 918-369-5967, (e-mail) Omit51@aol.com.  See you in September.


 

  

CHUTE OUT IN CHANUTE

                        By – Linda Young 

            This year our club did not take part as a group in the annual “Chute-Out” in Chanute, KS.  However, two of our members did participate.  Walt and Beth Reid took their 1991 XJS for a fast shot down the runway and Walt was timed at 110 MPH and Beth was close behind with 106!  The fastest time of the day was a 1985 XJS from Wichita, KS who was clocked at 121 MPH.  

            Congratulations to Walt and Beth on their quick times at this event.  Now that we now that they have acquired an XJS we hope they will bring it to our show in September. 


 

                

 TOP TEN EXCUSES MECHANICS HEAR FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS:

     10.    I always check the fluid levels before I start it. 

9.       Heck, I thought it was supposed to leak like that. 

8.  It’s never made that noise before. 

7. Off road? I never take it off road. 

6. Well, I’m sure it wasn’t bent like that when I brought it in here. 

5. I think my _______ (husband/wife/daughter/son) must have driven it. 

4.  I read that owner’s manual from cover to cover. 

3. It must have happened when my__________  (husband/wife/daughter/son/brother-in-law) borrowed it. 

2. It ran like a top the last time I drove it.

1.       Oil?


  

NOTICE 

            Do you know someone who might be interested in becoming a member of The Jaguar Club of Tulsa?  If so please send their address to the newsletter editor at 205 E. Knoxville St.  Broken Arrow, OK  74012. or mmra@gte.net. The editor will send the person a complementary copy of our latest newsletter.


 

    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 – 1974 XJ12L – Two time national JCNA class champion (1980, 1985), 56,000 miles.  Brown with biscuit interior.  It has been only a show car since 1977.  An unrestored classic, it is still a 99 point car and is currently being shown in the “Preservation” class.  I have purchased another Jaguar and have run out of garage space so I am willing to make a good deal to someone who will keep this car in Concours condition.    Call Terry Shinkle (913) 384-6221   

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  

“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