Tom Walkinshaw
Discussion
A while ago someone on here posted two stories.
One was about an inflatable bladder in the fuel tanks of the SD1/XJS that the driver inflated via a tube in the cockpit on the slowing down lap. This allowed them extra fuel capacity yet they passed the scrutineering test.
The other was about TWR flying a couple of fabricators to Paris one night to modify the rear arches on an XJS. The FIA visited the Paris Jaguar showroom the next day to measure the "standard" car for homologation reasons.
One was about an inflatable bladder in the fuel tanks of the SD1/XJS that the driver inflated via a tube in the cockpit on the slowing down lap. This allowed them extra fuel capacity yet they passed the scrutineering test.
The other was about TWR flying a couple of fabricators to Paris one night to modify the rear arches on an XJS. The FIA visited the Paris Jaguar showroom the next day to measure the "standard" car for homologation reasons.
rubystone said:
Dr Derek Doctors said:
While I worked at JLR any mention of him and the XJ220 project was met with stern words and angry looks
would JLR be Jonathan Lewis Racing?...if so, I bet you have some stories of your own you could tell us.... :-)rubystone said:
Dr Derek Doctors said:
While I worked at JLR any mention of him and the XJ220 project was met with stern words and angry looks
would JLR be Jonathan Lewis Racing?...if so, I bet you have some stories of your own you could tell us.... :-)
I heard one story, unfortunately I can't remember the driver, possibly Hill?
TW phoned a driver whilst on holiday in Iberia offereing him a post as driver for Arrows. It was pointed out that there was a fair old distance between the TWR factory and the specific part of the penninsular. No problem, say TE, I'll send my private jet.
Driver is picked up, flown to England, picked up by chauffeur driven car, then dropped off at the factory. After a very pleasant meal, he is shown around the business and is awe-struck. And then signs on the dotted.
He then asks TW for a flight home. TW sayd that now he is an employee he can find his own way back to Spain.
TW phoned a driver whilst on holiday in Iberia offereing him a post as driver for Arrows. It was pointed out that there was a fair old distance between the TWR factory and the specific part of the penninsular. No problem, say TE, I'll send my private jet.
Driver is picked up, flown to England, picked up by chauffeur driven car, then dropped off at the factory. After a very pleasant meal, he is shown around the business and is awe-struck. And then signs on the dotted.
He then asks TW for a flight home. TW sayd that now he is an employee he can find his own way back to Spain.
I was marshalling at a 2 day meeting at Donington way back in the mid 80s. Saturday had gone fine and I turned up on post on the Sunday morning bright and early. The main topic of conversation was the big increase in security that we'd had to go through to get in compared to the previous day. The story went -
TWR had presented their cars at scrutineering. They knew that the inner wheel arches would be checked but had twigged that the scruineers would measure the inner arches from the suspension pick up points. They had modified the suspension pick up points to match the modification of the wheel arches. They got caught out because the scrutineers did a more extensive measuring job than normal. The explanation was then that the cars had been built with third world spec body shells that have larger wheel clearance than the UK spec cars. Apparently there had been a certain amount of uproar in the paddock about this. That evening some wag took a spray can and wrote 'TWR = Third World Racing' on one of their vehicles. Hence the extra security that morning.
Seems like wheel arches could be a theme. Needless to say, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story - it was at least 3rd hand by the time it reached me. What it did teach me was that motor racing is not simply a load of nice chaps turning up to run nice cars that they just happen to possess!
Scott
TWR had presented their cars at scrutineering. They knew that the inner wheel arches would be checked but had twigged that the scruineers would measure the inner arches from the suspension pick up points. They had modified the suspension pick up points to match the modification of the wheel arches. They got caught out because the scrutineers did a more extensive measuring job than normal. The explanation was then that the cars had been built with third world spec body shells that have larger wheel clearance than the UK spec cars. Apparently there had been a certain amount of uproar in the paddock about this. That evening some wag took a spray can and wrote 'TWR = Third World Racing' on one of their vehicles. Hence the extra security that morning.
Seems like wheel arches could be a theme. Needless to say, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story - it was at least 3rd hand by the time it reached me. What it did teach me was that motor racing is not simply a load of nice chaps turning up to run nice cars that they just happen to possess!
Scott
snailpace85 said:
I was marshalling at a 2 day meeting at Donington way back in the mid 80s. Saturday had gone fine and I turned up on post on the Sunday morning bright and early. The main topic of conversation was the big increase in security that we'd had to go through to get in compared to the previous day. The story went -
TWR had presented their cars at scrutineering. They knew that the inner wheel arches would be checked but had twigged that the scruineers would measure the inner arches from the suspension pick up points. They had modified the suspension pick up points to match the modification of the wheel arches. They got caught out because the scrutineers did a more extensive measuring job than normal. The explanation was then that the cars had been built with third world spec body shells that have larger wheel clearance than the UK spec cars. Apparently there had been a certain amount of uproar in the paddock about this. That evening some wag took a spray can and wrote 'TWR = Third World Racing' on one of their vehicles. Hence the extra security that morning.
Seems like wheel arches could be a theme. Needless to say, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story - it was at least 3rd hand by the time it reached me. What it did teach me was that motor racing is not simply a load of nice chaps turning up to run nice cars that they just happen to possess!
Scott
there was also some doubt as to the production line nature of the Vitesses too...TWR had presented their cars at scrutineering. They knew that the inner wheel arches would be checked but had twigged that the scruineers would measure the inner arches from the suspension pick up points. They had modified the suspension pick up points to match the modification of the wheel arches. They got caught out because the scrutineers did a more extensive measuring job than normal. The explanation was then that the cars had been built with third world spec body shells that have larger wheel clearance than the UK spec cars. Apparently there had been a certain amount of uproar in the paddock about this. That evening some wag took a spray can and wrote 'TWR = Third World Racing' on one of their vehicles. Hence the extra security that morning.
Seems like wheel arches could be a theme. Needless to say, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story - it was at least 3rd hand by the time it reached me. What it did teach me was that motor racing is not simply a load of nice chaps turning up to run nice cars that they just happen to possess!
Scott
rev-erend said:
I was told of someone who bought of of the ex works twr sd1's and noticed the cracked windscreen .. and ordered a new screen .. which when attempted to be fitted passed straight thru the apature with inches to spare on both sides..
there is a similar story that tim harvey wrote in EVO last year. When Matt Neill won a drive in a works nissan they intended to transfers some of his body panels so that he still had his colour sceme and sponsors. When offering up a door to the new shell it was 1.5 inches taller than the door frame. snailpace85 said:
Seems like wheel arches could be a theme. Needless to say, I can't vouch for the accuracy of the story - it was at least 3rd hand by the time it reached me. What it did teach me was that motor racing is not simply a load of nice chaps turning up to run nice cars that they just happen to possess!
And it is amazing how far down the ladder there are some dodgy goings on!Charlie Foxtrot said:
rev-erend said:
I was told of someone who bought of of the ex works twr sd1's and noticed the cracked windscreen .. and ordered a new screen .. which when attempted to be fitted passed straight thru the apature with inches to spare on both sides..
there is a similar story that tim harvey wrote in EVO last year. When Matt Neill won a drive in a works nissan they intended to transfers some of his body panels so that he still had his colour sceme and sponsors. When offering up a door to the new shell it was 1.5 inches taller than the door frame. The “increased” inner wheel arch was not uncommon in Gp A cars of the period, I remember seeing a German make of car bodyshell being prepped, amazing how much “new” metal there was here and there!
On the Subject of TWR, I was told that the Works Vittesse’s, had there RV8 engines replaced through the bulkhead for correct size displacement versions, this was because the scrutineers had sealed the bonnet!
Ingenious, all of it, what ever way you look at it.
On the Subject of TWR, I was told that the Works Vittesse’s, had there RV8 engines replaced through the bulkhead for correct size displacement versions, this was because the scrutineers had sealed the bonnet!
Ingenious, all of it, what ever way you look at it.
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