Jaguar Track experience - Knockhill
Discussion
Han an excellent day last Tuesday at Knockhill race track thanks to Jaguar!!
After registration, around 40 owners sat and had nice pastries and coffee while chatting about the day and what was to come.
An excellent presentation on the day and some history of Jaguars latest developments was given by Marcus - Jags Experiential Marketing guru; he was very good
.
Then, split in to about 5 groups we started our day of experiencing Jags 2012 line up.
First event was a road drive in the new XJ - there were about 8 of them ranging from the 3.0D to the 5.0 Supersport. Very stable cars and quick too, mine was a 5.0 and the comfort was excellent as were all the luxury extras - massage and heated seat, heated wheel (as were the 4 on the road
).
Second event was a drive on a coned circuit for a Dynamic drive in the XF 3.0d-S. It was very agile and could be thrown about with no issues at all apart from the speed and reactions of yours truly which weren't up to much to be honest
Third event was a passenger ride in the flagship XJ Supersport driven by Jaguars tame racing driver - Stodge - the fatter brother of stig! My oh my he was good. He had that thing flat out on an extremely wet circuit and was passing XKR-S's like they were stopped. I never believed a big heavy car could perform such turns and remain on the track and not against the tyre wall. The grip was something to behold and must in part be due to some ingenious electrickery going on inside the depths of the management sytems onboard.
Fourth event was the one I had been looking forward to the most. I had watched them whizzing round whilst awaitng my turn and the noise is just incredible! Yes - the XKR-S and what a beauty. There were about 6 of them and we had a professional driver alongside telling us exactly what to do, when to put the power on, when to brake, which line to take etc. Mine - Tom - was most excellent in giving guidance all the time, without it I would surely have been off after the first corner
We each had a memory stick plugged in to onboard cameras, the resulting film is very good complete with track visual, speedo image, G force indication and a picture of a fat bloke in a helmet driving (oh that was me )and a view of the track of course. 4 or 5 laps and it was time to go in.
Fifth event was same as XKR-S but this time in the XFR - only 500hp against 550hp - but still an extremely quick car. Much heavier and noticeable body roll in the corners, but grip was good and track time was not that much slower although by this time the confidence levels were up. This was nearly to be my undoing as I failed to listen to an instruction and put the power on to early in a corner with the resultant sideways faux pas which Tom soon corrected by grabbing the wheel...... Back in to the pit lane and off with the helmet.
A very big thanks to the Jaguar team that made such a great day, all very professional and will certainly do it again if I get a chance. I had to miss lunch that was laid on as I had a Ferry to catch in Scrabster some 260 miles North of Knockhill. Hey ho, in to the XKR 400hp only and head her North (Road Angel on and well charged
Pics to follow ........
Jeff.
After registration, around 40 owners sat and had nice pastries and coffee while chatting about the day and what was to come.
An excellent presentation on the day and some history of Jaguars latest developments was given by Marcus - Jags Experiential Marketing guru; he was very good
.Then, split in to about 5 groups we started our day of experiencing Jags 2012 line up.
First event was a road drive in the new XJ - there were about 8 of them ranging from the 3.0D to the 5.0 Supersport. Very stable cars and quick too, mine was a 5.0 and the comfort was excellent as were all the luxury extras - massage and heated seat, heated wheel (as were the 4 on the road
).Second event was a drive on a coned circuit for a Dynamic drive in the XF 3.0d-S. It was very agile and could be thrown about with no issues at all apart from the speed and reactions of yours truly which weren't up to much to be honest
Third event was a passenger ride in the flagship XJ Supersport driven by Jaguars tame racing driver - Stodge - the fatter brother of stig! My oh my he was good. He had that thing flat out on an extremely wet circuit and was passing XKR-S's like they were stopped. I never believed a big heavy car could perform such turns and remain on the track and not against the tyre wall. The grip was something to behold and must in part be due to some ingenious electrickery going on inside the depths of the management sytems onboard.
Fourth event was the one I had been looking forward to the most. I had watched them whizzing round whilst awaitng my turn and the noise is just incredible! Yes - the XKR-S and what a beauty. There were about 6 of them and we had a professional driver alongside telling us exactly what to do, when to put the power on, when to brake, which line to take etc. Mine - Tom - was most excellent in giving guidance all the time, without it I would surely have been off after the first corner
We each had a memory stick plugged in to onboard cameras, the resulting film is very good complete with track visual, speedo image, G force indication and a picture of a fat bloke in a helmet driving (oh that was me )and a view of the track of course. 4 or 5 laps and it was time to go in.Fifth event was same as XKR-S but this time in the XFR - only 500hp against 550hp - but still an extremely quick car. Much heavier and noticeable body roll in the corners, but grip was good and track time was not that much slower although by this time the confidence levels were up. This was nearly to be my undoing as I failed to listen to an instruction and put the power on to early in a corner with the resultant sideways faux pas which Tom soon corrected by grabbing the wheel...... Back in to the pit lane and off with the helmet.
A very big thanks to the Jaguar team that made such a great day, all very professional and will certainly do it again if I get a chance. I had to miss lunch that was laid on as I had a Ferry to catch in Scrabster some 260 miles North of Knockhill. Hey ho, in to the XKR 400hp only and head her North (Road Angel on and well charged
Pics to follow ........
Jeff.
Edited by CarbonXKR on Sunday 2nd October 20:18
Great professional day at Oulton.
Highlight was the XKR-s but the XJ super sport was handy as well.
Conditions were slippy but the cars really hung on in the instructors hands, some very talented drivers but they were on best corporate behaviour sadly.
Got me thinking those cars will be sold soon, could be a bargain XKRS for sale.
I can totally recommend this a superb 4 hours.
Highlight was the XKR-s but the XJ super sport was handy as well.
Conditions were slippy but the cars really hung on in the instructors hands, some very talented drivers but they were on best corporate behaviour sadly.
Got me thinking those cars will be sold soon, could be a bargain XKRS for sale.
I can totally recommend this a superb 4 hours.
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