Saturday 5th October 2013

Chris Harris video: Le Mans in the Lister

No 'proper' Harris vid this week but here's a lap of Le Mans in that fabulous Lister to keep you going

---

The Goodwood TT wasn't the first time I'd raced the gorgeous Lister Jaguar Coupe - a few months back we competed in the Le Mans Legends race. It turned out to be the most challenging motoring exploit I'd ever undertaken through a mixture of minimal track time. The first lap of the race was by seventh I'd ever completed there, and it was also the first time I'd seen the circuit wet. Or, for that matter, driven the car in the wet.

I didn't post a video this week, but thought it might be good fun to show you a race lap where there's some dicing and general wheel-twirling.Top speed was somewhere between 175-180mph.

The full Le Mans circuit is unlike anything else. I feel utterly privileged to have just seen it in its entirety, let alone have the chance to wring something that sounds this good around it for an hour.

Full video to follow.

Still photo: Jeff Bloxham/LAT Photo

[nickz32]

Every time I see a vid like this of Harris I become more an more envious (and in awe) of his driving talents!

Top job monkey!

[Krikkit]

nickz32 said:

Every time I see a vid like this of Harris I become more an more envious (and in awe) of his driving talents!

Top job monkey!

Not just the driving talents, but the amazing machinery that these invitationals puts him in! Top job.

[gaz1234]

dont think its him

[vjj]

Monkey is a good driver - Sutcliffe even better.

Sutters used to drive in the balls-out hairy-chested TVR Tuscan Challenge - he was the mad bd in the Crosse and Blackwell car.

Youtube below with Tiff - crazy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMIOyD-vRdQ

Edited by vjj on Saturday 5th October 11:15

[elephantstone]

That noise!!!

[LordPetroleum]

You see it's true, if you leave a monkey in a room with a set of car keys for long enough, eventually it will be able to put a Lister Jaguar through a corner with a perfectly weighted drift.

Nice work Monkeyboy, beautiful hunk of metal you are rinsing there. Nice bit of exposure for you on ITV4 this week too with Anthony Reid.

[Gilhooligan]

That sounds fking mega. Nice driving too. This makes me want to turn the mx5 into a dedicated track car and go racing!

[anonymous-user]

I love that noise.

[Mannginger]

[minimoog]

gaz1234 said:

dont think its him

Must have lent his 'Monkey' helmet to someone else then.

[soad]

elephantstone said:

That noise!!!

Sure is intoxicating.

[soad]

gaz1234 said:

dont think its him

[rassi]

Superb noise!

Is that a 5 speed dog leg gearbox or a 4 speed?

[dinkel]

rassi said:

Superb noise!

Is that a 5 speed dog leg gearbox or a 4 speed?

Looks like a dogleg 5 to me.

The Astons may be the period cars to beat but to me: hard to beat a Jag 6 on Webers.

Top stuff.

Lovely to see Harris boosting interest in classic car racing!

[GingerWizard]

I particularly like the no nonsense seriously dedicated gear shifts. Su-bloody-perb!

What a noise!

Top job, good monkey, have a nana'!

[NJH]

Watched this 4 times already and I am sure several more through the week. Put the F1 on mute would rather to listen to the old Jag.

[toppstuff]

I bloody love historic sports and race cars.

Epic machines.

Good work sir. You are a fortunate fellow. You can peddle pretty well, too.

[gazmk2]

The sound of that car is now my phones ringtone!! just epic!!

[Chris Stott]

Great video, great driving and an absolutely glorious sounding car.

Modern motorsport pales in comparison.

rassi said:

Is that a 5 speed dog leg gearbox or a 4 speed?

4 speed.

Full car specs here... http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/spec/3112/Lister-Co...

Edited by Chris Stott on Saturday 5th October 16:04

[dinkel]

toppstuff said:

I bloody love historic sports and race cars.

Epic machines.

Good work sir. You are a fortunate fellow. You can peddle pretty well, too.

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=1333223&mid=19756&nmt=Spa+Six+Hours+2013+Photo+Topic

Anyone with a slight interest in classic car racing should visit the Spa 6 Hours meeting every last weekend of September: it's bloody fantastic.

Sounds and Sights are beyond belief. Bumping into a 8.8 litre Macca CanAm or 250 SWB and chat with the driver and teams, it's all there for you.