Jaguar Series 3 E-Type

[quote]Bentley it is a pity the car never competed. Norman was lucky to survive.[/quote] I bought my E Type V12 2+2 at age 20 (back in 1980) and through Jaguar club events was fortunate enough to meet both Lofty England and Norman Dewis during individual club invites to Australia ... my recollection of conversation was that while it was thought by some that a tyre failure prompted the XJ13's lateral slide at MIRA, blame was subsequently directed toward the bespoke magnesium alloy rims. The XJ13 had been mothballed for 4 or 5 years when it was pulled out from under the covers for promotional duties, a prelude to the release of Jaguar's production V12 engine under the bonnet of the E Type Series 3 ... I guess that in itself might suggest caution be applied, but I can understand the advertising / publicity people wanting a good show ... As things turned out, Norman was on his final high speed run when the car veered sideways from the rear ... he had the presence of mind to scramble his thankfully short frame into the car's interior footwells as it journeyed onto the muddy infield and performed a series of various rolls. Attached is footage at MIRA of the XJ13 and an E Type 2+2 when the promotional film was being carried out, together with a snippet of other original E Type Series 3 promotional E Type film ... the voiceover is not the original ...