DRIVERS travelling along the Bucketts Way on the morning of 22 May may have passed a unique convoy of Jaguar cars.
Every second year the Jaguar Drivers’ Club of Australia (JDCA) holds its Mountain Rally, and this time the route included stops in Dungog and Gloucester.
The rally began in Heatherbrae, stopping several times in the Upper Hunter before heading to Tamworth.
Held every second year, this year the rally involved 46 cars and 92 club members, who were treated to a delicious lunch in the Gloucester Rec Centre prepared by the local CWA branch.
The cars taking part were of varying ages, with the oldest being a 1953 XK120 Jaguar owned by Peter Grant.
The XK120 is famous for being the fastest production car of its era.
“I’ve had this car for close to fifteen years and it’s got the famous XK motor that Sterling Moss used to win Le Mons in,” said Peter.
“I mainly drive it at Jaguar rallies and the occasional weekend or Sunday drive.
“The car has been modernised with power steering and disc brakes.”
Clerk of the Course this year was Roger Liddle, who lives near Gloucester and is a past club vice-president.
“This year’s rally goes up Thunderbolts Way, and then onto Topdale Road towards Tamworth where we stay for two nights,” said Roger before the event.
“We’ll do a day trip on the Saturday before returning through Gloucester on the Sunday.
“The idea of the event is to have some fun-to get out and enjoy driving your car on some nice roads.
“One interesting local fact is that one of the entrants who did this rally course in 2019 liked the Gloucester area so much that they moved here.”
The JDCA, which has been operating for over 60 years, presently has nearly 700 passionate members, many with several Jaguars.
The inaugural Mountain Rally was staged in 1991.
“What had been envisaged initially as a week-long drive in the countryside on secondary roads to give owners an excuse to get their special vehicles out of the garage, quickly became a full-on serious navigational rally,” the club shared.
By John WATTS
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