Archive

Eighty-five years after three-time Le Mans winner Captain Woolf Barnato famously raced the ‘Blue Train’ from Cannes to Calais, modern day Bentley Boy, Steven Kane, has reinvigorated the legendary spirit in a tense four-hour 14 minute sprint against Saudi Arabia’s only desert passenger train. The dune train takes a 480 km route from Riyadh – deep in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula – to Dammam on the Arabian Gulf. The new Continental GT V8 S Convertible raced this unique locomotive on August 15th across the scorched, baren landscape and won, with six minutes to spare. Bentley Team M-Sport driver, Steven Kane, said: “Four hours is the same time as a stint at Le Mans.  But this was far more stressful. The heat, the conditions, not knowing where the train was, while driving within the limits of the country’s regulations.   […]

October 25th is the day. The British Car club of Charleston will host our 31st British Car Day at the beautiful Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park on Sunday, October 25th, starting at 9:00am. There will the amazing silent auction tent, food on the grille, plenty of fun stuff and lots of great cars. The family can enjoy the pier at the park and views of the Charleston harbor. For those of you who don’t know, this is my home club, and the club I founded over thirty years ago with a great group of friends.  So, yes, this event is special. I will be there, of course, with “Catherine” my 1966 Vanden Plas Princess 1100. Well, and maybe my 1978 Triumph Spitfire. Also, since the rains in South Carolina delayed the Grand Strand British Car Show up in Myrtle Beach to […]

Jaguar UK today announces an exciting partnership which will see the presentation of the technologically-advanced XF executive saloon car at WIRED2015.  WIRED is recognised as the multimedia authority on the future, in print and digital. Senior Jaguar executives Kevin Stride (XF Vehicle Line Director), Adam Hatton (Creative Director, Jaguar Exterior Design), Alister Whelan (Creative Director, Jaguar Interior Design) and Peter Virk (Head of Connected Technologies and Apps) will support the presentation of the all-new XF at WIRED.  These experts from the Design and Engineering teams at Jaguar Land Rover will also feature in exclusive workshop sessions at the WIRED conference. Chaired by WIRED UK Deputy Editor, Greg Williams, and supported by additional speakers from WIRED2015, two 30 minute thought-leadership sessions will cover topics designed to stimulate discussion and debate by experts in their field.  The first session is scheduled for […]

Goodwood is delighted to announce provisional dates for the 2016 Festival of Speed and Revival, ahead of tickets going on general sale on 5 November. The Festival of Speed, which celebrates the very best from the past and present of motoring and motor sport, will be held on 23-26 June, 2016*. As usual, the event will open with the Moving Motor Show on Thursday, 23 June, featuring many of the world’s largest motor manufacturers showcasing their latest models, alongside exciting and innovative concepts. From Friday-Sunday, 24-26 June, the famous Goodwood hill will be taken over by a glittering collection of the greatest cars, bikes, drivers and riders from the history of motor sport. The Revival is the world’s largest and most celebrated historic motor racing and vintage culture event, bringing back to life Goodwood Motor Circuit’s glory days as an […]

Jaguar Land Rover, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of premium luxury vehicles, has launched a new project in Africa as part of its ambitious Global CSR Programme. Jaguar Land Rover’s ambition is to achieve long-term responsible business growth by placing sustainability at the heart of its business strategy by reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles and operations and making a positive impact on society, all through ‘Environmental Innovation’. The company recently received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development for reducing the environmental impact of its vehicles and operations. Jaguar Land Rover’s Global CSR Programme was launched in 2013 as part of its ‘Environmental Innovation’ strategy. The programme invests in education, technology, health, wellbeing and environmental projects which will positively impact 12 million people’s lives by 2020. The programme builds on the success of its UK education […]

The North American Council of M.G. Registers is pleased to announce that MG2016 will be held from June 13th-17th, in Louisville, Kentucky! Join the North American MMM Register, the New England MGT Register, the North American MGA Register, and the North American MGB Register for four fun-filled days of MG camaraderie. Louisville is home of the “Louisville Slugger” (the official baseball bat of major league baseball), Churchill Downs (where the “most exciting two minutes of sports” is held each May), and is the source of 1/3 of the world’s supply of bourbon. Louisville will have something to offer to everyone in attendance. Louisville is centrally located for the majority of the host registers’ members. The mid-week event will allow for travel to and from Louisville on weekends! Contracts have been secured with a group of seven hotel properties (essentially across […]

Jaguar Land Rover has launched its recruitment drive for over 200 apprentices to join the company in September 2016.  The Government’s Skills Minister, Nick Boles, praised the UK’s largest automotive apprenticeship provider saying: “Jaguar Land Rover is playing a leading role in backing the next generation of highly skilled workers. Their new apprentice intake will learn highly sought after skills whilst benefiting from earning a wage and some will even gain a degree. “Jaguar Land Rover recognises the value apprenticeships bring to their business and productivity, this is why we are committed to delivering 3 million quality apprenticeships by 2020.” Jaguar Land Rover is the largest apprenticeship provider in the UK automotive sector, currently accounting for approximately half of the total apprentices employed in that industry.  Applicants can choose from either the four year Advanced Apprenticeship aimed at GCSE students, […]

I’m sorry if this comes off as somewhat of a rant, but that’s because it is…. The act of diagnosing a running problem is not always simple; in fact, like a symphony it is most often NOT simple, and that very statement, “I’m sure it’s something simple,” made so many times by owners only serves to anger any mechanic. This statement belittles us and, if you must know, makes us more than a little upset! Imagine having someone tell you your job is simple! It’s like saying, “I could do this myself but I am taking pity on a wretch like you and will throw you a few sheckles from my lofty position, where I cannot be bothered with this trivial thing that is down at your level”… I am careful never to say this to anyone, not the computer […]

Jaguar Land Rover has been honoured with three trophies at the prestigious Autonis design awards, voted for by readers of Germany’s leading motoring magazine, Auto Motor und Sport. In the 15th annual reader survey, 115 cars competed across ten categories with more than 17,500 votes cast.  The Jaguar XF led the upper middle class category with 42 per cent share of votes, beating local competition from the Audi A6 (35 per cent) and BMW 7-series (30.5 per cent). The all-new Jaguar XE scooped 36 percent of votes in the middle class group, relegating the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3-series to second and third place with 29 and 28 per cent of the votes respectively. Jaguar also took home the silver medal in the design brand of the year class. Land Rover celebrated success in the SUV class with the Range […]

Aston Martin is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Schwab as President for Aston Martin The Americas, reporting to Global Sales Director Christian Marti, effective 26 October. Laura joins Aston Martin from Jaguar Land Rover where she worked most recently as Marketing Director, leading marketing communications, experiential events, sponsorships, product marketing, customer engagement and corporate social responsibility. Based at the company’s regional headquarters in Irvine, California, Laura’s role as Regional President embraces sales and service, public relations, brand marketing and communications to both Aston Martin’s customers and 46 dealers in the region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America. Having graduated from University of Kentucky College of Law, Laura started her career with a technology start-up company in Southern California, before joining the automotive industry and since amassing fifteen years’ experience across a variety of operational, sales […]

DNA-inspired sculptures created by world renowned artists and designers, including Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum, raised £250,000 at auction as part of Cancer Research UK’s campaign to raise money for the Francis Crick Institute. Ian Callum’s Jaguar inspired sculpture raised an impressive £11,000 at leading auction house Christie’s last night. On describing his inspiration behind the design he said: “When it came to decorating the double-helix sculpture, it was about beauty, simplicity and something gorgeous to look at and that is our DNA here at Jaguar. My inspiration came from the cars and I wanted to emulate the sense of flow created as they travel through the air. We are all very proud to have been involved in this piece, not only because it derived out of that desire to create something exciting, but more importantly because the money […]

Our video this week is courtesy of Aston Martin. Normally we don’t use purely promotional videos as our VotWs, but this one is simply too cool to pass up. As the last remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan prepares for its final flight later this month, the iconic 1950s British V bomber has been united with its modern namesake: the Aston Martin Vulcan. Vulcan XH558 – currently being operated by the charitable trust Vulcan To The Sky – is due to retire from ‘active service’ in October, going on to form the centrepiece of the educational Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre at her home base,  Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster. Ahead of that final flight, the famous Cold War-era long range bomber was paired with the Aston Martin Vulcan – the new track-only supercar – via a special fly-past at Elvington […]

With a diverse and impressive range of cars already consigned, the early entries for Barons’ Autumn Classic (October 27th, Sandown Park) indicate that the auction house’s strong run of sales in 2015 is set to continue. The sale is headed by a very fine 1962 Bentley Continental S2, which was built for the celebrated musician, nightclub owner and bandleader Edmundo Ros, a huge star worldwide from the 1940s to his retirement in the 1970s. Once a familiar sight around the streets of Knightsbridge, London, this handsome Tudor grey Bentley has been the subject of considerable restoration, and comes complete with a comprehensive history file, including original Bentley build sheets and correspondence with Edmundo Ros. Estimate: £85,000-£105,000. The Bentley is followed by a magnificent, concours-winning 1965 Series One E-type Jaguar convertible, which spent most of its life in New York, returning […]

South Alabama British Car Club will hold its Silver Jubilee British Car Festival October 24, at Fairhope United Methodist Church, Fairhope, Alabama. All British cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome.  Awards will be presented in 32 classes. Online registration is available on Eventbrite, or participants may register onsite beginning at 9:00 a.m.  A pre-show dinner, complimentary for all registrants and guests, will be held at the church on October 23.  For more information, visit www.sabcc.org.

Due to anticipated bad weather the South Texas All British Car Day has been postponed one week. The new date is October 31 (Halloween). The 28th Annual South Texas All British Car Day will be held on October 31th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM on the Main Plaza (corner of Main and Blanco Streets) in Boerne, Texas. Thee will be twenty-nine classes with judging by participants choice.  Fee is $25 (or $20 if postmarked by October 15). Registration form/t-shirt order form is available at http://www.sotxtriumphassn.org/  or from [email protected]. The event is sponsored by four San Antonio area British car clubs, South Texas Triumph Association, Alamo MG Association, South Texas Austin Healey Club, and the San Antonio Jaguar Club.

The ground-breaking Caterham Academy championship celebrated its 20th anniversary Thursday, October 1. The very first Academy event took place, under the banner of the Top Gear Caterham Scholarship, at Mallory Park in 1995 and Caterham has located rare footage of the event to celebrate the landmark birthday. Since its inception, the Academy has gone on to become one of the most popular novice race series in the UK, with more than 900 amateur male and female drivers competing across the 21 seasons racing the iconic Caterham Seven. The series is still going strong, with only a handful of the 56 grid slots for 2016 remaining. Academy graduates and aspiring racers alike can get a taste of the action from the inaugural event by viewing the following video.

This behind-the-scenes video focuses on the Aston Martin DB10 in Spectre. Director Sam Mendes and actor Daniel Craig share their thoughts on the collaboration with Aston Martin. Stunt Coordinator Gary Powell discusses his experience with the DB10 in Rome. Spectre will be released in the UK on October 26, 2015 and in the US on November 6, 2015. The DB10 was developed specifically for Spectre, just ten examples were built, all of which survived the grueling stunt sequences. The exclusive sports car celebrates Aston Martin’s half century association with James Bond, which started with the iconic DB5 in 1964. Note: Press release courtesy of Aston Martin.

Once again we welcome Robert Morey of British Sports Car Consulting to our site with his story of The Wizard. Does this sound like someone familiar to us all? The Wizard sat still, trying to shake off the sluggish mind of sleep, trying to move slowly every little muscle starting at the toes and working up. This seemed the safest way to get all the old parts moving and prepare himself for a day of the new spells, “Ha the new spells!” What a far cry from the magic of his childhood, so sad an excuse for magic;  again he could not move. Sitting another 10 minutes and moving all the parts of his fingers, he finally got up for a small breakfast to stop the hunger. This simple act brought up the courage to get on with it; the […]