Enclosed is a photo of JCNA past president Gary Hagopian sitting the the driver's seat of JCNA past vice-president Daniel Thompson's 1966 Mini Cooper S race car at New Hampshire International Speedway in May. The occasion was VRG annual vintage racing weekend.

Gary is thinking about what it would be like to drive a "real" race car.

A wager is hereby offered: Gary's E-type "race car" versus Daniel's Mini Cooper "real race car" at Lime Rock Park. Best lap time wins.

Place your bets; I'm laying 100 US dollars to start.

Daniel Thompson
XK Club representative
Jaguar Enthusiasts Club
Jaguar Owners Association - Montreal

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Mon, 08/08/2005 - 18:07

Daniel---find out where they put the DB meter and run your exhaust to the other side--or do what a friend of mine did run over the meter. George Camp

Submitted by dthompson@gbc.ca on Mon, 08/08/2005 - 13:42

I've been talking to Charles Bordin about noise regulations at Lime Rock for the VSCCA/Jaguar Club event in 2006.

The restrictions are VERY severe (84db). Unfortunately my Mini runs about 120db right now and even if I choked the living crap out of it there is no way I could get it below 100db without pulling the engine out and putting a basically stock unit in it.

Therefore the Mini will not be attending the 2006 Lime Rock/Jaguar Club weekend.

I'm looking at attending the Steve Earle organized event in September at Lime Rock, where I understand noise restrictions are not in effect.

I could submit my lap times to an independent third party auditor for confirmation!

Daniel

Submitted by dthompson@gbc.ca on Sat, 08/06/2005 - 18:05

Smart man that Georrge, smart man.

By the way, the Mini is not "hopped up". It is built to VARAC specs as per in-period 1986 race spec, which means it is all original steel body panels, original 1960's minilites, 1275cc engine with single weber. There are no "tricks" on this car. And it is a blast to drive.

Gary: the picture of your new car did not show up. Send a jpeg to Pascal by email and he can post it in the Gallery.

Bob: please post or send a picture of your MK2 racer. I'm sure it is a beautiful car just like all your other cars!

Art: your car looks fantastic!

Daniel

Submitted by SE98-32482CJ on Sat, 08/06/2005 - 17:54

Big "D" put $100 in for me. At Lime Rock I'll take the tricked out Mini. Pascal you need to drive one. I love "E"s but a set up Mini on a short track like LR gets my money. My wife's Riley Elf is not tricked out (dead stock) and it ran the doors of an NSX at Road Atlanta for two laps (till I smelled brakes (all 6 inches of them). George Camp

Submitted by dthompson@gbc.ca on Fri, 08/05/2005 - 14:09

OK, brush up on your reading skills!

The currency is USD.
The track is Lime Rock.
The car is your present E-type, the silver one.

I was not at NHIS as it was a "Driver's School", designed for you old guys hwo still need instruction!! (joking, just joking).

I'm running with VRG at Mont Tremblant Sept. 24-26. The Mini will not beat the E-type there, unless you are really slow.

I'm talking Lime Rock next May. Gives you plenty of time to practice! And as far as the 1:04 is concerned.... my grandmother runs 1:04's at Lime Rock!

Post some pictures of your new E-type race car.

Daniel

Submitted by ghagopian@jcna.com on Fri, 08/05/2005 - 13:59

Daniel!

Where were you last weekend when the VRG was at NHIS? I was there with MY racecar, and woulda loved the chance to run you down!

I don't have a lap time on my car at NHIS, but will tell you that in a showdown at Lime Rock, your 100 bucks will be at serious risk if you can't run laps somewhere between 1:04 and 1:07, depending on conditions.

If the VRG will approve my new Jaguar race car for entry in their races, I'll probably run their Mid Ohio event Oct 15-16. Will you be there?

JCNA's HPDE group will be at Pocono North on August 29th, running a time trial with CART. (CT Autocross & Rally Team) That track is pretty nice, and cheap too! www.cartct.com is their site where you can find the details. C'mon down and join us there for practice and an official time.
We could settle the issue right there!

Otherwise, let me know what YOUR schedule is, and maybe we can meet at LRP.

By the way, I don't take "wooden nickels" or Canadian money!

Regards,

Gary

Submitted by NE52-32043 on Fri, 08/05/2005 - 13:41

Hmmmm...... This could be a tough one to bet on. I know Gary's car is fast, as is Gary in that car. But those Mini's are something else. And I know that Daniel's car is "tricked out" pretty well and should be super-quick around the turns up at LRP. So, which way to go???????

Ah, I know. The perfect lawyer's solution -- I'll bet $100 that head to head, one of you wins. ;-)

Steve Weinstein
'70 XKE FHC, '69 XKE FHC

p.s. I was up at LRP this past weekend with the Ferrari club. I did a few minor modifications to my '84 Mondial QV, including Porterfield racing pads, a Kirkey racing seat, and some Kumho Victoracer V700s, and dropped my times from 1:13s to 1:07s. Not bad for an old 2+2 street car. I'd expect that Mini to be down around a minute flat.