Jaguar display biggest in Southland
Southland’s biggest gathering of Jaguar cars was held on Easter weekend, with more than 250 cars visiting as part of a national rally.
There was no shortage of classic cars in the city as Invercargill hosted the New Zealand Jaguar National Rally 2018.
Rally committee chairman Brett Flintoff said the event cycled between the drivers clubs in the North and South islands every three years, and the Southland Jaguar Drivers Club put its hand up to host this year.
The Southland club has had a long association with the event since it organised the first national rally in 1982, Flintoff said.
However, Southland did not host the first rally; Nelson had that honour because it was a more central location.
This year’s event attracted drivers from throughout the country and even overseas, and the organising committee developed a programme showcasing the region for the drivers.
Many of the drivers from New Zealand had either not visited Southland before, or had been many years ago, Flintoff said.
Tours were organised to Gore, Bluff and Riverton, and many people were taking the opportunity to visit Stewart Island today, after the rally concluded.
The rally also marked the 70th anniversary of the Jaguar XK120 sports car.
Launched in 1948, the car was named for its top speed of 120mph - roughly 192kmh - which made a real impression, Flintoff said.
At the Show and Shine event at Queens Park on Saturday, there were more than a dozen examples of the successor models, the XK140 and XK150.
These were joined by a huge variety of Jaguar models ranging from the 1930s right through until 2018.
One couple who had travelled around to attend Jaguar rallies, said the event at Queens Park had one of the best settings they had seen, Flintoff said.
Yesterday, drivers had the opportunity to do a few parade laps around the Teretonga race circuit, followed by standing quarter-mile drag racing and and motorkhana event.