Huge honour for a big cat

Richard wonders whether his Jaguar E-type is jinxed at Prescott

JAGUAR E TYPE EX STIRLING MOSS

‘We’re celebrating Sir Stirling Moss’s

rst ever drive in a race car at Prescott hillclimb in 1948,’ said the voice on the phone. ‘And we want to have a display of cars that were signi cant in his life. Can you help?’

Of course, I said ‘yes’. After all, following all the drama of xing a bunch of small but irritating problems the last time I drove at Prescott, surely this time it would be plain sailing, right?

I decided that I’d travel down the night before in another classic geared more to luggage capacity than performance instead of driving the car to the track through the Cotswolds. My considerably better half booked a hotel in Cheltenham and I booked a covered transporter.

There was much publicity from the Bugatti Club about the Sir Stirling Moss car’s appearance the week before the big day and some great comments from enthusiasts on Facebook looking forward to seeing the car, so I decided to take it for a drive just to check that all was well. As always, I built up some oil pressure, pumped the throttle a few times to wake up the triple Weber 45s and then pressed the ignition button. The big motor red up, exhausting via the stubby side exits. All good, then.

I reversed the car out of the garage and jumped out to close the door. Hmm, what’s this? A trail of oil all the way from the front of the garage to where the car is parked? I decided – with no justi cation whatsoever – that it was probably nothing but I could see that I was in big trouble by the time we exited the far end of my driveway; the trail of oil stretched the full length of the drive and right out on to the lane. An urgent call to my local classic garage oœered up the diagnosis that I’d already made myself: ‘Probably the rear main seal. It’s an engine-out job. Bring it in.’

I checked the oil level and cruised the short distance to the garage, returning in a loan Audi with a heavy heart. Then, a few hours later, a phone call: ‘Your car’s ready. You owe me twenty quid, including a few other

little jobs we did at the same time. It was just a slightly loose oil lter.’

Not knowing whether to throw a street party or check myself in to A&E with high blood pressure I returned the Audi, handed over a crisp £20 note and was cruising home like a champ. Disaster averted.

The Prescott Historique was a dream come true. Everyone was charming, I saw many old friends, some fabulous classics and had the massive honour of not only seeing my car beneath its own little display marquee alongside a few more ‘Moss cars’ but being asked to open the course with a spirited ascent, too – I didn’t slide oœ, either!

A ride in the car with me was then oœered as a ra¥e prize and much cash was raised to support the historic venue. I was also fortunate that the winner – a charming lady called Sue Thom – drives a Morgan.

Thanks Sue and thanks Barry for transport. And thank you to the Bugatti Owners Club. It’s a day that I shall remember always.

Made it! Oil still very much within the XK’S sump (and not all over Richard’s driveway).

Richard opening the course for this year’s Prescott Historique.

Rae winner Sue Thom – Richard thinks she enjoyed her drive up the hill.

Another of Sir Stirling’s famous cars – his absolutely stunning Maserati 450S.