TimD! I've found THAT photo!

[Sparky]

Tim, while you were away, discovering the delights of New Year celebrations by parafin lamp, (!) I managed to find THAT photo of the Jaguar SS100 I told you about. The photo was taken seconds after we returned from a 100 mph blast down narrow Constable-country lanes. It took my breath away... literally!!

It was restored by a fellow by the name of 'Alan' (that's all I remember!) and he runs a restoration company in Suffolk that specialises in the Jag SS100.

Is this particular car familiar to you? I can't remember the registration number, and the photo isn't clear enough to make it out, but I know that there aren't that many of thses about now. Do you know Alan? I know that he supplies parts and services to quite a few members of the VSCC.



Anyway, Welcome back, old chum. I hope you had a good 'un!

[Gerard]

Sparky, that Suffolk company could that be Roger Williams' Suffolk Sportscar Engineering?
They are specialized in the Jaguar SS100 and they had someone called Alan Clarke working for them.
The address is http://www.jagweb.com/ss100/default.htm
You'll find lots of pictures of the SS100 on that site.

[Sparky]

Gerard, I don't know how you do it, old friend!
Alan CLARKE! That's right!!

'Suffolk SS100' are a company that specialise in building extremely high-quality SS100 replicas. I know that Alan was always more into the restoration of the genuine cars, but I do know he used to supply bespoke custom-made parts to many Jaguar people, so I wouldn't be surprised to discover he was involved with this company, too.

He's probably one of the finest 'true' engineer craftsman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I mean, I really enjoy fabrication; taking a piece of scrap steel and making something useful and valuable out of it, but this guy is amazing! I stood and watched him form some body parts for his own SS100 one Saturday a few years ago, and you could tell he was putting everything into making them fit as well as the originals did. There aren't many real craftsmen around these days. As an auto engineer myself, it gave me something to aspire to, that's for sure.

Thanks for reminding me, Gerard.
I think I'll have to look Mr Clarke up again.

...See if I can coax another high speed ride out of the man!

[Gerard]

Sparky, I hope I am wrong and I am not absolutely sure but I remember reading somewhere that Mr. Clarke died last year. Problem is I can't remember where I read it.
I've been trying to find out about this but so far I haven't found anything.
However, I'm sure Tim knows and we just have to wait until he's back from his trip.

[Sparky]

Gerard, I know you're usually right, but I sure hope you're mistaken on this one.

I'll make a few tentative phone calls this afternoon.

[TimD]

Hee hee, thanks for posting that, Sparky. I'd certainly love to have been on that run in the SS100.

I'm not very well up on the SS100, as they seem to get used more as fast tourers than circuit racers, and when there's fast touring to be done, the best mode of transport begins with B...

But there were only 330 SS100s built in the first place, I am fairly sure, and perhaps one third of these remain. Fifteen years ago, I met an old boy in the motor salvage trade who swore blind he broke one for spares just after the war. *sobs*

As for Alan Clarke, well, I don't recognise the name as a restorer of thoroughbred Jags, but is it possible that the Alan Clark whose obituary was noted might have been Alan Clark MP, politician, bon viveur, military historian, notorious diarist and enthusiastic Bentley and Rolls Royce collector? He was a regular columnist in Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, and they made a lot of his passing last year.

My favourite Alan Clark anecdote? His insistence that the safest way of joining a motorway was to achieve 140mph on the sliproad. That way, you only had to concentrate on threading your way into the traffic, as no other driver was liable to run into the back of you at that speed....

[Sparky]

Welcome back Tim! I trust you had a Happy (if basic) New Year celebration!

That Jag ride, as I described to you at Gaydon, was something else!

When Gerard mentioned that Alan Clarke might possibly have passed away last year, I was taken aback - I'm not afraid to admit. As I said before, I have a lot of respect for the man.

I phoned a couple of friends and managed to find a number for Alan's old workshop in Debenham, Suffolk.
I can't be sure that he even operates from there still, but I got no answer, in any case. I know it is (was) the holiday period, so I didn't worry too much.

The thought that it might have been Alan Clark MP that Gerard was referring to, had occurred to me, but still...!

I can't be sure until I wander over there and see for myself.

And that's just what I shall do, this weekend.
If I can find him, I'm sure he'll have a little chuckle over this...

[Airhead]

Wow,

My father was a mechanic with a Jag dealership and spoke lovingly of XK 120's, but the photograph of the SS100. Truely beautiful.

So good in fact I'll show it to the mate down the road with the 2.8 L Damlier MK 2.

Steve