Uncle Toms Jaguars

[Kingair]

Interesting article in a recent AMC on the 1985 Jaguar assault on Bathurst.

Uncle Tom bought three Jaguars out to Bathurst under the Group A regulations to take on the locals at heartbreak hill.

The big V12 Jaguars had phenomenal fuel economy, but then again a 20 litre bladder hidden in the car may have helped!

Must be a few more stories out in ten-tenths about Uncle Tom and the big cats Bathurst conquest.

[VIVA GT]

Big Tom was legendary for all of his cars, not just the Jaguars. Unfortunately, so far the 'stories' all seem to be just here-say...

[MGDavid]

Indeed, there will always be people trying to dish out dirt on winners, even 30 years later. Especially when they upset the local establishment and status quo...

[Average Punter]

They certainly sounded the business that year.

Up at Skyline you could hear them rumbling towards you from the other side of Reid Park.

From memory there was also a screaming 6 cylinder Bimmer. Maybe even driven by Roland Ratzenberger (who was later to be taken from us on that awful weekend at Imola in 1994)

[JAFA851]

Can't let the facts get in the way of a good story………….

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by JAFA851

Can't let the facts get in the way of a good story………….

Go find guys running Heritage Group A cars... Plenty of truth in these "stories"

The European Group A cars had so many tricks, and the Gibson cars locally apparently had 'em covered...

[AnEmmoFan]

Originally Posted by Average Punter

They certainly sounded the business that year.

From memory there was also a screaming 6 cylinder Bimmer. Maybe even driven by Roland Ratzenberger (who was later to be taken from us on that awful weekend at Imola in 1994)

I think you are referring to the Schnitzer BMW 635 driven by Roberto Ravaglia and Johnny Cecotto. The same car was driven by Gerhard Berger at Adelaide in the 1985 Group A support race. The car had a very distinctive engine note, which would echo around the walls at Adelaide. Look for Bathurst 1985 highlights on You Tube and you will find it.

[VIVA GT]

TWR were well known for 'clever' rule interpretation.
Well known examples with the SD1 Rovers for instance were special wheel inner arches with extra clearance (allegedly for countries that needed to fit sand tyres which led to TWR becoming known as Third World Racing). On the engines, when (Volvo) valve rockers were fitted that happened to be adjustable (in standard form the Rovers used hydraulic tappets which obviously didn't need adjustable rockers), before the race (and after the valve clearances had been set) the adjusters & lock nuts were welded to the rockers thereby making them non-adjustable!

[racer69]

Allan Scott wrote a brilliant book on the TWR Jags (Including plenty of information on the 1984 Goss and 1985 JRA Bathurst campaign) called "TWR and Jaguar's XJS"

[JAFA851]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Go find guys running Heritage Group A cars... Plenty of truth in these "stories"

The European Group A cars had so many tricks, and the Gibson cars locally apparently had 'em covered...

Hang on, aren't we talking about the TWR Jags of 1983 - 1987, and specifically 1985 when the Jags came to Aus? Pretty sure Fred didn't have them covered then, maybe 1989 onwards, but not prior.

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by JAFA851

Hang on, aren't we talking about the TWR Jags of 1983 - 1987, and specifically 1985 when the Jags came to Aus? Pretty sure Fred didn't have them covered then, maybe 1989 onwards, but not prior.

I didn't mean in speed I meant in tricks...

[djr81]

Originally Posted by racer69

Allan Scott wrote a brilliant book on the TWR Jags (Including plenty of information on the 1984 Goss and 1985 JRA Bathurst campaign) called "TWR and Jaguar's XJS"

Also has one on the TWR Rovers. Good read both books. Describes a number of the tricks/dodgy rule interpretations/blatant cheating* than went on in various teams.

*Delete as applicable to suit your opinion.

[Casper]

Peter Brock was the man and the fans would not hear of any pommy car beating an Ozzy car no matter what. I won a few bets when I predicted that Walkinshaw would demolish the locals and when I saw the first run up the mountain I knew I was right.

[Mixer]

That car was bloody glorious. I miss all the different sounds...

[one five five]

Going along with the story in AMCM, does that explain why the Jags did a parade lap at the end of 1985 rather than pulling straight into the back of the pits, they needed a lap to blow up the bladder?

[Axeman444]

Originally Posted by one five five

Going along with the story in AMCM, does that explain why the Jags did a parade lap at the end of 1985 rather than pulling straight into the back of the pits, they needed a lap to blow up the bladder?

Slightly off topic, but I've always wondered why cars peel off where they do into the paddock area rather than doing a victory lap especially for all the diehards/yobbos/rednecks (delete as appropriate to your opinion) on the top of the mountain?

In a close finish that is not yet decided as they go over the top on the last lap, fans don't get a chance to congratulate the drivers.

[ford71]

Some of the cars would not have enough fuel

[Mixer]

Originally Posted by ford71

Some of the cars would not have enough fuel

Without a doubt its the truth.

[old fart]

Originally Posted by Axeman444

Slightly off topic, but I've always wondered why cars peel off where they do into the paddock area rather than doing a victory lap especially for all the diehards/yobbos/rednecks (delete as appropriate to your opinion) on the top of the mountain?

In a close finish that is not yet decided as they go over the top on the last lap, fans don't get a chance to congratulate the drivers.

A number of reasons including : running out of fuel, walking wounded not making it all the way around, " mechanical/electrical " issues causing cars to stop for a little while whilst certain things are discarded into the scrub or put back into conformity (lots of conspiracy theories) and the need to get the cars into Parc Ferme before any of that can take place.
The main reason would be the inevitable track invasion that occurs and the safety of the idiots invading the track. Some drivers may have difficulty in suddenly dropping race pace and keeping eyes wide open for the unexpected.