What would it be like to take the "Big Cats" from Jaguar, developed in the 1950's to prance through the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on an extended road trip through some of the most spectacular scenery found in the United States? That is the premise behind the genius of Terry and Darlene Larson and their "baby" the C & D Type Tour. Five years ago Terry and Darlene dreamed-up the idea of taking the wonderful and spectacular C & D Type racecars, produced by Jaguar from 1951 until 1957, on a road trip through the scenic vistas of their home state of Arizona.

Terry Larson has the undisputed reputation as the guru of the C & D Type here in the USA. That is a well-earned reputation founded on 3 decades of specializing in all things Jaguar with an emphasis on the SS100, C & D Type sports racers and the D-Type derived XKSS. Terry's latest contribution to Jaguar lore is an exhaustive research project to sort-out and tabulate the respective histories of every C-Type built by Jaguar, including their current location and ownership. That registry is now sanctioned and available from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. My personal experience with Terry started with complete restoration of my ex-works C-Type, an exercise which took 2 years and a great deal of energy and effort on Terry's part. The car's long competition history left just about everything on it bent in one way or another. Terry's expertise and generosity has led to our introduction and enjoyment of the C & D Type Tours.

A very special experience enjoyed on these tours is the accompanying "majesty" of the one-and-only Norman Dewis. If the Queen's England has any smarts that should be "Sir Norman." Norman was the man in charge of proving and development for the Jaguar factory from 1952 until 1985. He was responsible for developing every model offered by Jaguar during that time period: that included all road and racing versions. How can one man be responsible for developing the XK140, XK150, C-Type, D-Type, XKSS, E-Type, XJ13 (still Norman's personal pride and joy), and all of the sedan and sport road-going models for Jaguar in that time period? It does boggle the mind. Somehow he found the time and energy to be the one to develop and finally evolve a practical improvement to the automobile's braking system called the DISC BRAKE!!!!!!!!! Today, every time you stop effectively and safely on the road in your modern family car or sporty conveyance, Norman is the man to thank.

What is truly special about Norman is his down-to-earth personality and approachability. Not unlike other greats like Phil Hill and Dan Gurney, Norman's twinkle of a smile and impish sense of humor endear him to the masses. Norman's 80-year-plus memory is as sharp as the proverbial tack. In today's modern approach to divining all things in minute detail, perhaps Norman's memory should be described as far superior to that "tack." Norman carries an inner fire to flame the Jaguar heritage. He is a never ending fountain of stories and history of Jaguar in it's glory days of international motorsport and road-going success. With all of his importance to the history of Jaguar racing it is interesting to see that Norman truly takes the most pride in his contribution to the development and proving of the automobile product. Hired originally to head the testing of Jaguar cars, he changed the development and testing department of Jaguar, devoid of procedure and proven process, into a proving ground envied by the motor industry of England. Every time we have the very special opportunity to be with Norman he has a cache of stories yet untold to relate . Seldom do you hear the same story twice. That occurrence is usually spurred on by those of us gathered around him (like children at the feet of a loving uncle), urging to hear that favorite story just one more time. The week was filled with the remembrances of a truly fine man.

This year's tour found eight cars poised to enjoy Arizona's gorgeous landscapes. 4 C-Types, 2 XKSS' and 2 D-Types embarked on what promised to be a beautiful spring day in Arizona. With route books in hand and broad smiles on our round expectant faces we piled into our cars to leave Terry's house/restoration shop in Mesa and embark on our eagerly awaited adventure. We were not discouraged by the light rain encountered at the beginning; it offered a welcomed respite from Arizona's incessant heat. However we were not expecting, nor prepared for, the "blessing-from-Heaven" we were about to receive. What started out to be a light sprinkling of precipitation turned into a torrential downpour of rain and hail. With the prospect of a 6-hour-plus ride to our first night's stopover near Canyon de Chelly, we hoped to be out of the inclement weather in a hurry. However we soon found that the storm had plotted the exact route we were intended on. It was miserable!!!!!!!! Traveling at 70 miles per hour through torrential rain, cold and "heavenly-healthy" hail in open racecars from the 50's proved to challenge even the hardiest of us. Getting hit in the head with large marble-sized hail at 70 to 80 miles per hour without head protection HURTS!! As we all arrived at the planned lunch stop, three hours into the ordeal, everyone hurriedly fled the soaked carcasses of their cars and scrambled for the protective cover of a quaint café named Strawberry Lodge. We soon turned the café into the likes of a Chinese laundry having shed everything wet and hung all out to dry around a welcomed open fireplace. The only thing haunting the pleasure of our arrival to warmth, security and dryness was the reality that we still had 3 more hours to go!! And as sure as death and taxes the storm was hot on our heals. We all made it to the hotel and all lived to tell the story. The cars themselves performed through nature's worst with exemplary performance, never missing a beat and seeming to enjoy the cold wet weather; a testament to Jaguar's original proven form and Terry's thorough preparation for the trip.

We enjoyed a guided tour of Canyon de Chelly provided by Native Indian residents proudly offering a glimpse of the Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings that were the center of attraction in a landscape of staggeringly stark beauty . The remnants of the storm provided a wet and cold tour experience but it helped to put into perspective the true hardiness of the canyon's ancient inhabitants.

Our adventure turned to another day at the wheel and much improved weather. The run to Greer, Arizona was in cool but dry weather, a welcomed transition from the previous ordeal. Our trip to Greer offered a visit to the Hubble Trading Post, the oldest continuously active trading post in the Navajo Indian Nation. The journey continued through the historical and engaging Painted Desert and Petrified Forest . I think our fellow visitors in the park were as much taken with the sight of 8 historic Jaguar Cats prowling through a National Park, as they were the experience of one of God's natural wonders.

The Red Setter Inn in Greer is as much a reason to go on these trips as the driving itself . Our hosts at the Red Setter, Ken and Jim, provide a home-away-from-home; but even better. They assure that we are waited on hand-and-foot and given the most wonderful, restful experience imaginable (one that could only be matched by the world's finest inns and hotels). In Greer we spent the next days relaxing and going on driving day-trips. If you can call driving down the Coronado Trail, a route providing 100 miles of switch-backs and curves coupled with a route back to Greer through New Mexico, which took over 7 hours to complete, a day trip. The driving was spectacular.

We arrived back in Mesa after 5 days of driving challenge and splendor. The Phoenix area welcomed us with 100-degree heat. From pine-wooded mountains to blazing, cactus infested desolate sand, Arizona seems to have it all. Having dropped off our tired and filthy steeds at "the shop", we all hurriedly dispatched from Terry and Darlene's hospitality to return to the rigors and demands of our daily existence. Some of our fellow companions we will not see until the next tour (please Terry plan another one soon) and others we will see at the next vintage race weekend. Our "group" has become a very special cadre of friends, really extended family. Our time together is special for our mutual love of Jaguar cars but most meaningful because of our time together with one another, surrounded by God's created spectacle. Thank you to Terry and Darlene Larson for their vision to create this experience and the persistence and hard work it takes to "pull it off." A special thank you and fond love for our friend, mentor and hero, Norman Dewis.

 

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Jerry and Kathy Nell's XKSS in front of the Red Setter Inn in Greer AZ

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Posted 5/23/2002

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