Very early one recent Saturday I drove my E Type into Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, cool and quiet and empty, except for a small group of cars in the paddock. Though not filled with crowds and noise, the excitement was as high as any other visit -- this time I would get to drive it again. The paddock was busy with preparation, drivers setting up their Porsches, Ferraris, Corvettes, BMWs, and most important, Jaguars.

This was the first West Coast event in the new JCNA High Performance Drivers Education program. The event was organized and run by TracQuest, a private company with lots of experience running these events. I quickly found the other Jaguar drivers, who had already arrived. Chuck Boblasky and Fred Secker both trailered their cars all the way from Arizona to participate. Chuck's D Type Replica was a beautiful interpretation of the original, decked out in Belgian Racing Yellow. Fred's XK150S was a 100-point concours car, second place nationally in JCNA class C04 in 2002. With my '64 E Type, the group was a sparkling representation of Jaguar's competition history -- and well equipped to match some of the faster cars of today. Incidentally, all three cars have engines from Classic Jaguar in Austin, Texas. Dan Mooney says we have all blown our engine warranties!

We filled up on coffee and breakfast provided, then were called together by Todd Serota, Tracquest chief, for a drivers' meeting. The corner workers were introduced, and we learned again about the flags they would be using. We were told that drivers driving dangerously would be taken off the track, which gave peace of mind. The instructors were introduced and we met the ones assigned to us, then Todd reviewed the rules of the event. Drivers were split into four groups (more than usual because of track limitations) Instructor, Fast, Medium, and Slow, each with its own passing rules. Finally, novices were given a chalk talk about driving at speed, driving the line, track courtesy, etc.

Then the novices went out for the "Ducks in a Row" exercise -- in this case just "Ducks", as there was an instructor for each driver. The instructor drove our cars moderately around the track several times, showing us "the line" for Laguna, correct braking points, and describing techniques for dealing with each of the challenges of the track. The rest of the event was alternating the four groups, each with 20 minute sessions on track. The event ran very crisply, and there was not much time wasted between groups. Overall, I believe we got 7 sessions, more than 2 hours driving time. TracQuest also provided a great lunch of barbecue, grilled salmon, great side dishes and desserts.

But the driving was the high point. This is one of the world's premier tracks, and with the famous "corkscrew", and the downhill braking zone before the Andretti Hairpin it was quite a thrill. No flat sections, all uphill and down, and with gorgeous views off the edges all around, it was a challenge, and a test for the typically hot brakes of the E Type (no problems this time). Just seeing the smiles and grins on Chuck and Fred's face was enough to make it worthwhile. Only one other JAG member showed up -- Lloyd Nolan dropped by and got a lot of great photos -- and got to be passenger on one session in my E Type, as TracQuest allows. Actually there was another JAG member present, Gordon Booth was instructing drivers. He seemed to be enjoying the day and especially seeing the Jags run.

The day ended with a great banquet at the Monterey DoubleTree Hotel, a super seafood buffet. Next morning, waking up at the hotel and strolling through the cool sunny streets of Historic Monterey and Fishermans' Wharf were a great bonus. TracQuest ran again Sunday, but none of us were able to stay. But I believe we will all come back next time!

This is the first event of the JCNA HPDE series on the West Coast, but it won't be the last. The turnout by JAG members was disappointing, but I am sure that many were not aware of it, or perhaps uncertain about risk and skill needed. Anyone, with any of Jaguar's fine cars, would be quickly at home on this great track at speed. The fact that the other drivers were in machines generally of equal or greater value than our Jaguars and very courteous, the separation of fast drivers from novices, and the excellent organization all made me feel very safe indeed. I hope some of you will feel encouraged to come out to our next event, probably later this year.

In the meantime, if you want to get a feeling for what it is to drive a lap of Laguna Seca, here is Fred Secker's account:

"Here we go. Eleven corners. Entry from the pit lane is after turn 2. Look over your shoulder to check traffic. Foot to the floor. Up to third, here comes turn 3. Dab the brakes and then on the throttle for this wide flat right hander. Stay left, accelerate, dab brakes, foot down for another wide, fast, right hander. First passing straight so check mirrors.

Still in third, up to 5,500 revs then brake hard for turn 5. Foot down early as the hills are next. Here we get a definite feeling of hurtling up into the unknown. Crest the rise and serious braking for turn 6, a sharp left hander which surprisingly can be taken at full throttle as we continue to hurtle uphill. Now the butterflies start in earnest because we know what awaits over the next rise. Turn 8-8A -- the Corkscrew!

Entry is over a blind crest so you can’t see it till you are in it. Use the track marker to brake and concentrate on your line. Keep light throttle pressure. Swing hard left, do not apex too soon. Wow, where has the road gone? The next hard right is invisible as the bottom drops out of your world and you seem to drop vertically. Aim where your instructor showed you, swing right, clip the apex and you are through. Anyone who does not carry an ear to ear grin through the corkscrew has porridge for grey matter.

But keep concentrating here comes turn 9 (Rainey Curve). Accelerate hard, brake hard, light throttle into the long, fast, left hand downhill parabola. Straight into an equally fast right hand downhill parabola, which is slightly banked so you can hold lots of speed. This makes life interesting as the next turn is a 120 degree left hander into the start/finish straight. Exit turn 11 with as much speed as possible and accelerate hard down the long straight. Check mirrors for passing Porches.

Over the finish line, through gentle turn 1 at a hundred and then turn 2, the Andretti Hairpin, looms to start the business all over again. It is simply not possible to have more fun than this."


and remember... this was driving a 100 point XK150S which placed 2nd in 2002 JCNA Concours competition !

Left to Right : Fred Secker's XK 150S, Chuck Bobaslky's D-type Replica and Jerry Mouton's 64 E-type FHC

Paddock shot of the 3 Jaguars

Chuck Boblasky with his D-Type Replica in the Corkscrew, and
cornering

Jerry's 64 E-type under braking

Chuck at speed...