Congratulations to the Chairman and the Jaguar Clubs Rules Committee.
The successful passage of the new concurs classifications should certainly do much to lessen the competition in several classes, reduce participation, reduce attendance and make it considerably easier for those fewer cars remaining to win National Points.
As for those cars that are now excluded from the ôPurity Classesö and been relegated to an obscure ôNonentityö class, take heart, for some dark clouds do have a silver lining.
I took an hour or so, did a bit of calculating of the expenses for going to the average concours. Figure each concours will take three days, first day driving, maybe 250 miles (at 15 mpg x $150 per gallon equals approx $25.00 fuel expense), two meals (at $6.50each equals $13.00)) for two ($13.00 x 2 equals $26.00, tips not included) and a hotel room for two ($65.00) for a conservative total of $116.00 for the day. Second day at the concours, full registration of $150.00 (not including any added activities or goodies), breakfast for two at $7.95, ($7.95 x 2 equals $15.90), lunch for two at $7.95 ($7.95 x 2 equals $15.90) ($15.90 x 2 equals $31.80 for the day, again tips not included) for a conservative total of $181.80 for the day. For the return trip home, again, itÆs two meals for two for a total of $ 26.00 (tips not included) and a fuel expense of another $25.00, for a dayÆs total of $51.00. Now a most conservative total for this three day/two night weekend is $348.80. In 2003 I attended at least six concours, (three were five day/four night trips, but letÆs keep it simple) so (6 concours x $348.80) for a very conservative grand total of $2,092.80.
For $2,092.80 I could have up graded and completely re-built my cars air conditioning system and completed the interior re-do. Perhaps they are trying to tell us that, the owners of cars not quite ôPureö enough might do better to just stay home and spend the money on their cars. As for the ôsilver liningö, there is an ever growing number of ôAll Britishö car shows all across the US that welcome and appreciate any British Marque Car
even if their outward appearance is a bit different. Think about it.
As always, good motoring,
Don Wright