EARLY COMPETITION E-TYPE RACES AT COYS' FESTIVAL
One of the earliest surviving competition Jaguar E-Types sucessfully participated in this year's Coys' International Historic Festival in the pre-1964 GT Race at Silverstone last weekend.
The car (chassis no. 850020) was originally purchased by well-known racing enthusiast Derek Wilkinson, who was a close friend of Lofty England and was offered one of the first E-Types to help publicise the new car in competition. Wilkinson arranged with John Bekaert to race his cars and it was agreed between Wilkinson and Lofty England that Bekaert would race 'YRP 999'.
Following its early competition outings, the car was used sparingly and has survived in remarkably original condition.
It competed in the two-driver GT race with Lynx Chairman, John Mayston-Taylor and Anglo-American Challenge E-Type racer Mike Adams at the wheel. Competing in a field of highly developed sports racing cars (including no less than nine E-Types), the car finished in an impressive 17th position overall.
"It is an interesting experience to race an E-type which retains its original Kelsey-Hayes bellows-style braking system", commented John Mayston-Taylor, "the car is still surprisingly competitive, given the strength of the opposition at this event".
For further information, please contact
John Mayston-Taylor at Lynx or see Calendar of Events.
25 July 2000
