I thoroughly enjoyed reading the recent Motorsport Magazine "lunch with ..." interview with Norman Dewis. Mr Dewis is a delightfully approachable gentleman, and a wonderful ambassador for Jaguar, who has achieved more in his 92 years than most. The “lunch with …” interview touches on his many achievements. However, presumably because of shortage of time during the interview, there were some significant omissions in the Jaguar XJ13 story.
Norman Dewis stated that Sir William Lyons had given instructions that the now-completed XJ13 was not to be driven. Norman said he ignored these instructions, took the car to MIRA and was hauled over the coals by Lyons as a result. Lyons supposedly then said to Norman that any testing could only be carried out on Sundays in Norman's own time. Norman implied he was the only person who subsequently drove the car.
In truth, Lyons had given an instruction to William Heynes on 5th May 1966 saying the car was not to be driven. It was not driven until a year later on 5th March 1967 when permission was finally given for the car to begin testing at MIRA.
The initial design of the car was the work of Malcolm Sayer in conjunction with Derrick White (formerly of Connaught and later to join Cooper as Chief Designer). In 1965 the very able Mike Kimberley (who later went on to join Lotus with Colin Chapman) was placed in overall charge of the project by William Heynes. The car was built, not by a single individual, but by a number of skilled engineers working in the Competition and Experimental Departments. One of these individuals was the late Bob Blake (known as “an artist in metal” by his contemporaries); another was Peter Wilson (ex-Jaguar Competition Department), who has since written the definitive and painstakingly-researched book on the XJ13, “XJ13 – The Definitive Story of the Jaguar Le Mans Car and the V12 Engine that Powered it”.
Detailed reports of the car's build and all subsequent testing survive. As well as these records, there is a "XJ13 Log Book" which details all XJ13 movements from the first test right through to the rebuilt car's first public appearance in 1973 - complete with odometer readings. Although Norman Dewis did contribute to vital development, there is no record of the car ever being taken to Bruntingthorpe as claimed later in the interview - clandestinely or otherwise
William Heynes recognised as early as 1964 that a car such as the XJ13 really needed a top-flight race driver to help develop it. There is some evidence to suggest that Jack Brabham had been approached in this respect but, in the end a former Jaguar apprentice - David Hobbs - was recruited for testing. In 1969 Hobbs was included in a FIA list of graded drivers which was an élite group of 27 who were rated the best in the world. It was Hobbs who achieved the unofficial UK closed lap record with the XJ13 which stood for the next 32 years. The XJ13’s main development driver, Hobbs, was joined at Silverstone for the XJ13’s final test at full racing speed by another top-flight racing driver (and ex-Jaguar apprentice) Richard ("Dickie") Attwood (a Le Mans winner and the subject of a recent “Motorsport Magazine” podcast).
It is interesting to note that, in a car with remaining scope for development, a Silverstone lap time of slightly under 1min 36 was achieved on a track with a lingering damp patch at Becketts; comparing favourably with the best time for a Group 4 Ford GT40 (in the hands of P Hawkins) of 1min 35.0. Richard Attwood had already achieved a best time for that circuit in a Ferrari LM of 1 min 35.0 seconds.
What might have been if the XJ13 had undergone further development and had gone on to race? We will never know!
Edited by Nev, 29 March 2013 - 07:29.
