The Day that Stirling Moss Drove our Jaguar ‘S’-type

David Reilly · Post by **David Reilly** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 1:06 pm

The Day that Stirling Moss Drove our Jaguar ‘S’-type

Stirling Moss, his intent gaze never leaving the road ahead, tapped the ‘S’-type’s brake pedal, flicked the steering wheel to the left, double de-clutched the gear lever from fourth to third, pressed the accelerator and powered smoothly through a sweeping high-speed left bend saying “Nice Car”. And I watched all of this happen in milli-seconds from the passenger seat beside him…. How did this experience come about?
Michael H. Dale CBE, President of Jaguar Cars North America from 1990 until retiring May 1, 2000, believed that for Jaguar to successfully move forward - the past must not be forgotten. For the launch of the 1998 V8 range of Jaguar XJ saloons in September 1997, he invited a few early Jaguar saloons to give the press (and Jaguar executives) the opportunity of experiencing, first-hand, Jaguar heritage. The cars would also be photographed and featured on Jaguar’s 1998 calendar. (Photo 0 The early Jaguar Saloons at the Calendar photo shoot)
Our 1967 3.8 `S' was honored to be among those invited to Middleburg, Virginia, and we were put up at the Ashby Inn, a very nice bed & breakfast built in 1829. After several days of presentations, press activities, picnics and polo matches, an evening reception was held for the invited celebrity drivers: Brian Redman, most remembered as a long-distance sports car racer having won more than 20 major endurance races around the world; Bob Tullius, whose Group 44 raced the Jaguar Series III E-type, XJ-S and XJR-5; and Stirling Moss, who requires no introduction. (Photo 1 Stirling Moss & Patricia chatting over cocktails)
The following day was devoted to showing the press (and younger Jaguar executives!), first-hand, Jaguar heritage and technological of 30 years before. The vintage car owners and invited drivers would pilot the early Jaguar saloons, around the horse country and foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with press people and executives in the passenger seats. At the drivers briefing we received directions and instructions for the four driving legs from Middleburg to Charlottesville, Virginia. On the first leg, through heavy fog, Patricia and I drove our ‘S’-type with Nina Padget, the photographer who had put us through our paces the previous morning taking photos for the 1998 official US Jaguar calendar (P1B79909DN was ‘April’), and a reporter from the Associated Press as passengers.
At the changeover for the second leg, we were privileged to have the Editor of the Jaguar Journal, Mike Cook, as our press celebrity. Mike took the wheel of the 'S' and drove quickly and competently to a delightful lunch stop at which Brian Redman, who sat at our table, regaled us with stories of cars, races and his exploits during twenty some years as a racing driver.
As we took to the road again, our 3.8 'S'-type received its greatest compliment as Stirling Moss had his photograph taken with it by the official photographer. (Photo 2 or 2a Stirling Moss getting photo with P1B79909DN)
Immediately upon entering the ‘S’-type (Photo 3 or 3a Stirling Moss getting into P1B79909DN) he unlocked the steering wheel adjuster as if he drove an old Jaguar every day, and slipped the wheel full forward. Then he adjusted the seat and backrest to attain his classic 1950's straight arm driving position. We left the restaurant with reporters from the San Francisco Chronicle and The Philadelphia Inquirer in the back seat. Patricia had temporarily abandoned the ‘S’ to have fun with another lady in a 1998 XK8 for this leg. Stirling began feeling out the car – he exercised and evaluated its suspension, steering, brakes and ‘feel’. As he continued the drive, he began pushing the car, accelerating through the bends and braking later for each corner. He was obviously satisfied as the speed continued to increase.
Stirling is a delightful warm person and our conversations ranged from what he thought of the current Grand Prix Circus (not much), to Denis Jenkinson (the best motor journalist he has ever known), and what ride he thought best for various Formula One drivers for the next year. All too soon we were approaching the end of that leg and Stirling was comfortably keeping the speedometer in the 80-85 mph range as we went through the sweeping curves up and down the ridges of Thornton Gap. Stirling talked of many Jaguars driven over the years (See his book Stirling Moss, My Cars, My Career, 1987), but professed that this was the first (and only!) ‘S’-type that he had driven. The key things I noticed about the driving of one of the World's best-ever was: 1) his eyes rarely left the road ahead, 2) there were always two hands on the steering wheel, 3) he rarely touched the brakes and 4) the car was usually accelerating. At the end of the drive (Photo 4 Stirling Moss after his hour drive of P1B79909DN), Stirling said, “A lovely car, thank you.” And we had our picture taken beside it. (Photo 5 Stirling Moss and David after their P1B79909DN drive)
For the fourth leg, Patricia rejoined me and we had reporters from WJLA-TV (ABC News 7 in Washington, DC) and the St. Petersburg Times as passengers. Our stop for this final night was Keswick Hall, the previous home of Sir Bernard and Laura Ashley. It is a 600-acre estate in the rolling foothills of the Piedmont Mountains that is now a luxury country house-hotel. All 48 bedrooms feature Laura Ashley wallpaper and fabrics with antiques throughout. Bob Tullius was at our table for the final dinner and we were able to learn many inside stories of Group 44 before retiring to the billiard room for brandy and cigars.
Next morning Stirling Moss joined us for breakfast. As we talked he kindly autographed his many books that I happened to have with me (Photo 6 Stirling Moss and David at breakfast next day) and signed a photograph with his evaluation of the ‘S’-type after his drive, “A lovely car, Thanks, Stirling Moss”. (Photo 7 Stirling Moss declared the 'S'-type A Lovely Car) As we drove the ‘S’-type home, we carried many wonderful memories of an unforgettable few days.