Jaguars at Haynes Motor Museum

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Thought it time to add a few pics of the delectable Jaguars at Haynes Motor Museum, near Yeovil.

A couple of weeks ago the XK had a weeks outing to Somerset and Dorset, partly to take in the Haynes Museum (where we managed to spend 8 hours one day, and a further 3 hours another day), and partly to take in the Jurassic Coast around Bridport and West Bay (where we could pretend to be players in Broadchurch, although not very convincingly!, also Portland Bill etc.    The A and B roads in the area were a delight for the XK to stretch her legs, although we still prefer our more local A and B stretches in the Welsh Marches/Herefordshire & Worcestershire etc.

Much dribbling was done whilst viewing some of the Haynes Collection, and we should have been delighted to have left the area with one of the Jaguars.....have to keep visiting the Classic & Vintage sales!!       As always, happy growling.

 

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Yes, we particularly liked the Mk2 which, somehow, we feel looks better with the slimline bumpers than with the original thicker "fluted" bumpers (as on the MkIX pictured).     Personal taste, of course, and the white car shown is actually a 340......the "run-out" version of the Mk2.    The fitting of the slimline bumpers necessitated moving the horns (originally domed windtone) from behind the bumper to inside the engine bay, where flat horns were used which don't have the same tone as the originally fitted items.   

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s Haynes used to do Classic Runs ...such as The Spring Classic and Autumn Leaves.  Significant other used to partake in his 1950 Wolseley 6/80 and says they were great fun.     One started at Castle Combe circuit where 6 laps in the Wolseley, mixing it with Healey 3000s, E-types, Mini-Coopers and 100E Anglias, for example, was hairy, to say the least!       Another started at Haynes Museum and went right across Southern England via Porchester etc, ending up at Goodwood, where a good time was had by all.  B long way back to the Midlands though!

One change in the museum since those days is that, back then, it was claimed that most of the exhibits were run and came out into the big world now and then.    Now, sadly, apart from some exceptions such as the Bentleys (which go out for wedding hire etc) and some others, the exhibits are, apparently, "embalmed" with regard to fluids , batteries are removed (H&S, of course) and only get pushed around if the exhibition halls are being changed around.      We thought of offering to run up the various Jaguars from time to time, and take them for a ride around the Somerset/Dorset countryside, but thought we might get escorted from the premises so decided to behave ourselves and enjoy the XK instead.

Attending a place such as this is also helpful with regard to pointers when looking at older vehicles in the Classic Sales.........for example, at a recent sale it was alarming to note a "restored" Mk2 already showing signs of inferior workmanship at the bottom of the front wing where it met the A-post and sill........and what the eye can't see etc etc!!

As always, happy growling, pass the wet wipes.

 

[Jaguar Owners Club]

Great review and pictures Carole, thanks for sharing it with us.

The Haynes museum has always been a favourite of mine but I haven't visited in a while.

Someone told me that they have recently revamped quite a large part of the museum along with the number of display cars being increased.

Glad you had a great time, even the weather looked unusually pleasant for this time of year.

Regards,  Trevor

 

[O.T.H]

Hi Carole ---I also enjoyed the pictures Ive never been to the museum so thank you

frank

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

They have, indeed, increased the size of the buildings, Trevor.  As recently as a few years ago.   The old main halls, including the "red hall" are still in place, whilst the old cafe and shop area is now the Supercar section (including the XJ220) and a couple of small side halls have been added by the old cafe area, including one devoted to the Mini, with a rather clever virtual paint your own Mini item.   The Duesenberg still sits in pride of place on the raised dias.     There is a nice new foyer area with a good cafe, much enlarged shop and additional exhibition hall off the red hall.     Plans are, apparently, afoot to further extend, whilst the restoration and engineering area is way up the back of the site; the test track is still there and used, although my partner says that by the time you have got rolling it's time to stop again if you are doing just one lap......at least that's how it felt in the Wolseley back in the '90s!   There is no denying, though, that this is mostly a true museum, unlike the Jaguar Collection at Gaydon which is very much a working collection (except, of course, for the concept cars).    Both very much worth a visit (or two, or three!! Well, ok, we have annual passes (via Gift Aid) for both......definitely good value).

Incidentally, back to the photos......the one of the Jurassic coast at West Bay includes the white chalet house on the left which doubled as D.I. Hardy's home in the final series of Broadchurch

The Helyar Arms Hotel in East Coker (near Yeovil) provided a warm and friendly hostelry with ample parking; they must have thought they were hosting a Classic car event as the XK got a valeting each evening!

As always, happy growling

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Nice one, Ron!!

We are sure you realise, but just in case.......Broadchurch was the title of a 3 series run of a crime mystery/drama which was set in the fictional seaside town of Broadchurch and had amongst its cast David Tennant, Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker (two Dr Whos in there!).  It was mainly filmed in West Bay on the Jurassic Coast (near Bridport), Clevedon and Portishead.  The locations used in West bay are easily identifiable although the cliff shots have changed somewhat recently, and since filming, due to a major rock fall which you can make out in our photo.

We did fancy we could see Corbyn J Mr bobbing out to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat, possibly Brighton-bound,  but quickly woke up and realised it was a M&S shopping bag going out on the ebb tide.    

We have, also, dropped a note to Trinity House in case of the failure of Portland Bill lighthouse, informing them that Mr R2E would likely park his LED-lighted S-type on the waters edge for a small consideration.     

Happy growling  

 

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Much travelling then, Ron.     Significant other has, likewise, been all over the shop and so is now quite content to poodle along the highways and byways of his native Wales, South and South-West England and Northumberland and the Borders.  Either in the XK or the S, whichever takes our fancy.     He says having spent time in most parts of the USA, including Alaska, Canada and the Northern Territories, Singapore, Oz, New Zealand, various unmentionable parts of places you really would not want to go on holiday to, plus an overland trek from UK to the Greek islands, nearer home ticks the boxes now!    Some grand (and not so grand) experiences though.

A trip across Europe, or down to the Lanquedoc-Rousillon region of Southern France might be interesting in the XK, but we should be putting many miles on the clock then.....always a trade-off as she is an '07 and now has covered just 9K miles.   Hence the regular visits to the classics auctions where we might pick up something delectable that has some miles under its belt.   Sure that you are still enjoying the S .......we went to the Leominster sale in our S on Wednesday and the SW Worcestershire/Herefordshire B roads were almost as much fun in the S as in the XK, although the XK does, of course, have the upperhand due to the CAT suspension.  We haven't been brave enough to switch off that and the traction control yet.......we like to view the scenery rather than be in it.     Significant other says he might not be so "quick with the flick" now as he was in his Production Car racing days!!      Evening all.

Broadchurch is available as a DVD box set, but we think that several trips out in your S would probably take precedence??!

As always, happy growling

 

[Carole Simpson-Hadley]

Thinking back to the Haynes Classic Runs in the 1990s and early 2000s, significant other says "are there any other JOC folk out there who partook?"      They really were great fun, attracted quite an audience, and were well organised.      The founder of Haynes Manuals, and hence the museum, John Haynes, was usually in attendance, handing out comemmorative plaques and cups etc., it would be interesting to hear of any memoirs.             

Significant other well remembers the SU electric fuel pump suffering from vapour lock half way through the driving test at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton; great embarassment, and it is held for posterity on the VHS recording which was available, of each event, and which still gets played from time to time.    A study in nonchalance!!

As always, happy growling