Third Annual Jag Lovers Picnic

Third Annual Jag Lovers Picnic

I came up with the idea for a Jag-Lovers' Picnic sometime in 1999. I was a member of the original single Jag-Lovers list and had met other members at various car shows, and had found them to be universally friendly and interesting. I also noticed that there seemed to be a fairly large number of Jag-Lovers in the New Jersey (USA) area where I live. I also belong to a motorcycle club (The Dawn Patrol, est. 1937) which owns several acres of parkland and hosts several picnics per year. A picnic for Jag-Lovers seemed like a natural combination.

I also had a personal reason for wanting a Jag-Lovers event. In 1970, while I was in college, I bought my basket case 1951 XK120 OTS, which had been disassembled and stripped in 1961 and then stored in a garage. Over the intervening years I had done some bursts of mechanical work on it, but by the year 2000, even though I had owned it for 30 years, I had never yet driven it on the road. The enthusiasm that I received from the other members of the Jag-Lovers List had provided the incentive that I needed to start working on the car again. Thus I set a goal for myself that I would drive my XK for the first time to the Jag-Lovers' Picnic.

On 2/14/2000 I announced the picnic to the various Jag-Lovers lists, and stressed that it was not a car show; there would be no competition or prizes, and it wasn't even necessary to bring a Jaguar. This was to be a gathering of people with a common interest - the love of the Jaguar marque. I was providing the location and the food; the participants would provide the entertainment. It seemed like a good idea, and I figured maybe a dozen people would show up.

I was overwhelmed by the response. Everyone seemed to welcome the opportunity to socialize with people whom they had come to know through the lists but had never met in person. They came from all over: the Kruegers drove their 1955 XK140 DHC from Michigan, the Cunninghams and the Warrens drove down from Vermont, Pat and Mary DeGennaro arrived from Savannah, Ga., and Loudon Seth came in from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. There were license plates from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware. Everyone had a great time, continuing the camaraderie that was started on these lists, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We have continued the tradition every year since.

Ever since the first picnic Rick Holland and I have hosted a monthly open house for any Jag-Lover who wants to drop in at the picnic grounds. This month the gathering, which was the subject of an article by Andy Kalfas in Phillip Porter's XK Gazette, was held the evening before the picnic. That's when our globe-trotting Jag-Lover at-large Ian Spencer, along with Arnoud and several other out-of town members got together with the locals for beer, pizza and conversation. We watched Jaguar videos, admired cars, swapped lies, and socialized into the wee hours of the night.

On Sunday the weather gods smiled on the Jag-Lovers, as June 2 dawned bright and clear for the Third Annual Jag-Lovers' Picnic. Once again list members came from far and near. Pascal Gademer drove his 5 speed V12 E-Type from Florida for a long weekend combining the Lime Rock races with the Jag-Lovers' Picnic. He covered the 1500 miles in a single 21 hour sprint and the Jag never missed a beat. Bruce and Donna Cunningham again brought their famous "Touch Me" XK120 to New Jersey, also by way of Lime Rock, and Bruce entertained the picnickers by playing his bagpipes dressed in full Scottish regalia. Arnoud Bordewijk from the XJ list flew in from Holland the week before and combined Jeb Boyd's Restoration Camp, Lime Rock and the Picnic into a Jag-Lovers extravaganza. Most of his transportation between the events (with side trips for sight-seeing in New York City) as well as most of his lodging was provided by list members whom he had never previously met. That must have been quite an adventure for someone still in his 20's.

Bradley Smith gave rides in his amazingly civilized 700 HP twin-supercharged XJS, which was the subject of a recent article in Jaguar World, and Ted DuPuis, our resident teenager, brought his (also modified) XJS and a load of enthusiasm. Rich Neary not only brought his XJ but also drove his recently-completed maroon 1959 AC Ace, and Dan Kruze brought his meticulously hand-crafted D-Type replica which he has been building for the past several years.

For people who came early and wanted to drive, there was a 40 mile tour through the backroad countryside of scenic New Jersey (yes, it still exists if you know where to look!). Other people walked, talked and admired Jaguars of all types as they roamed the picnic grounds renewing acquaintances and making new ones. After filling up on assorted picnic food at the all-you-can-eat pavilion there were drawings for door prizes which were generously donated by many of the vendors which are familiar to our list members. Once again everyone had a great time and we all look forward to next year's event, which will again be held on the first Sunday in June.

Mike Eck
New Jersey, USA
'51 XK120 OTS
'62 3.8 MK2 MOD
'72 SIII E-Type 2+2

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