AlanBrand.com

Just a few weeks after the sale of the prototype D-Type Jaguar at Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed reported here, a new record has been set at Bonhams & Butterfields’ Quail Lodge Sale in California.

The ex-Dan Gurney/Walt Hansgen, Sir Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren 1960 Jaguar E2A sold for just under $5million, the highest price ever paid for a Jaguar at auction.

Classic Driver has a very nice report of Jaguar XK Club’s celebration of the 60th anniversary of the XK120 Super Sports at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

Lots of Jaguars, lots of famous Jaguar drivers, and even the Ecurie Ecosse team transporter!

NFL.com reports the sad news that Gene Upshaw has died at 63 from complications from pancreatic cancer.

Gene is the only player in NFL history to play in three Super Bowls in three different decades – in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. He played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981, and was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro. After retiring from football, in 1983, he become executive director of the players’ association, NFLPA, a position he held until his death.

He was a major reason that I became a fan of the Raiders … at Guard, he was one of the toughest football players ever, his combination play with Art Shell was beautiful to watch.

Auto Express has named the Jaguar XF as the Best Executive Car in its 2008 New Car Honours, beating out the BMW 5-Series.

The UK’s Mirror reports that John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister, has finally embraced his “Two Jags” sobriquet, after buying a second hand Jaguar Sovereign to go with his Jaguar XJS.

Mr Prescott is quoted as saying:

I couldn’t afford a new one.
But a second-hand one you can get out of Exchange and Mart.

kentnews.co.uk reports that Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club stalwart Norman Hicks recently appeared on the long-running television show Coronation Street with his Jaguar XJS convertible. He got more than he bargained for when he was asked to dress up as a female Bollywood star to drive the car on set because the actress couldn’t drive!

India’s Business Standard reports that Jaguar may return to Le Mans racing. Ratan Tata is quoted as saying:

We want to hit the Le Mans race, for which we are already re-examining whether we can bring back the Jaguar brand to its earlier state.

Ford withdrew Jaguar from the famous race because of cost. Accountants should not be allowed to run a car company!

Alistair Weaver reports on Sky.com that David Smith, Jaguar Land Rover’s new CEO, explained to him how the bureaucracy of the Ford empire is a thing of the past, and that the board new consists of just three people. Smith said:

We can make decisions in minutes that would have taken several meetings at Ford. This will mean we can bring vehicles to market faster.

I really like the direction that Jaguar is moving.

The Coventry Telegraph reports on a public meeting is being held at the Jaguar Social Club on Friday, July 25, to give residents the opportunity to discuss the options for the former Jaguar site in Browns Lane with city planners.

The proposal for 10 new business units and 68 homes on the 100-acre site has raised several concerns, including access to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Museum.

What is it about Bradford and Jaguars? As reported here in April, they had a parade of famous Jaguars led by Stirling Moss in a D Type Jaguar, and Easier Motoring now reports that the two-day Bradford Classic will be opened with Norman Dewis accompanying the Le Mans 24-hour race Jaguar that he crashed on the Mira test track in 1971 at 140 mph after earlier breaking the lap record at 161 mph for a drive through Bradford city streets.