This vehicle can be credited as the actual car that started the Jaguar World / Classic Spares XJS Championship - In 1997, Gary Davis and Ray Ingman were ready to return from their enforced motor racing retirement - Inspired by the ' XJS' exploits of Rogers Wilkinson and Bowman ( and a certain Derek Pearce) - an 'S' it had to be - word of mouth located a suitable candidate within 10 miles of Rays' house - the car had been purchased for its registration number ( BOR 1 S - I just don't see it - very obscure !!! ) and was therefore now unwanted. It transpired to be a red 1982 V12 HE automatic with a vast sheath of 'Lister' invoices - these mods included AP racing brakes, split rim alloy wheels and lowered suspension - Very suitable !!!

The auto trans was quickly swapped to manual, excess trim removed and the (working !!) aircon donated to another car. - The first outing was a JCC sprint at MIRA followed by a race at Pembrey, many more events followed over the next two years - at this time only two other XJS's were in regular competition , so to encourage some more rivalry , Gary and Ray , in the guise of Classic Spares ' invented' the XJS Challenge - after a slow start under JCC stewardship, the series ' took off ' in 2000 when JEC Racing was formed and Jaguar World lent its support. - This was celebrated in August 2000 by the car in 'Jaguar World ' livery being featured on the front cover - just previous to this the car was re-shelled into a rust free car that had been ' written off' due to a very small underbonnet fire - this was not due to any accident, but just that the original car proved ( upon close inspection) to be not all that sound !!

Over the years, this car , and its sister - the 'Alan Morgan' car now owned by Gail Hill, have been employed to develop the Classic Spares Performance Parts Range - including being extensively track tested by Rhoddy Harvey Bailey (HBE ) to perfect the suspension packages and SAFETY DEVICES to check the fitment of their FIA Homologated Roll Cages ( as now exclusively supplied by CSL ). Along the way, it has not been considered ' politic ' for CSL to always enter its own Championship, However, in 2005 ,despite only intending to contest selected rounds , Gary Davis took the XJS Championship crown and Ray Ingman won the XJS class of the JEC ' Powered by Jaguar series. ( Not only this, but the car also successfully competed in various non-championship events in the hands of Cliff Ryan -friend and customer of the company ).Previously, Gary also 'took' Class G in 2001 - Ray (maybe more by reliability than skill ) won the JEC Sports Car Championship outright in 2002.

Following all this achievement, and 9 years of development - it was time to move on - For the 2006 season the car was sold to David Weaver, who had previously competed in various 6 cylinder cars (prepared by CSL ) - unfortunately, due to pressure of overseas business, David was able to contest very few rounds of the series and has now decided he has to retire from racing . Thus for 2007, this famous car is once more looking for a new owner.

2006 saw CSL taking a sabbatical from mainland competition - Far from moving away from racing we expanded our preparation and support activities - as well as assisting many newcomers to go racing via both our commercial and JEC Competition Committee roles - We sourced and prepared a Class D ( 6 cylinder roadgoing) car and provided season long ' arrive and drive ' support for Patrick Felgenhauer. Sourced and prepared another Class D car for Jaguar World Magazine editor Matt Skelton, and continued to look after 'our' old car for David Weaver.

After 6 years of joint sponsorship with Jaguar World, 2007 sees the Championship title being assumed by Toyo Tyres - suppliers of the series control tyre , thePROXES T1-R - with Classic Spares once more in assistance. With Patrick providing his own transportation this year, we can offer a range of support and 'Arrive and Drive ' packages - maybe with our 'old' car !!!

Contact us with your requirements.

As to our own plans - wait and see !!!! We may consider trying to win the championship with a Class E ( 6 cyl Modified ) XJS - or really being different and entering the JEC Saloon Car Championship with a modified XJ6 driven by our own ace mechanic and workshop manager - Matt Everton. - Watch this website !!