Social Scene 349

"At the 2023 Capel Classic Car Show, one of the cars on display that caught my eye was an impressive replica of Mike Hawthorn’s Mk1 Jaguar, the car in which he was killed on the Guildford Bypass in early 1959, the year after he had won the GP World Championship. The chap displaying the car explained that it had been commissioned by Nigel Webb, a classic Jaguar enthusiast who had moreover created an entire Museum dedicated to Mike Hawthorn, occasuinally open for invited visitors. So 11 of us met on a crisp sunny morning on 28 Nov.

I went in a Mk2 Jaguar which seemed an appropriate vehicle for such a visit but there was a first class turnout of our group's TRs

Nigel gave us an introductory talk then took us outside and showed us a line up of some his

collection of Jaguars that he regularly drives, including 881VDU, the Mike Hawthorn replica.

We then progressed to the museum itself and the collection of Mike Hawthorn memorabilia which has taken Nigel years of research to bring together, including a display of steering wheels from some of the cars Mike had raced.

Nigel talked us through the various cars in his collection and then we moved on to the workshops, which were in effect a production line for meticulously restored. Mk2’s.

Nigel had unstintingly given us two hours of his time and hospitality providing us with a memorable visit!"

Turning to upcoming events our AGM followed by optional lunch at the Onslow Arms, West Clandon is on Sunday 25th February from 1.00 p.m. Your committee looks forward to a good turnout.