Under the Big Guns at the JOCLA Annual Concours d’ Elegance – May 15, 2022
By Mark Hodges
The Jaguar Owners Club of Los Angeles’ (JOCLA) Annual Concours d’ Elegance found a new home this year: The grounds of the Battleship USS Iowa Museum. The JOCLA has been trying to get this venue the last couple of years and this year club president and SW Regional Director, Mark Mayuga, made it happen.
The weather was nice and cool the morning of May 15. A fog rolling in helped to keep the Southern California sun from beating down on our freshly polished Jags. The sun finally broke through around noon, warming everyone up with some great Spring weather.
A portion of our Concours fee included a donation to the Battleship Iowa Foundation, in support of the museum. Entry in the show also included a tour of the ship.
With forty-one Jags lined up on the starboard side of the ship, there was some question as to whether the Iowa’s big 16-inch guns were protecting our Jags, or whether our Jags were running escort for the world-famous battleship. What do you think? Club President Mark Mayuga officially opened the event at 9:30 with an owners meeting and then a judges meeting. Rags Down was announced at 10 am and judging commenced. The Los Angeles, San Diego, and Inland Empire clubs have always worked well together when it comes to providing judges for our respective Concourses, and this day was no exception.
JCNA members came from all over California to attend the show: Los Angeles (JOCLA), San Diego (SDJC), San Francisco (JAG), and the Inland Empire (IEJC). The following models of Jags were entered in the competition: XK-120, XK-140, XK- 150, E-Type, Mark II, XJ6, XJ8, XJS, XK8, XKR, XJR, X-Type, and the C-Type Replica.
Depending on their judging time, some members toured the ship before their Jags were judged, while others toured after.
Judging ended around 2:30 pm. That’s 1430 hours, Navy-time. We then all headed over to the Whale and Ale English Pub a couple of blocks away for the Awards Dinner.
After eating traditional English dishes such as Fish & Chips, Bangers and Mash, and Shepard’s Pie; Mark Mayuga, along with sponsor Clive Collins from XKS Motorsports, started the awards presentation. While the highest champion division score was 99.99, two driven entries received perfect 10’s: Steve Leyerly and Domenic Valvano, who, interestingly, were both in class D4 with Series 3 E- Types.
Many of us finished up the day with some Sticky- Toffee Pudding or Guinness Cake. All in all, it was a great ending to a great day, meeting with great friends, viewing some great Jags, touring a great battleship, supporting a great cause, and eating a great meal.
Mark Hodges is the San Diego Jaguar Club’s Webmaster and Concours Chairman
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