Photos by John Retter
Windsor Castle opened its gates on Friday to some of the world’s rarest and most incredible cars as the Owners Day of Concours of Elegance 2016 got underway. The weekend event saw more than 1000 cars gather in one of the UK’s most incredible Royal Palaces.
Friday morning saw the arrival of 60 of the world’s finest cars competing in the prestigious Concours of Elegance, as they completed the final leg of the Great West Tour from Guards Polo Club to the picturesque castle quadrangle – led by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent.
Guests to the first day of the event were treated to a world-first with a feature comprised of cars from the grid of the inaugural British GP, which was held at Brooklands in 1926.
Continuing the patriotic celebrations, British motoring icons built in the 90 years since the Queen’s birth were also assembled in the breath-taking setting, covering everything from the Mini to the McLaren F1 and much more.
These features are just a small part of the Windsor Castle event which – at its heart – showcases sixty of the world’s rarest cars.
Concours of Elegance 2016 also features a free-to-view area on the Long Mile leading up to the Cambridge Gate of Windsor Castle, consisting of more than 800 models from the UK’s best car clubs, including the Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Jaguar and Bentley owners’ clubs.
Jaguar Trophy returned to the Concours of Elegance
The Jaguar Trophy returned to the Concours of Elegance 2016 at Windsor Castle on 3 September for the annual Jaguar Land Rover Saturday.
The overall winner of the Best in Show Jaguar Trophy was Barrie Woolston, owner of a remarkable XK120 Open Top Sports SE (OTS SE). Woolston’s XK120 has been modified for rallying with its aero screens and fluted bonnet, but also customized with modern disc brakes – helping the car’s drive-ability and enjoyment in modern road conditions, making for a non-standard car, and an unusual winner.
Director of Jaguar Land Rover Classic Tim Hannig explains: “To purists, this car is wrong and non-standard in so many ways, I think the only truly original feature is the carpet, however, it is a very well deserved winner of the Jaguar Trophy. The reason is two fold – first, and simply, all of us judges unanimously agreed that of the 100-plus vehicles we looked at, it is the one we would most like to drive home in. Secondly, Barrie has bought this car to drive it, and enjoy it for what it is meant to be – an exciting, usable and very beautiful Jaguar. He has put thousands of miles on it and enjoyed it as a drivers car, a character of this XK120 which is enhanced by its modifications. They add to the car, and add to its appeal, which is why it is a really great winner of the Jaguar Trophy.”
The XK120 was joined in the winners’ presentation by an immaculately restored SS1 Tourer, which took the ‘Coach Built Era Cars’ category award. ‘KV 9740’ was the subject of a 25-year restoration by its owner Colin Stewart, who bought the car in derelict condition from Texas in 1990. The car made it’s concours debut in 2015 at Pebble Beach.
Winner of the Sportscar class was a Series 1 E-type, appropriately registered ‘1600 HP’ and owned by Stuart Cardwell. Chassis number 5, this right hand drive fixed head coupe was the very first E-type to feature internal bonnet locks, and was presented in beautiful original condition.
The winner of the Saloon class was an immaculately presented Mk 1, owned by Michael Bing, while the Classics of the Future class went to a pristine XKR from 2002 – Phillip Dyson’s ‘DG52 XKR’.
Eight judges made up the Jaguar Trophy panel, led by John Edwards (Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations) and Tim Hannig (Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic). Joining John and Tim on the panel were Vice Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt (Master of the Royal Household), David Lillywhite (Editor, Octane magazine), Paul Walton, (Editor, Jaguar World), Karen Marshall (Managing Director, Bridge of Weir Leather Company), Tim Scott (Petrolicious.com classic car aficionado and photographer) and Jaguar’s in-house classic car expert, Tony O’Keeffe.
