Article from Veteran Tidende, magazine of the Danish Veteran Club March 2011.
A glorious vision, Jupiters as far as the eye can see.
By Mogens Ottosen
Photo: Mogens Ottosen and Ib Rasmussen
In 1910 production of Jowett automobiles started in Bradford,
Yorkshire, England. 100 years later it was celebrated with an
international rally – The Jowett Centenary - organized by the Jowett
Car Club.
We began in the autumn of 2009 to arrange to take part in the rally.
lb Rasmussen was easily persuaded to attend, with our Swedish
friends Birgit and Gustav Josefsson, and to my great joy my daughter
Mette said she would also like to attend.
 |
Morning coffee being enjoyed before starting the adventure. |
The rally took place on the 28th May 2010 in the magnificent
Yorkshire countryside. I was particularly excited to show my Summer
coupe which last went to a rally in England in 1975! On the way to
the ferry in Esbjerg we visited Læborg Auto Trade, which was
definitely worth a visit. We were superbly entertained by Soren
Sorensen.
After getting off the ferry in Harwich we drove through Cambridge
and stopped at the MG Owners Club's shop in Swavesey. There my
trouble with engine overheating begins, which only gets worse, and
after the overnight stay at a cozy hotel in Kenilworth I remove the
spark plugs and note that they are wet! The water is going from a
water chamber into the cylinder: a replacement cylinder head gasket
is needed.
The weather is great, with plenty of sunshine, so we decide to
follow our next stage, while keeping a lookout for a workshop.
We visited the previous owner of my Jupiter Anders Ditlev Clausager,
chief archivist at the Jaguar museum which is situated where the
Jaguar factory was located in Coventry.
On the way there Ib and I spotted a workshop and after a
conversation with the boss he "rented" me a lift and facilities for
2 hours; and after the 2 hours we continued our journey.
 Laeborg Auto Trade |
 MG owners shop visited in Swavesey |
 Jaguar Heritage visit |
 Donald D. Clausager considers Mogens Ottosen's Summer Jupiter: he was an earlier owner. |
 Cars photographed best from above. |
|
After a great ride in the hilly landscape full of blooming
rhododendrons we arrived at Cedar Court Hotel in Wakefield, which
was the base for the rally for the next 4 days. Once all
participants had arrived there were 160 Jowett vehicles and there
were participants from 11 nations.
We get a fantastic reception: Ib Rasmussen's been to several rallies
in Scotland and England and is therefore known at the club. After
finding our accommodation we attend an auction of a lot of original
Jowett parts, which was carried out with great high spirits.
The next day, we must continue the rally against sticks and stones -
literally, 75 km on an incredibly bad road with many large hills and
with rain and drizzle. It was an incredible experience. I am
partnered by Ib Rasmussen and after approx. 5 km. we see a Jowett
1924 Short 2, 18 HP, which has been stalling. We stop and try to
help, giving aid to a frustrated Scot!
It turns out that there is a bad connection in the ignition switch,
so Ib did some "hotwiring" between the battery and the ignition
coil, after which it starts and we all continue, with us as a
service vehicle. We ensured that the Scot arrived at our first stop
where we get warm, and enjoy getting coffee and cake!
The sun shines the day after when we are to travel approximately 10
km. to Cannon Hall, a castle from the 1700s, where we must put the
cars on display at a “Concours”. lb arrives a little later after
driving my daughter Mette to Manchester Airport because she was
going home for graduation. There is a great opportunity to view
Jowett cars of all kinds for a whole day. In the evening a gala
dinner, great food and style, conversation and toasts to the queen.
After the formal speeches were finished we made a little speech, and
then I handed the president Malcolm Oliver a beautiful plaque from
Denmark (we were the only ones who had a gift), and to great
applause Ib Rasmussen invited the members to a Jowett meeting in
Denmark in 2012.
 The workshop at P & A Wood |
|
 Cannon Hall. In the foreground a Bradford van. |
 Trophy at home - Ib Rasmussen |
 Jupiter R4 of fibreglass never went into production: Only 3 exist. |
 Jowett products in beautiful surroundings. |
Then there were prizes, and truth be told, we did very well. I
won 3 awards in my coupe; Best Special bodied - Concours-Special
bodied – Best car in show. Ib Rasmussen won the "sporting /
competition Award” for being the one who had driven in the most
races with Jupiter in 2010, and finally a prize was won by Birgit
and Gustav who had traveled the farthest to the rally. That evening
we ended up in the bar to celebrate the results.
Monday started with a bus ride to the location where the Jowett
factory had been in Bradford, with Birgit and Gustav taking part,
while lb visited our good friend Mike Smalies in Norton. I start
early for Harwich, as the engine was still getting hot, and my
gearstick had sheared and has been repaired with duct tape. While
I'm struggling to the ferry, Ib, Birgit and Gustav visited a
Rolls-Royce and Bentley restoration shop and sales business, P. & A.
Wood, an impressive business with extremely high standards. Then
Birgit and Gustav get problems with the petrol pump in the Jupiter
and get it transported to the ferry. Aboard the ferry we get good
food and can celebrate my birthday.
We get the permission of the captain to work on deck, where the
petrol pump is removed - it is impossible to repair when it is full
of water due to an error in fitting it right behind the front wheel.
When we arrive in Esbjerg lb gets a new petrol pump and fits it,
then I take a long time on the route to Copenhagen because I have to
stop every 25 km. to fill the car with water. Finally I arrive in
town late in the evening, but at least the car managed on its own
wheels. Total approx. 1700 km.
 Changing the water pump in the Jupiter. |
 1924 Short 2 18hp with stopped engine |
 Winner of the 1 1/2 litre class at Le Mans 1952. Jupiter R1. |
|
It was really a good journey and an incredibly good and well
planned rally, and we look forward to receiving Jowett people here
in Denmark in 2012.
Now, in winter, I have changed to a refurbished engine in the
Jupiter and am fitting a bigger water cooler!
(Please select the 'Back' button on your browser to return to your previous page)