50 ….Congratulations….Our association membership has passed the fifty mark with newcomers, David Thompson, Vaughn Foster and his son Vaughn Jnr., joining the sprinters. All three sprinters were competing for the first time at Sandown for round 1 of the 2009 JAGDAIM XJ6 series on Sunday 8 th February.

Reaching a half century was not the only excitement for the day, with drama involving two of the top drivers. One would incur a penalty and miss the first timed session, whist the other would be out for the day with mechanical failure.

Paul Zazryn along with Dirk Redel returned to the series with Paul driving the white Sinclair sprinter and Dirk filling in for Gary Randall (on crutches) in the JAGDAIM entry. Other drivers to miss the round were Anthony Larkins (also on crutches), Trevor Mackrell, (fighting the bush fires in Gippsland) and Paul Duncalf. Despite these loses, we still had15 Sprint drivers contesting the round.

Following the hottest day ever recorded in Victoria on Saturday 7 th February (47 degrees), Sunday morning had light rain falling well before the event started. These intermittent showers would continue until lunch time resulting in slower times.

The Practice session got under way with Rob Sinclair's red sprinter coming to a halt between turns 3 & 4. A problem with the accelerator cable left the car without power. However, it was Rob's failure to get out of his car and stand behind the Armco that resulted in him having to front the Stewards for the meeting. Rob's penalty was exclusion from running in the first timed session. The rest of the practice session proceeded without any further problems.

With Rob Sinclair out of the points for the first timed session, the 2008 Champion, Brian Wheeler could not believe his luck. But then again Brian's luck didn't last for long, with his gearbox jammed in gear, he was only able to complete one lap before he returned to the pit lane and withdraw for the day. This also had implications for Redel, who would not get a timed run. Paul Zazryn stepped up, but despite completing 3 laps he was unable to better Brian's only lap time of 1.34.09. Paul was second fastest with 1.37.27, followed by Pearmain (1.44.69) and Rowland Tidd (1.47.00). Rowland however did have a moment in the wet with his sprinter losing adhesion at the end of the back straight. Rowland's sprinter went through the esses approaching Dandenong Rd corner spinning around and around and coming to a halt in front of the tyre barrier. This much excitement would convince Rowland to miss the next session. Fifth fastest was John Larkins (1.52.66), then Hugh Sinclair (1.53.64), Stephen Yorke (1.58.04), Barry Kenna (1.58.36), David Thompson (1.58.86), Mike Crosbie (1.58.97), Vaughn Foster Jnr. (2.09.18) and Vaughn Foster Snr (2.13.96). Dirk Redel finished last without getting a run in the Jagdaim Sprinter.

The weather had a huge influence in the second session with the faster drivers running on a wet track and the others blessed with a dry track. As a result, Mike Crosbie took his first ever points win with a best time of 1.45.67. Barry Kenna was second with (1.47.49), followed by Paul Zazryn (1.48.64 in the wet), David Thompson (1.49.97), John Larkins (1.49.19), Stephen Yorke (1.50.13) and Hugh Sinclair (1.50.68). Rob Sinclair was out of the penalty box but hampered by the wet track and could only manage 1.53.42. Phil Pearmain was also slow in the wet with (1.56.77) in front of Vaughn Foster Jnr (2.10.06) and Vaughn Snr (2.17.26).

The final session was run on a dry track for all groups and despite having to be pushed started; Rob Sinclair finally got his act together and recorded the fastest time for the day with 1.31.23. Zazryn was second fastest with (1.31.78) and Hugh Sinclair also on the podium with (1.36.29). Fourth was Crosbie (1.36.84), then Pearmain (1.37.66), Tidd (1.39.42), Larkins (1.39.63) and Thompson (1.41.28) who was pushing the brake pedal that hard that the front of his Sprinter was dipping so low that it was nearly scrapping on the track surface. Next home was Kenna (1.41.50), then Yorke (1.43.26), Foster Jnr (2.01.77) and Foster Snr (2.01.94).

The placing's for round 1 were Paul Zazryn first, Mike Crosbie second and Hugh Sinclair third.

With the Sprinters membership now reaching 51 and with plenty of interest in pit lane with prospective newcomers the 2009 JAGDAIM series is shaping up as one of the biggest for some time.

At the end of the event our association held a meeting to discuss new regulations, in particular, creating a modified class that would also incorporate other Jaguar models to compete in our series. The original Sprinter class will continue along side the modified class which at this stage includes a V8 Chevy powered XJ series and a V12 XJS. The new regulations are posted on our website along with all details regarding our series and reports on each of the 2009 rounds.

If you own any Jaguar model and are interested in running along side other Jaguars in our series then contact our secretary (details at end of report) to register.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE AND LAP TIMES FOR 2009
JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTERS SERIES

DNC Did not compete
* NTL No recorded timed lap
** New Lap Record

The next round of the 2009 JAGDAIM XJ6 Sprinter series will be run at Phillip Island on Sunday 5th April, 2009.

Ross Coles Secretary
Jaguar XJ Sprinters Drivers Association
Contact: 0417351304 or email: secretary@jagsprinters.org