Octane March 2018

WHILE THE OCTANE mantra is to provide something (well, several things) for every enthusiast in each and every edition, it is hard to recall a more diverse issue than this one. And it is equally difficult to pinpoint a more adventurous one. In a lipsmackingly, delectably good sort of way, that is. For a start, Le Jog has long been regarded as the UK’s most gruelling reliability trial. Even in mild weather, HERO’s Land’s End to John O’Groats epic is pretty demanding, but when it snows and the roads are covered with treacherous ice, it is a mammoth test of physical and mental endurance even for the most experienced crews. Naturally, therefore, we sent a total novice on it in a BMW 1602: none other than F1…

ERIK FULLER ‘The hard part is to get a sharp shot from the back of a Fiat 500 over potholes through one of the busiest intersections in the world, while making sure the exposure is just right and that you also have the right ratio of taxis to pedestrians. Apart from that it was a blast.’ See Erik’s stunning pictures of the BMW M1 in New York on PAGES 62-70. TONY JARDINE ‘As a special-stage rally and race man I was sceptical about regularity rallying and yet intrigued by the harsh trial of Le Jog. It threw everything at us; I emerged sleep-deprived yet buzzing as an open-eyed convert after an adrenaline-filled four-day adventure.’ Find out more about how our rookie fared on historic rallying’s toughest event on PAGES 96-102.…

 AN HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT preproduction Land Rover that was found rotting in a Midlands garden in 2015 is to be sympathetically restored by Jaguar Land Rover. It’s one of two vehicles that made the marque’s debut at the Amsterdam motor show in 1948. ‘I HAVE THESE TWO OLD LAND ROVERS SITTING IN MY GARDEN. IF YOU DON’T WANT THEM, THEY’RE GOING DOWN THE TIP!’ Chassis R07 had been thought lost, and was not recorded as a survivor in historian Tony Hutchings’ authoritative 1982 work Land Rover – the Early Years. It came to light when the previous owner contacted a friend and reportedly said: ‘I have these two old Land Rovers sitting in my garden. If you don’t want them, they’re going down the tip!’ Fortunately the friend, who remains anonymous,…

Two years afTer Defender production officially ended, Land Rover has announced that it will build up to 150 Defenders with 5.0-litre V8 engines – the fastest accelerating Land Rovers that the company has ever made. Each will be priced from £150,000. The Defenders will not be assembled as brand-new vehicles (the vehicle that appears in JLR’s official press photos was sold new as a 2.2 diesel in 2015). Instead, donors will be sourced as sub-20,000-mile examples built between 2012 and 2016, which will be stripped and completely re-engineered by JLR’s Land Rover Classic division. Both short-wheelbase ‘90’ and long-wheelbase ‘110’ versions will be made. At the heart of each Defender Works V8 will be a 400bhp, 380lb ft naturally aspirated petrol V8, mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with…

Mansell celebrations for London Classic Car Show The star of the London Classic Car Show will be 1992 Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell. The 25th anniversary of the Englishman’s title for Williams will be celebrated at London’s ExCel on 15-18 February with cars, trophies and other memorabilia. Mansell will be on-hand during the show and is also set to be interviewed in the Supaguard Theatre in sister event Historic Motorsport International (one ticket gains entry to both shows). Other features of LCCS include a focus on getaway cars curated by actor Phil Glenister, while the centrepiece will remain the Grand Avenue, which allows visitors to watch cars in action indoors. For details, see wwwthelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk.. Make a date for a Goodwood trackday Goodwood Motor Circuit has released its trackday dates…

KNOWN UNIVERSALLY as The Guv’nor, Nick Syrett, who passed away on Boxing Day aged 84, came to prominence when running Brands Hatch in the 1960s. A gifted storyteller and nephew of Bentley Boy Bertie Kensington-Moir, Syrett was destined to end up in the world of motor racing and, after leaving the RAF for the RAC, he ended up doing the travel arrangements for F1 drivers, which led to him striking up a friendship with Mike Hawthorn, for whom he would become a confidant. In the late 1950s Syrett joined the BRSCC, rising to executive director and being instrumental in building Brands Hatch’s reputation and appeal. He helped bring F1 and F5000 to the Kent circuit before his departure to the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. The Guv’nor will forever be remembered…