November 2014

Jaguars On the Prowl

Fall Colors on the way to the Santa Fe Ski Slopes. Tip for finding jaguars: - Most jaguars are tan or orange with distinctive black spots, dubbed "rosettes" because they are shaped like roses. Some jaguars are so dark they appear to be spotless, though their markings can be seen on closer inspection. Here is a rare photo of some other color phases of a group resting on an overlook in the mountains of New Mexico commonly seen on the third Saturday of each month.

The Santa Fe RailRunner station near Tomasita’s restaurant.

The Santa Ana RailRunner station.

Taking a break.

On the way.

6 Jaguars, a Miata, & a Mustang convertible made it for October’s drive to enjoy the fall foliage on the way to the Santa Fe ski area. 13 members went along for the ride.

3rd Saturday

At the top!

Photographs courtesy of Chuck Howe

More views of Ski Santa Fe

Wednesday, November 5, regular meeting. We will meet at

Mimi’s at 6:30 pm. Regular time, regular place.

3rd Saturday, November 15, Coffee & Cars. We will meet at the

Home Depot on 550 in Rio Rancho around 9:30 am and leave at 10:00 am to drive to Los Ojos Restaurant & Saloon in Jemez Springs for lunch. We should arrive some time around 11:00 if anyone wants to meet us there.

Up Coming Events

Hi. Let me introduce myself. My name is WOW. I got that name because most Jaguar lovers say “WOW” when they first see me when I am out and about. I was born in the Jaguar Factory in 1957 as an XK140 SE Roadster. My first home was in Colorado Springs, but I grew old and I was replaced with a newer model. I then found a home in Florida where I was promised a renewed life. That never happened and I sat ignored in the wind and rain for many years. I became increasingly rusted, rotted and forlorn. One day about 4 years ago I was placed on e-bay for auction. Could this be the beginning of a new life for me? How I hoped that Jay Leno would see me and realize my potential and add me to his magnificent collection! Sadly, it was not to be and I found myself in Albuquerque, NM, sitting in an open lot with several other cars hoping to be chosen for a new life. All looked hopeless. Months later I see Dave Merewether and his helper, Bernie Wright, looking me over. Miraculously I was moved inside and they started pulling me apart. My hood and trunk lid came off, then the fenders, now my body was being removed from the frame, the motor and transmission came out, leaving just my naked frame. Will I ever see all my parts again? Slowly I was totally refurbished and two years later I was ready to show off my “new” me. I had new biscuit colored upholstery that replaced my faded, decayed red interior. The original blue paint was replaced with Jaguar's Imperial Maroon. The month of September was very busy for me as I attended three car shows. The first one was the 2014 Western States Wheels and Wings in the Springs show and the 2014 Concours d'Elegance held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, September 2-6, 2014. How excited I was when the official show photographer followed me on

WOW By Ann Merewether

my trailer to the unloading area because he “just had to get a picture of me in the evening light because I was so beautiful”. My owner, Dave Merewether, drove me in the slalom and was almost able to win last place for me. The last place winner was Steve Kennedy in his Mark V sedan. I then was taken to the show arena where I was placed beside a COPY CAT! The same biscuit interior and top, same Imperial Maroon paint. This was a 1956 XK140 drophead with those tacky roll-up windows. However, this was my only competition in my class during the two days of judging. The first day was for the Western States Wheels and Wings and I was awarded first place in the champion competition. I was elated. The award for this competition was an artist autographed small statue of “Early Flying Man” done by local artist Michael Garman. The second day at the 2014 Concours d'Elegance judging, the judges were not as thorough and I kept yelling, “Check the wheels!! They are not original”, and then “Hey, you forgot to open the tool kit!! His tool kit is incomplete!” But they ignored me and presented the drophead with first place and I received a second place. I was overjoyed to later be given the award for “People's Choice”. The show headquarters was at the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. The Friday evening dinner was at the airport hanger with a selection of antique airplanes on display. Adjacent and open to tour was an airplane restoration facility with WWII planes in various stages of restoration for private billionaires. Many had been dug up from their burial grounds around the world, buried where they were located at the end of WWII. The second show was the Concours du Soleil held in Albuquerque on Sept 22. Although I was not entered in this year's judging, I sat proudly on display because I had won “Best of Class” and “Best of Show” in 2012. I was disappointed that my “sister”, a Jaguar 120 drophead, did not win an award. The last show for September was the Santa Fe Concourso held in Santa Fe, NM on September 27-28. Boy, was my competition stiff. I managed to be awarded a Director's choice ribbon for my eye appeal at the show. I still kept my WOW reputation with many wonderful expressions of delight.

What a beginning! Simply amazing how it ended up.

Nice collection of hardware.

Chuck’s XKR