Looking Ahead in 2006
WESTERN STATES in Bend, Oregon
TOUR JAGUAR ENGLAND
July 11 – 14
Dear Jan,
I have been invited to what promises to be THE social event of the summer:
The Western States Jaguar Meet. The theme is “Return to the Forties,” The
stressful part is WHAT do I wear to the theme dinner???
Signed, A Jaguar Owner Who Needs Help With Some Ideas For A Costume
Dear AJOWNHWSIFAC,
Oh my!! You will have a marvelous time!! So many wonderful
events occurred during the 1940s!! And the cars! How many exclamation points to award the magnificent cars?!?!?!?!!!!!!
You may wish to dress like someone. Here is only a partial list of
what was going on; surely ONE of these will provoke a costume idea.
Thor Heyerdahl sailed (1947) on his raft from Peru to Polynesia;
didn’t everyone read “Kon-Tiki” in their youth? (And you would only
need a mere scrap of cloth!) At the other end of the clothing spectrum,
Roger Byrd made it to the South Pole.
The Zoot Suit (and don’t forget the reet pleat!) was popular in
1943. Only a “hep cat” could wear one then (or now).
Remember that FDR was president - oh! that cigarette holder and
speech pattern!
In the arts, Picasso was painting up a storm as was Jackson Pollack (a white shirt, blue jeans and several cans of paint??). Alfred
Hitchcock was at the heigth of his creativity. The lindy hop was popular and gave way to jitterbugging.
If you are going for a general “cool” look, think “Casablanca.”
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman personified the look of that decade. You probably know the lines by heart and can spout them
throughout the evening. (“Play it, Sam.” “We’ll always have Paris.”
And something about a hill of beans.) What about going as Edward G.
Robinson??
As far as women’s fashions are concerned, the first 2 piece bikini
was invented. (Just a thought!) During WWII, skirts were straight with
short jackets or sheath-type dresses for evening to conserve material.
Once the war ended, fashion became more billowy with ruffles and
flounces around the neck, hemline and waists.
This information is from a terrific book: “The Timetables of History.” I’m sure your library has a copy in the reference section. Also,
ask the librarian for any other books; let her/him know what you need
and they will show you the pictures for even more ideas.
Some homework for more ideas: Watch movies! “The Best Years
of Our Lives,” “Notorious,” “The Lost Weekend,” “Citizen Kane,” “How
Green was My Valley,” and “Fantasia” (I would advise resisting going
as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice) were all made in the forties. Better yet,
have a pre-Western States party!
I can see how this will be the event of the season!! I hear that
Jaguar owners really know how to have fun!
Page 3
August 26 – Sept. 4
The Central Coast Jaguar Club, located in Cambria, CA is organizing a
Tour of England with emphasis on the Jaguar related facilities. JAG
members are invited to join in and see where your Jaguar was born –
and have lots of fun with other Jaguar enthusiasts.
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The tour will include the following:
The Jaguar Factories: Brown’s Lane & Castle Bromwich
The Jaguar-Daimler Heritage Trust
The Jaguar Collection at The Heritage Motor Centre
The Jaguar West End Showrooms
The Jaguar Collection at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu
Abbey
The Goodwood Revival: Jaguars and other vintage Classics
The Imperial War Museum in Duxford, near Cambridge
The RAF Museum in Hendon, just north of London
Blenheim Palace + full day trip to Bath & Stonehenge
London sightseeing: Big Ben, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace,
Globe theatre + Play, West End Musical
3- or 4-Star Hotels/9 Breakfast + 9 Dinners/Deluxe Coach
Land Price: $1500-$1800 p.p./d.o.; Single supplement $497
(Final price depends upon group size)
PAYMENT DEADLINE IS MARCH 26, 2006
For Info. And registration contact Peter Raleigh at 805-927-1053 or email [email protected] or visit www.CentralCoastjags.org
-Latest input from Peter –
Our England Tour is now called
"JAGUARS! SPITFIRES! MUSTANGS!"
The Aircraft part will focus on the American Air Museum at Duxford's
Imperial War Museum (moving tributes to the legendary B-17 Flying
Fortress), plus the 70th Anniversary Tribute to the Spitfire there (a 2day event highlighted by a massive fly-over by hosts of Spitfires) and
the superlative Mustang, probably the most versatile fighter plane of
WWII.
Editor’s Note:
The events during Western States are a real blast and this
location is extremely well suited to the venue. In addition a
great Leaping Cat Touring Society multiple day trip leisurely
trip is in the works. Please put this event on your calendars and
plan on joining us – it really is great fun.
JAGazette
March 2006