Norman Dewis

Norman Dewis in 2012

Norman Dewis OBE (born August 3, 1920) was chief test driver and development engineer for Jaguar Cars from 1952 to 1985.[1]

Car development

Dewis participated in the development of the following cars:

Racing career

Dewis drove a Jaguar D-Type in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Don Beauman. The car failed to finish the race, retiring 106 laps into the race.

Jabbeke XK120 record

Dewis was the test driver who, on 20 October 1953 at Jabbeke, Belgium, drove a Jaguar XK120 to 172.412 mph, a record for production cars. The car had several aerodynamic modifications, including a distinctive bubble-shaped, air-tight canopy from a glider aircraft. After the record run was converted back to a road car and sold by the company.

XJ13 crash

On 21 January 1971 at the MIRA high-speed circuit Dewis drove the only Jaguar XJ13 for a film promotiing the new V12 Jaguar E-type. Despite a damaged tyre, and against the instructions of Jaguar Director, Lofty England, the car was driven by Dewis at high speed. The tyre failed and the car crashed heavily, almost destroying it. Dewis was unharmed. The wreck of the car was put back into storage.[2]

Work for Jaguar in retirement

In 2014 Dewis was still attending events related to Jaguar and giving talks about his work for the company.

Honours

In the 2015 New Year Honours Dewis was invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the Motor Industry.[3][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Jaguar legend to give talk at cancer event". Isle of Man Today. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "David Hobbs - Jaguar XJ13's Test Driver". UK. 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-30635403
  4. ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/391413/New_Year_Honours_List_2015.pdf

External links

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