Shakedown: TMD Friction hosts Jaguar land speed contender

22 June 2022  

TMD Friction’s proving ground at Seaton Ross in Yorkshire recently hosted a successful shakedown for a XJ6 Series III looking to break the Jaguar land speed world record.

TMD Friction’s Mintex brand is providing the braking for racing instructor and bodyshop owner Kevin Bourne’s Jaguar as he works to break the world speed record for Jaguar cars. The car has an 8.8 litre, V12 quad-cam engine, inspired by the prototype Jaguar engine from their XJ13 Le Mans car, of which only three original examples remain. Kevin intends go faster than 226 miles per hour over the seven-mile course during Speedweek, at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats from 6 – 12 August.

Kevin’s Jaguar, called Alfred, has Mintex brake pads and discs on the front and rear, which he estimates has given him an extra 40% of braking performance: “The shakedown has been a great success. The braking performance of the XJ6 with the Mintex equipment on is incredible. It gives me full confidence we’ll get the car stopped.”

Crew Chief Steve Allen observed: “Following a run at Pendine Sands we added new aerodynamics on the front, a new induction system, new suspension, and a secondary fuel system. The test at TMD Friction’s site has really enabled us to ensure all is in perfect working order ahead of the record attempt, which is getting ever closer.”

This was the final test-run before Kevin makes his record attempt. Scott Irwin, MIMI, head of technical training at TMD Friction, concluded: “TMD Friction has always had a proving ground in the UK but recently moved to Seaton Ross. The facility combines research and development and a training area that delivers the latest technical training for our customers. The team at Seaton Ross develop and test new friction material there every day, so it provided the perfect backdrop for Kevin and Steve to perform their shakedown.”