the 24th edition of the On The Road model car Belgium is the biggest and most spectacular in Europe I had previously heard about the size of the event but only fully understood how huge it is when I tried to park near the venue but most of the designated places were already taken I managed to find a parking spot for my little rental and went to check what the show is all about There are plenty of scale model shows in Europe The Jabbeke event is purely dedicated to car culture the organizers had more than 70 awards to hand out and Ukraine were just a few of the countries I saw represented at On The Road You could look at it as a large international car meet with a designated show area for vehicles and space for aftermarket parts – albeit all in scale form Since 3D printing has become accessible and affordable many enthusiasts are pushing the boundaries While most aftermarket parts are resin casts from silicone moulds in the last few years some companies have started offering 3D printed parts 3D printing has changed the modeling world because projects that were once not feasible can now can be realized a Ukrainian model car club was selling a kit of the Lancia Delta Integrale’s engine They are the only ones who produce such a thing for this particular car I wasn’t surprised to see quite a few Liberty Walk GT-Rs as the Aoshima plastic kit is a good quality base to work from Sascha Müller took top honors in the ‘Japanese Tuning’ category an open hood and detailed engine from an Aoshima street GT-R kit making the visual difference That’s gold in the category three years in a row for Sascha now something he puts down to the total package he offers: stylish this table of Arthur Erbricht and Daniel Nollen creations was full of it Arthur’s slammed Nissan Cube caught my eye with its bright yellow rims (complete with tiny wheel nuts) and purple metallic paint The Cube took Arthur around 20 hours to build I got the feeling that Arthur likes to focus on less popular models You may remember this Volkswagen Golf Mk4 from the real world and to recreate it in scale form a standard VW Golf kit from Revell was used as a base with an R32 front bumper and BBS Le Mans wheels and one of the prize categories at the show is ‘Custom Diecast.’ Customizing Hot Wheels and other smaller scale cars is fun and you can often be rewarded with a result quite quickly There was one diorama that really drew the crowds in – and for good reason Engine noise and smoke is not a typical sight at a model car event but they’re things Holger ‘Bobo’ Boborowski incorporated into his live action display What’s even more impressive is that fact that a rallycross variant of the Fiesta doesn’t exist in the scale model world so the rear air vents and other details were custom-made Here’s another custom project that I really liked said that the Hasegawa Volkswagen T1 kits (21-window van and pick-up) have been in production for what feels like decades now and are a very good bases for custom builds because of their simplicity Several years ago he bought the 1980s F1 boat and trailer combo as a half-built project from a guy in Jabbeke Seb often looked at the kit and pondered what he could do with it it just happened to sit next to a Hasegawa T1 box and this sparked an idea in his mind The design was inspired by French artist Pascal Meslet and his fictitious McBottle Racing Team paint schemes There’s nothing fictional about Sebastian’s models: he works as an engineer at ZF which adds a level of realism to his models Every model project he makes could exist in the real world Work and improvement of the models never stops that’s why it’s a hobby and everybody loves to do it On the Road is big meeting place for old and new friends Two people at this year’s event will be remembered a bit more vividly than others: Luis Perez from the United States and Eero Kumanto from Finland Luis took home ‘Best Motorcycle’ with this army chopper his gasser was awarded ‘Best Hot Rod,’ and his Tony Schumacher U.S Army dragster took home the trophy for ‘Best Race Car.’ Eero is known to many as a kustom kulture artist His achievements in Belgium included ‘Best Pick-up’ for his Mooneyes-themed VW single-cab pick-up second in the ‘Hot Rod’ category with his ’32 Ford and third in the ‘European Passenger Car’ with his Moon Equipped VW Beetle The Finn also received a special prize for his tiny Tunturi Maxi moped – ‘Best of Show Motorcycle.’ This moped is a legendary Finnish product from the ’70s and according to Eero his model was built from scratch and took about one year to complete while the tires are from some toy motorcycle Eero also designed his own photo-etched parts for this project It took me a good amount of time to pass between all the rows in the first hall but remember that there was another – with trucks there was a whisper that something fantastic awaited everybody in the second room – a fascinating diorama involving Scania trucks Although my truck knowledge is pretty much non-existent This is a very detailed representation of a Scania workshop with three trucks being serviced and half of the components you usually glue to the model were found lying around as spare parts It only took Swiss modeler Martin Stadler less than half a year to put together I guess it was many hours of work within that short period because the attention to detail and quality was monumental There isn’t a general rule on how to judge a model but here are some of the aspects taken into consideration: painting It takes great effort and an immense amount of patience to produce models like these guys do but as with anything that people accomplish Modeling Stories on Speedhunters I don’t come to SH for these models/dioramas Thanks for sharing such an awesome story man The photos and the models in them have such great detail it's given me an urge to make my Tamiya Mercedes 500 SEC Lorinser model that my parents gave me ages ago really captured the art of scale modelling You gotta love that "Christine" being crawled over by that bulldozer but this diorama is copy of a Hot VW's Magazine cover from February 1975 Are there any videos of that Fiesta diorama in action There is! https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2109318642694029&id=100008477409796&sfnsw=cl One thing that did make me laugh was: "The Jabbeke event is purely dedicated to car culture, only extending to motorcycles and trucks" (the very next picture) "Enter stage-left, The Thing!" Haha! Excellent article though, some mind-blowing creations! This made me want to go out and make my own! Haha, yep, left that easter egg for Paddy Thanks for the great article and pictures about the best civilian-only modeling show in Europe, Vladimir! Well written and nicely curated pictures. It sure isn't easy to pick pictures for the article from the massive selection on display there. Hope to see you again at out show in Frankfurt in November. Best regardsSebastian It's Wonderful. Muito interessante, meu filho Bruno Serafim tem uma coleção digna de apresentação em um evento como esse, essa feira é a cara dele. Speedhunters is an international collective of photographers, writers and drivers with a shared passion for uncovering the world's most exciting car culture stories. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishCULTUREPermeke Museum in Jabbeke reopens after three years of renovation work28 March 2024 The Permeke Museum in Jabbeke will open again on 29 March after three years of renovation work The reopening coincides with an exhibition that will spotlight the international importance of Constant Permeke the Belgian painter and sculptor who is considered the leading figure of Flemish expressionism the sculpture studio was thoroughly overhauled making adjustments for wheelchair accessibility and restructuring to allow more natural light in The sculpture studio was also insulated and equipped with a contemporary climate system for museums The museum offers an insight into various subjects from Permeke's life and work through works of art leaned into the avant-garde movements that emerged in various parts of Europe directly prior to "The artist had one foot in European modernism and the other in the tradition of Rembrandt "The Permeke Museum now wants to become a knowledge centre around Constant Permeke where the archive and understanding about the artist are brought together to stimulate academic research.” Two exhibitions will take place each year in the renovated sculpture studio featuring works from the museum's collection and loans from private collectors and international museums The winter exhibitions will focus on research on Permeke and modernism while the summer exhibitions bring together the art of Permeke and other artists an appeal was launched to people who knew Permeke resulting in seven recorded testimonies that have been incorporated into the new presentation #FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO THIERRY ROGE Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu You can read this article in 3 minutesAgnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus The parking lot in the Belgian Jabbeke, which was popular with truck drivers, was closed due to the shootout between the immigrants Local transport unions criticize this security measure no overnight rest can be carried out in the car park on the Belgian E40 motorway in Jabbeke the parking will be closed for the night (from 8 pm to 6 am) informed about the introduction of the ban citing security concerns as the main reason behind the decision Not only the transport organizations did not like the decision of the mayor of Jabbeke The Belgian Minister of the Interior, Jan Jambon He believes that this security measure is harmful to the economy – reports the transport portal verkehrsrundschau.de but that does not solve the problem,” complains Philippe Degraef He emphasizes that drivers have the right to rest in a safe place and proposes that part of the proceeds from the toll collected in Belgium should be used to secure car parks in the country “Is it so hard?” Degraef asks rhetorically is afraid that others will follow the example of mayor of Jabbeke and introduce similar prohibitions in the interest of truckers’ safety Such solutions were proposed by subsequent municipalities along the E40 – Landen and Dilbeek where will it be possible to take legal rests then Towards the end of 2016, security guards appeared on three parking lots along the Belgian E40 highway along the coast. The decision was taken by Ben Weyts, the Belgian Minister for Transport, because of the large groups of immigrants who broke into the trucks in this region One of the protected facilities was a parking lot in Jabbeke Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Sabina Koll Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 GXO to manage Northern Italy transport operations for PRG retail groupPölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Automotive design house Makkina introduces the show car Triumph TR25, a revival of the iconic British roadster Triumph Jabbeke TR2 that was first unveiled 70 years ago This special edition car is a tribute to Makkina’s 25th anniversary alongside the 100th anniversary of the Triumph badge on cars.  The Triumph TR25 showcases an aerodynamically optimized design featuring an all-electric BMW i3S powertrain for eco-friendly performance The Triumph TR25 show car by Makkina is a celebration of the British roadster heritage in a contemporary context While Makkina usually keeps its car designs confidential the Triumph TR25 marks its first public-facing project of this kind The Jabbeke Triumph TR2 MVC575 broke the land speed record for production cars under two liters in 1953 and Makkina wants to reimagine the historic vehicle as a contemporary piece of cutting-edge automotive design boxed in an edgy and geometric car frame with a dedicated seat for a single driver.  The interior of Makkina’s Triumph TR25 takes inspiration from an era before large touchscreens dominated dashboards It employs technology to enhance the driving experience without detracting from the minimalist interior design or the enjoyment of the road ahead With the driver at the center of the experience the TR25 features a single driver’s seat and an optional flip-out jump seat for a passenger To optimize power-to-weight distribution and maintain a minimalist interior Makkina offers an innovative seating solution The seating position remains fixed while the pedal box and steering adjust to suit the individual driver This tailor-made seating concept has been extensively tested to ensure that even drivers who are over six feet tall can sit and drive the car comfortably.  The central spine of Makkina’s Triumph TR25 provides structural rigidity in the cockpit it runs from the front to the rear of the cabin and extends into the structural frame of the seats The cockpit design is similarly inspired by the TR2 and a self-centering dial is embedded in a steering wheel inspired by the Union Jack alongside a central binnacle displays road speed rear view of Makkina’s Triumph TR25 show car The exterior of Makkina’s Triumph TR25 is a careful blend of character and functionality reflecting the automotive design house’s attention to detail and design expertise Drawing inspiration from previous Triumph sports cars the show car’s design prioritizes the modern driver with its stylish simplicity and unmistakably British aesthetic The exterior design of the TR25 represents a harmonious balance of proportions and a purposeful stance seamlessly integrating the distinctive attributes of its predecessor into a captivating sculptural design statement Makkina has developed an exclusive exterior color that references the original vehicle accentuating the interplay of highlights and shadows on its curving exterior form Every pen stroke and digital surfacing in computer-aided styling was carefully executed to follow the original ‘Jabbeke’ Triumph TR2 all the while bringing a fresh interpretation to the table Makkina’s design team collaborated with a renowned show car builder based in Germany they worked in a state-of-the-art facility to build the TR25 show car which was unveiled at Woods Quay in London on July 13th the rendition’s design takes cues from Makkina’s historic ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 the single-seater show car can also accommodate a passenger through a flip-out jump chair the entrance of Triumph TR25 coincides with Makkina’s 25th anniversary Makkina’s Triumph TR25 show car roadster the Triumph TR25 showcases an aerodynamically optimized design the seating position remains fixed while the pedal box and steering adjust the seat has been tested to accommodate drivers who are over six feet tall design: Makkina AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Classic cars that break records are always going to be remembered especially when it’s the Jabbeke Triumph TR2 the car set a record of 124.889 mph on the Jabbeke motorway in 1953 This makes it arguably the most important TR in history and it’s being sold for £300,000 by Glen Hewett The TR2 debuted at the 1953 Geneva Motor Show with Standard-Triumph’s Managing Director Sir John Black deciding it would be speed tested at Jabbeke The carriageway had a history of being tested by British manufacturers like Jaguar and Healey Engineer Ken Richardson was chosen to drive the car because he’d contributed to redeveloping the TR2 before its 1953 launch plastic windshield and undershield for improved streamlining A significant amount of hype surrounded the TR2 “We have waited a long time for the sports Triumph to be anything more than an exhibit on show stands but this sensational news from Belgium makes it look as if the Coventry sports car is well worth waiting for.” it was sold by Welbeck Motors in 1956 for £650 it had been dismantled and in 1972 it was sold in a boxed state When Hewett found the TR2 it was “absolutely dilapidated and rusted away.” This led to a full restoration that brought the car back to its former glory The restoration of the TR2 is a pivotal moment in car history If the car hadn’t set the Jabbeke speed record the future of Triumph may have been in doubt The record had an important impact on the industry It’ll be interesting to see where the TR2 ends up next Do you own a classic car? Get a competitive classic car insurance quote through Carole Nash in minutes Carole Nash offers a special tailored insurance policy on Future classics with some great benefits Sign me up! Before you take the plunge and buy a motorhome it’s probably worth checking if you’re actually eligible to drive one on your current driving licence.  For the most part the year you passed your driving test determines whether or not you’re legally.. The history of Honda’s seminal Africa Twin adventure bike Retro adventure bike pays homage to early ‘80s icon The story of Suzuki’s oddly-named adventure bike range View all our newsView all our blogs Want some tips on what to look for when buying your first motorcycle Let the Insidebikes team give you the benefit of their decades of experience… Motorways are great for covering distance in no time but they come with a whole set of considerations that you need to appreciate to make your progress safe Honda takes it to Royal Enfield with a basic single that’s got all the right ingredients… View all our tips & guides We love talking bikes, so we will love talking to you! © Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd. All rights reserved There's always a catch, isn't there? Last week's photo showed the hood and fender of a 1952 Jaguar XK120, but it was not a standard model. That beautiful roadster had been modified to try for the land speed record. It succeeded, and then some! That particular was known as the Jabbeke because in 1953 it reached 173.159 mph at Belgium's Jabbeke Motorway. That was fast for the time. That enticed Jaguar to streamline its XK120, adding the plastic bubble. "Upon their return to Jabbeke in the latter part of the year, the performance of both the XK120 and Norman fast surpassed any expectations as the car achieved an incredible top speed of 173.159 mph and reclaimed the World Record for the Flying Mile with a speed of 172.412 mph," the website states. After its speed victories, MDU 524 was sold and used in club racing events. Our photo shows that same Jaguar at a car rally and concours show in New Delhi last year, being scrutinized by Indian industrialist Ratan Tata. Tata Motors purchased Jaguar (and Land Rover) from Ford Motor Co. a few years ago. Jaguar built the XK120s from 1948 to 1954. They were sleeker than most other cars of the time and were popular with American soldiers and veterans who had encountered Jaguar in Europe just after World War II. The standard two-seater with the normal windshield was even more fetching than the MDU 524. To this day, the automaker is known for its luxurious, well-handling performance cars. We enjoyed your personal stories involving Jags. Chosen randomly from the correct entries last week was the name of Lee Williams, of Johnston, S.C., who wrote: "The car in question this week is a 1952 Jaguar XK120 land speed record racer. The car was engineered and driven by Norman Dewis. The registration number of the car is MDU 524. "My father is a longtime member of the Antique Automobile Club of America. In the late '60s and early '70s, there were several XK120s being driven in the Charlotte, N.C., area. I was fascinated with these cars. Pop would quiz me a lot to identify antique cars. "The British tend to refer to their cars by the registration numbers, so I think that this car is called MDU 524." Thanks to Williams for the memories of Jaguars and his father. Other readers identifying the vehicle were: AIKEN: Ann Willbrand guessed it to be the 1950 model of the XK120: "In the late 1940s (before my time) my parents moved from St. Louis to Florida. A couple of years later, my dad owned a Jaguar for a few months. "They were clearly not accustomed to the heat, and a low-riding car with no air conditioning was too much for him, so he traded it for a more comfortable American car. However, they must have had some fascination with British cars because a couple of years after that, my mother had a Hillman convertible. I have a picture of her and a year-old me with my sun bonnet in that car." AUGUSTA: Gary Engen recognized the car by name and numbers alike: 1952 Jaguar XK120 MDU 524: "This week it's another British classic. Your hint about 'it's a jungle out there,' plus a recognizable part of the front grille immediately led me toward its being some sort of vintage Jaguar. Since the photo did show that the car, if a Jaguar, did not have the typical classy wire wheels, then it would likely be a racing version. "Further research (thank you, Google) proved that it is a 1952 Jaguar XK120, sometime referred to as the 'Jabbeke' or MDU 524. That was a one-of-a-kind, highly modified factory XK120 that at one time set the production car world land speed record in 1953. Lots of interesting history on this one that I'm sure you and other readers will elaborate on. "I've always been fond of the early 1950s XK120/140/150 sports cars but never owned one. Back in my senior year of high school, I dated a girl for a while whose father owned a white Jaguar XK120 roadster. I was even allowed to take it for a very short drive around the neighborhood once. I remember the engraved brass plate that was attached to the dash that stated something about the Jag being the world's fastest car. What a thrill! "Well, I guess the girl was not quite as thrilling, though, for we split soon after the father sold the Jag. Ahhh, the memories!" Tony Brunson said: "This week's What Is It? is a 1952 Jaguar XK120 concept car. We knew what kind and approximate year, just had to really look for it. We found a picture of it at a Pebble Beach Car Show. Very stylish-looking car. Lowell Fritsche said: "I guess I proved to you I should have my glasses checked last week. I would have swore that tag said Cadillac. (Editor's note: Your eyes are fine. The car was a LaSalle, sold by Cadillac, so the front license plate did indeed say Cadillac.) "My guess this week is a Jaguar, probably an XK120. You are right; that model went for years. I'd say late '50s. "I was in Fort Monmouth, N.J., in 1955. There was a car lot just outside the gate. They had a XK120 there for $1,800. I sure wanted that car. Tall as I am, I could still sit in it. Boy, I had the fever bad! I had never seen one of these in western Nebraska. "Then reality kicked in. What was a dumb kid in New Jersey going to do with a car if he gets shipped out? Probable one time in my life I got really smart." John Hayes said: "I think the car in today's paper is a Jaguar XK120." CANTON, Ga.: Carolyn Kaster wrote: "So, do you pronounce it Jag-u-ar, Jag-war or Jag-wire? I don't think it really matters how you say it, because I don't think that even the Brits who make and sell them can agree on the pronunciation. "Here we have what I believe to be a record-setting 1952 Jaguar XK120 known as the Jabeke Special that held a land speed record of 130-plus mph. Someone else broke that record at 140-plus mph, so modifications were made to the XK120 for a second attempt and it reclaimed the record at 170-plus mph. These are no doubt still some of the best-looking and best-performing (for their time) roadsters. Today they change hands mostly only at the Millionaire Boys Club auctions for thousands, with most breaking the six-figure plateau and a few of them breaking the mid-six-figure range, approaching seven figures. "That is certainly a far cry from when they were new and the standard joke (for nearly anything British) was that you needed to buy them in pairs so you would have one as a spare for when one broke down. "I seem to remember a story arc on the hit show Mad Men in which Don Draper's ad agency had won the U.S. Jaguar advertising contract. I believe that in one episode he and Joan, the office manager, took an afternoon drive in an XK from the local New York dealer. Don was quite insistent about only him and his 'lady' taking a test drive. He left a check for payment in full for the car just to be able to do that." EVANS: Paul Perdue said: "This week's car is a 1951 Jaguar XK. I'm sure that it is a Jaguar, but not so sure about the year and model." (Editor's note: That was pretty close for not being sure!) Jerry Paul wrote: "This was tough, but my guess is a 1952 Jag XK120." (Editor's note: Again, not too shabby a guess.) Wayne Wilke guessed a 1948 Jaguar XK120: "For sure, the car is an XK model Jaguar manufactured from 1948-61. Whether it is an XK120 (1948-54), XK140 (1955-57) or XK150 (1958-61) is difficult to discern from the view shown. "The small hubcaps (vs. wire wheels) and absence of chrome around the headlight favor an early year XK120 guess, although even those two things could be on the XK 140 or 150. Things like a one-piece (vs. split) windscreen, sleeker body, chrome strip on the bonnet and one-piece front bumper would be able, if shown, to differentiate an XK150 from a 120. "The engine was a thing of joy and was not hampered by fussy SU carburetors or an annoying timing-chain rattle that plagued many of the XK Jags' engines. "However, other parts failed and needed to be repaired or replaced (power brake booster, brake wheel cylinders, clutch slave cylinder, steering alignment and tires), which 'bankrupted' me. Also, rust that was in the car's nether regions (which I had not earlier observed) and phantom leaking fluids portended further high repair costs. "Early in 1964, after putting fewer than 300 miles on the car for the five months that I owned it, I had to sell it because I could 'not afford repairs on that car.' Jeff Keevil said it was a 1953 version of the Jaguar: "Although the XK120 was produced between 1948 and 1954, the car pictured here is no ordinary XK120. This is the car that set the flying mile world speed record on Oct. 20, 1953, at more than 172 mph. Among other aerodynamic modifications on the car, the picture shows the headlight housings that were converted into air intakes." KEYSVILLE, Ga.: Glenn Widner said: "The body lines look like a late-1940s to early-1950s Jaguar, mayby an XK120 model. The only Jaguar I ever had was an XJS V-12. My teenage son was eyeing it, but I got him a Nissan pickup instead." LOUISVILLE, Ga.: Bob Holbert said: "The car is a 1949 Jaguar XK120 roadster, sometimes dubbed 'a race car for the street.' Introduced that year, it was a powerful car with a to-end speed of 115 mph, unheard of in 1949. Not surprisingly, it found its way to the racing circuit in both Formula 1 and road racing. It is also the forerunner of the XKE 150 series in the early 1960s. A true classic." MARTINEZ: Kurt Breitinger said: "The car this week is a 1953 Jaguar XK120M. One glance at the photo, and I knew it was an XK120 - one of my favorite cars. However, the unusual headlight buckets threw me. After a little research, I realized that it was the special XK120M that set the production car speed record for the day." NORTH AUGUSTA: Ed Wilcox correctly identified the car: "The lack of turn signals and screens covering the headlights led me to search for a race car. I found this car to be a XK120 racer that was further modified by Jaguar to retake the speed record for production cars in Jabbeke, Belgium. It did so in 1953. Sixty years later, it was restored and shown in Monterey and reunited with its record-setting driver, Norman Dewis. James Gaylord also was spot on with his guess of a 1952 Jaguar XK120. PERRY, Fla.: Larry Anderson has been a fan and an owner of Jaguars for many years. His email address even includes "Jaguar," so it was a given that he would correctly identify last week's vehicle: "The car this week is a Jag-you-war, as the English would say. This is somewhere from 1950-55. "The XK120 was pretty remarkable car for its time. At one time, it was the fastest production car made. It actually was the first imported car to win at NASCAR; 1954, I believe. "Also, Steve McQueen drove a Jaguar, an XJSS, which was built for racing. The way I look at it, if it's good enough for Steve McQueen, it's good enough for me." Can you identify the year, make and model of this automobile? You can enter through our online form at chronicle.augusta.com/whatisit. Or, you can email glynn.moore@augustachronicle.com, or leave a message at (706) 823-3419. Before Wednesday, tell us your name, city and any personal stories you have about a car like this. If you call, please spell your name and leave your number. Please don't lift information verbatim from other sources, because we want your accounts. Entries might be edited for space and content, and they will be printed Friday. a concept car dreamed up by London automotive design house Makkina to Makkina gives a bunch of reasons: it's celebrating the 25th year of its own existence and decided that paying homage to Triumph a century after it built its first car was a suitable way to let its designers loose The car you see here is based on the Triumph TR2 MVC575 which set the land speed record for sub-2.0-litre cars a smidge over 70 years ago recording a run of 124.889mph on a closed motorway in Jabbeke See the pic below; that’s test driver Ken Richardson stood in the background As such the TR25 features the same aero-optimised surfaces as well as the offset driving position (but with a flip-out seat optional for a passenger) and headlights that mimic the original’s (ish) Makkina also claims 50:50 weight distribution and a low centre of gravity for proper sports car handling Inside there are minimal instruments or controls with a self-centering dial in the middle of the steering wheel displaying the most vital info and a central binnacle for road speed Yes, charge and range. Because the TR25 - of course - is electric. The powertrain is borrowed from the BMW i3S which is odd until you remember that BMW owns the rights to the Triumph name and Makkina needed its blessing for its creation READ MORETriumph reveals two new small capacity motorbikes on the way “Our aim was to update the true character of the original record-breaking ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 with our design, through both interior and exterior design,” said Michael Ani, director of Makkina. “Using the BMW i3S platform allows us to create a blend of old and new with the TR2-inspired body shape and the versatile and adaptable powertrain, creating a seamless, fully electric experience. “The i3S platform proves that driving an electric car can be fun! The combination of instant torque, acceleration, agility and silence are as compelling now as ever.” Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Look out for your regular round-up of news No money from the licence fee was used to create this website The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation The iconic sport scar brand Triumph Motor Company has unveiled a new electric TR25 concept car The TR25 pays homage to the record-breaking ‘Jabbeke’ Triumph TR2 which broke the land speed record for production cars under two litres in May 1953 A self-centering dial in the steering wheel displays all vital information while a central binnacle will show road speed The model is built on an all-electric BMW i3S platform BMW Group owns the rights to the Triumph name It's 100 years since the Triumph name first appeared on a production car says: “Our aim was to update the true character of the original record-breaking ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 with our design Using the BMW i3S platform allows us to create a blend of old and new with the TR2-inspired body shape and the versatile and adaptable powertrain The i3S platform proves that driving an electric car can be fun agility and silence are as compelling now as ever.” Ani adds: “Triumph is an incredibly significant name in the motoring industry and we knew we carried a strong responsibility for its reawakening through the TR25  Whether through its much-loved TR sports car series or its highly-respected line of sedans holding a very special place in our hearts at Makkina We’re proud of the way we have revitalised the Triumph [Motor Company] name and thank our friends BMW Group for allowing us the honour to badge a car that not only celebrates our company’s [Makkina’s] 25th anniversary but also 70 years of the ‘Jabbeke’ TR2 record run and 100 years of this iconic marque." Founded in London in 1998 by Michael Ani, Makkina offers its services to both leading and emerging automotive brands ShareSaveLifestyle OldThe Jaguar With The $900,000 FaceliftByHannah Elliott ShareSaveThis article is more than 10 years old.After its great run at Jabbeke Motorway the car faded to obscurity hidden in a garage in Europe where Derek Hood and Jeff Lotman found it in 2011 “It was in very poor condition – very rusty,” said Hood the well-known UK firm that specializes in restoring classic Jaguars “It hadn’t had tender loving care for probably 20 Fast-forward two years and the forgotten classic won “Best in Class Post War Racing” earlier this month at the prestigious Quail Motorsports Gathering Dewis was there—it was the first time he had seen the car in 60 years Hood and Lotman spent 18 months and 5,500 hours on a complete restoration of the “Jabbeke Jag.” They scoured the globe for replacement parts rebuilt some parts from scratch—like the fighter-jet bubble canopy which had been retrofitted from an airplane cockpit for the record-breaking race—and finished it with extensive hand work of painting and wood in the interior In short the car received a complete body-off nut and bolt restoration with the original works engine and a full Jabbeke-specification air induction system “Any time you take a car like this and restore it “The challenge is because these parts were made for this one car only it’s not like there’s any spare so you really have to talk with people about the car.” this is where this has to go,’ Lotman said “There aren’t a lot of people still around like he was--it was his knowledge that really helped us figure out what had to be done to make the car right.” CLICK ON THE SLIDESHOW TO SEE BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE JABBEKE JAGUAR Follow me on Twitter: @HannahElliott Follow me on Facebook: Hannah Elliott Follow me on Instagram: @HannahElliottxo Seok-Woo Song — Photos exploring the pressures and loneliness of life in Korea Federico Borella & Michela Balboni — Photographing rural Italy’s “tree men” AikBeng Chia — Recreating vivid scenes from 1970s Singapore with the help of AI WePresent is the arts platform of WeTransfer.The simplest way to send big files A platform to empower creatives while using business as a force for good and what we all stand to lose if they disappear Belgian writer Jan Van den Bossche published a book looking at volkscafé culture in the Antwerp province so Van den Bossche took his son Jef along on his research a French drinking song by Belgian pop singer Grand Jojo but he still remembers the journeys – much to the amusement of his father “I think [the trip] was something like mother’s milk,” laughs Jan Fast forward to 2022 and Jef has self-published a photography book centered on volkscafés he traveled to bars all over Belgium to capture their spirit – and he brought his father with him “What intrigues me about these places is that they incite an increasingly rare social interaction,” Jef explains in the book’s introduction “Volkscafés are meeting places for a cross section of society where customers simply get to be themselves know-it-alls and philosophers no longer get to solve world problems at their local bar Jan and Jef both sought out older establishments that had been in business for at least a couple of decades blotchy mirrors and traditional wooden paneling “In some cafés there were old guys sitting at one table But the thing [the volkscafés] all shared was that once you came in you didn’t need to wait long before someone started a conversation.” He wrote his book back in 2001 in a bid to help them Jef estimates that three or four of the 40 volkscafés he photographed between January 2018 and June 2019 have since shut down which had been run by the same family for three generations it would be demolished to make way for apartments “There were more than 500 people at the goodbye party there was a stage with people performing...It was really a very emotional goodbye,” he says “Now it’s [been replaced with] these small which have no cultural value for the historic town center The reasons for the volkscafés’ disappearance are complicated rising beer prices and taxes have led to poor sales which can lead to financial penalties from breweries when targets aren’t met have sold their buildings for high sums to property developers looking to replace them with flats But broader cultural shifts have played a part too Stricter drinking and driving laws and the rise of TV have given people a reason to stay at home while smartphones and computers mean they don’t need to get out to get the news or talk to their friends Smoking has been banned in cafés and bars across the country since 2011 (Once it was possible to head out to a volkscafé at 2am or much later many of Jef’s photos feel like something out of a time capsule while three more sit next to an old stove for warmth Photos taken at Café Bostella in Essen capture its then 87-year-old landlady picking up a sausage – an homage to the days when locals would sell sausages spirits and even clothes on her billiards table The practice came to an end after a visit from the health inspector “But from her little kitchen in the back.”  there’s been a renewed interest in independent businesses and community initiatives young people have been drawn to the convivial volkscafé atmosphere “It’s about the importance of meeting,” Jan says and I talk with you and I talk with everyone.” While there’s an old-fashioned charm to the establishments he visited what Jef’s images really record is a way of life and a way of relating to others that we’d be all the poorer for losing Want (even) more WePresent?Sign up to our monthly newsletter Triumph Motor Company hasn’t built cars in nearly 40 years but the name is now on a stunning design concept that debuted today the electric concept from the Makkina design house pays homage to the record-setting Triumph TR2 MCV575 “Jabbeke” from 1953 The TR25 takes design inspiration from the TR2 like the two headlights featuring a 25 in the center to honor Makkina’s 25th anniversary The concept features a minimalist exterior that is not as curvy as the original vertical taillights that appear to cut through the rear dominate the back straightforward design that extends to the driver-focused there is an optional flip-out jump seat for a passenger with a simple binnacle behind the wheel displaying the battery range The spoked steering wheel is another “Jabbeke” callback like a self-centering dial that displays vital vehicle information The wheel allows the driver to change drive modes and access the navigation but Makkina didn’t dive into the powertrain details of its design concept The Triumph TR2 MVC575 “Jabbeke” claimed notoriety when it broke the land speed record for production cars under 2.0 liters It happened in May 1953 with a pre-production prototype car wearing streamlined parts and a metal cockpit cover for improved aerodynamics The original now resides at the British Motor Museum Nissan Could Turn The Frontier Plug-In Hybrid Into an SUV The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 9 Starts at $60,555 China Promises a Supercar 'Better' Than a Ferrari SF90 Singer's New 911 Takes the Crown for Coolest Headlights Scout Will Use a Naturally Aspirated VW Engine Made in Mexico Volkswagen Is Making Less Money Because It's Selling More EVs The Fast Track: Norman Dewis' Record-Breaking Jabbeke Jaguar Roars Back to Life Mark BramleyPhotographerKen GrossWriterJun 02 Jaguar's XK120 roadster was a smash hit when it bowed in late 1948 at the London Motor Show Although England was still recovering from the ravages of war showed enthusiasts just what a revitalized Britain could do The numerals 120 suggested a then-incredible speed for a relatively affordable series production car The company soon set out to prove its new beauty was capable of hitting that heady 120 mph and more The setting was an isolated 15-mile stretch of highway in Belgium that connected the port of Ostend with Brussels with a good concrete surface," the Jabbeke highway was on a raised level about six feet higher than the surrounding countryside and it was frequently reserved for speed tests the divided dual carriageway could be isolated so traffic could flow on one side and the other lanes could be blocked off for record runs basically in road-going trim but with a low Brooklands screen in lieu of a windshield averaged 132.596 mph for the two-way flying mile Sutton backed it up in the same car with the top and sides screens erected and it was at the hands of the legendary Norman Dewis He served as Jaguar's chief development engineer and test driver from 1952 until his retirement in 1985 and he still travels the world as Jaguar's goodwill ambassador Dewis worked closely with Jaguar chief William Lyons (later Sir William) he's one of the few living links with those historic Jaguar personalities and thanks to his indomitable energy and a photographic memory Dewis rode with Stirling Moss in the 1952 Mille Miglia piloted a works D-Type at the ill-fated 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours Dewis played a key role in developing the Dunlop disc brake Lyons reckoned that Dewis was simply too valuable as a development engineer to risk him in Jaguar's racing efforts I've had the pleasure of meeting Dewis several times and we recorded a video together a few years back for the Saratoga Automobile Museum We caught up with one another last August at the Quail He was excited to see the restoration of his record-breaking XK120 from 1953 and he remembered every detail of his remarkable record run as if it were yesterday Speed records were important for many manufacturers in the 1950s Jaguar's reputation depended on whether this beautiful car really had the stuff so the team took every opportunity to prove its mettle The XK120 roadster (MDU 524) had been used by the factory racing team in the 1952 Alpine Rally where it placed second behind another works entry powered by a base Jaguar C-Type engine and driven by Dewis setting a flying mile record for unlimited capacity production cars That feat resulted in a congratulatory telegram from Lyons himself but Jaguar's speed record stood until October 1953 when Celso Fernandez streaked down Jabbeke's narrow motorway in a 2.8-liter supercharged Pegaso Z102 roadster and notched 150.13 mph for a new record Pegaso and Jaguar were hardly direct competitors The price difference between the two marques was considerable while Jaguar would sell more than 12,000 XK120s Lyons ordered his team back to Belgium again with MDU 524 <blockquote align="Center"><p>This sublimely sexy two-seater "I didn't know anything about it," Dewis told me I see you've lost your record.' I said 'What are you talking about?' 'Some Spanish firm has taken the record,' he said 'What are you going to do about it?' " 'There's nothing I can do about it 'You ought to think about it,' he replied we've only got the XK120.' 'Hmm,' he said 'I thought you'd be more interested in it than that.' We all need to look at it to see what we can do.' "So the following morning we got this car again in the shop with Malcolm Sayer and we all looked at the 120 to see what could we do with it." a brilliant aerodynamicist who later designed the E-Type According to Paul Skilleter (author of "Norman Dewis of Jaguar: Developing the Legend") Sayer had issued a special "schedule for body modifications" on October 2 There were four major areas to address to make the XK120 faster: improve its aerodynamics Sayer designed blanking plates for the grille and the brake cooling slots as well as domed headlight covers He'd even planned front wheel spats (skirts) The most radical change was a transparent Perspex canopy from a Slingsby glider The first time Dewis sat in the Jag's regular seat It was actually sitting on the top of his head about four inches from the roadster's body "That's no bloody good," Dewis exclaimed fitted a 2-inch-thick Sorbo rubber cushion and a thin backrest A full metal tonneau cover was fitted on the passenger side but the 2970-pound car was now much more aerodynamic But Dewis felt he was still sitting on the floor He could "...just about see over the scuttle." He said "I don't feel comfortable." Heynes said you're only going in a straight line—what are you worrying about?" Horsepower jumped from the Special Equipment model's 180 bhp to 218 bhp at 6000 rpm A 12-hour bench test indicated that power was still climbing at 6000 rpm Norman would experience this once his record runs started Twin electric fuel pumps were fitted and there was an extra fuel pickup along with a close-ratio gearbox and a heavy-duty driveshaft and we can enclose the cockpit.' The other thing he said was '...to get Norman in the car and have him covered in that would probably be worth even more speed maybe 5 or 6 more mph.' That's how he talked Then Jack Emerson said if we took one headlamp out and directed airflow right to the carburetors it would be worth another 2 or 3 more horsepower Bob Knight said to stick with the same suspension but we could make the special Dunlop high-speed tires into slicks after careful re-assembly under the supervision of Phil Weaver MDU 524 was topped off with commercial-grade petrol in the U.K. and it was hoisted aboard the SS Prins Albert for the short journey across the English Channel to France by a Jaguar Mk VII driven by racing manager Lofty England 'When are you going to do it?' I said we would do it on Monday morning So they talked to the police and the Belgian Auto Club officials They said they could close the road up on Monday They closed the road and I did one or two runs to warm the car up." It should be noted that the car had no rollbar and Dewis wore a cloth helmet and goggles He was about to set a speed record clad in a fire-resistant suit but without a helmet or any rollover protection "That's how we did it then," he said matter-of-factly "It was only a short while after the war and I'd seen blokes shot up...we didn't think about these things in the way you would now During his initial test runs to try out the canopy for the first time Dewis found that the Perspex bubble was almost completely airtight and the setup was not admitting enough air for him to breathe properly the canopy could only be opened from the outside Dewis says he made a frantic U-turn across the grass divider and "then I screamed back to the garage," he recalled "When the mechanic removed the bubble your face is like a big red tomato!' " Sayer quickly designed a more effective air inlet and devised an extractor vent on the tonneau cover The team made a few changes to the radiator blanking plate to help cool the engine better Dewis climbed into the car and settled as comfortably as he could on the abbreviated seat They'd already verified that the XK120 would trip the timing beams Looking somewhat sinister with its dark British Racing Green finish and the curious Perspex bubble the Jag's highly tuned engine fairly crackled from its twin side exhausts the team had left the "nave-plates" (hubcaps) on the front wheels The rear wheels were nearly hidden behind the standard wheel "spats" (fender skirts) and it was a beautiful morning." Sayer added: "This is perfect hardly a breath of wind—this has got to be right." After a delay while the timing equipment was repaired Dewis accelerated smartly away toward Ghent he knew to modulate his speed so he'd arrive at the measured mile at the engine's maximum rpm he said he had two minutes to turn the car around and repeat the process in the other direction in order to qualify for a record It's been over 50 years since the Jabbeke run but I was transported back half a century to Belgium as he excitedly told the story "So I start to do me run," he said "And all I could see in the distance is a black and white checkerboard that tells me where the mile starts long before the checkerboard at 5800 to 5900 rpm I'm at 5800 and I'm still a long way away I got to the end of the two-mile turnaround and we had to make a decision whether to do the return run." "I couldn't open the canopy," Dewis recalled and then I came in where they were all standing there They open the bubble; I lift myself up and sit on the back of the car 'You've got a problem with the car?' I said no 'Is something wrong—you're not very quick?' I said 'There must be something wrong with the car You're not as quick as you were in April.' So I feel more than a bit dejected Norman remembers he was annoyed and disappointed with himself 'There must be something wrong with the rev counter.' He keeps this up for a few minutes Then you know what you've done?' No," Norman said 'You've done one hundred bloody seventy-two point four "I couldn't have done that." 'The timing people have checked everything They are willing to assign a certificate.' That's how we broke that record." The modified Jaguar XK120's fastest one-way speed was 173.159 towers over Dewis like a British Mutt and Jeff duo and they're both grinning like Cheshire cats Jaguar sent out a press release on October 21 stating that the speed was "recorded by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium and is the highest ever achieved by a production car fitted with optional equipment." It was an incredible achievement I had to ask: "What was the car like at that speed?" Dewis had spent many days in standard XK120's at high speed "It was going light; the steering was going really light Luckily we didn't have any crosswinds Malcolm Sayer had worked out the aerodynamics but he was sure the car was close to getting airborne He later told me he'd said to the team We ought to stop Norman.' And they said "We saw him appearing in the distance with the white line down the middle of the road and you could see the wind taking him off to the left of the track It was the bravest thing I'd ever seen." Dewis' work that day wasn't over They removed the canopy and fitted a low aero-screen and achieved a one-way flying mile average speed of 168.539 mph Sayer had been exactly right about the 5-to-6-mph aerodynamic advantage of the bubble canopy Dewis tried to set a few more records that week in a light alloy C/D prototype called the XP/11 that was fitted with the bubble canopy and powered by a modified C-Type six with triple Weber carburetors Although he was able to top 180 mph briefly the prototype had an intermittent misfire that prevented attaining the 190-plus-mph record he thought was attainable We did it for the love of it: I made no real money." I asked: 'What did William Lyons say when you came back?' I figured you'd do something about it the original car was converted back to standard road-going specification There are photos of it being driven on the street in normal traffic "The car was finished with record-setting in October 1953," Dewis confirms Sir William was always tight with the money the car was then put back in its original production state and sold to a racer back in London named Albert Powell." Powell takes up the narrative then the American forces came in and a bloke bought it and when he finished his service in Germany he came back to America with it." They kept in touch on and off "And that's the last I knew about it until Derek Hood got in touch with me to say they'd found it It's a good thing not to forget this car Derek did all the work—I just gave him some pictures "We started with a car that was restored to an average standard The guy who owned the car did not see its true potential and we started the restoration all over again Norman was a big help when it came to the final detail putting it back to its record run specification We made all the streamlined undertrays from original drawings Norman helped us with the air intakes that were located where the headlights used to be And he told us about the slick tires used for the run The engine still had its correct C-Type Jaguar head There weren't a lot of internal modifications The biggest challenge was to get the shape correct on the bubble We showed Norman various shapes before we finalized it A local specialist company made the Perspex bubble for us showed the ex-Clark Gable XK120 at Pebble Beach in 2013 That car was restored by JD Classics in the U.K When Lotman found that Norman was still around "I didn't know that," he told me 'that would be great if Norman could be here It's almost 60 years to the day of the actual run.' " "We had to obviously change the headlights; we put a cowl over the front grille in front of the bonnet We made the blanking panels to make it more aerodynamic "it actually has a 180 mile per hour speedo in there compared to the 140-mph unit The steering wheel is smaller because Norman couldn't fit in there with the canopy really great in terms of knowing what was right and wrong it's more like this.' He was really fantastic during a lot of the process You'd have thought they'd have realized," says Lotman "that this car should have been put somewhere and held for what it was—but they just didn't." Dewis always said that Sir William was very cheap and the story of this historic race car certainly proves the point 2x1-bbl SU H8 carburetorsPower and torque (SAE gross)218-hp @ 6000 rpm; 203 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm (est)Drivetrain4-spd manual w/overdrive leaf springsBrakes front:drum;rear:drumDimensions L:173.0 inW:62.0 inH:40.0 in (est)Weight2970 lbPerformance0-60 mph: 8.0 seconds (est)Top speed172.412 mph (277.47 KPH)Pricewhen new N/A The report that Jaguar shattered the world's speed record for stock production car on the Ostend-Brussels Highway near Jabbeke a factory-modified Jaguar XK120M attained a speed of 172.41 mph...among the modifications to the car that brought the bacon home to Coventry were: a compression ratio upped to 9:1 a plastic bubble and a passenger's seat completely enclosed with a metal tonneau." The editors NOW:We've seen historic black-and-white photographs of this record-setting car over the years with Norman Dewis himself beaming alongside recalling the events of half a century ago Jeff Lotman of Los Angeles is a vintage racer and car collector "After showing the ex-Clark Gable Jaguar XK120 in 2013 and which won its class at Pebble Beach Derek Hood found this car; someone else was after it and I had to make a decision to buy it within two days The fact that Norman is still alive made it all that more wonderful we sold the Jabbeke Jaguar to a Swiss collector." WHY I LIKE IT:"Uniqueness really counts with me I wanted a car that's never been shown before And one that was very different-looking." WHY IT'S COLLECTIBLE:"The Jabbeke Jaguar is a one-of-a-kind world speed record car RESTORING/MAINTAINING: This car took 18 months and more than 5500 hours to restore and many special aerodynamic parts had to be fabricated "The bubble top was the biggest challenge—to get the perspective correct," says Lotman We had to remake some of the covers because obviously They (Jaguar) took them off and threw them out JOIN THE CLUB: Jaguar Drivers' Club, www.jaguardriver.co.uk Subscribe to our newsletters to get the latest in car news and have editor curated stories sent directly to your inbox You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site Get Directions Central Chapel | (519) 253-72341700 Tecumseh Rd Banwell Chapel | (519) 253-723511677 Tecumseh Rd South Chapel | (519) 253-72363048 Dougall Avenue Proudly Canadian | Owned & Operated by Arbor Memorial Inc This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A fatal accident occurred on the E40 motorway in Veurne (West Flanders) this morning A person was hit several times by oncoming vehicles but the exact circumstances are still unclear the motorway had to be closed for traffic heading towards the Jabbeke junction Initial police observations suggest the person killed was probably a migrant "A car with French occupants called the police around 5am to say they had run over a body," explains Tom Janssens of the public prosecutor's office they saw that body parts were scattered over several hundred metres of the motorway and it was said to be a human with a darker skin colour Police had been in contact with migrants in the area the night before." It wasn’t possible to recover all body parts at this time A further search with a sniffer dog is planned and DNA samples will be taken." It is thought at least 2 cars hit the body which had probably been hit several times earlier "The body parts were so scattered that the body was probably hit several times including by heavy lorries" Tom Janssens said Supported Characters→ alphanumeric→ space→ dash Operators→ &→ |→ ( … ) Example→ (hybrid | electric) & suv & perodua to match arictles of perodua suv with either hybrid or electric engine It may have been deleted or you may have clicked on the wrong link Use the search or the menu above to try and find the information you need If you think this is our problem, write to us