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Norman Dewis - Farewell and Drive Carefully...
Norman Dewis has passed away at the age of 98.Many of us won’t have heard of Norman Dewis but he was an incredible man at the cutting edge of automotive technology and development.
During the Second World War he was a turret gunner in a Bristol Blenheim and was lucky to survive the war. In 1951 he joined Jaguar as a test driver to which he would dedicate the rest of his working life,
Norman was an accomplished racing driver and drove a D-Type Jaguar in the fateful 1955 Le Mans. He was also responsible for the development of the Dunlop disk breaking system that we all take for granted today.
As a test driver he survived three enormous accidents there, the slowest at more than 130mph. On all three occasions, in a C-Type, a D-Type, and most famously the XJ13 Le Mans car, he tucked himself under the scuttle and rode it out until the car stoped. Despite no belts or roll protection, he emerged without serious injury.
In 1961 Norman famously drove a new Jaguar E-Type from England overnight to Geneva. He did the 760 miles in 14 hours and then spent all the following day giving passenger rides to journalists.
Norman was made an OBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, about which he professed to be "truly chuffed".
Norman was born in 1920, and when his father died in 1934 he had no alternative and left school aged 14 to provide for his family.
During the Second World War he was a turret gunner in a Bristol Blenheim and was lucky to survive the war. In 1951 he joined Jaguar as a test driver to which he would dedicate the rest of his working life,
Norman was an accomplished racing driver and drove a D-Type Jaguar in the fateful 1955 Le Mans. He was also responsible for the development of the Dunlop disk breaking system that we all take for granted today.
As a test driver he survived three enormous accidents there, the slowest at more than 130mph. On all three occasions, in a C-Type, a D-Type, and most famously the XJ13 Le Mans car, he tucked himself under the scuttle and rode it out until the car stoped. Despite no belts or roll protection, he emerged without serious injury.
In 1961 Norman famously drove a new Jaguar E-Type from England overnight to Geneva. He did the 760 miles in 14 hours and then spent all the following day giving passenger rides to journalists.
Norman was made an OBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours List, about which he professed to be "truly chuffed".
I had the pleasure of knowing Norman, who always had an endless supply of great stories about his driving exploits whenever we meet. God bless you Norman.
Sounds like a fascinating person who lived a full life.
A pleasure and a privilege for you to have known him for sure.
RIP.
RIP.
RIP Norman. Best wishes in the next life. 👍
Thanks for all your accomplishments that make motoring a lot safer.
Geross 😉
Geross 😉
Thanks Norman
A true Jaguar Hero!! One of the Brand’s best ambassadors. Thanks to you, the British Racing Green E type in my garage catches my imagination every morning. Thanks for all of your wonderful work and stories. There is a great series on Amazon Prime about Jaguars. Norman is interviewed a few times. RIP
Hi and thanks for your kind message...
Any chance of a photo of your E type ?
As during a discussion with Norman he told me that his favourite colour for an E type was BRG.
As during a discussion with Norman he told me that his favourite colour for an E type was BRG.
"In 1961 Norman famously drove a new Jaguar E-Type from England overnight to Geneva. He did the 760 miles in 14 hours ..." On a bag of apples. [nt]
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That was something, at that time... Given the condition of the roads... [nt]
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Nice write-up Captain!
What a man! I was lucky to hear him doing a talk in Bristol for a local Motor Club, maybe 4 or 5 years ago.
A real passionate man, very humble.
Best,
É.
A real passionate man, very humble.
Best,
É.
Hello É...
Thank you for your reply post. I’m so pleased that you had the opportunity to meet the great man and listen to him.
Norman was a kind man and in his latter years looked after his wife who was unwell. He never lost his passion for cars and driving. They don’t make them like this anymore !
What really made his talks magic was that he was a test pilot before being a racing pilot, so he could explain what he felt, and was very communicative about it! [nt]
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