Norman Dewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norman Dewis
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Norman Dewis at the 2012 Mille Miglia.
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| Born | 3 August 1920 Coventry, Warwickshire, England
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| Died | 8 June 2019 (aged 98) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Chief test driver and development engineer |
| Children | 1 |
Norman Dewis OBE (born August 3, 1920 – died June 8, 2019) was a super important British car test driver. He worked for Jaguar Cars for many years, from 1952 to 1985. His job was to test new cars and help make them better. His son, Andrew Dewis, also became a racing driver.
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Developing Awesome Cars
Norman Dewis helped create some of Jaguar's most famous cars. He tested them to make sure they were safe and performed well. He was involved in developing many different models, including:
- Jaguar XK140
- Jaguar XK150
- Jaguar C-type
- Jaguar D-type
- Jaguar Mark VIII
- Jaguar Mark IX
- Jaguar Mark II
- Jaguar E-type
- Jaguar XJ13
- Jaguar Mark X
- Jaguar XJ6
- Jaguar XJ-S
- Jaguar XJ40
Racing the D-Type
Norman Dewis wasn't just a test driver; he also raced! In 1955, he drove a Jaguar D-Type in the famous 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He raced with another driver named Don Beauman. Unfortunately, their car had to stop early and couldn't finish the race.
Breaking a Speed Record
One of Norman's most exciting achievements happened on October 20, 1953. He drove a special Jaguar XK120 car in Jabbeke, Belgium. He reached an amazing speed of 172.412 miles per hour! This was a world record for a production car at the time.
- The car was modified to go super fast.
- It had a unique, bubble-shaped roof from a glider aircraft.
- This special roof helped the car cut through the air easily.
- After the record, the car was changed back to a normal road car and sold.
The XJ13 Crash
On January 21, 1971, Norman had a big crash while testing a car. He was driving the only Jaguar XJ13 at a high-speed track. He was filming a video for a new Jaguar car. Even though one of the tires was damaged, he drove the car very fast.
- The damaged tire suddenly burst.
- The car crashed hard and was almost completely destroyed.
- Amazingly, Norman Dewis was not hurt at all!
- The wrecked car was later stored away.
A Lifetime with Jaguar
Even after he retired, Norman Dewis continued to be involved with Jaguar. In 2014, he was still going to events and talking about his amazing work. In 2016, he even appeared on the TV show Top Gear with a Jaguar F-type SVR.
He also supported Jaguar car owners and their clubs. He often attended events held by the Jaguar Drivers' Club. This club was officially recognized by Sir William Lyons, who founded Jaguar.
Special Recognition
In 2015, Norman Dewis received a very special award. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). This honor was given to him for his incredible contributions to the car industry.
