Since relocating from Illinois to the Knoxville, TN area, Susan & I have discovered a plethora of British car clubs (4 in east TN) and specialists that restore old cars....very professionally. I wrote a few months back on one, Richard Lockhart, who runs a company called English Auto.

On Saturday, Jan 25th the Blount County British Car Club sponsored a garage tour to Dennis & Janice Clack who have a beautiful home very close to the entrance of the Cherohala Skyway close to the Smoky Mtn National Park. Dennis has a large 3 room out building where he pursues his passion. The restoration of E-Type Jaguars. The master of ceremonies for the orchestration of these restorations is Pat Walsh (known as Pat-in-the-Hat). I can only describe Pat as one of the most impressive "artists" of automotive restoration I have ever encountered. Pat's dad was a metal finisher for GM and so Pat grew up close to the trade. Pat actually lives on site with Dennis & Janice in his own apartment close to the workshop. Dennis and Pat's friendship spans over 40 years.

Dennis and Pat first met when Dennis was having work done on a 1962 E Type Coupe. Pat worked for the same business but did not do the restoration and Dennis was not satisfied with the work performed by the other people there. Pat left that shop and went to a second restoration business WITH THE JAG! The relationship between Dennis and Pat went from there. Dennis & Pat began their work together in Dennis' garage in the mid 80s. They restored an MGA which won at Meadow Brook and Twist's Summer Party. Amazing the restoration took only 6 weeks!
Today Dennis and Pat work at the shop on Dennis' property pursuing their passion with Jaguar restoration. Dennis has done other cars such as a Volvo 1800 (under restoration now), an AC Cobra and recently some work for BBC Club members. These guys keep busy!

I found it absolutely mystifying how these E-Type Jaguars were built given I have seen the work in various stages. Pat's restoration work covers 100% of the car from electrical to mechanical to body to painting and even fabrication. When body panels come in sometimes they JUST DON'T FIT! Pat cuts, welds & fabs them so their fit is better than Coventry would do. I spent an afternoon with my eyes so popped open that they hurt by the end of the day!

Currently, there are 3 Jaguars under various stages of work from a '64 gray coupe just in to a '65 "golden sand" coupe (repaint will be opalescent dark blue) taken from an accident with a truck being completely rebuilt to a completed to a '62 convertible which is a 100 point winner at national shows.


I remain impressed with the volume and diversity of British Car Clubs and services in this neck of the woods. One of my "Tales" concerned David Davenport in Cambridge, England who is the Jaguar Global Restoration guru. Now that was an experience to see his buildings and work on dozens of rare Jaguars. The quality, detail and pure love of the marquee shown by Dennis and Pat matches that David Davenport. WOW!!!

Note on Dennis: Dennis Clack's former occupation was production mgr at MC Aero Space. He later graduated with a gift for cost estimating, supplier cost auditing and customer cost negotiations with Eaton Corp. This endeavor did not come without its rewards.

~~ Ralph Arata