Is the leaper running away or pouncing?
Thoughts on the JCNA 2025 AGM from sponsor Motorcars Incorporated
Dean Cusano has been driving, fixing, restoring, admiring, judging, and talking about Jaguars since he was a teenager. “My brother Joe was involved before I left grammar school and now his son, and my nephew, is working with me, selling these cars. The marque has been a significant part of our lives.”Sponsoring the AGM for the past three years is a natural extension of that involvement.
“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to support the annual general meeting. Everyone at Motorcars Incorporated understands the importance of the heritage and history of the Jaguar marque and why we want to support it, especially on the east coast, where we’re seeing a large number of the cars and the people who love them. I take my role as Northeast Regional Director of JCNA very seriously because of the interest I see coming from this area of the country.”
The AGM provides Jaguar enthusiasts the chance to ask questions that just aren’t found with Google or on YouTube.
“I’ve long been a proponent of the Coventry Foundation because information is power. Life can change if you can access manufacturer’s specifications or take advantage of their tool loan program. Imagine the difference between a car that sits in a garage and one that slips into a concours under its own power. There might be one part that needs repair or replacement but if you don’t know which part or have the tool to remove the damaged part, your concours experience or any enjoyment of your Jaguar will be lost.”
Motorcars Incorporated has had a long, close relationship with co-sponsor SNG Barratt. “People are probably tired of hearing me say that I like giving feedback on whether a part works and why, knowing that if it’s not right, their R&D department will make it better. Think about that for a minute: I can get almost any part that I need for a car that is more than 60 years old, or older as I work on some of the large, older saloons. Nobody who built these cars would have thought that possible back in the day.”
Dean and the Motorcars crew have been responsible for the restoration and distribution of more than 225 E-type Jaguars worldwide. “Some days, I think my team is performing miracles, bringing a car back to the road when it was never intended to last a decade or two, much less this long. One of my favorite moments is when I watch the owner turn the key and realize that they are about to steer a piece of history down the road. We all dream about that but to actually do it is special.”
That connection to the past is juxtaposed against questions about the future. “Recently, there has been a lot of hype around where the marque is going. It’d be nice to have a crystal ball and I will admit I’m curious. But, I find it to be a better use of my time to focus on where the marque comes from, its racing heritage and those three little words: grace, pace, and space.
“Think about the saloons, which offered a comfortable, roomy interior for the family behind an engine that was not only reliable but could live up to the term ‘performance.’ And the styling, well, we all know that Enzo himself was humbled by the beauty he recognized in the design.”
Dean said, "A Jaguar owner knew he was buying reliability that wouldn’t break the bank.
“I think there is danger in taking Jaguar for granted. They’ve been a part of our lives for decades, so we don’t see them like they were first seen. Imagine sliding into that leather seat and hearing the engine roar, knowing you’d own a motor derived from the cars racing at LeMans. It doesn’t matter how many bells and whistles you put into a new car today – and I like a lot of those features – nothing beats the basic formula of power plus comfort.”
Dean’s list of favorite cars is eclectic: Ford Cortina GT, Fiat Dino, De Tomaso Mangusta, Cadillac Eldorado Brougham Biarritz, Camaro, Chevelle, Skylark Riviera Grand Sport, and Corvette Coupe.
“People ask how Jaguar fits in with what I like. We’re influenced by what we see or what happens as we grow up. Jaguar was a big part of my childhood and I’ve always said, ‘Pick one thing and do it right.’ When I work on an E-type, I know they got it right and I can carry on that story for another driver.”
Motorcars Incorporated, in Plainville, Connecticut, is a treat for visitors. “We have enough E-types here that you can walk through time, comparing the subtle differences between each series. It’s more fun than reading a book on how the headlights evolved or listening to someone describe the changes to engines. When we host our spring dust-off and judging class, we walk among the cars. You can almost see the light bulbs go off as people understand what to look for when scoring a car.”
Dean finds that same enthusiasm at the AGM. “There are a lot of people who come together with enthusiasm for the marque. I can feel an excitement in the air as we do breakout sessions. I particularly like the public forum where club members see how the organization functions and questions get answers.”
He is anticipating that his third sponsorship will be memorable. “The Delaware Valley Club has a solid reputation for supporting the marque in many ways. They host an incredible concours and do some magic with rallies and slalom.”
Is the leaper pouncing or running away?
“I think the leaper is doing what it always did. Pouncing. A jaguar is a hunter, patient and quiet until amazing power is unleased, and it goes exactly where it wants to go, directing energy at its prey. I’ve felt that on the race course behind the wheel. I see it when we gather to enjoy these cars. It’s why Motorcars Incorporated is a sponsor, again.”
