E-type Round Britain Coastal Drive

E-type Round Britain Coastal Drive – Seats To Be Auctioned For Prostate Cancer

•Passenger seat in Italian Job E-type to be auctioned online
•Entry now approaching 150 E-types
•Raising awareness of, and funds for, prostate cancer
•E-type designer’s daughter taking part
•Two leading magazine editors participating
•Supporters include Lord March, Ross Brawn, Brian Johnson, Martin Brundle, Jeremy Clarkson, Derek Bell, Willie Green..

•More cars still needed

“The E-type Club ROUND BRITAIN COASTAL DRIVE, supporting Prostate Cancer UK” has set up an online auction platform for members of the public to bid for a half-day ride in the Jaguar E-type from the iconic film, The Italian Job.

Split into 18 daily stages, this unique event takes place between September 12 and 29, driving for the first time the entire entire coastal route of Great Britain with an average mileage of 180 per day. Details of the clockwise route can be found at www.e-typeclub.com where one can enter bids or donate on the JustGiving page.

Those entered include Ross Brawn, Erin Baker Daily Telegraph Motoring Editor, David Lillywhite Editor of Octane, Phil Bell Editor of Classic Cars and one of the greats of historic racing, Willie Green. The original Jaguar dynasty will be represented by Sir William Lyons’s grandson, Bill Heynes’s son and Wally Hassan’s son.

The world’s favourite sports car was designed by the legendary Malcolm Sayer. His daughter Mary will be participating and giving a talk on her fascinating father, who designed the Le Mans-winning C-types and D-types and was the first to design a production car mathematically, during the Cromer evening. Sayer was born in Cromer and the house is denoted with a blue plaque.

A growing programme of evening events is developing. The following evening the participants and media will be entertained at the amazing premises of J.D Classics in Maldon.

The media and public are being offered the opportunity to ride in various E-types taking part. The JustGiving page is available for those who would like to support the event and Prostate Cancer UK.

‘Publicity is unashamedly the name of this game,’ says author Philip Porter whose brainchild this event is. ‘We are out to raise awareness of the risks of prostate cancer and the need to get tested. If you like, this three-week driving party for a great cause is a publicity stunt with over 150 fabulous E-type Jaguars.

‘To join in and experience a ride in a stunning E-type, please bid for a seat with me in my Italian Job convertible or one of the other fantastic E-types taking part. Having recovered from prostate cancer, it’s now “exciting times”!’

Porter is not only celebrating his recovery but also the publication of his latest book, the first volume of his definitive biography of Sir Stirling Moss, which will be launched at the Goodwood Revival meeting immediately before the start of the Round Britain Coastal Drive. ‘It is such a mammoth tome that if I can carry a few during the event it will certainly keep the back end down!’

Celebrity Quotes

‘I think this sounds like a very different and interesting event, supporting a very worthwhile cause. I have booked for two stages and am looking forward to enjoying the fantastic coastal roads of Scotland in my Jaguar E-type.’ Ross Brawn

‘As a Jaguar E-type owner I am delighted to be a Supporter of this unique event for a very good cause.’ Martin Brundle

'I am delighted to be flagging away the Jaguar E-types at the start of this amazing event which is publicising such an important cause that men everywhere should take seriously.' Derek Bell

‘I am delighted to offer Goodwood as the venue for both the start and finish of this unique event, and to support this very worthwhile cause that is of vital importance to men everywhere. Goodwood played a significant role in the original E-type story and these beautiful cars have entertained the crowds in more recent years at our Goodwood Revival meetings.’ Lord March

The facts:

Daily Stages (finishing point): Lyme Regis (Day 1), Penzance (2), Bridgwater (3), Tenby (4), Criccieth (5), Blackpool (6), Carlisle (7), Largs (8), Kyle of Lochalsh (9), Kinlochbervie (10), Inverness (11), Montrose (12), Berwick-upon-Tweed (13), Bridlington (14), Cromer (15), Maldon (16), Folkestone (17), Goodwood (18).

Significant Jaguar Destinations: Blackpool (where the company was founded) and Cromer (where E-type designer Malcolm Sayer was born).

Jaguar E-type Club: formed in 2004, the Club has members in over 50 countries and organises events worldwide. The accent is on using cars and not on polishing!

Prostate Cancer UK: the E-type Club Round Britain Drive is being organised in conjunction with the charity Prostate Cancer UK. Although UK-based, this charity is raising funds to find a cure for one of the most common cancers in men in the world. It is equally important to raise awareness.

Philip Porter: has owned his two historic E-types for 40 years. They are 9600 HP, the oldest E-type in existence, the original Geneva launch car and road test car which set the magic 150mph legend and appeared in all the newspapers and magazines. And 848 CRY, which was raced extensively in 1961 and later appeared in the film The Italian Job. Porter has written around 30 motoring books, including two award-winning major works on the Jaguar E-type, and founded the Jaguar XK Club, the Jaguar E-type Club and Porter Press International, the world’s leading publisher of quality motoring books. He has recently recovered from prostate cancer.

The Jaguar E-type: The E-type was a sports car produced by Jaguar Cars between 1961 and 1974. Owned by pop and rock stars, such as George Harrison and Mick Jagger, footballers such as George Best, and many leading actors, the E-type was very much a part of the Swinging Sixties, together with mini skirts, mods on scooters, the Beatles, the King’s Road, Mary Quant and Twiggy.

E-types were raced successfully in many parts of the world, including at Le Mans and in the USA. They often beat their main rivals, the Ferraris. The E-type racers included World Champions Sir Jackie Stewart, John Surtees OBE, Sir Jack Brabham and Graham Hill. E-types appeared in many films and have many times been voted the public’s favourite sports car, most beautiful car and most sexy car. The E-type is the ideal car to publicise prostate cancer.

Fund-raising: passenger seats for half days will be auctioned. This is just one of the initiatives being worked on. The crew of the car that has raised the most funds per day will lead off and wear the Yellow Jersey (actually a Yellow Hat!). Corporate sponsorship is invited.

“The E-type Club Round Britain Coastal Drive”, in support of Prostate Cancer UK

Contact:

E-type Club logistics: Louise Gibbs – louise@e-typeclub.com or tel: +44 (0) 1584 781588

E-type Club PR: Rebecca Leppard – rebecca@eventspr.co.uk or tel: +44 (0) 1452 260063

Prostate Cancer UK: Jack Bacon – jack.bacon@prostatecanceruk.org or tel: +44 (0) 20 3310 7231