E-types circle Britain to fight prostate cancer

The third annual Round Britain Coastal Drive by the Jaguar E-type Club spanned 19 days and 4,000 miles and was staged to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. 

The route started at the famed Pendine Sands, Carmathenshire on September 17, when the caravan of Jaguars was flagged off by Don Wales, grandson of Malcom Campbell, nephew of Donald Campbell and himself a land-speed record holder. 

“Donald kindly agreed to support the event after recently undergoing successful treatment for prostate cancer himself,” the rally organizers noted.

Several other cancer survivors also took part, acting as navigators for Philip Porter and his E-type, the one featured in The Italian Job movie. Porter, a book publisher and co-founder with his wife, Julie, of the E-type Club, also has been successfully treated for prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer UK estimates that more than 400,000 men in the UK are living with the disease and provides specialist nursing services to answer men’s question about diagnosis and treatment.

Porter launched the Round Britain event in 2016 as a one-off to raise money and to give fellow E-type owners a new driving adventure, but it proved so popular that it’s become an annual event.

“We have cars and crews coming from abroad,” Porter said, “including the States, and even have people who have bought an E-type so they can take part.”

From its start in 2004, the E-type Club has grown to include members in 50 countries and published a 72-page monthly magazine.

Not all of the cars did the full lap of Britain, but car owners were asked to sign on to participate in at least one or two of the 180-mile stages. 

“Quite a few, on finishing their stage, signed up straight away for further days later on the drive,” the organizers noted, “and this year five crews committed to driving the whole way around.”

From John O’Groats in the north to Land’s End in the south, the drive concluded in Tenby back on the Pendine Sands.