The goal was two-fold, as it is on so many classic car tours: have fun driving great cars, and raise money for a good cause.
In the case of the Jaguar XK Club, the tour was an 18-day Round Britain Coastal Drive, open to owners of the iconic 1950s sports cars. The goal was to raise at least £50,000 ($64,500) for Prostate Cancer UK.
Goals met: More than 100 classic XK vehicles took part, their occupants enjoying amazing roads and scenery and some of the best of England, Wales and Scotland, all while raising more than $82,500 for the cancer-fighting cause.
Speaking of amazing roads, the 4,000-mile trip included all of the coastal roads around Great Britain.
“With this unique event, everyone wins,” said author Philip Porter, who had the idea of the round-Britain drive while recovering from prostate cancer. “The publicity helps to raise awareness which is so vital. The funds go towards crucial research and treatment.
“And,” he added, “we have a lot of fun using the classic Jaguar XKs we are fortunate to own and we enjoy the stunning, and ever-changing, British coastal landscape.”
Porter founded the International XK Club in 1997. It now has members from more than 50 countries and operates under the mantra: No concours, no committees, and no politics. Porter has been an XK owner for more than 40 years.
The round-Britain run was first undertaken last year by the Jaguar E-type Club, which raised enough money to provide an experimental new treatment to a prostate cancer victim who is now recovering thanks to that treatment.
