Gearing up for classic car challenge

STRATFORD residents Steve and Anne Johnson are the proud owners of a classic 1969 Jaguar E-Type — a sports car that became a legend in its own lifetime among specialist motoring enthusiasts.

And this week the couple will be taking part in an ambitious UK-wide motoring event.

Today, Monday, 12th September, they will drive the opening 150-mile leg of the Round Britain Coastal Drive organised by the E-Type Club, an 18-day relay-style car run following the roads closest to the coastline of the entire British mainland.

Steve and Anne will be travelling from Goodwood Racecourse in Sussex to Lyme Regis in Dorset, in the company of several other E-Types.

In total some 150 various models of the iconic car will be taking part in the event, with several driven by well-known personalities from the motoring world.

Steve told the Herald he bought his 1969 E-Type about a year ago. “I thought that if I don’t do it now I never will, and this is a dream car for classic car enthusiasts.”

Among those taking part in the event, which acts as a fundraiser for the charity Prostate Cancer UK, will be the chairman of the E-Type Club, Philip Porter.

Philip, who lives in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, will be driving the famous red Series 1 E-Type that featured in the original 1969 film The Italian Job starring Michael Caine. The E-Type was in production from 1961 until 1975.