location :  home > events > event past

Club Information

24th September

Well, the adventure of the E-Type Club tour to Spain started a little early for some entrants this year. As John and Jan Nixon, all the way from Australia for the tour, swept majestically into the drive of their B&B in Stratford on Avon, they drove over a folded 'parking pole' and their exhaust was left 20 feet behind them. Undeterred, the ever-resourceful John called Martin Robey's, recited the parts and numbers he needed to repair his SI FHC from memory, and they arrived in Robey's van, special delivery, just 2.5 hours after being ordered, just as John was removing the last of the broken system! Now that's service! He was all fixed and back on the road within two more hours.

The crossing from Plymouth to Santander, across the notorious Bay of Biscay was much smoother than many had dreaded, considering Spain was just recovering from the aftermath of a hurricane. The fact that the majority of the other passengers on the new and luxurious Brittany Ferries ship seemed to fall into the 80+ age group made our group look like under-age drivers! Fiona Bayne and Paul Abadjian hosted a Champagne welcome reception in a private room, and the drink flowed as acquaintances old and new were made.

Dramas continued as we disembarked in sunny, picturesque Santander, as Ruth & Graham White-house (V12 Roadster) hit a concealed object in the roadway at the dock exit and broke an exhaust manifold! All cars made it to the first hotel at the edge of Santander and Ron, the 'riding mechanic' generously provided by CMC, set to work on the Whitehouse car, while the remainder of the party set off for the first lunch stop in the exquisite nearby medieval village of Santillana del Mar.  Santillana del Mar is described by no less than Jean-Paul Sartre as 'the most beautiful village in Spain'. We could only agree, as the cars gleamed in the sunshine, and the locals gathered round to take photos.

.

Day 2 was a 100Km excursion up to the spectacular Picos de Europa - winding roads bordered by dramatic green slopes, rushing streams, lush valleys and jagged peaks. Picturesque ancient villages punctuate nature at its best and the fabulous roads provided just a little too much temptation for some, who were then afforded the opportunity of meeting the local constabulary! Discreet telephone intervention by Ricardo and Encarnita Galvani, ace tour organisers and fluent Spanish speakers, saved the day and the over-zealous participants were 'sprung' from the clutches of the Law without too much need for enquiries regarding visiting hours! Many then opted to take the slightly white knuckle cable car ride to the very top of the highest point of the mountain range, before setting off back down towards Santander via a spectacular winding route. This must rate as one of the best driving roads in mainland Europe so the hills were truely alive with the sound of E-Types!

CMC kindly sponsored the E-type tour.

29th September 2006

Yesterday, we travelled through the Rioja producing regions of Spain towards Haro. The Hotel Los Agustinos in Haro, our base for the next two nights, started life in 1373 as a convent, becoming a military garrison in 1806, then a military hospital, a prison, and finally a hotel in 1989.  It’s a wonderful, historic and stylish place!

Today was a 'relaxed day' and involved a gentle meander through stunning, rolling countryside to the home of Marques de Riscal - the wonderfully quaffable Spanish Rioja. The Bodega has built an ultra-exclusive new hotel within their grounds, designed by the award-winning architect who was also responsible for the Spanish Guggenheim.  Incidentally, it was chosen by Jaguar as the venue for the press launch of the new XKR, and we were privileged to view the car in these 'gorgeous' surroundings, whilst sampling some of the more notable vintages from the Bodega (navigators only, naturally).

From there, it was just a short excursion through the vineyards up to Laguardia (a medieval walled-town perched atop one of the higher hills in this undulating, sun-dappled terrain).  Here we were able to enjoy a relaxed lunch in the labyrinthine pedestrain streets.

Returning to our hotel, the lanes down which we drove were bordered by ancient houses with delicate overhanging balconies, frequently adorned with strings of bright red peppers drying in the sun. Rural Spain at its best! As a tour, it just keeps getting better!

The E-type Club has always been a broad church, welcoming people from all races, faiths and creeds. Always keen to make the Club ever more encompassing, we now have the opportunity of including on our Spanish Cantabria to Catalunya Tour none other than ... a parrot!

The back-story to this is, Marbella-based member Donald Marcos was keen to participate in the Tour in his V12 Roadster, but only on the condition that he could bring his parrot Guapa whom he wished to transport from his home in Belgium to his summer place on the Costa del Sol! (Guapa means 'pretty girl' in Spanish, a fact made the more mystifying by virtue of the fact that it was later discovered that the unfortunate Guapa, was, in fact, a boy.)

Guapa's current confusion regarding his sexual orientation is now being compounded by indignity, owing to the fact that he is spending much of his time in his cage, under a cloth in the back of a convertible E-Type on a car tour or being smuggled surreptitiously in and out of hotel rooms in the dead of night.

Unsurprisingly, given the circumstances, we have not heard a peep out of him thus far (we hope that he is not a Dead Parrot).  In fact, some do not believe that there is actually anything concealed in the large cage at all, but we hope to capture photographic evidence of his existence before Donald's early departure for Marbella, tomorrow!

Anyway, to the tour! Today we motored southeast, following the line of the Pyrenees from the historic city of Haro to Huesca.  The weather has been perfect, sunny but not too hot, and mechanical glitches have been mercifully few.  The roads are winding, smoothly surfaced (thank you EEC!) and largely deserted.  The scenery, rolling lush green hills bordered by spectacular mountains, often on both sides of the route makes, for perfect E-type driving conditions!

Throughout the day we have motored past ancient towns and villages perched on hilltops, with sand-coloured houses clustered tightly around all-dominating church spires.  Along the route, have encountered many faithful travellers making their way, on foot, from France along the medieval Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela - a tradition that has been going on for many hundreds of years.

To make the most of our surroundings, we enjoyed a mid-morning coffee stop at a stunning hillside bodega, followed by a lunchtime visit to the Abbey of San Salvador de Leye, which has origins dating back to 848.

Despite the serenity of the countryside through which we travelled, it was a lively drive.  First, we had to brake hard to avoid 6 leaping deer who galloped across our path and disappeared at undiminished speed down the precipitous slopes towards the valley below.  Then our enthusiasm had to be tempered a little to avoid bouncing off some rather beautiful free-range cows who seemed oblivious to our passing - and indeed oblivious to the clear danger of the hair-raisingly steep slopes on which they grazed. It was terrain that one would imagine even sheep and goats would struggle with, and yet the cows appeared to be at home here, lulled by the rhythmic clanking of the bells on their collars.

The drive took us through Masella then La Molina, two up and coming Pyrenean ski resorts, both currently undertaking ambitious expansion programmes. They looked like interesting alternatives to the Alpine resorts.  Having these towns behind us, we then undertook a brief regularity run, which produced much hilarity when one car disappeared from the route entirely - a difficult feat bearing in mind that there did not appear to be any other obvious roads or tracks off the 5 mile course.  

This was not the only drama.  Back on the official route a second V12 roadster had chosen to stop in the middle of the course - allegedly with seized brakes, but we suspect just for a quiet siesta.  This created an unscheduled and challenging chicane on the already winding, narrow and mountainous roads.  The occupants seemed oblivious to their peril as all following regularity entrants whizzed by, just inches from their door handles! 

Re- energized and re-grouped, we left the Pyrenees behind for the final time.  Above us the usual flocks of eagles circled overhead. In fact, two swept low over the E-Type in front of us and were heard to mutter, "was that a Series I or I ½, I can never tell the difference?" While his mate responded "never mind about the cars, where's the parrot?"

John Nixon and friends about to enjoy the views of the Pyrenees from the air.

One of the many picturesque Pyrenean roads of the Tour.

Not the standard state of the roads.

Donald Marcos's parrot Guapa.

Thursday 5^th

It was a fairly early start for many on Thursday, with some setting off north to France, some going further south in to Spain and the remainder heading off, in their own time, westwards towards Logrono.  Here we stayed in a five star hotel on the outskirts of the town, but only 10 minutes walk from its fascinating and bustling old quarter, huddled around the massive and spectacular cathedral.

Friday 6^th

So, to the final leg! On Friday morning we made our way to the Port of Bilbao. Once all the E-types had been safely loaded onto the P&O ferry, Ron Higgins (our trusty CMC tour mechanic) breathed a small sigh of relief.  Most of us then made our way to the 'Posh Bar' (Port Out, Starboard Home) for a reviving glass of champagne.

Our final evening had a 'Rock and Roll' theme. Sadly, this did not mean athletic and youthful club members practicing slick dance routines to music first heard just before the E-type was announced but, instead, the same individuals wobbling unsteadily and groaning to their en suites, as the Pride of Bilbao rocked uncontrollably and rolled sickeningly! The swell was up to 8 meters, lasted from 7pm on Friday night until about 7am on Saturday morning - effectively until we reached calmer waters of the English Channel. No one had much sleep and we decided it was Mother Nature serving up a small payback for the wonderful weather she had provided us with for the whole tour.  Iin retrospect this was certainly a penalty worth paying!  

Saturday 7^th

Goodbyes were said and journey’s home began. 

And some I must also bid you, jolly reader, a fond farewell. I hope this blog has helped you experience just a little of the fun of this fabulous tour and I look forward to travelling with you again!

Monday 2^nd October

Above image; E-type Tour participants enjoying their final meal at Mas de Torrent.

Philip & Julie showing us their moves on the dance floor.

Fiona, left with Julie relaxing with a glass of vino in beautiful Besalu.

Above & below; Dali's magical painting of Abraham Lincoln.

Past Events

Some 30 members of the XK and E-type clubs met at the Jaguar Engineering Centre in mid-October for an evening with Design Director Ian Callum.

It was a considerable privilege for the group to be allowed into this highly secret facility and it was believed to be unique to have such a meeting in the Design Studio no less.

However, even these privileges paled into almost insignificance when Ian Callum began talking. With the help of the JDHT, he had gathered together five of his favourite Jaguars – an original XJ6, a D-type, a Fixed Head Series I E-type, the RD6 concept car and the new XK Convertible.

In a completely informal way, he then walked around each of the cars describing the subtleties of the design process, of the reasons the designs worked so well and the philosophy behind aspects of their design. Using specially created cue boards, he expanded on Jaguar design, holding his audience absolutely spellbound with his quiet passion for his subject and easy eloquence.

Every so often, Ian modestly enquired of his audience, who followed him around as he talked, “Bored yet? Had enough yet?”

On each such occasion, he was overwhelmingly urged to continue. Nobody noticed the time pass, which is the test of a really good speaker. It was a ‘tour de force’ and one of the best meetings either club has ever held.

In thanking Ian, Philip Porter said that the one thing Sir William knew, above all, was the importance of style. It was what sold cars, it was what has always sold Jaguars. With Ian’s innate understanding of the great Jaguar design ethos, he suggested we could have great confidence in Jaguar’s future which will be more design-led and much more adventurous than in recent years.

It was a truly inspiring evening.  

Philip Porter

The E-type Club would like to offer you a chance to 'Virtually' join in with events even if you are physically not able to attend.  As we are now able to update the websites in house and on a regular basis we are now able to update members on past, future & now even present events.  Starting  with the E-type Tour of Spain we were able to communicate with our on-tour organisers Paul & Fiona

Scroll down to read about a few of our past events

E-type Continental Tour to Spain ' Cantabria to Catalunya' September 2006

We are delighted to be able to offer you a taste of our E-type Spanish tour which began on Sunday 24^th September. With the help of our on-tour organisers, Paul Abadjian and Fiona Bayne we have been able able to give you virtual access to the tour via a daily blog on our website. The tour of Northern Spain traveled through some of the area’s most dramatic scenery, from the stunning natural park of Fuente De in the Picos to wonderful Rioja vineyards; from the beautiful coastline to Santander to the rugged climbs of the Pyrenees.

Ian Callum Evening

• Ian Callum Evening
• E-type Continental Tour to Spain

Join Online

NEW MEMBERS: Join