In keeping with the atmosphere of the Swinging Sixties, visitors wearing period outfits also got the chance to hear from racing legends including Richard Atwood and Paddy Hopkirk via a live stage show as well as interviews with Mary Lyons, the daughter of Jaguar founder Sir William.
Meanwhile the sense of madcap fun, given extra poignancy by the fact that for many this event marked the return of large scale gatherings since the easing of lockdown, was emphasised with a re-enactment of scenes from The Italian Job complete with period Minis, Vespas and of course that gold-laden coach.
As for Jenks’s E-type, the car which was registered to Teesdale Publishing, the former owner of Motor Sport magazine, and used by DSJ in his role as continental correspondent, made several runs up the hill driven by current owner Roger Falcon.
Motor Sport editor Joe Dunn took the passenger seat on one of the runs: “This car has been to Monaco to see Graham Hill take his third consecutive victory, it’s seen Jim Clark win the French grand prix, and witnessed Gurney, Amon and McLaren compete at Le Mans. It might not be the most valuable or have the most important race history of all the E-types here this weekend, but it captures the unique spirit of the car and it is great to see it here among many others.”
Italian Job re-enactment included Minis, Vespas and the E-type used in the film
Abigail Humphries