Why other Classic Car Clubs need to learn from The International Jaguar XK Club

My article for the XK Gazette back in May!

I have always loved old classic cars. There is just something about them that the modern-day car industry cannot replicate.

So, when the International Jaguar XK Club invited me to come along to their XK Media Day, it was an instant yes. To spend a day filming classic Jaguars, who would decline that invitation?

The event was held in Bicester Heritage, which is like entering a haven for classic cars — a place where they can be loved and admired.

I saw every classic car imaginable: a Mini Metro, a Willy’s Jeep, and about a dozen Porsche 911’s, the most 911’s I have ever seen in one place.

But the main event was, of course, the Jaguar XKs.

The reason for this event was to educate - or rather indoctrinate, as Phillip Porter, head of the XK Club joked - the general public about the benefits of owning a Jaguar XK. But I believe the event did more than just that.

Before the indoctrination, it was time to head to the track. For a younger individual, it’s hard to believe at first glance that the Jaguar XK is a fast-moving vehicle, let alone the fastest production car when it was first unveiled in 1948.

The original Jaguar XK120 looks as if it is designed to take an elegant journey to Waitrose and back, with a little stop at the bowls club.

But in my first outing in a green-painted Jaguar XK120, owned by Don, I soon found out that the beautiful, elegant exterior was just a distraction from the monster that was underneath.

It’s like the XK is a road-going interpretation of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but in a good way.

As I hopped out, almost the entire club wanted to hear my thoughts, as if I were an experiment or patient zero. Just from my wide-eyed smile, it seemed I had been accepted into the XK Club.

After Don had told me what a good passenger I was, I had another offer to go out for a ride.

My new friend Chris from WinSpeed introduced me to Duncan, who offered to take me on the ride of my life.

I laughed, believing it to be a joke. But something about Duncan told me he was being serious. He was dressed very appropriately, donning an RAF-style jacket, with some goggles and gloves to match.

Duncan’s Jaguar of choice was an XK120 Roadster. To me (and don’t tell the other owners!), this was my favourite car of the day.

It wasn’t completely clean, had a few hits here and there, and it didn’t sound the best. But that is what I loved about it. The fact that it was getting daily use and not being brought out just for events made having the car worthwhile.

They had been on many adventures since he bought the XK twenty years ago. He proudly told me he had racked up over 100,000 miles, even driving around Russia and Western Europe—something he told me he would not recommend doing today.

So how was the ride of my life? Now it’s not like I have never driven fast—I have been over the speed limit here and there I will admit, who hasn’t? But being driven around the track by Duncan was honestly one of the best and scariest moments of my life.

He was giving it everything, sliding around every corner, just on the line between genius and insanity. But you could tell that he had driven all 100,000 miles.

Duncan and his XK were connected; he knew what the car was going to do ten seconds before it happened. It was fantastic.

On the way back into the paddock, Duncan got told off for the sliding and drifting. The marshals had said, “Three strikes and you are out.” Duncan ended the day with four strikes.

But back to the task at hand. The point of the day was to highlight why XKs are great classic cars to own. The XK Club and Phillip and Julie Porter have put in an amazing amount of effort to get this point across.

The panel they had was incredibly insightful, bringing in experts from a range of backgrounds, including Phillip Porter, Sarah Keith-Lucas (a meteorologist), Guy Lachlan of HCVA, and David Richardson of Sustainable Fuels by Coryton.

They had some great insights into the future of classic cars and the role of sustainable fuels, which in the future will make classics more efficient.

This can also lead to cars having a longer service life, resulting in less waste and being more sustainable. This all sounds great for the future of classics, but this is a long way away, but that is a whole other article.

Then came the part of the panel that people dread: the questions. Although there were not that many questions, I suspect the majority of the XK owners wanted to get back to racing.

Me being me, I shot my hand up to ask a question. “What are you doing to actively involve younger people in the XK Club, and how can you get younger people more involved with classic cars?”

For a moment, I could see I had stunned Mr. Phillip Porter. There were a few joke answers around:

“Get ‘em up and down on the King’s Road on a Saturday, like the olden days!” and

“Use social media!”

But one chap stood out for me. He perfectly nailed it on the head about what classic car clubs need to do to keep the younger generations intrigued.

“Those of us who are lucky to own classic cars like these need to be generous. Generous to younger people to allow them to be inspired and intrigued by classics.” This is a great point.

Anyone could tell you why an XK is good, but not many people can show you why an XK is great. The International XK Club are truly on the right track by inviting people like me.

It is not just about spreading the word to a broader audience; it is about creating new enthusiasts who will carry the torch for these magnificent machines.

By giving younger people, a taste of the passion and excitement that classic car owners feel, they are ensuring the future of the club and the legacy of cars like the XK.

Moreover, these events offer a wonderful opportunity for the existing members to share their passion and to be welcoming.

When younger individuals feel that warmth and inclusivity, they are more likely to develop a lifelong interest in classic cars.

So, to Don, Peter, Chris, Martin, Duncan, and importantly Phillip and Julie Porter, and everyone else at the event: Thank you. I have been successfully indoctrinated.