Bid on a place on a rally – plus a Jaguar XK150 to do it in – and raise cash for charity

By James Elliott

| 10 Dec 2011

An enthusiast is auctioning the use of his classic Jaguar XK150 fixed-head coupé on a charity rally to the highest bidder.

Nick Seaton-Burridge, a long-standing supporter of the Cape to Cape event is donating the use of the car to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The rally, organised by Dennis Greenslade, runs from 21-29 April from Cape Wrath in Scotland to Cape Cornwall. It will climax with a historic rally around the streets of Truro.

The event – which has raised more than £420,000 for the charity over the past eight years – is already sold out, with 40 cars participating. So the auction XK150 offers the final spot in the line-up for the winning bidder and their passenger.

Bids start at £2500, which includes entry fee, accommodation and meals, mechanical back-up and the use of the 1958 Jaguar XK150 fixed-head coupé for the duration of the event.

All bids should be made via to Emma Wright, Macmillan Cancer Support Cornwall Fundraising Manager at emwright@macmillan.org.uk by 1 March 2012. Bidders will be notified if they are outbid and will be offered the chance to increase their offer. The winning bidder will be notified on the 2 March, and subject to conforming to entry requirements and eligibility to drive criteria laid down by the organisers (see below), payment will be arranged.

The smallprint for the auction:

The organisers reserve the right to accept/decline bids.

All entrants must hold a full UK driving license.

The organisers decision on the winning bid is final.

All money raised over the entry cost of £1600 will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Some info on the rally:

The first Cape to Cape, in 2004, travelled south to north and was very much in tour mode, covering 1300 miles over six days. The route took in several famous trials hills, such as Hustyn in Cornwall and Park Rash in Yorkshire, used regularly in the 1930s.

Dennis Greenslade decided it would reflect well on the tour if funds were raised for a worthwhile cause. Macmillan Cancer Relief, now Macmillan Cancer Support, was the chosen beneficiary and over £30,000 was raised on the inaugural event.

The following year Dennis lost his wife Tricia to cancer further cementing the links between the rally and Macmillan.

Th tours have become much more competitive over the years and now incorporate secret checks and manoeuvrability tests on private land.

Capes on the continent and Ireland have also been visited, but for 2012 the tour returns to Great Britain and will run from Cape Wrath to Cape Cornwall over 1450 miles to include seven overnight stops.

James Elliott

James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car