The “Great Race” Finish

The Great Race’s Epic Conclusion!

This past weekend (Friday, June 27 through Sunday, June 29, 2025), three officers from the Jaguar Autosport & Touring Club ventured north to watch the incredible finish of the “Great Race” in Columbia (Irmo), South Carolina. Ed Lewis, Craig Kerins, and Jay Lander made it safely to Columbia and brought back some incredible photos to share with the club.

The Great Race is not your ordinary automobile race. Rather, this race is a celebration of automotive history and innovation, as well as community outreach and camaraderie. This race is allocated for all vintage vehicles built prior to 1974. The inaugural race took place in 1983 and has been hosted annually every year since.

This year’s iteration of the race took place over nine days, spanning 2,300 miles across 10 different states. Over 130 classic and antique vehicles participated, starting in Minneapolis, Minnesota and stopping at 17 different locations before crossing the finish line in Irmo, South Carolina. Over the course of the race, more than 250,000 spectators witnessed this iconic event in person. Our officers spotted a lone Jaguar successfully cross the finish line—a beautiful 1964 E-Type FHC!

In addition to the race conclusion, our officers participated in many ancillary events, including an all-day open house hosted by the Coventry Foundation. They were invited to informal dinners on both Friday and Saturday evenings and had enjoyed mingling with many long-time fellow Jaguar enthusiasts and old friends all weekend long.