The Bentley Drivers Club (BDC) have held an annual race meeting at Silverstone since 1949, just one year before the inaugural F1 race also took place there. The highlight of this year’s event was a race to celebrate a hundred years since the marques first victory at the Le Mans 24 hour race. The drivers back then were John Duff and Frank Clement so the race was appropriately called the “John Duff Trophy and Frank Clement Cup” in honour of their success. The Le Mans triumph became a landmark in Bentley’s illustrious history and led to the legendary group known as the “Bentley Boys”, a fast living group of individuals whose DNA can still be seen in some of the racers of today.
My good friend Clive Morley led from the start ( as he had also done at last year’s Le Mans Classic race to celebrate the centenary of the 24 Hours) and went on to win the race in his 3/4 1/2 car (3litre chassis with 4 1/2 litre engine)
In second place was the mighty 8 litre engined car ( also in a 3 litre chassis) of Matt Wilton
In third was Clive’s son, James Morley in another 3/4 1/2
His brother, Stuart Morley, came in 5th in a further 3/4 1/2 co-driven with its owner, Richard Hudson
The BDC event always includes Bentley from a broad array of periods. More modern Bentleys were represented by the colourful Continental GT W12
And the, somewhat more sober, though still very fast, Mulsanne TurboR
The houses that can be seen in the background to these “moderns” were recently completed and are available for sale or rent for car lovers with deep pockets and and a liking for interesting lighting schemes.
“Specials” are also a feature of the meeting ranging from the sleek machine based on a 1965 V8 T Type of Ben Eastick which won its race to the less sleek, but still fast,1957 MkVI special.
BDC Members also have a chance to join a parade of the track for 3 laps – here is another good friend, Ron Warmington, leading a group round followed by a more close view of his magnificent Blower Bentley.
Finally here a few of my other favourite shots from the day
