Bentley Drivers Club Competitions

This car is one of the most powerful Bentleys ever built ! It’s 8 litre supercharged engine puts out over 500 BHP and enough torque to pull a train. When owned and raced by Andrew Day ,car and driver won numerous awards on the track . With its beautiful bodywork and proportions it must surely rank up there with other great Bentleys and is a fabulous advertisement for the 3/8 Special.

Our recent image of Chris Williams in the Napier Bentley caused considerable interest. Here we see Chris in his own creation the Bentley Packard .This 42 litre levethian “Mavis”is now we believe in Europe. The word is that Chris has yet another aero engined Bentley in build!

A big congratulations to Graham and Marina Goodwin on winning the Rally the Globe month long Japan Islands Rally. A magnificent achievement in their fabulous WO! The other Bentley in the rally finished a credible 8th ,a 1950 MK 6 special (pictured) piloted by Trici Field and Susan Godfrey. Bentley ,the ultimate Historic Rally car bar none.

Graham and Marina Goodwin seen here on the the current Rally of the Globe Japan Islands Rally. They are lying 2nd at the moment in their trusty 3/5.3 WO. Graham and Marina are amongst the most experienced Historic Rally competitors
and are guaranteed to fly the Bentley flag around the world.

Continuing with our Derby Bentley theme we have here a very famous club car . It was originally purchased by none other than HM Bentley ,WOs brother in 1937complete with a Park Ward body. In1958 it was acquired by Rusty Russ Turner a former BDC chairman and erstwhile racer. Rusty dispensed with the original body , shortened the chassis and supercharged the engine using twin Arnot blowers! As you do. The engine reputedly gave 270 horsepower and was capable of 140 mph . Over the years the car competed in numerous races and long rallies. The car is for sale over in Holland if anyone fancies it.

It was great to see a good turn out of Derby Specials at this years BDC Silverstone race meeting . These fine Bentleys are often in the shadow of our WO racers but there is no doubt that they can be very competitive. Seen here is the late Ian Bentall racing his Derby special in which he garnered quite a collection of silverware over the years . Wouldn’t it be nice to see this car out competing again .

PETER MORLEY
Foremost BDC racing driver passes away

It is with great sadness that the BDC has to announce the passing of one of its most respected and long-standing Members, Peter Morley. He was 91.
Peter is regarded as one of the Club’s most enthusiastic and successful racing drivers, who began competing in the 1950s; he enjoyed a long track career, winning many significant races along the way, before finally hanging up his helmet aged a sprightly 80.
Peter is also well known for building – in conjunction with close friend and Past Chairman David Llewellyn – and racing the iconic 24-litre Napier Bentley, which he campaigned at many BDC Silverstone meetings. He also competed in the Pacey-Hassan for several years.
One of the Club’s longest serving Members, Peter clocked up 64 years after joining in 1958. And to acknowledge his prominence, racing success and loyalty to the BDC, he was proudly honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award (also bestowed upon Jimmy Medcalf and Harvey Hine) at the AGM in April.
The respected head of the Morley family racing dynasty, Peter’s son Clive and grandsons Stuart and James have continued his competition legacy.
The BDC extends its sincere condolences to Peter's family and many friends. He will be greatly missed.
• A full obituary will appear in the December issue of Review.

Our image shows Peter with his BDC Lifetime Achievement Award and at the wheel of the Napier Bentley at Silverstone
www.bdcl.org

This 4.5 litre Bentley won the first 500 mile race at Brooklands in 1929 driven by Frank Clement and Jack Barclay at an average speed of 107.32 MPH.Not a bad speed at all for back then. It’s noticeable how “Aerodynamics” we’re starting to become important in achieving greater speed. See the small aero screen, the covered passenger compartment and the long sloping tail . Streamlining was of course the name of the game.

Here we see Bob Burrell in one of his V12 engined Derby Bentley Specials. When Bob first tried to to race it the BDC banned it because Derby Bentleys never had a V12 engine . However , sense prevailed and he raced it very successfully for many years . Oh yes Bob also supercharged the engine reputedly giving over 400hp!. He built 2 of these cars and they could match many of the 3/8 specials in performance.

When the BDC reformed after the war it seemed to attract many great “ Characters” . One of these seen here was the late Syd Lawrence. Syd worked at the Bentley Motors Kingsbury Rd Workshops for 4 years back in the day . He was an enthusiastic racer and in fact won the first Bentley race at Snetterton. At his Southgate Garage he serviced all kinds of Bentleys , specialising in WOs. He was also involved in building some of the first MKVI Specials , creating a fair amount. Seen here in his highly modified 3/4.5 which first appeared in the early 60s . The car was re registered in 1959 hence the post war number.

WG Barton at the wheel of his 3 litre at Brooklands. It’s difficult to spot his riding mechanic! Where is this car now and is it still racing ?

Great picture from last Saturdays Silverstone BDC race meeting . Lewis Fox (99)the winner of the John Duff race battling with Clive Morley . Image from the BDC.