COMPETITIONS NEWSLETTER - december 2023

Competitions Day 2024
The Competitions Committee has regrettably decided that the 2024 Competitions Day, traditionally held in January at the Clubhouse in Wroxton, is to be CANCELLED.
 
As you are aware, this is proving to be a challenging time financially for many car clubs, and while the Club can assure all Members that the BDC certainly remains in good health, the decision has been taken by the Board to alleviate pressure on existing budgets by calling off next year’s event. It’s hoped Members will appreciate the reasons behind this difficult decision.
 
Any relevant competitions-related issues will be communicated in due course. Meanwhile, those trophies and tankards not presented to recipients at the Competitions Dinner on 29 November (see Competitions Dinner 2023, below) will now be handed out at the Club AGM on 21 April.


BDC Silverstone 2024
Next year’s 76th BDC Silverstone race meeting will be held on Saturday 10 August. It will feature a special centenary race for Vintage Bentleys (pictured) to celebrate the marque’s first win at Le Mans in 1924. Look out for more details when confirmed.


Competitions Dinner 2023
Congratulations to Stuart Morley (pictured) who was named Racing Driver of the Year, claiming the Frank Clement Memorial Trophy for the second time, having previously won it in 2017.

Well done, too, to 2013 debutant Anna Getley (pictured) who won two awards: Best Young Driver (Harry Rose Trophy) and Best Lady Driver (Sealink Trophy).

The evening was held in the distinguished Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. 

For a full report please click here.

‘Champions’ contacts 
Just a reminder that we have three ‘champions’ on the Comps Committee to represent each one’s specific area of knowledge, expertise and contacts – designed to encourage more people to compete with their Bentleys. So if you have any specific questions regarding your model of car, please contact one of the following:
Competition activity – second half of 2023
Circuit racing

75th BDC Silverstone (12 August)
Ben Eastick (pictured, left) landed the Times Challenge Trophy for the third successive year after taking his T Type single-seater to victory in the Bentley scratch race, while David Ratcliffe (3 Litre, pictured, right) was a first-time victor in the Bentley handicap encounter.

For a full report, video and results please click here.


BDC Sprint – Aintree (2 September)
The famous former British Grand Prix venue at Aintree (pictured) attracted a wide variety of Bentleys, with Ben Eastick (T Type single-seater) the fastest in the dedicated BDC class.

For a full report, video and results please click here.


Le Mans Classic (29 June-2 July)
Clive Morley (pictured, leading away) scored a hugely popular victory in the special Le Mans Centenary Bentley race – his maiden Bentley triumph at La Sarthe. 

The double BDC Racing Driver of the Year (3/4½ Litre) was well placed to take advantage of the unfortunate late race engine problems which befell longtime race leader Martin Overington (Blower).

Pole-sitting Clive eventually finished the 45-minute Benjafield’s encounter a comfortable 49.5 seconds ahead of second placed fellow Club Member Nick Sleep (Supersports) who had produced a storming drive.

Nick inherited the runners-up slot, despite suffering apparent fuel starvation issues, after a stirring late-race battle with an unlucky Richard Hudson (3/4½ Litre). The latter produced one of his best ever performances to actually finish second on the road but was classified sixth after receiving a post-race time penalty for running with hydraulic brakes.

Ewen Getley (Blower) came through from eighth on the grid to be classified a fine fourth, one place ahead of an impressive Hugh Apthorp (Blower) who rose some 18 places from his grid slot (23rd). 

Alistair Littlewood (3/4½ Litre), sharing with father Mike, was also well in the reckoning during his stint, running strongly in the podium places and challenging for the lead at one point. The duo was eventually classified eighth.

Martin was eventually classified ninth, four places ahead of Neil Davies who produced a stirring performance in the legendary Bluebell to actually cross the line in fifth. And David Little (3 Litre Super Sport) also performed far better than his eventual 17th place classification, being eighth across the finish line.

The race, which featured a traditional Le Mans start, attracted a packed field of 69 Vintage Bentleys, with 45 of those driven by BDC Members.

Other performances of note came from Chris and Peter Batty (3 Litre) who earned the plaudits for the highest rise from their grid slot, being classified 42nd after starting 68th – an impressive climb of 26 places. 

And sisters Anna and Louisa Getley (3/4½ Litre), who qualified a magnificent 10th before being classified 27th despite finishing 13th on the road, were deservedly presented with the best young drivers award. 

Elsewhere, brothers Stuart and James Morley, each sharing with respected motoring journalist and racer Andrew Frankel, campaigned the two works Blower Continuation Series cars in the three Grid 1 races for cars from 1923-1939 – the first factory entered Bentleys to race at Le Mans for 20 years.

Stuart/Andrew enjoyed an encouraging seventh place finish in race two, with James/Andrew’s best result being 28th in the final event. Hugh Apthorp scored a trio of excellent top-20 results.

Watch the race here.


Goodwood Revival (8-10 September)
The legendary Bentley versus Bugatti battles of yesteryear were recreated in a fantastically competitive Rudge-Whitworth Cup race.

Bentley took the spoils, with Club Member Ben Collings (sharing Gareth Graham's Speed Model, pictured) defeating a Type 44 by less than half a second after a race-long tussle.

Four Bentleys filled the top six places, with Hugh Apthorp (sharing his Birkin Blower with Nick Swift) completing the podium places. An undoubted star of the race was Martin Overington (Blower) who powered through from the rear of the field, after problems en route to the grid, to sit third, and look a strong bet for victory, only to retire in the pits. 

Watch the race here. 

Spa Six Hours (28-30 September)
For the third successive year, Clive Morley (3/4½ Litre) finished as the leading Club runner, finishing fourth, in the MRL Pre-War Sports Cars race.

Clive was never headed in the Bentley class and finished around half a lap ahead of seventh placed son Stuart and Richard Hudson (3/4½ Litre).

Bentleys filled places 12-16, with Ewen Getley (4½ Litre supercharged) heading home this quintet, followed by Jock Mackinnon, Matthew Moore (both 3/4½s), MRL boss and Club President Duncan Wiltshire/George Allen-Elbourn (3 Litre) and Anna/Louisa Getley (3/4½), the sisters’ efforts earning them the traditional Oak ‘Spirit’ trophy.

VSCC Shuttleworth Trophy – Donington (9 July)
Oliver Llewellyn (3/8 Special) triumphed in the Mug Race for VSCC Specials. He registered a perfect result, having also set the fastest laps in both qualifying and the race.

HSCC Oulton Park Gold Cup (30 July)
Clive Morley (3/4½ Litre) earned a brace of top-10 finishes in the two-part VSCC Egerton Cup. He came home seventh in race one and, demonstrating his trademark wet-weather skills, followed that with a fine fifth place in the rain-hit second.

Non Bentley results
HSCC Oulton Park Gold Cup (30 July)
RAC Woodcote Trophy: 3rd – Ben Eastick/Karl Jones (Jaguar D-Type); Stirling Moss Trophy: 7th – Richard Hudson/Stuart Morley (Lister Knobbly); JMC Racing Special Saloons & Modsports: 19th – Robert Gate (Jaguar E-Type); FJHRA/HSCC Historic Formula Junior Championship (two parts): 21st & 23rd – Peter Edbrooke (Lotus 18).

Silverstone Festival (25-27 August)
RAC Woodcote Trophy: 4th – Ben Eastick (Jaguar D-type), 9th – Paul Griffin (Connaught ALSR), 12th – Josh Ward (Jaguar XK120), Ret – Steve Ward (Frazer Nash) and Hugh Apthorp (Kieft 1100); MRL Stirling Moss Trophy: Ret – Richard Hudson/Stuart Morley (Lister Knobbly); Transatlantic Pre-’66 Touring Cars: 16th – Gregor Fisken/Sam Hancock (Ford Galaxie); MRL Big Cat Challenge Trophy: 22nd – Fisken/Hancock (Jaguar E-type); HGPCA Rear Engined Grand Prix Cars and Pre-’66 Grand Prix Cars: 22nd and 23rd – Paul Griffin (Cooper T51).

Goodwood Revival (8-10 September)
Rudge-Whitworth Cup: 4th – Gregor Fisken (Vauxhall 30-98), 8th – Theo Hunt (Alfa Romeo 8C).

Spa Six Hours (28-30 September)
Six Hours Endurance: 84th – Steve/Josh/Tom Ward (Ginetta G4R).

MRL Silverstone (21-22 October)
RAC Woodcote Trophy: 3rd – Ben Eastick (Jaguar D-Type); Stirling Moss Trophy: 4th – Richard Hudson/Stuart Morley (Lister Knobbly); RAC Pall Mall Cup: 6th – Nick Sleep/Alex
Montgomery/Martin Stretton (Shelby Cobra), 8th – Montgomery/Stretton/Sleep (Lotus Elan 26R), 20th – Freddie Wiltshire/George Wiltshire/Nick Crewdson (MGB), 22nd – Steve
Ward/Josh Ward (Ginetta GR4), 29th – Stuart Morley/Clive Morley/James Morley (Chevrolet Corvette C2).

Hill climbing 

VSCC Speed Championship (round 5) – Prescott (5 August)
Alistair Littlewood (3/4½ Litre) was the quickest of the BDC Bentley brigade. Sharing with father Mike, Alistair clocked a best time for his two runs of 49.43secs – good enough to finish second on handicap in the class for Sports Cars Specials (over 3000cc unsupercharged/over 2250cc supercharged).

Mike recorded a best time of 53.13secs, followed by Roger Collings on 56.03secs and Matthew Moore (both 3/4½ Litres) on 56.52secs. Ian Warner (3 Litre), clocked 67.02secs in the class for Standard & Modified Sports Cars (1501-2000cc unsupercharged/upto 1500cc supercharged).

VSCC Speed Championship (rounds 6 & 7) – Loton Park (9-10 September)
Alistair (3/4½ Litre, pictured) finished first on handicap in the class for Special Sports-Cars/Saloon Cars over 3000cc unsupercharged, with a time of 72.34secs, in round six; he followed that with 75.18secs for second on handicap in class in the next round.

Harriet Collings (4½ Litre) clocked a best time of 80.94secs in the same class in round six.

VSCC Speed Championship (round 8) – Prescott (23 September)
David McRobert (Derby 3½ Special) posted the quickest time of the two Bentley-mounted Club Members. He clocked a quickest time for his two runs of 67.03secs in the class for Special Sports-Cars/Saloon Cars over 3000cc unsupercharged.

Vivian Bush (3 Litre), competing in the Special Sports-Cars/Saloon Cars 1501-3000cc unsupercharged posted a best of 76.59secs.

Non Bentley results
VSCC Speed Championship (round 4) – Shelsley Walsh (2 July)
Edwardian Cars: 1st in class – Roger Collings (Mercedes 120HP) – 49.22secs, Roland Duce (Vauxhall Prince Henry) – 73.12secs; Sports Cars Specials: Theo Hunt (Frazer Nash TT Replica) – 39.56secs, Craig Collings (Delage DR70) – 44.07secs; Racing Cars: 2nd in class – Jolyon Harrison (Cognac) – 42.06secs.

VSCC Speed Championship (round 5) – Prescott (5 August)
Edwardian Cars: Sam Clutton Memorial Trophy – Ben Collings (Mercedes 120) – 53.14secs; Pre-1941 Racing Cars: 1st in class – Julian Grimwade (Frazer Nash Single Seat) – 42.46secs; Standard & Modified Sports Cars: 1st in class & 1st Vintage – Archibald Collings (Austin 7 Ulster Replica) – 54.69secs; Sports Cars Specials: 1st on handicap – Craig Collings (Delage DR70) – 50.74secs, Theo Hunt (Frazer Nash TT Replica) – 46.90secs; Standard & Modified Sports Cars: Roland Duce (Delahaye 135M) – 62.64secs.

VSCC Speed Championship (rounds 6 & 7) – Loton Park (9-10 September)
Special Sports-Cars/Saloon Cars over 3000cc unsupercharged: Craig Collings (Delage DR70) – 76.27secs (round six); Post-War Historic Racing Cars: 2nd on handicap – Jolyon Harrison (AC/GN Cognac) – 73.01secs (round six) and 75.02secs (round seven).

VSCC Speed Championship (round 8) – Prescott (23 September)
1950s Sports/Racing Cars: Julian Grimwade (Frazer Nash single seat) – 51.26secs, fastest time overall; Pre-1941 Racing Cars 1501-3000cc: Jolyon Harrison (AC/GN Cognac) – 57.57secs; Pre-1941 Racing Cars up to 1100cc: Matthew Moore (Austin 7 Ulster) – 60.85secs; Standard & Modified Sports-Cars/Saloon Cars 751-1100cc unsupercharged: David Rushton (MG M Type) – 72.96secs; Edwardian Cars: Roland Duce (Vauxhall Prince Henry) – 85.60secs.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the updated Motorsport section of the Club website, to get the latest news on Bentleys in action throughout the year. Click here. 
 
Ben Eastick, Competitions Captain