No fewer than 20 4-cylinder Morgans—a potentially record turnout—have been invited to compete for the Morgan Techniques Trophy at the two-day Bentley Drivers Club 60th Anniversary meeting scheduled for Silverstone on August 8-9. Morgans of all shapes and sizes will also be out in force for the Power Torque Morgan Challenge race, which promises a 30-plus grid of Morgans from the 1960s to the present. The cars from Malvern Link will also be seen battling against other classic names such as AC, MG, and Jaguar in multimarque races over the weekend, a fitting tribute to Morgans’ centenary year.
Brian Gateston of Morgan specialist Techniques said, “We should have a full grid in the Morgan, MG, and AC Scratch Race, with Morgans dating from 1952 up to the present day competing for the Techniques Trophy. Having 20 4-cylinder cars would be a fantastic way to celebrate both the BDC’s 60th Anniversary Meeting and Morgan’s centenary. It’s always a hugely popular race meeting with drivers and their families, as well as Morgan enthusiasts in general. There’s a great, clubby feel, with some really close racing—and it’s so good to see the cars out on the track, rather than covered up in a collection.”
A number of drivers who took part in the original 1985 Morgan Challenge BDC meeting race will compete at Silverstone again this August, including Mary Lindsay, Leigh Sebba, Barry Sumner, and Jack Bellinger. A strong Morgan presence in the paddock is promised, and previous BDC meetings have seen TOK 258—the 1962 2.0-liter Le Mans class-winning Plus Four—on display.
Among the other highlights of the meeting will be the traditional Bentley handicap race, with Bentleys of every era taking part, so a 1925 3-liter might be pitched against a Turbo R. The “All-Comers” race sees a wide variety of cars, from a humble Lotus Sunbeam or Triumph GT6, through to a modern McLaren. Off track, spectators can wander through an impressive display of significant Bentley racecars, including past Le Mans winners, Brooklands cars, and Bentleys that have raced at BDC events throughout the past 60 years.
