The Bentley Drivers Club\u2019s popular annual race meeting \u2014 an institution on the British motor-racing calendar \u2013 once again produced a day of fantastic club racing on the National circuit at Silverstone on Saturday August 5.<\/p>\n
Regarded by the Club as \u201cmore than just a race meeting,\u201d the event mixed on-track action and the more sedate Bentley track parade with socializing and browsing the myriad paddock attractions on a sunny summer\u2019s day.<\/p>\n
Bentleys of all ages \u2014 many raced by Club Members \u2014 shared the entry list for the nine-race program at the historic Northamptonshire venue with Morgans, Austin-Healeys, MGBs, Triumphs, ACs and Lotuses.<\/p>\n
The BDC celebrated victories for two of its members, as newly licensed Bert Degenaar, competing in only his third race ever, took top honors in the Padgett Motor Engineers Bentley Handicap Race at the wheel of Club colleague Ewen Getley\u2019s 1924 Bentley 3\/4\u00bd (above, Peter de Russet-Hall photo courtesy of Bentley Drivers Club), and in the P&A Wood Bentley Race for Pre-1966, Post-1966 Cars & Pre-War Team Challenge, Simon Worthington chalked up a convincing overall win \u2014 plus Post-1966 spoils \u2014 by 6.5 seconds with his 1990 Turbo R. Fellow BDC Member Michael Higginbotham took 2nd<\/sup> overall while winning the Pre-1966 class with his 1948 MkVI Special.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Jonathan Abecassis scored two victories at the wheel of his rapid Austin-Healey 100\/4. His first was a narrow win shared with Richard Woolmer in the two-driver FISCAR race, then he followed it up with a solo success in the Bic Healey Trophy & MG, Morgan Challenge. Oli Bryant and Keith Ahlers (Plus 8s) took a win apiece in the AR Motorsport Morgan Challenge doubleheader.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s meeting also featured the traditional and popular lunchtime track parade of more than 80 Members\u2019 Bentleys. Among the fabulous array of cars on show, ranging from vintage Blowers to the more modern Continentals and all models in between, was a Bentayga believed to be making its UK track debut. A display of a dozen classic Bentleys, all judged winners at the BDC\u2019s recent Concours d\u2019Elegance at Sudeley Castle, added their own pristine touch to proceedings in the paddock.<\/p>\n Ron Warmington, BDC Chairman, commented: \u201cYet again we enjoyed a fabulous day\u2019s racing, coupled with a fantastic array of Bentley models in the parade, on what is always one of the highlights of our Club\u2019s social calendar. And I was delighted to see plenty of Members and spectators enjoying the many attractions and stalls in the paddock. We are proud of our meeting\u2019s reputation for being one of the best family events on the club racing calendar, and long may that continue.\u201d<\/p>\n