WELCOME albeit behind closed doors, and the also a 4½, which they’ve owned for 60 racing was as thrilling and keenly fought years; Terry Unwin’s obsession with S as ever. Series Continentals; and US based Peter Regional Christmas lunches and Heydon’s bespoke Brooklands. dinners are among the highlights of the There have been some national Club’s winter calendar, bringing many events taking place, in which our Members together, but these have also Members have participated and won been curtailed by the coronavirus. awards too: the Concours of Elegance We all sincerely hope, therefore, that and Salon Privé. A big congratulations 2021 will be a better year for all, with in particular to Georg Ellbogen (1936 Club events getting back on the road Derby), a winner at Hampton Court, again, and Members once more enjoying and Monique Bass (1993 Brooklands), their Bentleys to the full. who triumphed at Blenheim Palace. In this issue, our cover feature, lit Check out our illustrated reports. elcome to the winter issue up by some fantastically atmospheric In 1980, Vickers merged with Rolls- of Review. Christmas is photography, focuses on three wonderful Royce, bringing the Bentley brand under just around the corner, Members’ cars from yesteryear and its wing. Member Richard Charlesworth, with the festive season appraises each following a road test. a former senior executive at Crewe, typicallyW offering a time to reflect on Find out how they fared and stack up considers the impact of the tie-up, one the previous 12 months. In the case of against one another. of the most significant episodes in our 2020, it’s been a remarkable year, the Last issue we profiled the evergreen favourite marque’s history. like of which many of us have never Randal Stewart and this time turn the There’s lots more too: motorsport experienced, with the Covid-19 global spotlight on the younger brigade – roundup (including historic and GT pandemic wreaking havoc on our namely successful 30-something business racing plus classic rallying), technical daily lives. owner Andrew Butt, qualified helicopter section and Foundation Corner. In the instance of the BDC, Club pilot and until recently the Midlands Enjoy this issue, stay safe – and may events right across the world have been Region Secretary. I wish you all a happy Christmas and a cancelled, with our annual Concours We also focus on Members’ cars prosperous new year. d’Elegance, scheduled for June, from across the Bentley eras: Chris unfortunately being shelved. However, Scott’s rare 4½ Litre aka ‘Mr Fred’; Stuart Newman BDC Silverstone did go ahead in August, Anthony & Anne Prosser’s Vintage, Communications Manager and Editor COPY DEADLINE FOR ISSUE 333 (February 2021): Friday 18 December Please send copy and images to: [email protected] Copy: please send in on a Word document Images: please save all images at high resolution and ensure each is at least 1MB in file size. Please do not send images totalling 10MB in file size within one email (please use Dropbox or Wetransfer instead) Front cover: A trio of superb Derby, Vintage and Crewe models prepares for a three-way road test (image courtesy of Michael Higginbotham) Rear cover: The Derby Special 4¼ of Elliott Dale & Charlotte Ryall on the HERO Challenge Three rally (image courtesy of HERO/Will Broadhead) contentsCONTENTS COVER STORY 4 4 MIDLANDS MARVELS 26 OBSESSION! 48 TECHNICAL As the Midlands marks its 70th Terry Unwin waxes lyrical about In our latest maintenance anniversary, Mike Haig collects his passion for the stylish S masterclass, David Morrison together three of the Region’s Series Continentals, of which he’s focuses on fashioning a new classic models spanning Bentley’s owned several over the years distributor cap and rotor for ML- different eras while Martin CG4 magnetos Trentham assesses each one 30 SALON PRIVÉ during a special three-pronged Proud Brooklands owner 52 PERFECT ZEROS road test Monique Bass earned the Bentley Stephen Ward enjoys a virtual prize, while Bentley Motors tour of the Pirelli Performance handed a global premiere to its Centre and discovers how the new three-strong family from tyre giant produces the perfect Mulliner, at the annual Blenheim Bentley-tailored rubber Palace extravaganza 54 STATE OF THE UNION 32 ONE OF A KIND How has the BDC/RROC Enthusiastic collector Peter affiliation fared since its recent Heydon likes his cars to be as inception? Ron Warmington unusual as possible – and his and Phil Brooks provide a joint rare 2009 Brooklands is a perfect update 12 example 56 BENTLEYS IN ACTION 12 YOUNG ACHIEVER 36 SIXTY NOT OUT! Reports and images from the Successful business owner, Owning the same car for six HERO Challenge rally, British helicopter pilot, owner of two decades is an achievement to and international GTs, AMOC Bentleys… and not yet 40 years of be proud of. Anthony & Anne meeting, Vintage Prescott, age. We profile Andrew Butt, the Prosser tell the story of YV 9263, Goodwood SpeedWeek, RAC former Midlands Region Secretary their beloved 4½ Litre Historic TT and the AMOC Sprint who started his first company while still in his mid teens 74 QUIZ TIME Test your knowledge of 18 CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE international road signs plus try Georg Ellbogen’s splendid Derby cracking the Sedgwick Game 4¼ Streamlined Drophead Coupé secured the prestigious Bentley Trophy while other Club Members 42 REGULAR FEATURES also claimed awards at the annual 2 THE START LINE Hampton Court show 40 QUICK PIT STOP 42 CREWE RENAISSANCE 22 MEET MR FRED Forty years ago Bentley came 47 BENTLEY BOOKSHELF Chris Scott is a younger-generation under the auspices of Vickers plc 63 OBITUARIES Club Member with a real love of following a merger with Rolls- 66 EDITOR’S MAILBOX older Bentleys, particularly his rare Royce. Former Crewe senior 68 FOUNDATION CORNER Salmons bodied 4½ Litre Drophead executive Richard Charlesworth Sports Coupé, one of only two still discusses the impact of the tie-up 75 HERE & THERE in existence on the Bentley brand 80 THE FINISH LINE www.bdcl.org 2020 • BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB • REVIEW 1 The Start Line 2 BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB • REVIEW • 2020 www.bdcl.org SPA-RRING PARTNERS! Bentley Motorsport enjoyed a multi-pronged assault on the biggest GT3 race in the world, the 24 Hours of Spa, with its largest ever customer entry. Five Continental GT3s from three teams contested the legendary Ardennes endurance event in Belgium in late October: Team Parker Racing (#11), K-PAX Racing (#9, #3 is missing from shot) and CMR (#107 and #108). Turn to pages 58-59 to see how they fared. Image: Courtesy of Bentley Motors www.bdcl.org 2020 • BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB • REVIEW 3 Midlands marvels With the Midlands celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Mike Haig celebrates by gathering together three of the Region’s classic models from different eras before asking Martin Trentham to carry out a special three-way road test. Images: Courtesy of Michael Higginbotham and Owners ike many of this year’s BDC in the Club and at one time was also Being a former Midlands Region events, both national and the largest by far. Chairman myself I wondered how Regional, the celebration Some years ago, it was decided to we could publicise ourselves a dinner planned by the split the Region in half, thus giving little in the Club and celebrate our MidlandsL Region to commemorate us the East Midlands Region. Over the anniversary; hence this article laying its 70th anniversary had to be years Midlanders have served the Club the spotlight on three fantastic cancelled. The Region is the oldest well with many holding high office. Midlands cars from the Vintage, 4 BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB • REVIEW • 2020 www.bdcl.org Midlands marvels Derby and Crewe eras. Martin Trentham was Martin writes: It was with some trepidation that I accepted Mike Haig’s commandeered into road testing the request to road test three Midlands Region cars – a WO, a Derby and an vehicles – and his findings will, I am R Type Special – and jot down my impressions. One of my many academic sure, be of great interest to all of our failings at school was an inability to write essays – why 3,000 words when readers. 30 will do? Anyway, here goes... www.bdcl.org 2020 • BENTLEY DRIVERS CLUB • REVIEW 5 ROAD TEST 1 – DERBY Stylish, with or without hood – that’s BME 509 1934 3½ LITRE ‘BOLOGNA’ My first victim was an Irish friend’s 1934 3½-litre Derby, BME 509, which had been re-invented by coachwork specialist Ian Pitney as the Bentley ‘Bologna’, with Altogether it is a boy-racer’s dream, prominent plates on the bonnet sides so describing it. so I was in my element! He certainly succeeded in achieving the early 1930s Grand well-known restorer near Lechlade like to be close to the controls. The Prix car look and feel, helped for a check-over and estimate for seat is adjustable but I did not try by moving the cockpit position any small jobs needed. The return moving it while the gear lever is aft on the standard chassis. The journey a few weeks later became close to the thigh and well back, so workmanship and attention to detail this road test. comes to hand easily. The wheel is are superb, as also is the exhaust I was immediately reminded of also in the right place, but with the note via a straight-through outside just how good the car looks and column extension horizontal the system, nicely curved to follow sounds. Access is easy through wheel is vertical which would not be the body shape.