Clive and Ben victorious at BDC Silverstone

Monday 12th August, 2024

By Stuart Newman

Duo claims honours in two main Bentley races at Club's 76th annual race day

Clive Morley scored a dominant victory in the John Duff Trophy & Frank Clement Cup race, to commemorate the centenary of Bentley’s first win (of six) in the famous Le Mans 24 Hours, at the 76th BDC Silverstone on Saturday.

Clive, driving a 3/4½ Litre (no124, pictured), won the 40-minute race for Vintage Bentleys by almost 52 seconds, having started from pole position and leading throughout.

Second was Matt Walton, in his potent 3/8 Litre – the only car in the 24-strong field not lapped by the winner – with Clive’s son James (3/4½ Litre) a solid third. Narrowly missing out on the podium by 2.5 seconds was Jock Mackinnon (3/4½ Litre) following an impressive drive.

Delighted newcomer Shaun Harborne, competing in his debut race meeting, collected the 3 Litre award.

Fastest lap was set by Oliver Llewellyn (4½ Litre) who proved Clive’s closest rival until retiring with mechanical issues after just four (of the eventual 29) laps.

The special race was held to celebrate the centenary of Bentley’s first (of six) victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours, when the 1924 race was won by Duff and Clement in a 3 Litre Sport.

Scott Capital Partners sponsored the champagne for the various class winners and NDR sponsored the bubbly for the post-race celebration in the paddock. The Club is grateful for their support.

Ben Eastick took his fourth successive Times Challenge Trophy victory – equalling Michael Higginbotham’s feat from 2017-2020 – at the wheel of his powerful T Type (no5, pictured).

Pole position sitter Ben won the P&A Wood-sponsored Bentley scratch race by a lap, setting fastest lap too, from second placed Lewis Fox who produced a strong showing in Ewen Getley’s 3/4½ Litre; Paul Andrew, in his Mk VI Special, was 41 seconds adrift in third, the latter twosome having enjoyed a close battle for much of the race before Paul suffered a spin.

The 10-lap race, which incorporated the Pre-War Challenge (PWC) for other marques, drew an impressive field of 26 cars, including 12 Bentleys (10 in the scratch race). Club Member George Elbourn (Riley 12/4), fourth overall, took the PWC spoils by half a minute.

Special mention must also be made of Robin Ward, who shattered the 12-year-old BDC lap record by almost four seconds on his way to winning the BDC Open race in fellow Club Member Harry Johnson's sleek ex-Mike Haig T Type Special. Robin's time of 1:03.426mins (93.11mph) bettered the time of 1:07.29mins set by Ric Wood, in the very same car, during the Times Challenge Trophy race in 2012.

In addition to the two Bentley races and the BDC Open/Allcomers encounter, there were events for the AMOC St John Horsfall Trophy, BDC Classic Challenge/Morgan Techniques Trophy, Morgan Challenge (two races) and FISCAR.

RACE WINNERS
Race 1: AMOC St John Horsfall Trophy: Alan Middleton (Aston Martin Speed Red Dragon)
Race 2: BDC Sports Car Challenge: Roy Chamberlain (Triumph TR 250), Morgan Techniques Trophy: James Sumner (Morgan 4/4)
Race 3: Bentley Scratch for Times Challenge Trophy: Ben Eastick (T Type), Pre-War Challenge: George Elbourn (Riley 12/4)
Race 4: Morgan Challenge (race 1): Bill Lancashire (Morgan Plus 8)
Race 5: FISCAR: Jonathan Abecassis (Austin Healey 100/4)
Race 6: John Duff Trophy & Frank Clement Cup: Overall: Clive Morley (3/4½ Litre), 3 Litres: Shaun Harborne
Race 7: Morgan Challenge (race 2): Bill Lancashire (Morgan Plus 8)
Race 8: Bentley Open: Robin Ward (T Type Special), Allcomers: Steven Dickens (Mallock Mk29)

For full results of all eight races, please click here.
To watch the video highlights, please click here.

The day also featured a magnificent Bentley track parade of almost 100 Members' cars of all ages and types.

Paddock displays featured cars from the John Duff Trophy & Frank Clement Cup race plus similar WOs owned by Club Members, the new BDC Continental GT race car (brought along by the car’s builder Phantom Motors) and Hesketh motorcycles courtesy of the Hesketh Owners Club. 

The Club Shop, as ever, did a roaring trade, and the WOBMF area attracted scores of spectators to its special Le Mans 1924 exhibition. The regular Pirelli F1 simulator and a host of traders all added to the day’s spectacle.

  • Full pictorial report in October's Review.
Images: Matt Welch (Clive Morley) and Mick Herring (Ben Eastick)

To view, and purchase, images from the meeting taken by photographer Simon Halls please click here

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