Lewis Fox scored a convincing victory in the Bentley High Wycombe-sponsored Pre-War Bentley race, earning the John Duff Trophy, at the 77th BDC Silverstone meeting on Saturday.
Lewis (pictured), driving a 3/4½ Litre (#99), won the 30-minute blue riband race by just over 15 seconds, having started from second place on the grid. After briefly trading the lead in a thrilling tussle with Clive Morley (3/4½ Litre, #22), last year’s Duff & Clement race winner, around the halfway mark, Lewis eventually grabbed a decisive advantage on the 15th of the eventual 23 laps and gradually pulled clear of Clive to triumph.
Third was Clive’s son Stuart, sharing Richard Hudson’s 3/4½ Litre, the only other car in the 25-strong field not lapped by the winner – after the latter had handed over the car during the mandatory pit-stops in a solid sixth position.
There was also reason to celebrate for Ewen Getley – eighth in his 4½ Litre Blower – whose Kingsbury Racing Shop-prepared engines filled all the podium places, including that of colleague Lewis.
After a strong run, Chris Rayment (4¼ Special) took the Derby spoils in sixth place while Jock Mackinnon was the best placed of the 3 Litres in ninth spot, earning the doughty Scotsman the Frank Clement Cup for a 'combination of endeavour and skilful driving'.
Enjoying the honour of the biggest climb up the order from grid position – some seven places – was the Simon Parker/Alex Hearden pairing (3/4½ Litre) which was classified 19th after starting 26th. Well done, too, to Freddie Wiltshire, who shared father Duncan’s 3 Litre for the first time and drove spiritedly to finish 13th.
Winner of the sealed handicap element of the race was Sebastian Welch (3 Litre).
Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, there was frustration for Oliver Llewellyn (4½ Litre) who was forced to retire having once again set the fastest lap. After leading from pole position and eking out a four-second gap to nearest challenger Lewis, Oliver pitted to hand over to father Tim after seven laps but the duo realised an oil pressure problem would not allow them to continue.
Paul Andrew (Mk VI Special) claimed his maiden Times Challenge Trophy (TCT) victory after being the first across the line, and the winner on handicap, of the 10-lap Hanwells of London-backed Bentley Scratch race. The TCT was awarded to the handicap victor.
Paul’s closest challenger was Robert Gate (Mk VI Special Roadster) who finished nine seconds behind on the road, extended to almost 40 seconds once the post-race handicap times had been applied. Robert, however, enjoyed the consolation of beating Paul to record the fastest Bentley lap… by just 0.3secs.
Running alongside the Bentleys was the Pre-War Challenge race for various marques, with Paul wresting an overall podium spot from Sue Darbyshire (Morgan Super Aero) on the penultimate lap. Robert was classified fifth overall in the 18-car field.
The RH Insurance-supported Bentley Handicap made a welcome return after a year’s absence, Shaun Harborne (3/4½ Litre Speed Red Label) – who started with a 50-second penalty – grabbing the lead on the penultimate of the eight laps.
There was anguish for Robert Gate (Mk VI Special Roadster) – who had stormed through the 14-car field following a 2:10mins disadvantage to sit second – when he suffered an engine cut-out at the final corner, forcing him to limp over the finish line in an eventual 11th place.
Narrowly missing out on the top step of the podium was Stuart Worthington in one of the two new BDC Continental GT race cars. Starting with a 2:50mins (almost two laps) handicap, Stuart showed impressive pace, slashing the gap to the leaders by around 20 seconds a lap – having climbed from ninth place with two laps left, one more would undoubtedly have seen him victorious.
Special mention to BDC Silverstone debutant Soma Boyd-Gibbins (Derby 4¼ Special) who was flagged off first in the pit-lane start and maintained his lead for six laps before eventually settling for a creditable third place, just eight seconds behind Shaun.
Fastest lap was set, as expected, by Robin Ward (T Type) of 1:06.247mins, who started last with a 4:20mins penalty (equating to about two-and-a-half laps).
Ben Eastick (T Type) claimed the BDC spoils in the Bentley Open & Allcomers race, finishing fifth overall in a race won by Steve Chaplin (Phantom P79). Ben enjoyed a close battle with fourth placed Soma (Caterham), finishing just 1.5secs adrift.
One of the biggest cheers of the day was reserved for the BDC’s own popular Tom Commander (Phantom P86) who rounded off his long and successful racing career, spanning almost 40 years, in fine style with a podium spot.
In addition to the Bentley races, there were events for the AMOC St John Horsfall Trophy, Sportscar Challenge/Morgan Techniques Trophy, Morgan Challenge (two races) and FISCAR.
One remarkable aspect of the day was the incredible closeness of the racing, particularly at the head of the field in most of the races. AMOC saw the tightest finish, with just 0.353secs between the first two, and 1.822secs covering the top three. Other close gaps between the winner and runner up were: FISCAR – 0.718secs; Morgan Challenge race one – 0.822secs; Allcomers – 1.051secs; Sportscar Challenge & Morgan Techniques Trophy – 2.700secs, top three: 3.370secs.
The day also featured two track parades: the traditional procession of Club Members’ Bentleys preceded by one to celebrate the Morgan Challenge’s 40-year association with BDC Silverstone.
Paddock displays featured the new BDC Continental GT race and road cars (brought along by the cars’ builder Phantom Motors), WOs owned by Club Members, Bentley High Wycombe, Morgan Cars 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 themed exhibition commemorating the 60th anniversary of the T Series. Two hi-tech Pirelli F1 Playseats and Bentley artist Dawn Bosley added to the day’s spectacle.
Full pictorial report in October’s issue of Review.
RACE WINNERS
Race 1: AMOC St John Horsfall Trophy: Overall – David Freeman (Aston Martin 2 Litre Speed Model – The Spa Special), Handicap – Richard Lake (Aston Martin Speed Model)
Race 2: Sportscar Challenge: Roy Chamberlain (Triumph TR 250); Morgan Techniques Trophy: John Milbank (Morgan 4/4)
Race 3: Pre-War Bentleys: Overall (John Duff Trophy) – Lewis Fox (3/4½ Litre), Derbys – Chris Rayment (4¼ Special), 3 Litres (Frank Clement Cup) – Jock Mackinnon, Sealed handicap - Sebastian Welch (3 Litre)
Race 4: Morgan Challenge (race 1): Oliver Bryant (Plus 8)
Race 5: Bentley Scratch: Overall and handicap – Paul Andrew (Mk VI Special); Pre-War Challenge: Patrick Blakeney-Edwards (Frazer Nash Super Sports)
Race 6: FISCAR: Richard Woolmer (Elva Courier Mk1)
Race 7: Bentley Handicap: Shaun Harborne (3/4½ Litre Speed Red Label)
Race 8: Morgan Challenge (race 2): Elliot Paterson (Plus 8)
Race 9: Bentley Open: Ben Eastick (T Type), Allcomers: Steve Chaplin (Phantom P79)
For full results, including qualifying and grids, of all nine races, please click here.
Image: Paul Freeman Photography