This was how Ettore Bugatti described the 3 litre Bentley (although he probably said “Le camion le plus rapide du monde”). When compared to the aesthetic charms of his Type 35, he could have a point. But history shows that the Bentley 3 litre and its siblings, weighing in at around two tonnes, won the Le Mans 24hrs race five times between 1924 (the second running) and 1930.

In the early days of the 24hrs the course was over ten miles long and largely unpaved so a good solid chassis was a must. As time went on the track improved and became mostly “metalled” surfaces so speed became much more important. The track consisted of mainly long straights connected by a hairpin and fast bends making reliable brakes (for 1924 four wheel braking was installed) a must. The Bentley lorries were in their element.

So, why the history lesson? Well, as part of my summer of new experiences, I attended the Bentley Drivers Club race meeting at Silverstone on 10th August. The event is held on the National Circuit, which configuration couldn’t be further from the Bentley’s original stamping ground.

This year the main race of the event was the John Duff Trophy & Frank Clement Cup for pre war Bentleys. The story of these two gentlemen is quite long and can be found in the excellent event programme. Le Mans historians would do well to find a copy. Needless to say that John and Frank won the race after contending with various challenges not least the “tropical” weather.

To, perhaps reinforce the sturdiness of these machines, one example was rescued from a farm where it had spent many years as a tractor pulling a plough, this car finished 7th. Another one, the Andy Buchan Bentley 4½, had recently won the Peking to Paris marathon. Andy would retire on lap 20.

These cars are a bit marmite to many who will point to Talbots, Bugattis, Alfa Romeos etc. that often out perform them on a circuit, but get a whole grid of them thundering around and you can’t be less than impressed by the drivers and the sight of (in this case) around 52 tonnes of vintage machinery being hurled through Brooklands, or Copse.

But, motorsport history doesn’t stop there. The annual St. John Horsfall trophy race organised by the Aston Martin Owners Club for pre war Aston Martins, celebrates the life of Jock Horsfall, who among other things, was instrumental in the execution of “Operation Mincemeat” in WW2. He was sadly killed at Silverstone in 1949 and would be listed as the first fatality at the circuit. His story can be found here. This year saw the second time the race, won by Alan Middleton, has appeared on the BDC racecard.

The event is not only for pre war machinery. A regular attendee, since 2011, is the Fifties Sportscar Racing Club (FISCAR) race. This multi class race brings together Morgans, AC Bristols, Alfa Romeos, Austin Healeys etc. in a 30 minute pit stop race. More info can be found on the Club’s website here. There were battles throughout the field to keep spectators entertained. The overall winner was Jonathan Abecassis in his Austin Healey 100/4, followed home by Brian Arculus (Lotus Elite) and Tom Andrew (Morgan Plus 4). There is an invitation class which this year was won by Paul Pochciol in his Jaguar C Type.

Two races for the Morgan Challenge were dominated by Bill Lancashire in his Morgan Plus Eight. He qualified on pole for the first race, which he won by 20secs from Andrew Thompson in another Plus Eight and in third, John Emberson in a Morgan Plus Four Babydoll. The race one finishing order set the grid for race two which was duly won again by Bill Lancashire but on this occasion, Louis Ruff’s plus Four placed second ahead of Andrew Thompson’s Plus Eight.

The Times Challenge Trophy Race & Pre-War Race was won convincingly by Ben Eastik in his Bentley T Type, a car designed and built by his father, which he rescued from the USA and restored. He won by a lap ahead of Lewis Fox in a Bentley 3/4½ and Paul Andrew’s Bentley MK6 Special.

The Sports Car Challenge & Morgan Techniques Trophy Race saw a titanic battle for the win between the pole sitter Jack Smith’s MGA and Roy Chamberlain’s Triumph TR250 who qualified sixth. Chamberlain took the lead early on and from then on was harried by Smith for the entire race, until on the penultimate lap a yellow flag allowed a back marker to intervene, leaving the Triumph to er, triumph!

The Bentley Open & Allcomers Race rounded off the day’s track action with a variety of cars including the victorious Mallock MK29 in the hands of Steven Dickens. Other entries of note were the Bentley Turbo R of Stuart Worthington which sadly failed to start and the previously mentioned T Type of Ben Eastik which finished sixth.

Thanks to the Bentley Drivers Club for granting me Media Accreditation on behalf of Tripos Media. As ever photographs from the meeting can be found Here feel free to comment/like, or even buy. If there is a particular car/driver that you can’t see just ask, I may well have a photograph in the archive.

This is just my overview of the day, if you were there, feel free to comment and of course do also visit the websites of the various clubs involved to get the full story.