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August 17-19, Laguna Seca Raceway |
Race results from Saturday The Legend of BENTLEY
Bentleys at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races of 2001
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August 17-19, Laguna Seca Raceway |
The lineup of Bentleys participating in race 1A - the total number was not
less than 17.
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The departure from the pit lane. |
The actual flying start. |
Saturday - GROUP 1A - Pre-1931 Sports Touring Cars
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 23:18.286, Average Mph 57.619, Victory Margin 23.019
Completing all 10 laps were:
1929 Bentley Le Mans 4.5, driver Stanley Mann;
1929 Chrysler 75 Le Mans, driver Ray Jones;
1931 Chrysler CD-8 Le Mans, driver Martin Swig;
1929 Bentley Le Mans 4.5, driver Jack Goffette;
1929 Bentley Speed Six, driver Joe Harding;
1929 Bentley Speed Six, driver George Holman;
1929 Bentley Speed Six, driver Bob Reed;
1928 Bentley VDP Tourer, driver Bruce McCaw;
1929 Bentley Le Mans 4.5, driver George Sandy;
1935 Wolseley Hornet Special, driver Daryl Bucciarelli;
Starters: 31, Finishers: 30
1929 Bentley Speed Six with driver George Holman in front of
another 1929 Bentley Speed Six with driver Bob Reed.
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1929 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre with driver Greg Johnson (#9) and
1930 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre with driver Gilbert Steward.
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One of the few 'Non-Bentleys' in this race: 1929 Chrysler 75 Le Mans with driver Ray Jones - finishing second. |
Saturday - GROUP 2A - 1927 to 1946 Racing Cars
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 19:37.513, Average Mph 68.422, Victory Margin 4.162
Completing all 10 laps were:
1934 ERA, driver Mark Gillies;
1935 Alfa Romeo T8C-35, driver Peter Giddings;
1935 Alfa Romeo 8C-35, driver Bruce Trenery;
completing 9 laps were:
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300MM, driver Tom Price;
1950 Talbot-Lago T26C, driver Peter Mullin;
1926 Talbot-Darracq Voiturette, driver David Cohen;
1935 Railton, driver Ivan Zaremba;
1934 Maserati 4CS 1100, driver Martin Sucari;
1936 Bugatti T-57, driver Mike Cleary;
1938 Sparks-Thorne Little Six, driver Joe Freeman;
1924 Barber-Warnock, driver Jan Voboril;
1932 Alfa Romeo P3, driver Greg Whitten;
1932 Rigante-Chrysler, driver Max Hobson;
Starters: 27, Finishers: 24
The departure from the pit lane.
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1935 Alfa Romeo T8C-35 with driver Peter Giddings (right) and
1950 Talbot-Lago T26C with driver Peter Mullin.
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1934 ERA with driver Mark Gillies (right) and
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300MM with driver Tom Price.
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Saturday - GROUP 3A - 1947 to 1955 Sports Racing Cars under 2000cc
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 21:01.795, Average Mph 63.852, Victory Margin 4.113
Completing all 10 laps were:
1952 Aardvark, driver Don Racine;
1953 MG R2, driver Ron Butler;
1954 Nardi Crosley, driver Don Baldocchi;
1955 Porsche Continental, driver Clint deWitt;
1955 Cooper T-39, driver Jim Brown;
1954 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide, driver Bill Watkins;
1954 Warrior-Bristol, driver Jack Perkins;
1952 Siata 400L, driver Barry Silverman;
1954 Devin Panhard, driver Alva Rodrigues;
Starters: 22, Finishers: 20
The flying start of race 3A.
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1954 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide with driver Wayne Hanson (left) and
1955 Cooper T-39with driver Jim Brown.
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1952 Siata 400L with driver Barry Silverman (front),
1952 Siata 300BC with driver Marty Stein and 1952 Jowett Jupiter with driver Scott Renner (covered).
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1963 Jaguar E-Type with driver Jason Len demonstrating how to perform a perfect 270 degree turn...
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1966 Shelby GT 350 with driver Vic Edelbrock steering clear of the spinning E-Type.
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Another 1966 Shelby GT 350 with driver Ken Epsman manages to stay away from the E-Type - seconds later it was back on the track.
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Saturday - GROUP 4A - 1947 to 1955 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 19:49.819, Average Mph 67.715, Victory Margin 0.475
Completing all 10 laps were:
1949 Jaguar-Parkinson Special, driver John Buddenbaum;
1953 Cannon MkIV, driver Rick Cannon;
1949 Baldwin Mercury, driver James Herlinger;
1953 Kurtis 500S, driver Duncan Emmons;
1955 Hagemann-Chrysler Special, driver Steve Schuler;
1952 Jaguar C-Type, driver Terry Larson;
1955 Hagemann-Jaguar Special, driver Bernard Juchli;
1951 Allard J2 LM, driver Glenn Shaffer,Jr.;
1953 Jaguar C-Type, driver Greg Johnson;
1953 Allard J2X, driver Peter Booth;
1953 Jaguar XK 120, driver Myron Reichert;
1951 Troutman-Barnes Special, driver Michael G. Sheehan;
1953 Jaguar XK 120, driver Joe Jensen;
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, driver Ted Stroscher;
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, driver Craig Ekberg;
Starters: 27, Finishers: 23
The flying start - 1953 Kurtis 500S with driver Duncan Emmons in the front.
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1952 Jaguar XK 120 with driver Joe Jensen and
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL with driver Craig Ekberg.
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Craig Ekberg's 300 SL in front of 1954 Kurtis 500KK
with driver John Furlow, Sr. and 1953 Glasspar with driver Anatoly Arutunoff.
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Saturday - GROUP 5A - 1955 to 1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2500cc
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 18:42.107, Average Mph 71.801, Victory Margin 2.427
Completing all 10 laps were:
1959 Lister-Chevy, driver Tony Garmey;
1959 Maserati T-61, driver Dirk Layer;
1958 Lister-Chevy, driver John Mozart;
1958 Lister-Corvette, driver John Harden;
1957 Maserati 450S, driver Tom Holfelder;
1960 Maserati T-61, driver Jonathan Feiber;
1958 Devin SS, driver Chris Wickersham;
1959 Ferrari 250 TR, driver Bruce McCaw;
1957 Maserati 200 Si, driver Tom Price;
1958 Devin SS, driver Andy Porterfield;
1957 Monsterati Special, driver Bill Janowski;
1958 Ferrari 250 TR, driver Lawrence Stroll;
1958 Ferrari 250 TR, driver Lou Sellyei;
1960 Maserati T-61, driver Tom Mittler;
1958 Ferrari 250 TR, driver David Love;
1958 Ferrari 250 TR, driver Anthony Wang;
1957 Sadler MkII, driver Wesley Abendroth;
1954 Jaguar D-Type, driver Tenax Lanson;
1959 Devin SS, driver Steven Young;
1956 OSCA TN, driver Jerry Rosenstock;
Starters: 22, Finishers: 22
The first round - 1958 Lister-Chevy with driver John Mozart followed by
1958 Lister-Corvette with driver John Harden and 1960 Maserati T-61 with driver Dirk Layer.
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1959 Ferrari 250 TR with driver Bruce McCaw in
front of 1958 Devin SS with driver Chris Wickersham and 1957 Maserati 200 Si with driver Tom Price.
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1957 Sadler MkII with driver Wesley Abendroth
and 1954 Jaguar D-Type with driver Tenax Lanson.
driver
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Saturday - GROUP 6A - 1963 to 1966 GT Cars over 2500cc
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 17:24.756, Average Mph 77.117, Victory Margin 0.717
Completing all 10 laps were:
1965 Cobra 427, driver Mac Archer;
1964 Ferrari 250 LM, driver Rob Walton;
1964 Cobra, driver Phil Gallant;
1964 Ferrari 250 LM, driver Fred Della Noce;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Ken Epsman;
1964 Cobra Fliptop, driver Rich Mason;
1964 Cobra, driver Lynn Park;
1963 Cobra, driver Fred Galloway;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Jim Reed;
1965 Shelby GT 350, driver Tom Georgalos;
1965 Shelby GT 350, driver Johannes van Overbeek;
1965 Shelby GT 350, driver Jim Schield;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Forrest Straight;
1966 Corvette Stingray, driver Ken Ballard;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Vic Edelbrock;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Christi Edelbrock;
1966 Shelby GT 350, driver Tom Fry;
1963 Corvette Z06, driver Susan Armstrong;
1964 Cobra, driver Jeff Lewis;
1963 Cobra LM, driver Sandra McNeil;
1963 Jaguar E-Type, driver Jason Len;
1965 Sunbeam Tiger, driver Tom Sakei;
Starters: 30, Finishers: 27
'Rush-hour' in round one.
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1963 Cobrawith driver Fred Galloway, 1966 Corvette Stingray with driver Ken Ballard, 1966 Shelby GT 350 with driver Ken Epsman. |
1965 Sunbeam Tiger with driver Tom Sakei,
1963 Corvette Z06 with driver Susan Armstrong, 1964 Cobra with driver Jeff Lewis.
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Saturday - GROUP 7A - 1966 to 1983 Historic Formula One Cars
Race length 22.380 miles, 10 laps, Time of 114:22.437, Average Mph 93.419, Victory Margin 3.064
Completing all 10 laps were:
1981 Williams FW07C, driver Charles Nearburg;
1983 Williams FW08C, driver Steve Romak;
1977 McLaren M23, driver Dan Baker;
1979 Tyrell 009, driver Jim Busby;
1976 March 761, driver James King;
1981 Alfa Romeo 182, driver Patrick van Schoote;
1976 Ferrari 312-T2, driver Chris McAllister;
1977 McLaren M26, driver Don Breidenbach;
1981 March 811, driver Richard Griot;
1977 Wolf WR4, driver Maurice McCaig;
1975 Penski PC-3, driver Doug Mockett;
1979 Shadow DN9, driver Fred Cziska;
1977 Shadow DN8, driver Tom Claridge;
1971 Tyrell 004, driver John Dimmer;
1971 Tyrell 002, driver John Delane;
1973 Brabham BT-42, driver Murray Smith;
1977 McLaren M23, driver Steve Earle;
Starters: 22, Finishers: 21
1983 Williams FW08C with driver Steve Romak,
1978 Lotus 79 with driver Duncan Dayton, 1979 Tyrell 009 with driver Jim Busby.
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1977 Wolf WR4 with driver Maurice McCaig,
1971 Tyrell 004 with driver John Dimmer.
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1977 Shadow DN8 with driver Tom Claridge,
1971 Tyrell 002 with driver John Delane, 1981 March 811 with driver Richard Griot.
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The Bentley marque began its racing career when Frank Clement won the Junior Sprint Handicap at
Brooklands racetrack, near London, in May, 1921. But Le Mans would be the place, where
Bentley would earn worldwide fame and recognition.
The first excursion to the 24-hour speed and endurance race was a private entry by John Duff in 1923,
later renowned as one of the Bentley Boys. He finished fourth, but the following year his Bentley
won the race. That encouraged Walter Owen Bentley - a.k.a. 'W.O.' - to enter works-backed
Bentleys from 1925 on, leading to the famous run of annual wins from 1927 to 1930 in the magnificent
machines, which sported sturdy leather straps to hold down bonnets and featured tall,
stately radiators with their highly distinctive grille pattern.
The winning 3 Litre with Frank Clement,
W.O. Bentley and John Duff in 1924.
Tim Birkin driving a 4 1/2 Litre at Le Mans, 1930.
Wally Hansen, Jack Dunfee, Woolf Barnato
and Stan Ivermee at Brooklands, 1929.
The victories, which contributed greatly to Bentley's early charisma, were scored by the
3-litre in 1927, the 4 1/2-litre in 1928 and the 6 1/2-litre Speed Six in 1929 and 1930.
A supercharged 4 1/2-litre, universally known as the Blower Bentley, was developed by one of
the most fearless of Bentley Boys, Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin. Although it never won at
Le Mans, the output of 240bhp was exceptionally powerful for its day and Birkin
took the Brooklands Outer Circuit Lap Record at nearly
140 mph.
Woolf Barnato,
in Old Number 1 Speed Six, at Le Mans, 1929.
Le Mans 1929.
Tim Birkin taking the Pontilieue Hairpin
in Old Number 1 at Le Mans, 1929.
Bentley dominated Le Mans during the late '20s. The celebrated 'Bentley Boys',
well-to-do sporty types like Woolf Barnato - a South African diamond millionaire -
Earl Howe,
Sir Henry 'Tim' Birkin - an ex-Royal fighter pilot who was driving
in flying goggles, white drill helmet and a silk scarf - and
S C H 'Sammy' Davis - editor of The Autocar - won four times
in succession (1927-1930) at speeds well above the magical 100mph mark.
Woolf Barnato and
Bernard Rubin with 4 1/2 Litre at Le Mans, 1928.
Two 4 1/2 Litre Blowers outside the pits on practice day,
Le Mans 1930.
Tim Birkin repairing
a shredded tire at Le Mans, 1930.
Despite all its racing success and public acclaim, Bentley Motors was in financial difficulties.
By 1931 the golden age was over. But as closure loomed, Rolls-Royce stepped in to save the name of
Bentley - and a new era began.