William Medcalf, Liss, West Sussex

Benjafield Racing Club 2015 Goodwood Sprint

Benjafield's Sprint brings rare cars to Goodwood
Benjafield's Racing Club held its first Sprint event for seven years on Saturday 23rd May 2015, bringing a fantastic line-up of rare racing cars spanning over 100 years. Some drivers had driven for 24hrs while others flew in in from across Europe, New York, Singapore and beyond especially for the exclusive event that was free for spectators to attend.

Spectators were rewarded with a fantastic day of sprinting, with a lunchtime parade of all 23 Vintage Bentleys taking part, including several of the original Bentley 4.5L Blowers, before the cars lined up on the grid for enthusiasts to take a closer look.

The next Benjafield's Sprint will be held in May 2016.

Brooklands New Year's Day gathering, January 2015

These photographs were taken at Brooklands Museum, New Year's Day 2013.

This car is currently owned by Robert Zannetti. It was purchased in August 2008.

"My research, since owning the car has discovered that the car was laid up during the war in Worksop, not Watford. The engine was changed some time before that and during the renovation in 1966 it was fully upgraded to 'speed' specification."

London to Brighton, November 2008

November 2008 London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally.

The car showing an odometer reading of 7170 miles, was purchased by Robert J. Zannetti, Cobwebs, Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3BZ on 28 August 2008.

Resulting from an unfortunate event when the car was being delivered a small petrol fire occurred when the perished bottom radiator hose burst. The bonnet was removed and repainted by Shalford Coachworks. All hoses were inspected and replaced where necessary. The SU Sloper carburettors were stripped and rebuilt. High tension leads were checked and repaired. A new set (8) of D16 Champion spark plugs was fitted. Carburettor feed pipes were changed from plastic to copper. A compression test was carried out showing :- Cylinder 1(front) 80psi, Cylinder 2 68psi, Cylinder 3 76psi and Cylinder 4 (rear) 76psi.

Late summer 2008 the choke mechanism was changed to the correct aluminium twist lost motion type as fitted to twin Slopers. The original brass pull out type (for the single Smith carburettor) was retained as a spare part.

1926 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model
First registered in Shropshire in July 1926, this Speed Model Bentley was fitted with Vanden Plas touring coachwork (job no. 1209) and painted dark blue over black wings with black interior. Just prior to the second world war it was dismantled in preparation for a major overhaul, and remained that way until liberated from a basement in Watford in some thirty years later.At that point the VdP body was rebuilt (exactly as original) and the car reassembled by its engineer owner, and painted Amaranth, a Bentley factory colour. Since the mid sixties it has had just three long term owners.

Records shows that at some time in its history, prior to the war, it had an earlier replacement engine (No.82) fitted. This has since been uprated to Speed Model specification. It has a split sump, twin sloper SU carburettors, a 'B' gearbox and is running on 21in wheels. It has a high ratio back axle (3.53), giving approximately 29 mph per 1000 rpm, for easy cruising. Recent work includes the fitting of new exhaust valves, guides and cam followers, and new piston rings. All the bright work has been re-nickled, and the hood and hood bag have been replaced in Mohair.

The car has been used regularly and has completed trouble-free tours of Ireland and the Picos Mountains in Spain. In good mechanical condition with bags of patina, this is a stylish, affordable eminently useable vintage Bentley.

Nigel Stennett-Cox, 157 Mundesley Road, North Walsham NR28 0DD acquired the car on 29 January 2000.

Winter 2003/4 the engine was overhauled, new exhaust valves and guides were fitted. The engine was filled with 20/50W multigrade oil.

Spring 2007 Oil change.

Harold Withington after 17 years of ownership disposed of the car to a Classic Car dealer, William Quint 60a St. Stephens Gardens London W2 5NJ on 3 August 1999, having put the car up for sale as early as October 1998 when an advertisement appeared in the VSCC Advertiser.

Between 31 August 1989 and 12 September 1989 the following work was carried out:

The propeller shaft was removed. The front universal joint was dismantled. Two high tension leads were replaced. The universal joint was serviced and the propeller shaft was refitted. The Magneto switches were dismantled and coils were fitted and wired. The sparking plugs were tested and the car was started and tested. The starter motor was removed and a new Bendix was fitted. The starter was refitted and mechanically tested. The track was adjusted. The points were checked. A strap for the bonnet was made and fitted. A new tail pipe bracket was made and fitted. The nearside bonnet section was removed and the rivets were drilled out. A bracket was welded in and the rivets replaced. A tension spring was fitted. An Autovac tap was removed and lapped back in. The lever on the Autovac feed to the carburettors was modified and a control mechanism was made up. The near side bonnet was removed and set to clear the forward carburettor. Mountings for the dashboard were made and fitted. A choke cable made and fitted including making up the cable nipples. The car was taken for a MOT. A fault was traced on the steering column, the end float adjusted and it was regreased. The front brake drums were removed, examined and refitted. All four brakes were adjusted. The back axle and gearbox were drained. The seats and floorboards were removed. The top of the gearbox was removed and the box was refilled. The top, boards and seats were refitted. The carburettor float chambers were removed and holes were retapped. Bolts for a lever were fitted. The chambers were refitted and the car started. All nipples were oiled and a bolt for the bonnet catch was made.

The wing nuts for the bonnet catches were purchased from Donald Day at Swindon.

Kenneth Ball sold the car, after 18 years of ownership, to Harold Graham Withington of Ash Tree, Balne, Goole, DN14 0EN on 1 April 1982.

These photographs are probably from the 1960s. At the wheel is Kenneth Ball.

Kenneth Ball, a garage proprietor from Gringley-on-the-Hill Doncastor placed an advertisement asking for Bentley spares. Then and now the company, Beacon Garage, specialised in Motorcar renovations and Kenneth Ball, at that time, had rebuilt a number of W.O. Bentleys. (Beacon Garage, now run by Kenneth's son Michael renovates Jaguar XK series and Austin Healy motor cars.) A chap responded saying his uncle had a load of bits of Bentley origin. This uncle was Roger J Kendrick who then worked for the Borstal Service. He later, in the 1980's became the Governor of H. M. Prison at Winson Green Birmingham. It is not clear when and how he had acquired the car. What Kenneth Ball found was virtually the whole car, in bits, and in rusty and dusty condition. He negotiated the deal and a little time later towing his trailer behind his Ford Van, and accompanied by a young David Gall and Bernard Payne collected the car and took it to Beacon Garage. (David Gall, now 64, is a renowned W.O. Bentley

Kenneth started work, with David's help (particularly his scraper!) and set about the mechanical restoration to Kenneth's very high standards. David Gall is sure that the engine stored with the rest of the bits was number 82 and can only be that the engine change happened when it was stored. The car that the engine came from was also dismantled at roughly the same time and that has also been rebuilt with yet another engine! Ken upgraded the engine to 'Speed' specification.

The only significant part that he required was the 'Fabric' body and he ordered from Tony Robinson of Gerrard's Cross. He manufactured the frames for an exact copy of the VdP body from plans. This work was an absolute speciality of Tony Robinson and at that time was making Bentley bodies to his exacting standards. It took Kenneth Ball nearly 2 years to effect this rebuild but he produced a magnificent motorcar that is virtually unchanged today. A fitting tribute to his skills and standards.

Kenneth Ball is now dead but his son Mike and his wife Dorothy remember the car well.

The car was sold to Mr. G. M. Hardman, Copp, Great Eccleston, Preston, Lancashire.

About this time the car was dismantled for an overhaul. This was effected by a professor who worked in the aviation industry, Was it G.M.Hardman? In any event the war intervened and the car was stored in a cellar in Worksop. It was destined to lay in this condition for 28 years.

19 October 1935
Flywheel sent to Deamsgate Mart Ltd Manchester

In 1935, the car was sold to Mr. E Headlam 56a The Chine, Winchmore Hill, London N10 with no guarantee.

26 June 1932
One rear brake drum was sent to Tom Garner Manchester.

The car was sold to G. H. Vickers, Headley Vickers Ltd. Derby St. Cheetham Manchester in 1932.

"This car was once owned by my grandfather Hedley Vickers in the late 1920s. The car's registration number is NT 8694 and it was built in 1926. My family owned it until around the mid 1930s." - Miranda Vickers (Granddaughter of former owner), Oct 23, 2017

The car was sold to Dr. J. W. Mc Farlane of 7 Buckingham Terrace Glasgow.

Odometer mileage reading 4718

26 June 1930
Engine de-carbonised, 6 new inlet valves fitted (sic.)

4 July 1930
2 new big end bearings fitted (sic.) Water pump modified. Brakes roughed up.

The car was sold to Mr J. Roberts Crichton of Carradale, Courtfield Crescent, Harrow.

7 March 1927
Engine de-carbonised. Oil leaks rectified. Piston rings renewed. Drain hole drilled to the gearbox. Rear universal joint shimmed up. Units sealed.

14 June 1927
Heavy oil consumption rectified, New set of 80m/m L.C. pistons and rings fitted. 14/25 top bevels. Crankshaft thrust race renewed, 4 new gudgeon pins and bushes fitted. Units sealed.

June 1926
Car was sold to J. Blake & Co. Ltd. ( J. Blake & Co. were Merseyside's first Ford distributor in 1910.)

July 1926
Car was sold to P. L. Russell Allen of Halford, Craven Arms, Shropshire
( P.L. Russell Allen is the first registered owner according to Bentley's records and the DVLC shown as 5 July 1926)

Order No.1209 from Henry Garner Ltd., 25 Hill Street, Birmingham to Bentley Motors Ltd London. Dated 9 July 1925. Price £180 (Henry Garner Ltd was a Tractor sales outlet that also had agency agreements with a number car manufacturers, Argyll, Humber, Austin and Talbot. In 1914 they were Austin's largest Midlands agents. No mention can be found of them representing Bentley and it could be that the Bentley was ordered for Henry Garner himself.)

Short Standard 4 seat Body Job no. 1200

Upholstery - Blue (As colour scheme agreed). Hood and hood cover - Black

Body and Bonnet - Blue (As colour scheme agreed) Wings - Black

Vanden Plas 4 seat body Light Tourer (one of thirty nine to be made), Chassis 1235,(weight 1 ton 9 cwt) Engine 1242, Back axle ratio 13/55. Possibly delivered 25 Nov. 1925