THE HISTORY TOYS
Keep your eyes peeled for an extraordinary never- to- berepeated sight. Historic and modern Bentleys worth a total of £ 20 million are driving 1,260 miles across Britain to celebrate the car firm’s 100th anniversary. More than 70 of them — from the glory days of the racing Bentley Boys in the Twenties and Thirties to the latest Bentayga 4X4 — are participating in at least part of the fortnight- long Centenary extraordinary Drive organised by the Banbury-based Bentley Drivers’ Club.
A hard-core of about 20 will do the entire trip dubbed ‘ the grandest of grand tours’ from John O’Groats in Scotland via Bentley’s factory in Crewe, into London and on to Brooklands museum next Sunday. I was driving a 170 mph 2003 Continental R, the most powerful Bentley of its day, with a 6.75litre turbocharged V8 engine producing 420 bhp (rest to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds).
Owners and enthusiasts taking part include business chiefs and engineers, a vicar, a gold trader, and a former Miss UK and contender for Miss World.
Among the oldest cars committed to the tour are a 1927 4.5-litre Van den plas, a 1928 4.5-litre Le Mans Tourer, and a 1930 Speed 6. The epic adventure started in John O’Groats with a blessing from one participant, a Church of Scotland minister nicknamed ‘the Bentley Bishop’.
The Rev Ian Murray, who two weeks ago bought an open-top Bentley once owned by the company’s founder, said: ‘It is a remarkable. It will still do 100mph.’
Today, the cavalcade sets off across the Scottish Borders into Northumberland and south to York, before reaching Bentley’s hometown of Crewe. Then it’s off to the Cotswolds and London next Saturday and the Brooklands procession next Sunday.
Ron Warmington, chairman of the Bentley Drivers’ Club, said: ‘This year, 2019, is one of the most significant in the club’s history’.