A CENTENARY CELEBRATION FOR BENTLEY AT GOODWOOD

A CENTENARY CELEBRATION FOR BENTLEY AT GOODWOOD

Bentley Motors will continue the year-long celebrations of its centenary at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, through a programme of displays and dynamic cars that will bring 100 years of extraordinary history to life.

The centrepiece of Bentley’s presence will be the Centenary Concours, a 30-strong display of the most iconic models from the marque’s past and present which include one of the rarest and most valuable Bentleys in the world - the 4¼-litre 'Embiricos' Special – alongside Bentley’s recently unveiled an all-new Flying Spur. Other rare highlights include a Gurney Nutting Speed Six, a 1948 Pininfarina Mark VI, a Continental GT Zagato and W.O. Bentley’s own 8-Litre from 1930.

Meanwhile, the Cartier Style et Luxe Lawn will feature at least six R-Type Continentals as the centrepiece of this year’s Concours d'Elegance. Only 208 R-Type Continentals were built, and they now exist as one of the most desirable models from Bentley’s past. The three lines that define the R-Type Continental – the power line, rear haunch and sloping fastback roof – remain the inspiration behind the styling of today’s Continental GT.

The Goodwood Hillclimb will feature more Bentleys than ever before. Four cars that define the chapters of Bentley’s motorsport history will underpin the Bentley Racing Class – a selection of cars curated by Goodwood to tell the history of the marque in a dynamic way. Travelling from Crewe will be:

• EXP2 – the second experimental prototype built by W.O. Bentley and the oldest surviving Bentley in the world. EXP2 was the first Bentley to go racing, throughout 1921 and 1922 and will make its Goodwood dynamic debut this year.
• The 1929 Birkin Blower, one of four Team race cars built for Tim Birkin’s racing career and raced at Le Mans in 1930. “No.2” is one of the most campaigned and valuable Bentleys in the world, now insured for £25m. It will be driven up the Hillclimb by Katarina Kyvalova, the founder of the Bentley Belles – a group of talented female drivers that race historic Bentleys around the world.
• 2003 Speed 8 #7 – the very car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003. The culmination of a three-year campaign, the Speed 8 scored a historic 1-2 finish to claim Bentley’s sixth Le Mans title and it’s first since 1930. Returning for driving duty will be Bentley Boy Guy Smith, who took the chequered flag.
• The 2018 Continental GT3 – the second generation of GT3 racer, now built from the current Continental GT road car. Racing around the world, the Continental GT3 visits the Festival fresh from winning the 1000km Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Race at Paul Ricard in the hands of Steven Kane, who will also take the wheel at Goodwood.

The racing Bentleys will be joined on the Hillclimb by four powerful Grand Tourers from the current model range. The Continental GT and new Continental GT Convertible will appear in the Supercar class, with the latter being piloted by rising British female racing driver Abbie Eaton. The very latest additions to Bentley’s range – the Bentayga Speed and all-new Flying Spur – will make their UK dynamic debuts as part of the First Glance class.

Ahead of this year’s Festival, and to highlight Bentley’s long-standing partnership with the event, Goodwood and Bentley have produced a joint film featuring some of Bentley’s most important cars from the last century being used across the Goodwood Estate. With a cameo from His Grace The Duke of Richmond and starring his personal butler, Monty, the film is a celebration of the first 100 extraordinary years of Bentley. The film can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/H5ocacOc41g.

A CELEBRATION WORTHY OF AN ICON LAND ROVER LEGENDS AT BICESTER HERITAGE

A CELEBRATION WORTHY OF AN ICON LAND ROVER LEGENDS AT BICESTER HERITAGE

A fascinating and diverse collection of several hundred Land Rovers amassed at Bicester Heritage last weekend (May 25/26), making the immaculately-preserved former WW2 bomber station the place to be for fans of this iconic marque. Land Rover Legends was a Land Rover event like no other, showcasing the very best examples, from original vehicles to renovated and restored cars, including prototype and pre-production vehicles, production models, rare conversions, military derivatives, bespoke conversions and much more, from the 1948 Series 1 to the very latest models.

The event broke several records, including that for the largest-ever gathering of the SAS ‘Pink Panthers’ (Land Rovers converted to SAS desert duty specification for MOD special ops missions) and the largest-ever gathering of the ultra-rare 100-inch wheelbase Land Rovers. It also showcased the enormous affection in which the marque is held by people of all ages, with thousands of visitors young and old and from around the globe travelling to Bicester Heritage to immerse themselves in all-things Land Rover. Many arrived in their own Land Rovers, and became part of the show by parking in special dedicated display areas, while many opted to camp on site, with the camping ground forming an impromptu display of the suitability of the marque for al fresco sleeping, with everything from Land Rovers converted into motorhomes to some splendid roof tents perched atop Land Rovers of all ages.

The world’s leading Land Rover collection, the Dunsfold Collection, brought a range of very special vehicles for display and, in addition to the main exhibits and demonstration vehicles, 20 major Land Rover Clubs booked space for the event.

With special anniversary and club displays, daily parades celebrating four key Land Rover anniversaries and even period dancing displays to music provided by - what else? - a Land Rover-based DJ, it really was a festival to remember. This was also the first year in which dogs were allowed to attend the event and, judging by the number of wagging tails, Land Rover ownership and dog ownership often seem to go hand in paw!

National Land Rover Awards

During Land Rover Legends a panel of experts were inspecting the finalists in the National Land Rover Awards, and the results were announced at the show on Sunday afternoon.

Martin Port’s 1959 Series II took the award for Most Original Vehicle. The vehicle has a fascinating history; from 1959-63 it was driven from Cape Town to London and was sign-written along the way, detailing the route taken. Much of the sign-writing survives. Charles Whitaker’s 1989 Discovery Prototype - the only surviving Discovery prototype in private hands - was Highly Commended.

Rupert Baron’s immaculate 1958 Series II won the award for Best Restored Vehicle. Rupert only acquired the vehicle late last year in a farm clearance sale; it had spent its entire 60-year life on the farm and was almost completely original, a quality Rupert has striven to maintain in a careful restoration. James Clough’s 1987 Land Rover 90 V8 - which he has owned from new- was Highly Commended.

The award for Best Bespoke Vehicle went to the glamorous 1981 Range Rover Classic Convertible. Now owned by David Barker it was commissioned by Roger Taylor of Queen at a cost of more than double the list price of the standard model. Adrian Thompson’s splendid 1963 88" Forward Control Fire Appliance, which has served with Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade, was Highly Commended.

The show award for Best Club Display (sponsored by Land Rover Monthly magazine) went to the SAS Pink Panther Register, with the Land Rover Series 2 Club Highly Commended. Dedicated Land Rover enthusiast and collector Barry Pocock won the Brian Bashall Memorial Award, in memory of the founder of the Dunsfold Collection, and Sebastien Conté, Pink Panther enthusiast and owner, received the Spirit of the Festival Award. While bringing several Pink Panthers across from France for the event he was first faced with having his trailer impounded by the authorities and then suffered punctures on his car transporter. However, in true Land Rover (and SAS!) spirit he didn’t give up, and he - and the Pink Panthers - made it to the event.

Land Rover Legends also brought the people behind the vehicles to Bicester Heritage, with on-stage discussions led by TV presenter, self-confessed petrol head and serious Land Rover enthusiast Mark Evans in the magnificent main exhibition hangar at Bicester Heritage. Each discussion focussed on one of four star cars, each representing a very special milestone in the history of Land Rover.

To discuss the 50th anniversary of the entry into service with the SAS of the Series IIa ‘Pink Panther’, Roger Jones MBE, who spent much of his Army career with the vehicles and is now Curator (Vehicles) at the REME Corps Museum, and Alan Bucknell (Land Rover researcher and enthusiast) were brought to the stage. George Thomson, David Evans and Michael Jones (all ex-Land Rover Design Studio, and involved with the creation of the P38A Range Rover and the first Discovery), Bob Allsopp (retired engineer who worked on the P38A) and Discovery and P38A enthusiast and preservationist Julian Lamb came on stage for discussions centred around the 25th anniversary of the P38A and the 30th anniversary of the Discovery. And Arnold Biber, who was involved in the evaluation trials of the 100-inch Land Rover by the Swiss military in the 1970s came from Switzerland to attend the show, and appeared on stage to discuss the 40thanniversary of the 100-inch prototypes with Paul Butterworth (recently retired from Land Rover) and Emrys Kirby (writer and journalist, dedicated Land Rover fan, and expert on the history of the 100-inch).

For more information please visit: www.landroverlegends.com.

BUMPER CELEBRATION WITH DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY AT BEAULIEU’S SIMPLY FORD

BUMPER CELEBRATION WITH DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY AT BEAULIEU’S SIMPLY FORD

As many as 1,400 Fords of all ages motored into Beaulieu’s Simply Ford for a bumper celebration of all things Ford, marking milestones for two of the marque’s most iconic models, with 50 years of the Capri and 60 years of the Anglia 105E.

The impressive show took over the grounds of the National Motor Museum as 2,870 rally participants enjoyed the vibrant and varied display. There was something to suit every Ford fan, from showroom-fresh Mustangs and customised Focuses to monster American Ford trucks. Everyday Fiestas, lovingly restored Escorts and preserved Populars were parked alongside incredible pre-war hot rods.

Capri owners turned out in force to celebrate 50 years of the iconic model that was famously marketed by Ford as ‘the car you always promised yourself’. Enthusiasts had much to get excited about with the line-up on the Events Arena, as pristine examples of the stylish Mk1 – including a 3000GT and modified track-ready example – were joined by a wide variety of later versions and rare last-of-the-line Capri 280 ‘Brooklands’.

Superb examples of the Anglia also took pride of place, as the family favourite celebrated its 60th anniversary. The selection ranged from an immaculate and rarely-seen Anglia 105E estate to a wild Anglia hot rod, powered by a Range Rover V8 engine.

Show-goers loved the new Mustang BULLITT, a special edition version of the world’s favourite muscle car which was built to celebrate half a century of the classic 1968 film Bullitt. Fitted with a 5-litre V8 engine and painted in dark highland green, this special Mustang is a modern incarnation of one of the most famous cars on the silver screen.

Club stands were a big draw and popular with visitors and rally participants alike. Dorset All Ford Types brought a variety of Fords, including sought-after Sierra RS Cosworth and Sierra XR4i, Cortinas, Granada, Fiesta Mk3 and Scorpio, while the Ford Sierra Owners Club stand included a rare Ford Sierra motorhome conversion. Simply Mustangs UK, Midlands Mondeo Enthusiasts, Nuts 4 Fords and the Rusty Shed Restoration Club also proudly showcased their members’ cars.

Hendy Ford showcased a selection of showroom cars that event-goers could buy, while trade stands sold a selection of spares and Ford-related accessories.

The People’s Choice Award was won by Glyn Baker, from Ringwood, who has owned his Escort Mk1 RS2000 for more than 20 years. During that time the car has been completely restored and Beaulieu’s Simply Ford was the first run-out following its engine rebuild. Glyn was presented with his Beaulieu trophy and Autoglym car care pack prize by Pierre Bonnet, the Sales Planning Manager for Ford UK who has 25 years of experience in the motor industry, working for the Ford Motor Company in both France and Britain. Pierre was in charge of the launch of the Mustang in the UK from 2014-16 and is a true car enthusiast.

Runners-up were Edgar Liranco, from Fareham, for the Mustang he has owned for 18 months and David Pritchard, from Westbury, for the Escort Cosworth he has upgraded to give a staggering 755bhp in the 13 years he has owned it. They were both presented with Autoglym prizes by Pierre.

Simply Ford was the third of Beaulieu’s ten Simply rallies for 2019. Coming next is Simply Porsche on June 2nd, Simply VW on June 15th, Simply Land Rover & Rummage on June 23rd, Simply Jaguar on July 14th, Simply Japanese on July 28th, with the first Simply Mercedes on August 18th and Simply Smart on November 10th. Tickets can be bought in advance online. For tickets and details see www.beaulieu.co.uk/events.

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