Record-breaking Bentleys

On May 29 at Millbrook two pre-war Bentleys attacked long-standing British class records, scoring (subject to confirmation) two bull’s-eyes.

Stanley Mann’s well-known 3/8-litre car, which last year took the hour record in this category at 115 mph, went for fresh Class A honours. After a standing start lap at 115 mph, it began to circulate at 135 mph until a valve broke after 13 laps.

Mann was able to continue at reduced speed and break the 50km record (which had belonged to John Cobb and the 101/2-litre Delage since 1930 by 11.93 seconds, at 122.0 mph. Phil Greenwood,

Vaughan Davis and Mann also brought out the ex-Marker/Jackson 61/2-litre Bentley-Jackson, which Davis has painstakingly rebuilt over many years, to try for the Class B 500-mile record which Parry Thomas had put at 110.04 mph, at Brooklands in 1926. The car was refuelled at the stops to change drivers, and Mann averaged 120 mph for his spell, but magneto trouble delayed them for seven minutes and the fuel tank split with 170 miles still to run. However, the team did crack the 200-mile record (previously held by Cyril Paul at 99.66 mph in a 6-litre sports Delage at Brooklands in 1930) with 105.29 mph.