A Derby Bentley special

Sir,

Your report on The Fox and Nichol Trophy Race under the title “A look back at VSCC Silverstone” in your September issue does less than justice to the race winner, and certainly the motor car. You stated “, .. but it was a Mark VI supercharged Bentley Special that won from a much more appropriate 4-seater Vintage 4 1/2-litre Bentley”. The motor car, in fact, was a 1938 4 1/4-litre supercharged Derby Bentley, surely not inappropriate for this race and, in any case, post-war Mark. VI type Bentleys and their derivatives are not accepted by the Vintage Sports Car Club for racing purposes.

This Derby Bentley sports car, built by me some years ago, is now owned by Victor Gauntlett and has a very fair racing record with the VSCC and BDC and it so happens that it was actually driven by “W.B.” a year or two ago at a BDC Silverstone Practice Day. I seem to remember that he thought rather well of it.

In all fairness, and with the greatest respect to other drivers and historic motors participants in that event, the winner at 71.33 m.p.h. drove a pretty well-judged race.

Kingsfield B. M. RUSS-TURNER

[Apologies, New Editorial glasses ordered immediately !—Ed.]