Old names re-emerge at Bentley Drivers’ meeting

Silverstone National - 8 August 1998 (Bentley Drivers' Club)

The Morgan Motor Company Challenge marched on with a vengeance to probably the biggest spectator attended race of the season so far as the owners club is concerned despite other excellent meetings, The Bentley Drivers Club meeting.

This race was over subscribed such is the popularity of the event. We were to have fielded a full grid of thirty four cars but unfortunately Tony Howard was unable to race due to sustaining a back injury whilst loading the SLR on Friday night, Class A driver James Edgerton was also absent due to being unable to get his engine prepared and back in the car in time for the meeting. Nevertheless thirty two cars was still a fantastic entry which was sure to supply some excellent racing. We saw the return of some familiar names in Matthew Wurr, Barry Sumner, Jim Deacon, David Sherman, Kelvin Laidlaw, Martin Kurrein and Graham White. Martin would not be racing in his usual class (D) as, being his first race of this season, his car did not meet the Class requirements. He would instead race in Class B.

We welcomed a new racer to Class A in the shape of Andrew Jenkins and saw the return of Grahame Bryant in his first race in over six years. Class B bought a European flavour to the meeting with the signing on of Christian Bock and Reiner Vierling - being another first time racer - who both arrived in a splendid lorry, the side of which was adorned with pictures of Morgans and which included an enormous awning capable of storing both cars together with tables and chairs - quite superb. We were also pleased to see the return of Adrian van der Kroft from Holland who last raced with us at Brands.

The day promised much in terms of racing and beautiful weather as this day was destined to be one of the finest of our summer so far. On arrival at the circuit the temperature was already high with the threat of hitting the magic thirty degrees. Practice for us started at 9.29 am with cars streaming on to the circuit to start their laps. Old hand Grahame Bryant came a cropper at Woodcote and spun right around. He managed to regain control and complete the session. Peter Horsman made an excursion in to the gravel at Luffield which finished his session but despite this still qualified sixth with a 1:09.28 ? Class B runner Phil Brown spoke of an oil leak but assured that this would be rectified by race time. Class A runner Simon McDermott’s luck still seems not to have changed when again his engine let go. Jan Bulinski had a very lucky escape when the hub of the nearside rear wheel came loose from the spline. Had Jan have carried on with the session the wheel would almost have certainly have come off. Simon Orebi Gann was driving under strict instruction from his mechanic NOT to use his brakes. He had just had new pads fitted which had not bedded in suitably and therefore supposition was that use would have culminated in the pads shattering. Class E driver Barry Sumner also suffered with loss of braking which made for another interesting session, Class D racer James Paterson experienced an unexplained lack of power / engine problem that was to finish his race. Class A driver Matthew Wurr developed a gearbox problem on Friday during testing. The box was stripped out, taken off site, repaired and re-installed overnight. Peter Garland was unable to attend the meeting as repairs to his engine were still not complete since the incident at Donington earlier in the season. Our race started at two o’clock prompt in conditions that were by now blistering. The cars filed out for the green flag lap (warm up lap) and started to navigate the circuit to get back to the grid for the race start proper which is where Chas Windridge ended his race returning to the pits with a cracked brake disc.

The cars formed up on the grid to an informative running commentary from Mark Aston as we waited for the lights to change, they did promptly. Matthew Wurr made an interesting start and lit his tyres up on the line, Chris Springall made a good start with Keith Ahlers making a blistering start and diving up the middle to separate the two lead cars. The proverbial gauntlet was thrown down in a challenge involving these lead cars for who was to be first in to the corner at Copse, Chris Springall won the day taking the lead in only his second excursion of the series closely followed by Matthew and then Keith. Martin Kurrein made a good start along with Chris Acklam and Malcolm Paul who all gained a couple of places. Simon Orebi Gann had a good start but this was all in vain as a coming together with Martin Kurrein at Becketts resulted in a spin with a drop of eleven places - hard luck.

Jack Bellinger and Chris Dady gained three places over immediate rivals with another excellent start being made by Adrian van der Kroft who picked up four places. The best start of the meeting went to Class E runner Mary Lindsay with an unsurpassed five places - superb ! Chris Dady took a trip across the grass at Becketts regaining control to continue on down Club straight. As the lap progressed Rick Lloyd closed up on the three lead cars with Matthew making moves on Chris for the lead at the Complex. At the start of the second lap Chris was withstanding some extreme pressure from Matthew who narrowly missed driving in to the back of Chris at Brooklands. Keith and Rick dropped back a little as the power ratio of the big Class A cars started to show. Peter Horsman was bringing up the chase group and leading the Class E runners of Adrian van der Kroft, Jack Bellinger, Leigh Sebba, Mary Lindsay and John Clarke.

At the third Matthew and Chris were side by side at the start /finish line. Matthew was pushing very hard towards Copse and took the inside line and then the lead after a superb drive by Chris. Keith and Rick had dropped back a little by this stage but were still pushing very hard. The top eight drivers to include Martin Kurrein, Graham White, Chris Acklam and Malcolm Paul had pulled out three hundred yards over the chase group headed by Grahame Bryant and a hard driving Peter Horsman, Adrian van der Kroft, Jack Bellinger and Christian Bock. These drivers had in turn pulled two hundred yards over Class E runner Leigh Sebba and Mary Lindsay. At the Complex Keith Ahlers got very sideways trying to keep Rick Lloyd at bay whilst Adrian van der Kroft found himself in the gravel at Brooklands after trying a little to hard to maintain the very close racing he had been enjoying against Peter Horsman and Jack Bellinger. Upon rejoining Adrian deposited a hail of stones in front of John Clarke and lost three places which sadly separated him from the now intense battle of Class E leader Peter H and challenger Jack B.

By the forth Matthew was starting to open up a substantial lead over second placed Chris Springall who was in turn being pursued by Keith Ahlers. Rick Lloyd had lost two hundred yards to these two Class A racers but had pulled two hundred over Martin Kurrein who was having a decent battle with Chris White. Chris Acklam had lost a hundred and fifty to Graham White but had gained three hundred over Malcolm Paul who had Grahame Bryant at very close quarters. Peter Horsman and Jack Bellinger provided some very close and exciting racing as each lap passed. Barry Sumner, Phil Brown, Doug Taylerson, Peter Sargeant, Chris Dady and David James were bringing up the rear guard again with some excellent tight racing.

At the fifth Matthew had really made the race his own and pulled out five hundred yards over his nearest rivals Chris and Keith. Keith giving his all to try and stay in touch with Chris locked up at Becketts fortunately just avoiding a collision with Chris. Christian Bock became part of the Horsman/Bellinger battle as all three cars were charging very hard. These cars were being chased down by a pack of some thirteen cars, headed by Leigh Sebba and including Simon Orebi Gann, Kelvin Laidlaw, Andrew Jenkins, Reiner Vierling and David James. This group was followed one hundred yards back by David Sherman and Jim Deacon who were obviously enjoying their own tight battle.

By the sixth Keith Ahlers had passed Chris Springall and was trying very hard to keep him at bay. Martin Kurrein and Graham White were side by side at Maggots with Martin holding Chris at bay. Peter Horsman and Jack Bellinger continued their battle at times getting so close as to nudge each other fortunately only causing superficial damage. David James pulled a manoeuvre on Chris Dady and managed to pass him. New racer Andrew Jenkins came a cropper at Luffield with a spectacular spin managing to rejoin the race despite having dropped several places.

At the seventh Martin Kurrein and Graham White were still challenging each other very hard with Grahame Bryant and Chris Acklam following this battle. Jack Bellinger made an inside manoeuvre on Peter Horsman but the racing line was held and so was the place. John Clarke had Mary Lindsay attacking from behind but again retained his place. Reiner Vierling gained a place from Barry Sumner with the tailender battle of David James, Chris Dady and David Sherman following.

At the Eighth the racers were well and truly enjoying their own Class orientated races with Matthew now dominating A, Malcolm Paul ahead of Christian Bock in B, Peter Sargeant ahead of Doug Taylerson in C, Rick Lloyd had a couple of places over Chris Acklam and of course not forgetting the monumental battle in E of Peter Horsman and Jack Bellinger which was now so incredibly competitive that both cars touched in a harder way than before with the consequence of Peter’s car leaving a wheel shaped dent in Jacks offside front wing.

By the ninth lap Chris Springall regained second position from Keith Ahlers which was sustained till the end of the race. Chris Dady and Doug Taylerson had a coming together at Becketts with both cars receiving superficial damage. Grahame Bryant had soldiered his way through the field from thirteenth to finish fifth - well done. Only twelve cars completed the total race distance of ten laps. After the race there were many tales to be heard amongst which was Keith Ahlers who told of having a faulty LSD.

Class A was won by Matthew Wurr with another awesome performance. Class B went to Martin Kurrein, Class C to Peter Sargeant, Class D to Rick Lloyd and Class E to hardcharging Jack Bellinger. Our next race is at Silverstone - see you there.

Jon Hopkins