2 replies to this topic

[Derwent Motorsport]

The Bentley DC race meeting at Silverstone in August is the last one make club run race meeting after the MGCC stopped running race meetings on cost grounds. 

I did a few BDC meetings over the years and they  were the most informal races I’ve done. A step back in time. I was with Equipe GTS who were an invited (paying) grid. It always puzzled me that BDC could run a meeting with some fairly sparse grids when my own MGCC struggled to cover the cost with bigger numbers.

I’ve heard a couple of tales that BDC have a long standing agreement with BRDC that goes back to the purchase of Silverstone,

It goes like this; When the RAC declined to buy the airfield, BRDC stepped in and had most of the money, but not quite enough. Some of BRDC members were former Bentley racers and thus some money came from the BDC to complete the required amount. In return BDC got a guaranteed date in August at a preferential rate.

Is this fact?

Edited by Derwent Motorsport, 09 January 2025 - 11:31.

[bsc]

I have no evidence to confirm, but over the years quite a few people have told me versions of the same story so I am inclined to think there is some truth in it. 

[Allan Lupton]

I hoped that The Golden Jubilee Book (1936-1986) of the BDC might have some helpful references, but I can't find anything.

When I first knew of the BDC Silverstone it was co-promoted with the Jaguar D.C. but by the time I became one of its Handicappers it was just BDC.