Articles

Bentley boys ready for fast fun

Beautiful scenery near Grand Junction

Co-driver Peter Dixon next to Mark Hyman's 8- litre

Climbing Independence Pass to 12000 ft

W.O. and SS 100 pilots, we will come back next year!

Pit stop near Rifle Gap with Alfa & BMW

This year I had the opportunity to participate for the second time in the Colorado Grand, starting and ending in Vail, during the third week of September 2010 covering some 1100 miles in 4 days. The route selection took the 80 pre-1960 racing and sports cars through beautiful canyons, mesas and mountain passes between 4500 and 12000 ft in altitude.

Day one took us from Vail over the McClure Pass, 8755 ft, to lunch in Hotchkiss. In the afternoon we torqued up Grand Mesa and ended in Grand Junction, 4500 ft.

Day two took us through the most beautiful canyons to the car museum in Gateway with lunch in Ridgway and ended in Crested Butte, 9500 ft. The mechanics were working late into the night. Five cars failed to proceed and one was sent home due to overtaking on a double yellow.

Day three took us over the Cochetopa Pass, 10135 ft, along the Saguache mountains to lunch in Salida. The two Bentleys on the Rally, Mark Hyman's 8-litre and mine tested each other a little, with Mark's car a little faster on the hills and mine cruising quicker around the corners on the flats thanks to the shorter chassis and Blockley tires. In the afternoon we climbed up Independence Pass, 12095 ft, into Aspen for ice cream and stayed in Snowmass.

On day four we saw hot air balloons rising in Snowmass. Had lunch in Steamboat. The last run was over.

Rabbit Ears and Gore Pass, both about 9500 ft, the Bugattis had a ball driving neck to neck. After four days of driving we showed the cars in Lions Head Village, a pedestrian zone in Vail, so the tourists could admire the cars as well. This was non-concours as we were not allowed to wash the cars during the event, respecting Peter Sutherland's (founder of the Grand) wish to focus on driving. The roads here are in perfect condition with very little traffic allowing the drivers to exercise their machines to their full potential.

My 1931 4/8- Litre, which lives here in Colorado at 8500ft, was well suited for the fast runs and was almost able to keep up with the Bugattis, Alfas, Jaguars, Mercedes and Ferraris.

Barbecue lunches with local peach cobblers were served in small town parks, giving the drivers a chance to rest in the shade and mix with the local admirers of expensive toys. The weather was, as usual, around 25 degrees Centigrade.The Aspen trees just started to turn yellow, mixing well with the deep blue sky and the red sandstone formations.

A good part of the entry fee goes to small town charities and to the State Patrol Family Foundation. In return the State Troopers, on their Harley Davidsons, keep the roads open for us!

It would be nice to have a few more Bentleys on this fantastic motoring event.