A bunch of ‘Rascals’: Driving hard, Partying hard, Enjoying themselves and their wealth…
The Bentley Boys were a group of wealthy, high-spirited British motorists—primarily war veterans and playboys—who saved Bentley Motors from financial ruin and dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans with five victories between 1924 and 1930.
Key Members & Exploits
- Woolf “Babe” Barnato: The group’s financier and leader. He bought the company in 1925 to keep it afloat and famously won Le Mans in all three of his entries (1928–1930). He is also known for the “Blue Train Race,” where he beat a luxury train from Cannes to London.
- Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin: An ex-fighter pilot and relentless racer who championed the development of the iconic supercharged “Blower Bentley“.
- Glen Kidston: A record-breaking aviator and naval officer who survived torpedo attacks and a plane crash before winning Le Mans in 1930.
- Dr. J.D. “Benjy” Benjafield: A Harley Street specialist and bacteriology expert who won Le Mans in 1927 and founded the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC).
- John Duff: A Canadian veteran who achieved Bentley’s first Le Mans win in 1924.
Legacy and Modern Use
- Grosvenor Square: The group lived in adjacent apartments in Mayfair, a corner so frequently lined with their cars that taxi drivers called it “Bentley Corner”.
- New Bentley Boys: The term was revived in the early 2000s for the professional racing team that secured Bentley’s sixth Le Mans victory in 2003.
- Bentley Boys Band: Outside of motoring, the name is used by a popular wedding and party band in Ireland.
Are you interested in the technical specs of the Blower Bentley they raced, or more about their high-society lifestyle in Mayfair?