Sporting rivalry between the wars

In 1920 W O Bentley joined the ranks of sports car makers, which did not stop Vauxhall from producing its type OE 30/98 sports cars until 1927 in spite of the Bentley being the more refined of the two cars. Although the Bentley had the edge, the OE Vauxhall continued to be purchased by enthusiasts.

W O had raced a DFP before the war in 1914, setting the Class B flying half-mile record at Brooklands at 89.70mph. With his modifications DFP produced its 12/40 model. After the war in 1921, when W O Bentley got his own make of car into production, he almost immediately sought publicity at Brooklands where he entered the first 3-litre Bentley in the Whitsun Junior Sprint handicap. Driven by Frank Clement and with a best lap of 86.32mph, it won the race. Indeed W O was gaining publicity that year at Brooklands, with a further win and two second places, with a fastest lap of 92.57mph, compared to Vauxhall’s two 4.4-litre works cars driven by E Swain and

M C Park, who between them achieved three firsts and five seconds, with a best lap of 108.74mph.

Then in 1922 W O had two wins and one third place, with a best lap of 100.21mph, whereas Vauxhall had one first and one second with a best lap of 108.03mph. In 1923 Vauxhall stopped racing its works cars; W O had one first, one second and four thirds, with a best lap of 101.23mph.

By 1925 Vauxhall had been taken over by General Motors and by then W O had also stopped racing at Brooklands.