www.VintageBentleys.org N E W S L E T T E R October 2016
 
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Frank Sowden and PPB10, YF5006, 8 litre Bentley
 
Frank raced many times at Silverstone, in those days on the old circuit. I remember him telling me that after 3 of 4 laps, he would be thinking of his exit at Woodcote, due to having no brakes. Would he manage to get around the Woodcote or have to dive down the side of the TV tower? One time at Silverstone he was on the front grid alongside Peter Morley, in his Napier Bentley. A 24 litre Napier aero engine, in a Bentley chassis. Due to the heat coming out of the Napier’s exhaust, which was hitting Frank in the side of the face, Frank had to take to the grass at the start or else get burned by the heat coming from the engine of the Napier.
 

Frank at Silverstone.
 

Again we would leave work on the Friday afternoon drive down to Silverstone, stay the night in a hotel, and arrive early morning at the Silverstone circuit. I recall the first time I drove the 8 litre on the motorway; we were travelling along at 70mph, when all of a sudden a police car with its lights flashing and siren going, pulled us over. I looked at Frank and said,“What have I done wrong?” The two police men got out of their car and walked towards us, “Sorry to stop you sirs, but we are just interested in your car”!

When we arrived at Silverstone we would take the mudguards off, turn the head lights inwards, tape them up, and go racing. Then at the end of the day drive home to Yorkshire again, about a 4 hour drive.

 
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