Forrest Lycett and his amazing 8-litre Bentley (Page 8 of 9)
Motor Sport Magazine, July 1998

 

I have not compared the 8-litre's performance with that of more recent Derby and Crewe Specials or today's vintage hybrids. But in 1938 I timed it to do 0-50mph in 5.2sec, 70 in 10sec, 90 in 16sec and 100mph in 23sec. The s s ¼-mile took 16.4sec, the s s ½-mile, 26.2sec against the wind, two up, and that after a fast road run, cruising frequently at 'the ton'. With sprint ratios these figures might have been lowered, but as it was, 10-30mph was timed to take 1.8sec, 3.0sec and 4.8sec in the indirect gears, 30-80mph 10.4sec and 50-70mph in top gear took 9.0sec.

 

Still going strong in Brighton years later; this is 1958

 

A few days before war broke out Lycett drove the 8-litre to Brooklands, where 'Mac' awaited him with his own 4½-litre and his lads in the hack Big Six tourer. The Bentley was now sans front brakes, had a cover over the passenger's seat and its road-clobber was quickly removed. Handing his bowler to someone, Lycett went out and raised the Class-B s s mile record by 4.43mph, to 92.9mph, on a 2.6 to 1 axle ratio. The stiff front springs made coming off the Byfleet banking rather tricky, at some 135mph. After this Lycett retrieved the bowler and drove off to a board-meeting in the City. 'A record record', as it were — it took an Auto-Union to beat it...

 

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