Author: Dan Cogger
Images: Amy Shore Photography
The perception is that getting younger people interested in older cars is an increasing ‘problem’. It’s certainly true that as each generation comes to the motoring fore, their core interest tends to shift too; the cars they like are still old, just typically not as old as the ones appreciated by those before them. So how do you foster the enthusiasm for cars at risk of being forgotten, such as those from the pre-war era?
Fortunately there are now numerous events, tours and rallies specifically organised by and for younger enthusiasts with pre-war cars. Events like the Beforty Rally, for example; pre-1940 cars for entrants under 40-years old. But before you can even contemplate such events, you either need to own or have the ability to borrow a pre-war car… as well as be able to drive it.
For some, this may be second nature. Perhaps they have grown up around pre-war cars, work with them or have rebuilt one of their own. Others may not have had such immersion therapy and could find the prospect of driving their grandparent’s pride and joy too daunting, or the idea of owning a pre-war car too intimidating. This is where William Medcalf’s Vintage Bentley emporium has stepped up to the plate.
For the last five years, Medcalf’s team have organised a track day like no other. Its primary focus is to get the next generation behind the wheel and I was invited along to this year’s Generations Track Day to see how it works.
Arriving at Goodwood on a cloudless spring morning, the paddock is inevitably full of vintage Bentleys. Some are from Medcalf’s own stable or stocklist, while many more are privately owned. Those here to drive are a mixture of children or grandchildren, driving family cars, as well as new or prospective clients of Vintage Bentley learning the ropes themselves.
An hour or so of the morning is devoted to learning the basics from William himself whose own immersion therapy began as a child, and who immediately encouraged any parents or grandparents to make themselves scarce. No undue judgement would be cast from any passenger seat today. The morning lesson allows you, with the most basic of visual aids – such as a tennis ball and racket – to visualise what the car is doing as well as what you need to be doing. Bentley gearboxes are renowned for their recalcitrance, even for experienced peddlers of the breed, but at least this session breaks down the purpose of the theory before the ultimate test.
That first practical test makes use of a large tarmac apron on the outside of the circuit, with each pupil assigned to an instructor to help guide the theory into action. I had been grouped with Oliver Marçais and Aimery Dutheil, sharing the 1926 Bentley 3/4½-Litre they’d liberated from their Fiskens showroom for the day, and our instructor was the ever-patient Jamie Broome. In order to qualify for venturing out onto the Motor Circuit later in the day, we’d each need to demonstrate safe control and a basic ability to drive up and down the tricky gearbox. Having just spent circa 1000kms driving another Fiskens car on the Beforty Rally with Aimery, the 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Brooklands Special, my confidence was high.
As is often the way, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Of-course the Bentley is nothing like the Vauxhall in operation and learning its ways took somewhat longer than my pride cares to divulge. But, with Jamie’s encouragement, all three of us passed the test. Here is where having a Vintage Bentley instructor, I would imagine, makes the greatest difference for those driving a ‘family car’. Removing any familial judgement, whether actual or merely perceived, and replacing it with the positive reinforcement of someone with second-nature ability is transformative. As we all know, there is nothing worse than driving with your parents.
Fully certified, we could now take to the Goodwood Motor Circuit. For this part of the day a speed limit of 50mph is enforced, creating a safe environment for a group of people still getting to grips with the morning’s tutoring as well as removing the need for crash helmets – it would be impossible to talk with your instructor otherwise. Driving at road speeds along the flowing circuit is punctuated with a series of stop-and-go sections, providing ample opportunity to practice shifting through the ‘box, all the while seeking Jamie’s advice on how a cleaner ‘change could be made next time. With seemingly all the time in the world and no traffic to either hold up or worry about, it really was the perfect place to learn by trial and hopefully little error.
Getting out of the car for the final time, itching for another chance to get back in, you can feel how infectious the pre-war bug is. I’m already a devotee of pre-war cars yet this day only fuelled the passion further, as did the conversation over lunch with a whole new generation sharing their experiences. And that brings the whole point of days like this full circle: how to get younger people into older cars. The simple and effective answer is of course that immersion therapy: let them drive.
