The rich prewar racing heritage of Bentley was highlighted during the 2001 Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races August 17-19. Now in its 28th year, the Historics is considered North America’s premier vintage race, where more than 350 historic race cars annually assemble to challenge the famed corkscrew at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Although the first Bentleys rolled off the assembly line and onto Britain’s roadways in relative obscurity in 1921, it wasn’t long before racing fans worldwide began holding the marque in high regard as victories were plentiful in such prestigious races as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bentley racked up a total of five checkered flags at Le Mans, including a dominating four-year winning streak from 1927 to 1930.

Adding to the company’s mystique was a glamorous team of drivers who became known as the “Bentley Boys.” These free-spirited drivers piloted a string of race cars, including such models as the 3-litre and the Speed Six, to one victory after another.

“The Bentley Boys represented an exciting and glamorous era of motor racing,” explained Steve Earle, organizer of the Monterey Historics. “The ’20s and ’30s were a time when race and road cars still resembled each other, and competition was a way for motor car companies to showcase their abilities, with Bentley right at the top.”

American Formula 1 world champion Phil Hill climbed behind the wheel of a 1929 “Blower” Bentley that raced at Le Mans over 70 years ago to lead a parade of Bentleys around Laguna Seca’s rolling 2.2-mile circuit in a very spirited salute to the Bentley Boys.

Among the important historic Bentleys that competed on the track or were displayed in an elaborate paddock exhibit were rare examples of the famous 3-liter, 4 ½-liter, Speed Six and Bentley Blower, among many others.

In Saturday’s Group 1A pre-1931 Sports and Touring Cars race, Bentleys took eight of the top 10 positions, with the win going to Stanley Mann and his 1929 Bentley LeMans 4 ½-liter (see photo above).