PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 15 & SUNDAY 16 JUNE 1929. Bentlley claimed the top four spots at the seventh running of the 24 Hours, with in order the #1 (Woolf Barnato-Tim Birkin), the #9 (Jack Lawson Dunfee-Glen Kidston), the #10 (Dudley Benjafield-André d'Erlanger) and the #8 (Frank Clement-Jean Chassagne).

Eight drivers have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of a Bentley: John Duff, Frank Clement, Dudley Benjafield, Sammy Davis, Woolf Barnato, Bernard Rubin, Henry Birkin and Glen Kidston. All were what what is now known as gentlemen-drivers, meaning they were not involved in motorsport as a full-time, professional endeavor. But they were true aventurers nonetheless.

A survivor of the Battle of Passchendaele, in Belgium from July to November 1917, which saw British, Canadian and French forces battle the German army, John Duff fielded his own Bentley at the first 24 Hours in 1923. After leading the race for quite awhile, he finished fourth. After winning Le Mans the following year, he continued his efforts in motorsport, then became a fencing stuntman in Hollywood training actors in cloak and dagger films. Toward the end of his life, he took part in equestrian show jumping.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 14 & SUNDAY 15 JUNE 1924. The 3 Litre of John Duff and Frank Clement secured the first of Bentley's six wins at the race.

Bentley test driver Frank Clement was asked by the British marque to join forces with John Duff when he entered his own Bentley in the first running of the 24 Hours. After their shared victory in 1924, Clement finished second in 1930 along with Richard Watney, giving the Bentley Speed Six a one-two behind winners Woolf Barnato and Glen Kidston.

A medical specialist in bacteriology, Dudley Benjafield served his country in Egypt during World War I prior to helping in the fight against the great Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-1919. A diehard motorsport fan, he first started out in powerboating before moving into auto racing, with seven participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans to his credit, including one win in 1927.

A great auto racing writer from the era between the two world wars, Sammy Davis made a name for himself penning countless articles, books and caricatures. He also worked alongside Walter Owen Bentley when the latter became a car constructor. Naturally, he was on the scene for the "Bentley Boys" adventures at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, including the win he shared with Dudley Benjafield in 1927. 

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 15 & SUNDAY 16 JUNE 1929. Winners Woolf Barnato (at left) and Tim Birkin at the wheel of their Bentley Speed Six.

Another veteran of the Great War (Captain) and the first three-time winner in the history of the 24 Hours, Woolf Barnato boasts an unmatched success rate at the race: three participations, three wins in 1928, 1929 and 1930! In addition to motorsport, he was highly skilled at speed boat driving, cricket, golf, boxing (middleweight class), swimming, shooting and hunting.

A wealthy Australian heir, Bernard Rubin was also a veteran of World War I. The injuries he suffered in 1917 were so serious it took until 1920 before he could walk again. In 1928 along with Woolf Barnato, at the wheel of the last Bentley still in the race at the chequred flag, Rubin claimed the top step on the overall podium.

After his victory in 1929 with Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin clinched a second win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1931, making Alfa Romeo the first Italian marque to win the race.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 JUNE 1930. The winning Bentley Speed Six on the track.

A former submariner (Lieutenant Commander) and Barnato's teammate in his 1930 victory, Glen Kidston then turned to aviation, setting the record for the flight between England and Cape Town in South Africa the following year.

PHOTO ABOVE (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, THURSDAY 13 JUNE 2019. The road leading to the 24 Hours Museum and Circuit des 24 Heures was renamed in honour of the "Bentley Boys" during a ceremony attended by (from left to right) Gilles Huttepain (a member of the committee governing the ACO representing its president Pierre Fillon), Brian Gush (Bentley Motorsport director) and Stéphane Le Foll (mayor of Le Mans).

Related article: BENTLEY AT THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS (1) – TOP ANECDOTES, DATES AND WINS