BRDC CELEBRATE 80th ANNIVERSARY WITH A DINNER AT THE ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB
The British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) celebrated their 80th Anniversary in style last week, when they hosted a dinner at The Royal Automobile Club in London's Pall Mall.
Over 120 of the Club's high-ranking Members attended the evening, where they were joined by BRDC President in Chief, The Duke of Kent, KG and current BRDC President, 1996 F1 World Champion, Damon Hill OBE.
Other notable guests included legendary racing driver Sir Stirling Moss OBE, John Surtees MBE - the only man to win World Championship titles on two and four wheels and Wing Commander Andy Green MBE RAF, the World's fastest man.
Joining Members of the BRDC at the Royal Automobile Club was the `Old Number 3' Bentley Speed Six, a car that raced at Le Mans in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Following these endurance racing events, `The Bentley Boys', notably Dr J. D. Benjafield, and his fellow the cavalier drivers who dominated the Le Mans 24-Hour Race at that time, liked to celebrate their successes by hosting and attending informal dinner parties for friends and colleagues. From these parties grew the BRDC, �quickly establishing itself as the leading Club of its type in the World.
In today's motor racing world, the BRDC are well known as the owners of Silverstone Circuit, home to the British Grand Prix, and the Club are currently working hard on upgrading facilities at their Northamptonshire track to ensure the British Grand Prix remains on the FIA F1 World Championship schedules after the current contract for the race expires after the 2009 race, and Club membership totals 850.
Above:
The Duke of Kent, KG
President in Chief of the British Racing Drivers' Club
Pictured with Bentley `Old Number 3'
Photograph by: Jeff Bloxham
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