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<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Within a fortnight it had been modified
and prepared for the Irish Grand Prix at Phoenix Park.
The back axle internals had been removed; the fishtail
had been refitted to the exhaust; the windscreen removed
and aero-screens fitted direct to the body. In this
form it took second place.</s> | 1,559 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
On 17th August 1929 it was ready for
the Isle of Man TT Race. The fishtails were removed
and a ballast bar added to the front of the chassis.
Unfortunately the car crashed, suffering damage to the
front end of the chassis, front axle, shock absorbers
and brackets. The bonnet and magneto were replaced.</s> | 1,560 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
Even so, by 12th October 1929 it was
ready for the 500 miles race at Brooklands. A new 600
cylinder pattern differential and spicer shaft had been
fitted. The car was rebodied -- the four seater Van
de Plas was removed and replaced by a two seater form
with fintail or fishtail, new petrol tank and a fly-off
handbrake had been fitted direct to a compensator. The
gear lever was cranked outside the body with no reverse
catch. The car in this form took second place.</s> | 1,561 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Thus by the end of the 1929 season
the car was overdue for a major overhaul. This must
have taken a considerable period of time because there
are no photographs between October 1929 and June 1930
when the car was entered for the Le Mans. In the intervening
period two new Speed 6's were built to a new 1930 specification
and the 1929 winner was similarly rebuilt. It is common
ground between the experts and accepted by the defence
that of the 1929 Le Mans winner possibly only the pedal
shaft and the compensator survive.</s> | 1,562 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
The records reveal that the 4� litre
pattern differential was over stressed so the standard
production 6� litre differential was fitted with standard
spicer shaft. The chassis frame was replaced, along
with the front axle beam. A new gear box of the D Type,
along with a new differential and spicer shaft were
installed. Bracing across the front of the frame was
changed. The Hartford friction shock absorbers were
deleted and replaced by twin hydraulic Bentley and Drapers.
It seems likely that the steering column was changed
as well. There was a modified crankcase to accommodate
the Bosch starter. Thus it can be seen that the 1930
car was very different from the 1929 car both in appearance
and specification.</s> | 1,563 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
This Speed 6 did not race at the Double
Twelve Race at Brooklands. However, Captain Barnato
and Clement drove another 6� litre and clocked the astonishing
speed of 86.68 mph. Old Number One was being prepared
for the Le Mans race along with two other Speed 6's.</s> | 1,564 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
The changes in the car can be readily
seen from the series of photographs taken before and
during the race. The car was again driven by Captain
Woolf Barnarto. There was a formidable challenge from
a supercharged 7 litre Mercedes Benz. Because of the
Mercedes Benz' larger engine capacity it was assigned
the No. 1 race number. The next three numbers were assigned
to the three Bentley Speed 6's because they were of
6� litre capacity, and No. 4 was assigned to the car
bearing chassis number LB2332. Thus it was racing as
No. 4.</s> | 1,565 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Again, the account is of interest.
The cars went off to a good start and the Mercedes driven
by Karachiola and Berner did extremely well in early
stages. Bentleys suffered some misfortune. However,
the account reveals:</s> | 1,566 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
"The chase,
though, was still on with Barnato taking over from Kitston
with orders to push the Mercedes hard. Barnato finally
took the lead on the 36th lap, pushing the Mercedes
into using the clutch engaged supercharger all the time,
the whine of which could be heard all the way round
the track. It was well known that too much use of the
supercharger would blow the Mercedes engine and Barnato
was playing his part to perfection. The Mercedes led
again on lap 37 and then the Bentley on lap 40, then
the Mercedes again on No. 4's pit stop and handover
to Kitston. The Mercedes came in to refuel on the 46th
lap with Berner taking over for a brilliant spell in
the dark to regain on the 59th lap, but this last effort
heralded the demise of the Mercedes challenge. The reason,
though, remains unclear to this day. The motor noted
that the Mercedes had been suffering from weakening
brakes and that flickering of the oil pressure gauge
had been causing concern. Eton, in one of the Talbots,
passed the Mercedes on one part of the course and noticed
how powerful its headlamps were shortly before its retirement
on the 82nd lap due to the battery being completely
discharged. The failure of the Mercedes to respond to
push-starting, coupled with W.O.'s mention of water
pouring from a blown gasket suggests there was more
to the Mercedes retirement than met the eye, and Karachiola
and Berner told W.O. that their schedule, based on the
1929 Speed 6 performance, gave them a lead of a whole
lap at that point -- a vindication of W.O.'s policy
of not revealing his hand unnecessarily.</s> | 1,567 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
The rest of
the race was inevitably something of an anti-climax.
W.O. reduced the speed of the six Speed 6's to a fast
tour with the Dangerfield car third and Birkin fourth.
The two Stutzes (American cars) retired, one catching
fire and the other with a deranged back axle. During
the night Ramponi suffered from a fever and visions
and could be persuaded to drive for a lap with only
the greatest difficulty in order to meet the regulations.
Of the Blowers (i.e. the Bentleys with superchargers),
Birkin retired just before noon with a broken valve
followed shortly by Dangerfield with a collapsed piston,
a very stout effort having driven single-handed for
ten hours. Thus it was that Old Number
One Speed 6 led GF8507 over the line at 4 p.m. for the
fifth and final Bentley win at Le Mans. The two Speed
6's also took first and second places in the Rudge Whitworth
Biennial Cup with performance indices of 1.172 and 1.33
respectively. The British triumph was completed by the
2.3 Talbots which finished third and forth on distance
and formula."</s> | 1,568 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
No-one has suggested that this car
which won the 1930 Le Mans was a new car, merely that
it was a metamorphosis from the 1929 car. The 1930 car
was a continuous process and an evolutionary stage of
the car's development. The modifications were clearly
justified by the win and the increased average speed
of 76.88 mph.</s> | 1,569 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
After this race Bentley Motors retired
from racing and the car passed to Captain Barnato as
his private motor car. Captain Barnato was a rich man
and had many cars, including several Bentleys, but he
always regarded MT3484 as his racing car. The registration
book shows the alteration in ownership.</s> | 1,570 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Shortly afterwards it was noted that
there was a change to the windscreen and a standard
exhaust system with silencer had been added.</s> | 1,571 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Following its success at Le Mans it
was prepared for the 500 miles race in October at Brooklands
in 1931. The parts changed included the clutch stop,
clutch shaft and linings, the offside stub axle with
kingpin bearings, hubsteering arm, brake shoes and track
rod. Five new main bearings and crankcase were fitted.
For this race the Le Mans body was removed and replaced
by the racing two-seater with its petrol tank.</s> | 1,572 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
From the photographs taken at Brooklands
in October , further changes can also be observed. Double
acting Bentley and Draper hydraulic shock absorbers
had been installed to the rear along with additional
inboard Hartfords friction absorbers. A horizontal mesh
radiator stone guard had been added. A fly-off handbrake
had been mounted on the compensator. The
radiator had been lowered, and various other less significant
or visible modifications which I need not set out.</s> | 1,573 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
The result of this race was a resounding
victory. The development had increased its speed to
118.39 -- nearly 9% increase on its previous year's
performance.</s> | 1,574 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
At this stage I must refer to the evidence
of Mr. Walter Hassan. He is now 85 years of age. He
is a most remarkable man. He is acknowledged as being
the master mechanic who looked after and ministered
to and I have no doubt cherished the racing cars of
the Bentley team, and in particular the Speed 6's. He
gave me a short description of his life in mechanical
engineering and he must have a reputation second to
none. At least in this country if not outside it.</s> | 1,575 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
He told me that in 1930 Barnato, who
was the Chairman of Bentley, asked Hassan if he would
join Barnato to look after his team of cars. He was
well familiar with what had happened to the car which
had won Le Mans twice. Mr. Hassan was part of the team
which had prepared the car for Le Mans on both occasions.
I accept that Mr. Hassan and Captain Barnato considered
that the same car had won both races. Captain Barnato
having retired from racing himself, still took an active
interest in the car. MT3884 was registered in his name
in the log book on 5th July 1930. I am satisfied that
after the 1931 500 mile race Captain Barnato asked Hassan
to rebuild the car with whatever he thought was necessary
to bring it up to a condition whereby it could race
for several more years.</s> | 1,576 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
There was a fire in 1932 at Arden Run,
the country seat of Captain Barnato where he kept his
motor cars, and was the centre of activity both socially
and otherwise for the Bentley Boys. As a result, the
rebuild could not take place at Arden Run and it was
conducted in a used garage in Mayfair, again owned by
Captain Barnato.</s> | 1,577 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Mr. Hassan started with a 4+ litre
chassis frame which was stronger than the old 6.5 litre
because it was feared that it would break or crack.
Mr. Hassan told me that he used all the existing parts
of the older car -- that is the radiator, the clutch,
the gear box, the axles, the scuttle, the electrical
equipment and pedals, as Mr. Hassan said in terms, "and
we finished it up in the form it is now. It was ready
for the 500 miles race in that September but Captain
Barnato thought it would be a bit faster with a bigger
engine, so we obtained an 8 litre engine and I built
that into the car. That is the state that it ran in
the race when Clive Dunfee unfortunately went over the
top and was killed as a result."</s> | 1,578 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
He described in detail how they obtained
the 4 litre side-members of the chassis and the 6� litre
cross-members in order to accommodate the D Type gear
box from the old car which Captain Barnato insisted
should be incorporated. Mr. Hassan told me that all
the running parts that are important to a car came from
the old 6.5 litre. It was really only the side-member
which were replaced. He explained how Captain Barnato
intended the car to be in effect the same car as it
was before, and merely updated. For this reason, although
new chassis side-member were incorporated, the old chassis
number LB2332 was marked on the new chassis frame. The
number was stamped but not, as I find, as Mr. Hassan
recalls at the front of the chassis side-members in
the vicinity of the dumb-irons. The numbers can clearly
be seen on the front engine cross-members where the
number is stamped twice. I suspect that this was done
either by Mr. Hassan or a fellow mechanic engaged in
that rebuild. This is of minimal significance.</s> | 1,579 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
The car in its new form and with the
6� litre engine made its first race appearance on Easter
Monday 1932 in the British Empire Trophy Race. It did
not win and was deprived of third place. Captain Barnato
was not used to his racing car not winning or taking
a place -- even when he no longer raced the car himself.
He thought the car was to slow. He was at that time
on the Board of Rolls Royce. Using his influence he
managed to obtain an 8 litre engine. There was only
a week or so to the October race. He instructed Hassan
to take out the 6� litre engine and install the 8 litre
engine. Hassan described how it went in easily. As he
put it: "I did not have to do anything other than pull
out the three bolts and put the other engine in and
bolt it in again and connect up the clutch."</s> | 1,580 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Photographs are available showing Barnato
driving the rebuilt car on demonstration laps at the
August 1932 BARC meeting at Brooklands. Mr. Hay, the
expert called on behalf of the plaintiff, pointed out
many parts from the Speed 6 -- namely the handbrake,
radiator cap, droparm wings etc. As he put it in his
report:</s> | 1,581 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
"It is clear that the rebuild represented
an evolutionary stage in the development of the
car, as in the 1929/1930 rebuild by Bentley Motors."</s> | 1,582 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
The final preparations for the 500
miles race at Brooklands included a cowl which was added
to the scuttle in place of the aero-screen. There are
many pictures of the car during the race and of the
terrible crash. History records that the car went over
the top of a bank at an estimated speed in excess of
120 mph causing Dunfee to lose control. He was thrown
out of the car and received fatal injuries. The car
appeared to break up and turn over, and there are several
pictures of its sorry state when it came to rest. Not
unnaturally, Barnato was very upset at the death of
his friend. The car was recovered but it never raced
again.</s> | 1,583 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
It is at this stage that mystery and
myth start to surround the car. Commentators writing
many years later seem to have formed the view that the
car had suffered so much damaged that it was irreparable.
This may well have been engendered in part by the dramatic
newsreel film record. The doubting Thomases underestimated
the skill of Wally Hassan. He examined the car. He told
me: "The body was of course ripped off but all the mechanics,
the mechanical parts, were all perfectly OK. The RAC
held an inquest on the thing and no mechanical fault
was found as a cause of the crash." Later he put disarmingly:
"We were just able to clean it up and we had a new body
built for it, a coupe body this time." The original
6.5 litre Speed 6 radiator was put back on the car.
This item was very unusual because Captain Barnato had
had all the cars successes inscribed upon the radiator
and insisted that the radiator was incorporated in the
car in the 1931 rebuild and the 1932 repair after the
crash. The significance of this gesture appears hereafter.</s> | 1,584 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Mr. Hassan, being an engineer, did
not go along with the name Old Number One. That was
a creature of the enthusiasts and no doubt journalists
and other writers of the day. He knew it by the chassis
number which, as he told me, is the true identity of
any car. He knew it through out as LB2332. This was
the number it carried right from the beginning when
he first helped to assemble it way back in 1929. His
power of recollection I found to be most impressive,
although I am bound to say he appeared to tire towards
the end of his evidence.</s> | 1,585 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
To the suggestion that the 1929 car
had ceased to exist in 1932 he said "Well it did not,
because the bulk of the car was fitted within the new
side-members so that it was the same car, same wheels,
same axle, same steering column, same clutch, same gear
box." He then went on to describe what prompted the
change of the chassis frame. The 4.5 litre cars all
broke their chassis frames, one during the Le Mans race,
one on the way home between Le Mans and Dieppe and one
on the road from Newhaven to Cricklewood. This caused
some anxiety. He also gave more details of his instructions,
which were to put together as many parts of the first
car, the 6.5 litre car, as possible within the two new
side-members. They knew it was going to be used in the
500 miles race later that year and that they should
build the car accordingly.</s> | 1,586 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
As he said in terms: "It was never
the intention that it should be a new car. It was just
the old car with new side-members which we had had problems
with previously with them cracking. We took the best
steps we thought possible to put the strongest chassis
in. All the other parts were ex the body that had become
known as Old Number One: engine, gear box, clutch, radiator,
brakes, axles, all the sort of stuff which go together
to make a car." He estimated that between 90 and 95%
of the 1930 car went into the 1932 car. In the light
of Mr. Hay's and Mr. Guppy's evidence I consider that
this is an over estimate and the percentage was more
likely to have been 70%, which was reduced when the
8 litre engine was substituted for the 6� litre engine.
This engine change did not require substantial modification
to the chassis frame, gear box or axle.</s> | 1,587 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
The increased engine capacity was achieved
by larger bores with the same piston stroke within the
6� litre block. The inlet and exhaust sides were changed
but I was shown at the view how this was achieved by
simply swinging the 8 litre engine through 180 degrees
before offering it to the chassis frame. Mr. Hassan
also explained how later he was invited by Barnato to
build a Bentley Special using the old 6� litre engine.
This was known as the Barnato Hassan Special and became
famous in its own right. He also created the Pacey Hassan
which, along with the Barnato Hassan, plays no part
in this case.</s> | 1,588 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
In cross-examination he was asked about
his book and how he had, when putting into writing his
memories and career in a book called "Climax in Coventry"
-- he was asked about the period of history of the car
when he received his instructions from Captain Barnato.
I shall not quote all the passages; only those I consider
of particular relevance. He said at pages 29:</s> | 1,589 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
"At first there was no suggestion
of my building a special track car for Barnato.
I simply maintained his road cars whenever they
were based at Arden Run and concentrated on preparing
and developing his racing Bentley. The first car
was the old Speed 6 which had brought Barnato so
much success in the works team. He had all the successes
he had gained with it engraved on the radiator.
It had become his own property and in October 1931
he took it to Brooklands for the 500 mile race,
where Jack Dunfee and Cyril Paul were to drive it
."</s> | 1,590 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
He then goes on to describe that race.</s> | 1,591 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Later he was asked, reference bundle
3, 207A, why he wrote the following passage:</s> | 1,592 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
"Eventually we decided to retire
the Speed 6 Old Number One and build a special track
car, although the decision was rather forced on
us when Jack Dunfee took it out in the Empire Trophy
Race early in 1932 and brook its crankshaft. Now
I won't say that this sort of breakage was unheard
of, but for it to happen to a Speed 6 meant that
the car had endured rather a lot of flat-out motoring.
You could forgive it almost everything, though,
because it had won a lot of races for Barnato and
a lot of prestige all around. The new car was to
be a purpose built racer and it was here that I
put my idea to work on an entire car design for
the first time. We had encountered chassis frame
troubles on Old Number One so we decided to start
with the strongest possible chassis. Although the
4 litre Bentley never had much of a reputation as
a production car, its very strong frame, being a
shortened version of the 8 litre, seemed to me to
be ideal for the job.</s> | 1,593 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
At first we
put the rebuilt 6� litre engine out of Old Number One
into the new car but it wasn't fast enough and somehow
Barnato was able to get an 8 litre engine from Rolls
Royce. The 8 litre engines were very rare by then so
it needed considerable influence to get one out of Bentley's
new owners."</s> | 1,594 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
Mr. Slowe would wish me to emphasize
the words "retire", "build a special track car",
"the new car was to be a purpose built racer" and
"entire car design. We decided to start with the
strongest possible chassis", and later "At first
we put the rebuilt 6� litre engine out of Old Number
One into the new car".</s> | 1,595 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Later he also uses expressions such
as "the new track car was down through the trees on
the entrance below" referring to the crash when the
car had come to a standstill, and later "Barnato kept
what was left of the car for some time and did nothing
with it. Then eventually he decided that it should be
rebuilt as there was not a lot of damage." There are
other passages, notably where he seems to suggest that
the car which was built which finally incorporated the
8 litre engine and which was entered for the race in
1932 at Brooklands in which Dunfee was killed was in
fact a new car and not a continuation car of the 1929,
30 and 31 seasons.</s> | 1,596 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
I have had to consider that matter
with great care. Mr. Slowe, if I may say so , dealt
with the matter very delicately but tellingly in cross-examination,
but at the end of the day I accept Mr. Hassan's explanation.
He was merely talking into a tape recorder for the purpose
of a book which was being produced or "ghosted". From
this I infer that the matters were perhaps ghosted or
he was assisted in writing those matters. Even those
passages which suggest that must be read alongside the
evidence which he gave.</s> | 1,597 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
I am satisfied that when he was giving
his evidence his recollection was crystal clear and
he was trying to help me as much as he could. If he
could not remember anything he was frank enough to say
so. I do not find those passages sufficient to impugn
his integrity. He was a most careful and impressive
witness and I accept his evidence implicitly.</s> | 1,598 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Subsequent History</s> | 1,599 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
The subsequent history of the car can
be summarized as follows. Following the 1933 rebuild
it was fitted with mulliner fixed head coupe body. Captain
Barnato drove the car as a road tourer in this country
and in the United States. There was trouble trying to
get fumes out of the car. Apparently even Wally Hassan
could not cure that defect. In 1936 he sold it to a
Major Hartley-White who sold it back to Captain Barnato
and in 1939 the car was acquired by H.M. Bentley. In
1957 the car was acquired by a Michael Quinney. He and
Alan Paget rebuilt the car with a two-seater body. In
1960 the car was purchased by a Mr. J. Ward in Lincolnshire.
He sold it in 1966 to David Tunnick in the United States.
In 1988 the car returned to the United Kingdom when
it was offered for sale on the 5th December 1988 at
Sotheby's. It was not sold and the car passed to Stanley
Mann, a celebrated vintage car dealer and then to Edward
Hubbard.</s> | 1,600 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Based on all this data and information,
it is Mr. Hay's considered opinion that none of the
1929 Speed 6 survives with the exception of fittings
which is impossible to date. Of the 1930 Speed 6 he
believes that only the following exist on the car as
it is now, namely pedal shaft, gear box casing and steering
column. Of the 1932 car, the 4 litre chassis and 8 litre
engine form in which it was involved in the fatal accident,
he believes that the following exist: the chassis frame,
suspension (i.e. springs, hangers, shackles and mountings),
front axle beam, back axle banjo, rear brakes, compensating
shaft, front shock absorbers and mountings, the 8 litre
engine, some instruments and detailed fittings.</s> | 1,601 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
On this analysis, and having examined
the car as it exists today after Mr. Hubbard's rebuild
of it, he has come to the conclusion that this car is
a direct descendant of Old Number One Speed 6, the car
that won at Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. The car has been
rebuilt several times to reach its present form but
has a continuous documented history from 1929. He is
surprised why its identity is in question and he fails
to understand how anybody could seriously argue that
this car is not, by its continuous history,</s> | 1,602 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
Old Number One. As he put it: "there
is most certainly no other car that has any claim whatsoever
to be Old Number One." Thus we have the expert evidence
of the historian. It is supported to a great extent
by the evidence of Mr. John Guppy, the mechanical expert.
He has over 30 years' experience as a mechanical expert
which extends to Bentley motor cars. He received instructions
from his later father who was the racing mechanic to
the well known Tony Rolton and Red Parnell who were
both amongst the leading British racing drivers of the
post war period. He was a partner in the Mckenzie, Guppy
& Sons which were universally acknowledged to be
the leading repairers of Bentleys manufactured between
1919 and 1931, and sometimes known as Vintage or W.O.
Bentleys. He served an apprenticeship with Mckenzie,
Guppy &Sons and for the past 25 years he has been
a freelance specialist in the restoration and race preparation
of Vintage Bentleys and historic racing cars.</s> | 1,603 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
During that time he has maintained
and repaired vintage cars of various leading Bentley
exponents, and he gave names. During the course of such
work he has become familiar with the design work of
Walter Hassan. His experience also extends to having
rebuilt the Pacey Hassan car twice and he has race-prepared
the Barnato Hassan car which is still in existence.
He is thus familiar with Hassan's work and considers
it to have various recognizable characteristics. Hassan's
experience, knowledge and ability coupled with exceptional
connections allowed him to create three outstanding
competition Bentleys during the 30s. The first of these
was the car known as Old Number One, as well as the
Pacey Hassan and the Barnato Hassan.</s> | 1,604 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
Hassan's vast experience, gained through
direct involvement in Bentley Motors' racing programme
enabled him select Bentley components best suited to
his purpose and it would appear a combination of whatever
parts he required. However, Hassan's cars contained
relatively few adapted or modified parts. He did not
hesitate to design his own components to suit his requirements.</s> | 1,605 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
There is also evidence from Mr. Hassan
that whenever he could he always used as existing component
providing it had been proved and there was no reason
to suspect its integrity as a part or that it would
let him down. As he put it: "I always liked to save
my guv'nor money." I do not think it was merely parsimony
that caused him to do that. It is the mark of an excellent
engineer and his pride which will only permit him to
use a replacement when the part is no longer serviceable.</s> | 1,606 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Mr. Guppy went on to say that it is
important to bear in mind that the purpose of maintaining
a racing car is to ensure that it contains the optimum
components available to enable it to win races. In the
course of maintaining and repairing any racing car components
would be continually examined, repaired and replaced
to achieve the best possible performance and reliability.
On occasions time constraints might also enforce the
substitution of one component for another and the original
may or may not be reinstated at a later time. In such
circumstances it would, therefore, be quite unrealistic
to complain that in 1990 a racing car first seen in
1929 did not exclusively consist of the original parts
incorporated when the car was first built. A racing
car is a continual development around a theme, and dependant
upon its history might retain a greater or lesser proportion
of its original parts without jeopardizing its perceived
authenticity -- a word to which I shall return hereafter.</s> | 1,607 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
In his opinion, with regard to Vintage
Bentleys it is relevant to observe that unlike a modern
car, the bodywork was not an integral part and for racing
purposes Bentley Motors fitted bodywork complying with
the regulations for each event. This led to a situation
where a car might have various bodies fitted during
the course of a season's racing and bodywork being transferred
from one car to another. Such changes and transfers
were rarely recorded.</s> | 1,608 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Having examined the car closely at
the premises at Dutton U.K. Limited, and having satisfied
himself that the numbers identifying the components
correspond with the documentation relating to the car,
he is satisfied that the chassis is stamped LB2332 and
the engine is marked YH5127. As a result, he is in no
doubt that the car in Mr. Hubbard's possession is the
car which has historically been known as Old Number
One. As he put it, "I base this identification upon
this chassis which is rather unusual in that when it
was rebuilt by Walter Hassan in 1931 he replaced the
Speed 6 side rails with new 4 litre Bentley type side
rails while retaining Old Number One's D Type gear box
and related chassis cross members. I don't know of another
Bentley with this configuration."</s> | 1,609 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
The plaintiff also gave evidence of
an expert character but I do not think it right to accept
his opinion on these matters, merely his description.
He took me through in detail how the car was restored
and produced a portfolio of coloured photographs which
were assiduously taken each stage of the restoration
process. Mr. Hubbard has obviously spared no effort
and I suspect expense in establishing the bona fides
of the car and sought perfection in researching the
provenance and minute details of the car, including
consulting Mr. Walter Hassan when the project first
started. Mr. Hassan approved of the rebuild and was
no doubt proud to be driven round the Montclery Circuit
a few months ago with Mr. Hubbard at the wheel.</s> | 1,610 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Thus the expert evidence is all one
way. It confirms that as with any other racing car the
parts in the car were continually being changed. Such
changes were made either because the parts were worn
or because the specification of the car needed upgrading.
Accordingly, the car evolved over a period of time as
a continuous entity and can still properly be regarded
as the present legitimate manifestation of Old Number
One. As Mr. Guppy put it,</s> | 1,611 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
"A racing car is a continual development
around a theme and depending upon its history might
contain a greater or lesser proportion of its original
parts without jeopardizing its perceived authenticity".</s> | 1,612 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
The defendants did not call any expert
evidence at all. No attempt was made to adduce as evidence
(under the Civil Evidence Act) the views of any other
experts, either dead or living. There was a hint when
the case was well into its stride that the defendants
might seek to call Mr. Keith Shellenburg. In the event,
no expert's report was disclosed from him nor anybody
else, nor was any application made. Even so, I must
take account of other sources of information to which
both sides referred.</s> | 1,613 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
Daryl Berthon is a former Secretary
of the Bentley Drivers' Club. In 1935 he published the
first edition of "A Racing History of the Bentley".
In Appendix 1 he wrote an account of the 1931 500 miles
race, stating:</s> | 1,614 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
"In this year's 500 miles race
Woolf Barnato entered Old Number One Speed 6 No.
46 now fitted with a single seater body and driven
by Jack Dunfee and Cyril Paul."</s> | 1,615 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
There were then two references to Old
Number One and finally</s> | 1,616 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
"Old Number One crossed the line
and received the chickened flag for the fourth time
in its career".</s> | 1,617 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
I emphasize the words "fourth time";
it can only be a reference to the 1929 Le Mans, the
1929 Six Hour Race at Brooklands, the 1930 Le Mans and
the 1931 500 miles race. He thus regarded the car as
a continuous entity up until 1931.</s> | 1,618 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
In Appendix 2 he deals with the same
race in 1932, the fatal race. He records:</s> | 1,619 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
"For the race. . . Old Number One
had an 8 litre engine in place of the original 6�
litre engine and was driven by Jack and Clive Dunfee"</s> | 1,620 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
and later:</s> | 1,621 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
"Then behind the members' hill
the exhaust noise of Old Number One suddenly cut
out. It was never heard again."</s> | 1,622 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
Thus he regarded the 1932 crash as
the end of Old Number One. In the second edition of
his book it transpires that he had consulted Hassan
"for solving the mystery regarding the fate of Old Number
One Speed 6". In Appendix 1 he records at the end of
the 1931 race: "This was Old Number One's last race"</s> | 1,623 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
and in Appendix 2 for the 1932 race
he records:</s> | 1,624 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
"The Bentley driven by the Dunfee
brothers in this race was not Old Number One."</s> | 1,625 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
These seemingly authoritative statements
were the lynch pin of the defendant's case. This book
was considered as the authoritative work on Bentley
racing motor cars.</s> | 1,626 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Mr. Hay, the plaintiff's expert, was
only 22 years of age and still a student apprentice
at British Aerospace when he set out to emulate Mr.
Berthon. In 1986 he published his first edition of "Bentley
- The Vintage Years 1919-1931". He devoted a whole chapter
to the 6+ litre production and racing cars. In cross-examination
he was naturally asked why, at page 92, beneath plate
192, he had written:</s> | 1,627 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
"If eye teeth were a marketable
commodity, Old Number One Speed 6, winner of the
1929 and 30 Le Mans, here seen at Barnato's country
house, Arden Run, just days before the 1929 race;
the No. 2 is from the 1929
Double Twelve Race and a special cable operation
with adjuster can be seen on the handbrake. Sadly
broken up, bits of the original car survive in the
4/8 litre in the States, registration MT3464, chassis
number LB2332, coach work
by Van den Plas."</s> | 1,628 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
At page 278 he had recorded under a
photograph of four Bentleys that one had survived and
"the other three cars have all been broken up, i.e.
including Old Number One." Mr. Hay had to concede, which
he did with commendable frankness, that this was wholly
inconsistent with his report and expert evidence. His
explanation was that he had relied upon sources which
included the respected Daryl Berthon. He also told me
that he had changed his views well before he was asked
to give evidence in the case. He was invited to Sotheby's
to examine the car when it was in bond at Heathrow and
helped to compile the auction catalogue in which his
opinion that it is the same car, i.e. Old Number One,
is included.</s> | 1,629 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
I have had to consider this matter
with the greatest of care. I accept Mr. Hay's explanation
and that his view had changed well before he anticipated
giving evidence. I do not find that this inconsistency
undermines to any significant degree the weight that
I attach to his assiduous research into the history
of the car and the opinion that he has expressed in
his report and in evidence.</s> | 1,630 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Mrs. Diane Barnato-Walker is the daughter
of the late Captain Barnato. She was a surprise witness
and contacted the plaintiff's solicitors of her own
initiative when she read of this action in the newspapers.
She was born in 1918 and was 14 years old as the time
of the 1932 Brooklands crash. She was present at the
500 miles race and saw Clive Dunfee driving Old Number
One, as she put it , in what she called gray primer.
She was standing next to Jane Baxter, a celebrated actress
of the day, who was married to Clive Dunfee. She witnessed
the fatal accident.</s> | 1,631 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Her recollection of the car has been
rightly described by Mr. Rosen as "vivid". She had recollections
of being driven by her father in the car in the grounds
of Arden Run and how he used to time the car down the
long drive. On the balance of probabilities, this was
after it had ceased to be the property of Bentleys and
had been acquired by Barnato as his personal racing
car. This must have been after the 1930 Le Mans race
and thus she must remember it in its Brooklands form
in 1931 and 1932. However, the fire at Arden Run was
in January 1932 so it is more likely that she remembers
the car in that form at Arden Run in its 1931 form.</s> | 1,632 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
After the crash she remembers the car
being rebuilt in its fixed head coupe form. She has
fond memories of being collected in the car from her
mother's home in North London by the chauffeur, de Holmes.
He would stop at Lyons' Corner House at Marble Arch
and buy her and her sister large yellow sweets which
they would enjoy on the journey down to Arden Run in
Surrey. It was a two-seater coupe and all three sat
together in the front seat. It was very cramped. She
recognized the car from a photograph. She recalls how
fond her father was of the car. He treated it rather
like a pet dog; he would often pat it on the radiator
and say "Hello, Old Number One". Her father was deeply
upset over the crash that killed Clive Dunfee, but he
still regarded the car with great affection and she
remembers him taking it to California.</s> | 1,633 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
I must, of course, heed Mr. Slowe's
apt comment that some witnesses, with the passage of
time, become more sentimental about the old days than
actual events may warrant. I did not find Mrs. Walker
such a person. She gave her evidence with great clarity
and care but with evident pride and was patently trying
to assist me in my task. She was, of course, of impressionable
age and no doubt has great affection for the Bentley
Boys whom she obviously knew well as visitors to Arden
Run. She produced her cherished autograph album and
I was privileged to see their entries. I have no hesitation
in accepting Mrs. Walker's evidence. The importance
is that so far as Captain Barnato was concerned, he
regarded the car in its various forms from 1929 when
it first won Le Mans until he sold it in 1936 as one
single entity. It goes a long way to disprove the contention
of the defendants that the winner of the 1929 and 1930
Le Mans died, lost its identity, disappeared into mere
legend and myth and that a new car arose from its ashes.</s> | 1,634 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
As against this I have to consider
Captain Barnato's letter in the Autocar in May 1943.
This was in response to an article dealing with the
history of the car up until 1931 and asking for information
as to what happened to it after that. The inquirer had
referred to it as "No. 4" and Barnato (who was by this
time on war service in the RAF) in his letter in reply
refers to the car in similar terms. Nothing turns on
this: 4 was of course its race number in the 1930 Le
Mans. Mr. Slowe relies very heavily upon this passage:</s> | 1,635 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
"It was after this race (the 1930
Le Mans) that I retired from race driving. I had
the car de-tuned and used it on the road as a sports
tourer including taking it down to the South of
France in the late summer of 1930. In 1931 at the
request of Jack Dunfee, I again had No.4 put into
racing trim with its single seater body from the
500 miles race of that year... The car's final appearance
was in the British Empire Trophy Race at Easter
1932, when it was deprived of third place by being
given the chequered flag a lap too early. After
this it was found that dear old No.4' had cracked
her chassis frame and I decided to rebuild the car
with a drop frame chassis similar to the 8 litre
for the 500 miles race. When the car was completed
it was found that the extra weight of the new chassis
reduced its performance, so an 8 litre engine was
put in instead...It was in this race ....Clive was
killed. I rebuilt the car for the road, put a coupe
body on it.....the original radiator with its inscriptions
I still have somewhere. This radiator was badly
damaged when the car went over the top in the...1932
race and a new 8 litre type was fitted when the
car was adapted for the road; in fact one might
really say that the inscribed radiator is all that
remains of Old Number One." (? four)</s> | 1,636 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Mr. Slowe submits that this is clear
evidence that the car ceased to exist after the British
Empire Trophy Race at Easter 1932. When it was found
that the chassis frame was cracked Captain Barnato decided
to rebuild the car with a new chassis and engine. This
was a break in the continuity of the car and thus the
1929 and 1930 Le Mans winner ceased to exists for ever.</s> | 1,637 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
I have come to the conclusion that
these submissions rely upon extracts of a letter taken
out of context and which contain material inaccuracies.
The letter as a whole relates to the history of the
one and only car from 1929 up until he sold it in 1936.
He makes it clear that it was his decision to rebuild
the same car. He did not let it go into limbo, nor did
it cease to exist. More importantly, he regards the
car which raced in the British Empire Trophy Race at
Easter 1932 as the same car that had won all the previous
races back to the 1929 win. It also refers to the fact
that it was racing with its old chassis and the 6+ litre
engine in both 1929 and 1930 Le Mans races.</s> | 1,638 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
But in this regard I think his recollection
with the passage of time was at fault. I accept Hassan's
evidence that the car had already received the 4/8 litre
chassis and it raced with the 6+ litre engine on the
new chassis, and this must have been at the Empire Trophy
Race 1932. Thus Captain Barnato was mistaken in saying
the chassis and the engine were installed after the
Trophy Race. I find as a fact by the time of the 1932
Empire Trophy Race it had its new chassis but was still
racing with its old 6+ litre engine. That is why, probably,
it was only in third place and explains why Barnato
wanted it "hotted up" with a bigger engine in preparation
for the 500 miles race in October.</s> | 1,639 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
When he refers to the "inscribed radiator
as all that remains of Old No.4" he is literally correct.
The engraved radiator was on the 1930 Le Mans car. I
accept Hassan's evidence that it was still in the 1931
car when it raced at Brooklands and was incorporated
into the 1932 rebuild after the fatal race, and I infer
that it was probably still on the car when it went off
the track in the fatal race. I find on the balance of
probabilities that Hassan put it back on into the car
after the crash and Captain Barnato removed it before
he sold it in 1936. I see this as a deliberate, perhaps
even sentimental attachment of Barnato to the car, yet
indicative that he regarded the car between 1929 and
1932 throughout its four seasons of racing as one and
the same. It may be that the radiator still exists.
If so, it would be wonderful if it could be discovered,
refurbished and reunited with the majestic motor car
I saw in Lincoln's Inn; it would be its crowning glory.</s> | 1,640 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
In the course of cross-examination
Mr. Hay was asked to consider propositions set out by
Mr. Hugh Young, a well known enthusiast in his field.
He postulates three tests for the integrity of a motor
car. They are contained in a series of letters which
I need not read at length save that in a letter dated
17th November 1989 he suggests that three tests to be
applied are:</s> | 1,641 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
1. Historical continuity;</s> | 1,642 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
2. Physical originality; and</s> | 1,643 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
3. Owner's intent.</s> | 1,644 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
In answer to Mr. Slowe he accepted
that those were three reasonable criteria to apply when
trying to assess the provenance of a motor car. Applying
them to the car in question he was satisfied that the
historical continuity test could be passed with 100%;
in other words it was unbroken and that was sufficient
to establish the integrity of the car, bearing in mind
that this is a racing car.</s> | 1,645 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
As to physical originality, he frankly
conceded that the car which was produced failed this
test "dismally". It cannot by any stretch of the imagination
claim to be the physical original of the winner of any
of its races. This could only have been established
when it drove across the winning line at the end of
each race, or possibly when it was being driven back
through France by the mechanics to Cricklewood before
it was stripped down either in 1929 or 1930, or indeed
after any of its other races.</s> | 1,646 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
As to owners intent, Mr. Hay did not
think much of that as a test and attached very little
importance, if any, to it in the context of the car.
I take a slightly more generous view of that aspect.
Intent of itself would of course be nothing. It may
be the owner's or creator's intent to preserve the continuity
of the car by building a replica, but that would in
itself not make it a genuine car or authentic. However,
in this case I think there is sufficient evidence for
me to draw the inference that nothing that Captain Barnato
did or said, or any of the contemporary evidence can
be said to be inconsistent with an intent on his part,
a desire on his part to preserve the continuity of the
car in his own memory and in others'.</s> | 1,647 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
In somewhat strange circumstances,
the original logbook was produced in court. It had fallen
into the hands of a Mr. Llewellen who apparently had
built a car around the registration number and sought
to register it. The DVLC initially granted the request
but it came to the notice of the Bentley Drivers Club.
Their authentication committee reconsidered the matter
and recommended to the DVLC that Mr. Llewellen's car
should be de-registered and that it was appropriate
to re-allocate the number to the car which was in the
process of being rebuilt by Mr. Hubbard. The logbook
and its continuation show a continuous history for the
car between its first registration on 24th April 1929
until March 1939. The chassis number is shown throughout
as LB2332. The engine number is shown as having been
changed from LB2336, the 6.5 litre engine, to YH5127,
the 8 litre engine.</s> | 1,648 |
<s>[INST] What details can you share about the following response? [/INST]
The logbook also faithfully records
the body changes and the change of the colour from green,
when it was first entered as a Bentley team car for
the Le Mans race when the cars carried the traditional
British racing green, to the maroon and black personal
colours of Captain Barnato after the 1932 rebuild. Thus
so far as the registration records are concerned the
history of the car is continuous throughout its vital
period of 1929 through to 1932 and thereafter to 1939
without a break.</s> | 1,649 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
There is no dispute that the car that
Mr. Hubbard acquired from Stanley Mann was the car that
can be traced from the car that Captain Barnato sold
to Major Willard-White in 1936. Mr. Slowe submits that
this record does not help to resolve the dispute as
to weather or not a new car came into existence in the
first Hassan rebuild. In a sense he is correct, but
I have no doubt that those responsible were of such
integrity that if a new car was created they would have
recognized the necessity of surrendering the old registration
documents and seeking a new registration for the new
creation. This was not done.</s> | 1,650 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
The Bentley service records also show
the car having a continuous history between 1929 and
1938. This series of documents carries less weight with
me. I think Mr. Slowe is correct when he says that I
should be slow to draw any inference in favour of the
car when it is clear that the determining factor for
the records is the chassis number which heads the records.
Even if a new car had been created with a chassis upon
which the old number was inscribed, the service records
would have been identical. I think he is also right
when he submits that as the racing shop records are
no longer in existence I should attach even less weight
to the Bentley records. To this extent the sub-structure
upon which Mr. Hay's case is founded is weakened, but
in my view not to any material degree.</s> | 1,651 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
I derive some assistance from some
of the contemporaneous reports and documents from outside
sources. In a letter dated 17th September 1931 Mr. Nobby
Clark, who was in charge of racing shop, wrote to a
gentleman in New Zealand about other</s> | 1,652 |
<s>[INST] What is the main topic of the following response? [/INST]
Bentley motor cars and having announced
the sad fact that Bentley Motors Limited were in voluntary
liquidation, went on:</s> | 1,653 |
<s>[INST] Can you provide details about the activities mentioned in the response? [/INST]
"As a matter of interest, Captain
Barnato has entered his old Le Mans type 6� litre
for the Brooklands Racing Drivers' Club 500 miles
flat out race in October. (That must mean 1931)
We are preparing the car in the department here."</s> | 1,654 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Thus Mr. Clark from his important position
regarded the car that was being prepared and entered
for the 1931 500 miles race as the car that had previously
won Le Mans. This is totally inconsistent with the defendants
case that the old car was destroyed and that a new car
was being created. This letter is more consistent with
the general attitude of the racing car fraternity including
the drivers and the engineers' view that racing machines
moved from race to race. "You repair and race," as Mr.
Hubbard put it. I would add one gloss: you repair, research,
develop and race.</s> | 1,655 |
<s>[INST] Who are the main participants in the following event? [/INST]
The new parts incorporated into the
rebuild did not destroy the old car but was part of
the process of development of its racing career which,
in the case of the car in question, was over four seasons
and but for the fatal accident would have continued
thereafter.</s> | 1,656 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Three days after the crash the Motor
Magazine published a long and graphic account of the
500 miles race. The significance of this report for
the purpose of this case is two-fold. First, the author
records that "Clive Dunfee was driving Old Number One,
a</s> | 1,657 |
<s>[INST] What event is described in the following response? [/INST]
Bentley with a famous record which
had been fitted for this race with an 8 litre engine
instead of the original 6� litre power unit." This comment
carries considerable weight with me. It is highly unlikely
that if the historical continuity been broken, the contributor
to such a prestigious magazine would have described
the crashed car in such terms.</s> | 1,658 |
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