Technical Days / Technical Help

Technical Day 2006

Spring brought the annual vintage technical day at William Medcalf’s 7 star workshop in aid of the W O Memorial Foundation. After coffee and buns, the seminar began with the subjects being chosen at the request of members. Before lunch, William took us through brakes, suspension, steering and clutches, to name but a few. These were explained with the use of the various parts and in great detail where necessary. His depth of knowledge was clearly extensive and there was something for everyone.

Lunch was served by Gill, Ros and Anthea in the meticulously clean main garage workshop. This was an excellent opportunity to meet and chat to like minded Bentley owners and swap tales. Jimmy Medcalf and Alan Minchin gave a short talk on their two team cars which were on display. It was interesting to hear how, when the race rules changed and cars were to race with a driver only, WO had the ingenious idea of fixing an extra
lead bar on the front axle to improve
handling to compensate for the passenger.

We were shown the rare sight of two green label vintage Bentleys side by side. A beautiful Speed Six which has travelled thousands of miles across Canada, USA and Australia sitting next to a Super Sports. The latter was bought along with a small brown suit case full of motorist diaries, one for each of the 60 years the car was in the possession of the previous owner. Every single mile, every single drop of petrol or oil and every single part bought from a light bulb to a half-shaft has been noted somewhere within the diaries – a wonderful piece of history.

We were shown the Vintage Bentley Spares Scheme stock and packing room – a small part of the premises hidden away from view but such an important place for many of us Bentley owners. Patterns for hundreds of spares are owned by the scheme and parts are manufactured to the highest quality.

Afternoon technical advice was given by William, his father Bill and uncle Jimmy. Bill senior gave a lucid explanation of the mysteries of the magnetos – servicing and setting up.

William spoke of sloper carbs, among other things and, with a dead pan face, explained that Bentleys with two wheel brakes went much faster than those with four wheel brakes! Jimmy gave us some very interesting tips on the assembly of the vertical turret shaft and cam shaft together with details on some interesting modifications to improve component life. At one point I was not sure if Bill and Jimmy were practising for a comedy double act, such was the entertainment in watching them interrupt each other.

The day ended after we were introduced to Ted Amery, the technical drawing officer of the spares scheme. Ted is responsible for the thousands of vintage Bentley drawings available to members of the scheme.

The whole day was informative and the advice given freely by like minded people with only the interest of fellow Bentley owners in mind.

A big thank you.
Mark Andrews

Gallery

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