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RREC Annual Concours & Rally 2024 - In search of the best of the best

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Created on July 4, 2024

Text:

Frank Janssen

Photos:

Frank Janssen

128

Frank Janssen

128

Another class victory for a convertible from the Silver Shadow series: Drop Head Coupé by Mulliner Park Ward from 1969 - with the perfect license plate number

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Participants and visitors arrive in the vast parkland grounds of Burghley House on the outskirts of Stamford, Cambridgeshire

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Like-minded people quickly find each other on the grounds. Here are three Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Saloon of the first series from 1976, 1968 and 1967 (from left to right)

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A stylish picnic is always a must. The trunk of the Bentley S Continental Two-Door Saloon with bodywork by James Young is big enough for everything

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Rolls-Royce Phantom II married to a 1946 Merlin Meteor aircraft engine with a displacement of 27 liters and a matching body made to go with it

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The special, who has traveled from the Coventry area, is surrounded by visitors waiting for owner Stephen to start the gigantic engine

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A 1929 Rolls-Royce 20 HP with Barker bodywork in Sedanca de Ville style

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The coachbuilder's nameplate can usually be found in the open door, here it is Barker from London, who clad many early Rolls-Royces

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Beautiful details in the Barker interior: ashtray and bag for all kinds of utensils

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The glass tray to the right of the steering wheel serves as a holder for a smartphone. How practical

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George Bond, the owner of the 20 HP, shows the original roller blind that can be used to shade the passenger compartment.

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Richard Biddulph from "Vintage and Prestige" presents one of three Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP "Alpine Eagle" that took part in the 1913 reliability drive across the Alps

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P & A Wood, one of the renowned dealers and restorers for Rolls-Royce and Bentley, offered some cars for sale during the Annual Rally

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The two young gentlemen are Bentley employees and have brought this Bentayga with them as an exhibit. They want to use the opportunity to advertise new vehicles

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Classic car collector Jayesh Patel has arrived from London with a new acquisition.

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Symphony in green

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Almost identical technology, but completely different appearance of Silver Cloud III (left) and II (right)

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Old and very old: 40/50 HP from 1924 next to a Silver Shadow from the seventies

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101 years old: The cockpit of a Rolls-Royce 20 HP from 1923

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The same car from the front. This beautifully preserved 20 HP Open Tourer with bodywork by Barker will be competing in a class for unrestored vehicles at the Concours d'Elegance

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Oliver O'Keefe from Berglen near Winnenden in Baden-Württemberg. He wants to win a prize at the Concours d'Elegance with his beautiful 1978 Corniche convertible

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Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur from 1963 with matching registration: A at the end stands for 1963

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The Flying Spur from the front. The Bentley grilles are always slightly rounder than those of Rolls-Royce

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A Bentley Continental from 1955, the sleek bodywork by H. J. Mulliner is known as a "Sports Saloon"

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The Continental from the front. These vehicles almost always had additional lamps next to the main headlights

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The most expensive car in the world at the time: Rolls-Royce Camargue from 1982 with bodywork by Pininfarina

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The Camargue from the front. In addition to the badges for membership of numerous clubs, the wipers for the headlights and the fog lights with protective caps are striking

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Offer for sale from a dealer: Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Fixed Head Coupé from 1968 with Mulliner-Park-Ward bodywork for 35,000 pounds

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The sign on the rear of the coupé on offer is misleading: these coupés and cabriolets from Mulliner Park Ward were not called "Corniche" until 1971

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If you only own one car, is it a Rolls-Royce? This Rolls-Royce Phantom V is said to have belonged to actor Richard Harris. It was parked at the Savoy Hotel, where Harris had a residence

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The license plate with the B at the end indicates that the car was first registered in 1964

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Another vehicle on offer: very elegant Bentley T Coupé with Mulliner Park Ward bodywork from 1966, the sister model of the Silver Shadow Coupé from Rolls-Royce. The asking price was 55000 pounds

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Very nicely preserved Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit from 1996

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The Silver Spirit was the successor to the Silver Shadow and was built for 18 years, from 1980 to 1998

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Closely related to the Silver Spirit is the Bentley Turbo R, whose nameplate at the rear simply reads Turbo. Built from 1985 to 1997

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With its body-colored radiator grille and twin headlights, the Bentley has a somewhat sportier and sleeker look than its sister model from Rolls-Royce

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Cozy interior of a Bentley Azure. The convertible dates from 1999

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Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Drophead Coupé from 1968. Only very rarely were the open two-door cars officially referred to as ordinary "convertibles"

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Silver Shadow and Corniche convertibles and their sister models from Bentley always had an Everflex soft top ex works, not a fabric one

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Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from 1948 with Hooper bodywork

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Absolutely hand wash, no brush wash! The birds in the trees in the hotel parking lot have given this Ghost a bad beating overnight. Everything is cleaned up again here

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Sponge and plenty of foam in the main wash cycle clean the paintwork gently and carefully

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If you don't want your car to look as if half of it has been forgotten after a wash, you're in good hands in England. There are numerous such stations there

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To finish, remove the leather and blow the water out of the cracks with compressed air

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This Phantom VI, which has also been driven by Queen Elizabeth II, comes from the huge collection of Indian industrialist Yohan Poonawalla

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Visually coherent Phantom II Continental with Hooper bodywork from 1932

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Green and black suit the "P2", short for "Phantom II", very well

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Only apparently a good deal: Bentley Brooklands from 1996. The follow-up costs should not be underestimated

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Here you can see it in all its glory. Tempting?

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Frederick Henry Royce's first car was a Decauville like this one

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One of the earliest Rolls-Royces still in existence is chassis number 20165, a 10 HP from 1905

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Thomas Schulte, Vice Chairman of the RREC, in front of his Rolls Royce Phantom II with a body from the Parisian coachbuilder Fernandez & Darrin

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The position lights by Lalique are a beautiful detail on the Phantom II. They show St. Christopher carrying a child in his arms

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Despite the stress of deadlines, Schulte treats himself and us to a spin in his Phantom II

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Schulte's car is already quite heavily patinated, as can be seen here on the interior mirror

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The large vehicle can be seen here in its full dimensions. The yellow and black color scheme is very unusual

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Meeting of the generations: Schulte welcomes an incoming guest from Ireland who has arrived in a Silver Spirit from 1981

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Very elegant color scheme: Silver Shadow Two Door Saloon from 1969 in Caribbean Blue

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A 1965 Silver Cloud III Drop Head Coupé with its characteristic three tail lights in the delicate rear fins

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Even more characteristic than the rear lights are the headlights of the Silver Cloud III from Mulliner Park Ward. They earned the coupé and convertible the nickname "Chinese Eye"

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A Bentley S3 Flying Spur from 1964 with the matching license plate bearing a B at the end

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A typical feature of this body shape is the arrangement of the rear license plate on a common panel with two reversing lights above it

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Two examples of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, one from 1963, the other from 1965, frame a fine party enjoying a glass of champagne

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Visitors from Germany: Claudia and Clemens Heddier have traveled from Coesfeld in their 1936 Rolls-Royce 20:25 HP Hooper Sportsman Saloon

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This 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn is one of 761 built.

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Another rarity: Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP from 1921 with a body from the Swedish coachbuilder Gustav Nordbergs Vagnfabrik

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Matching the red paintwork, this Silver Shadow Drop Head Coupé is fitted with a red soft top tarpaulin. The roof itself is cream-colored

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A bright red color suits this 1988 Bentley Turbo R very well

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A Bentley Arnage Mulliner from 2005 in the color "Silver Lake" next to an earlier Arnage from 2000

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This beautiful dashboard is somewhat ruthlessly overgrown with modern technology, which fortunately could be removed without leaving any residue

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The dashboard just shown belongs to this 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheel Base with a body by H J Mulliner. According to the owner, the last version with a mechanical gearbox

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The large luggage compartment and the long wheelbase of the Silver Wraith are clearly visible here. The whitewall tires lend the black car a great deal of elegance

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Modern Rolls-Royce Ghost Drop Head Coupé from 2009. The owner has traveled from Berlin and is taking a nap

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The Moss couple from Ramsgate with their 20 HP Park Ward Saloon from 1923, which bears the rare "Whisper" radiator grille. However, this will be replaced for the Concours, as it does not originally belong to this car

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An apparently well-maintained Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud offered by P & A Wood at a price of 89,000 pounds

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A very interesting Rolls-Royce is this 20/25 HP from 1932, which was originally built by Gangloff as a limousine.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom III from 1938 with Sedanca de Ville bodywork by H. J. Mulliner

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This 1953 Bentley Mark VII Coupé with Abbott's bodywork is waiting to be inspected by the judges. Interesting: the still split windshield

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The shape of the Bentley and its green and black paintwork give it an unusually simple appearance. The owner is a Swiss collector

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Much more impressive than the Abbott's coupé in the previous pictures is this 1954 Continental. Jonathan Lyons, the owner, bought the car in 1974 as a young man aged 22 and still owns it today

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Of course, Jonathan Lyons also has to open the hood of his Continental - and not just the

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Every seemingly insignificant detail is closely inspected by the judges

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The Dutch owner of this 40:50 HP with the white T-shirt and light-colored trousers is after more than just a bow

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A special feature of this 40:50 HP built by Australian coachbuilder George Williams is the extensive tool and spare parts equipment in the running boards

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On the left-hand side, there are mainly screwdrivers and wrenches as well as wrenches, spark plugs and copper sealing rings

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The vehicle was built for an Indian maharaja as a special vehicle for hunting tigers. The green camouflage paintwork also serves this purpose. There are shotguns in the middle of the interior

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Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental from 1934, which won two ribbons: the blue one for special elegance, and the yellow one for second place in its class

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Anyone who has been studying Rolls-Royce for a while will already have guessed that this body was not created by any of the companies mentioned so far, but by Jaques Kellner from Paris

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A prize for special elegance also went to this Bentley 3 1/2 Litre from 1934 with Park Ward bodywork: a Sports Saloon with sliding roof

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First prize in Class 25, the "Conservation Class" for unrestored vehicles between 1940 and 1980: Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow from 1973

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This spectacular vehicle already attracted attention at the beginning. Now it is "official":

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Victory in "Conservation Class" 24 for vehicles up to 1940 for the 1923 Rolls-Royce 20 HP with polished aluminum Barker bodywork

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The Camargue, which already cut a fine figure at the start of the weekend, also gets a ribbon for elegance. Thanks to a great color combination and subtle patina - and rightly so

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A relaxed winner looks like Oliver O'Keefe. Victory in Class 15 for his 1978 Corniche Cabriolet. All the tension of the weekend is now gone

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Winner from previous years and this time in the "Masters Class Best of Show": Phantom I from 1928 with bodywork by James Young

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That's what we call a sparkling clean engine compartment: beautiful six-cylinder in 40/50 HP by Robert van der Stam

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It's done! Victory in Class 1 for the 40/50 HP of Robert van der Stam with a body by George Williams from Australia

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It's done! Victory in Class 1 for the 40/50 HP of Robert van der Stam with a body by George Williams from Australia

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Finally, the parade of winners with award ceremony. The mayor with the beautiful chain presents the trophies to the winners

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Jonathan Lyons, who has owned his 70-year-old Bentley Continental for 50 years, is also being honored for his vehicle

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Another award for elegance: Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III from 1963 as a Drop Head Coupé

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The great demand in the USA led to the aircraft engine factory in Springfield being commissioned to build cars after the First World War. This is how the "Springfield Ghosts" came into being

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The dashboard of the Turbo R is also red. The seats are cream-colored

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A parts bazaar is always part of a meeting of Rolls-Royce and Bentley owners

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This selection of parts is lovingly presented with all kinds of hand-labeled price tags

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Does anyone else need a sticker from the body builder or the authorized dealer?

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Arrived a little late due to a breakdown on the journey, but in good spirits nonetheless: Sue and Michael Ensor own a 1928 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Open Tourer

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A short break from the many cars among the roses and lavender in the garden of the Orangery at Burghley House

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Another view of Burghley House. The privately owned castle is simply gigantic

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Coveted accessories are toolboxes, especially those with a patina

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Good-humored participant: Andrew Sykes in his 1930 Phantom II with Barker bodywork

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Perhaps you would like to bid in the online auction? Here are some offers on display

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View over the grounds of Burghley House. The picture shows a Bentley Arnage T from 2003 with Munich number on the left and a Bentley Mulsanne from 2011 on the right

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The "Spirit of Ecstasy" radiator grille is a sought-after item for thieves. If in doubt, it is therefore better to unscrew it and replace it with a plain lid

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Champagne is one of the staples this weekend

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This radiator mascot, called "Whisper", is a variation of the Spirit of Ecstacy. She once kept a secret. Eleanor Thornton, the model for the figure, was the secret lover of Lord Montagu

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"The Dreambelles" perform swing and other art from the '40s. Good entertainment!

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Rebecca and Rowan Moss spread out their collected tools for the Concours, because the judges like that too!

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When the judges arrive, it doesn't hurt if everything under the tank cap is clean too

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The last specks of dust and fly residue on this Phantom III are removed

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The judges have arrived at Simon Slaffer's 20 HP. The owner follows the work of the judges with great concentration, always ready to answer every question

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Each class has its own specialized judges: here those of Class 10, to which the Bentley Mark VII and VII ("R-Type") belong

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Clear rules: First place is only awarded with 90 or more points. Anyone who does not achieve more than 79 points goes home empty-handed

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The ribbons are ready: only one class winner gets red

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The Dacorum Community Choir adds to the atmosphere with its whimsical songs

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The juror in the pink shirt wants to see Robert van der Stams' 40/50 HP battery, so it is made available to him

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The handshake ends the jury's discussion and explanation. "Is that good or bad now?" van der Stam's son-in-law seems to ask himself

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Now all that's missing are the trophies. The mayor is ready to present the trophies and medals

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We stay in the East Midlands. From Hunt House - the home of the RREC, the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation and the archive, which is bursting at the seams - we head towards Cambridgeshire, a good hour further north-east. "Burghley House is the destination, a huge country estate on the outskirts of Stamford. The park surrounding the castle is a wonderful backdrop for the RREC's Annual Rally, the world's largest gathering of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. The RREC has around 6500 members worldwide, including around 4000 in the United Kingdom, 500 in Switzerland and 400 in Germany - to name the largest sections. More than 2000 of them will be present at Burghley House this weekend.

Participants and visitors arrive in the vast parkland grounds of Burghley House on the outskirts of Stamford, Cambridgeshire

Participants and visitors arrive in the vast parkland grounds of Burghley House on the outskirts of Stamford, Cambridgeshire

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

The first guests arrive on Friday morning; the highlight will be the Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, the beauty contest. The parts and accessories market will run throughout the weekend, with specialist dealers and workshops also offering their services.

This selection of parts is lovingly presented with all kinds of hand-labeled price tags

This selection of parts is lovingly presented with all kinds of hand-labeled price tags

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Sue and Michael Ensor could have done with these, as they were already stranded on their journey. But they were lucky: the Royal Automobile Club towed their 20 HP from 1928 to the nearest garage, which - in England, no coincidence - specializes in classic cars. They arrived at Burghley House with only a slight delay.

Horror stories from the workshop

In between, technical seminars are held on topics such as maintaining battery voltage, spare parts from the 3D printer and type studies. The "Horror Stories", a new addition to the program, are particularly entertaining. Mechanics and workshop owners report from many years of experience about what nobody wants to experience. "Be careful when using grease or paint from spray cans," Ray Hillier reports on a supposedly simple solution to squeaking noises in the door. The can was emptied to the top and the explosive propellant gas was fed into the door. Then the electric window regulator allegedly caused a spark - and the door, dented by the subsequent explosion, had to be repaired at a cost of several thousand pounds.

A stylish picnic is always a must. The trunk of the Bentley S Continental Two-Door Saloon with bodywork by James Young is big enough for everything

A stylish picnic is always a must. The trunk of the Bentley S Continental Two-Door Saloon with bodywork by James Young is big enough for everything

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Harvey Walsh reports of a wealthy customer with a large property and many animals. The lady apparently rarely uses her cars. Loud noises from the engine compartment while driving revealed a pitiful cat that had hidden under the hood and couldn't get out when the car was started - unexpectedly for the animal. She had burnt her paws on the hot engine, but she was all right again. "Count your pets before you drive," Walsh concludes.

One of the earliest Rolls-Royces still in existence is chassis number 20165, a 10 HP from 1905

One of the earliest Rolls-Royces still in existence is chassis number 20165, a 10 HP from 1905

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Colin Ayres tells of a squirrel that had hidden 200 dog treats under a hood insulation mat. And the story of a London celebrity whose car none of the employees dared to approach because a terrible smell of decay was coming from the trunk makes for a creepy shudder. The background: Fearing that paparazzi would search his household waste, the person drove around with the bags in the trunk for a while and then parked the Rolls-Royce.

The "Alpine Eagle"

Entertainment by the professionals is an essential part of the meeting. This also applies to the dealers who attend and highlight their expertise at Burghley House. Richard Biddulph from the company "Vintage and Prestige" in Northampton, which specializes in collectors' vehicles, will be demonstrating a very special example of a 40/50 HP: a so-called "Alpine Eagle". To prove the power and reliability of their models, car manufacturers competed in prestigious competitions more than a hundred years ago. One of these was the 1800-mile Alpine drive in 1913, which started in Austria and led over steep Alpine passes. "The hood and radiator were sealed to prevent repairs and the refilling of cooling water during the test," says Biddulph.

Richard Biddulph from "Vintage and Prestige" presents one of three Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP "Alpine Eagle" that took part in the 1913 reliability drive across the Alps

Richard Biddulph from "Vintage and Prestige" presents one of three Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP "Alpine Eagle" that took part in the 1913 reliability drive across the Alps

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

The car with the registration "R-1705" is one of three 40/50 HPs from the works team that successfully took part in the Alpine Trial. The car made a circuitous route from Austria to Belgium and was finally found again in the Ardennes. For Rolls-Royce enthusiasts, an Alpine Eagle is almost like the Holy Grail, as this model cemented the brand's reputation for building "The Best Car in the World".

A Swabian with an Irish name

For many participants, the Concours d'Elegance is the highlight of the weekend. All their concentration is focused on the inspection by the judges and the prospect of taking home a ribbon and a trophy. The competition is divided into 25 classes, from the early Silver Ghost to the BMW and Volkswagen era cars.

Meeting of the generations: Schulte welcomes an incoming guest from Ireland who has arrived in a Silver Spirit from 1981

Meeting of the generations: Schulte welcomes an incoming guest from Ireland who has arrived in a Silver Spirit from 1981

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Oliver O'Keefe from Berglen near Winnenden in Baden-Württemberg can already feel the tension at breakfast on Saturday. The Swabian with the Irish surname seems a little rushed. "I have to make a little something," he says, sparingly filling his plate. Fortunately, there is one of the many English garages near the hotel where hard-working employees wash cars by hand - a rough brush wash at the gas station would never be an option for O'Keefe and his 1978 Corniche Drop Head Coupé.

A relaxed winner looks like Oliver O'Keefe. Victory in Class 15 for his 1978 Corniche Cabriolet. All the tension of the weekend is now gone

A relaxed winner looks like Oliver O'Keefe. Victory in Class 15 for his 1978 Corniche Cabriolet. All the tension of the weekend is now gone

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

However, the gentle bubble bath is only the basis of an hour-long care program. O'Keefe has boxes of lotions and spray bottles, brushes and cloths in the trunk; he already cleaned the black insulation mat under the hood on Friday. "If you start cleaning on Sunday, it's too late," he says succinctly. When the jury inspects the car on Sunday morning, everything has to be perfect.

Thomas Schulte, Vice Chairman of the RREC, in front of his Rolls Royce Phantom II with a body from the Parisian coachbuilder Fernandez & Darrin

Thomas Schulte, Vice Chairman of the RREC, in front of his Rolls Royce Phantom II with a body from the Parisian coachbuilder Fernandez & Darrin

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Thomas Schulte from Münsterland, meanwhile, has other priorities. As "Deputy Chairman" and therefore the highest-ranking representative of the club this weekend - the Chairman is in Norway according to an earlier commitment - he doesn't have time to touch a cleaning rag at all. Everyone wants to take Schulte aside for a word. He is undoubtedly the most sought-after person of the weekend. There is just enough time for a spin in his 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, whose bodywork was created by the Parisian company Fernandez & Darrin. Until the 1950s, it was common practice for many luxury car manufacturers to simply order a chassis from their customers and have it fitted with a body of their choice by an independent "coachbuilder".

Winner from the mainland

Robert van der Stam from Holland also clearly wants to own the most beautiful car of the weekend, and he can count on the support of the whole family. "We're here to win," says son-in-law Vincent confidently. The car they are competing with is a rarity: a 40/50 HP with an open body by George Williams from Australia. Wonderful detail: The Silver Ghost conceals numerous tools and spare parts in the hinged running boards made of solid wood, which can come in handy on long overland journeys. And it has two windshields. This means that passengers sitting in the rear are also protected.

It's done! Victory in Class 1 for the 40/50 HP of Robert van der Stam with a body by George Williams from Australia

It's done! Victory in Class 1 for the 40/50 HP of Robert van der Stam with a body by George Williams from Australia

Copyright / Photographer: Frank Janssen

Van der Stam's Rolls-Royce wins the blue ribbon for elegance from a standing start. However, the assessment and comparison with the competitors is protracted. The judges literally crawl into every nook and cranny of the cars. In the end, the guests from the continent come out on top. Van der Stam is also awarded the red ribbon for class victory, as is Oliver O'Keefe, who also receives the prize for the best European entrant. He has not been seen as relaxed as he was after the award ceremony all weekend.

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