The things they say

“. . . Birkin’s gear changes were perfect, but then, the Bentley gearbox was very good indeed, in spite of the fact that it predated synchromesh.” “His gearchanging was very good in spite of there being no synchromesh, of course, but he used the heel-and-toe method with the centrally-placed accelerator.” The views of Walter Hassan and William Rockell on Sir Henry Birkin’s gear-changing, in an article in Motor on the blower-41/2 Bentleys. “. . . the original track-racing box using rounded-off, straight-cut gears (Mangle-gears), since Birkin apparently could not or would not double de-clutch and liked to snatch his gears straight through.” — From an article in Thoroughbred & Classic Cars for March 1982 about the blower-41/2 single-seater Brooklands Bentley, which MOTOR SPORT covered fully in 1973. Something for Bentley historians to ponder! — W.B.