From workshop to wilderness: a mechanic reflects on an unexpected mission

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When the phone rang at the Vintage Bentley office, we knew instantly: this wasn’t going to be an ordinary job. Jonathan Turner – a veteran of the Peking to Paris Rally – needed help. His faithful 1929 Bentley, the very same car he drove back in 1997, had taken a beating on the harsh plains of Inner Mongolia. Old welds, dating back to before Jonathan’s ownership, had given way, and the chassis had cracked in multiple places. All this, just as he and his navigator, Nick English, were off to a flying start, leading their class convincingly.

Within a few hours and a collaborative team effort, we had inhouse parts manufactured, an assortment of supplies for fellow competitors, a set of overalls and a flight to Almaty, Kazakhstan booked for one of our senior technicians, here’s how it went!

After a night flight to Almaty, the rally was on a rest day, and thanks to the incredible team at Bentley Almaty, I was given immediate access to their workshop. There was no time for pleasantries – the clock was ticking.

That night, we all worked side by side: repairing the chassis, replacing the offside magneto, retiming the nearside one, changing the oil, checking every last detail. Not a second to waste. Jonathan – or JT, as we call him – stayed right there with us, tools in hand, and so did Nick. One thing was clear: these guys weren’t giving up without a fight.

By 7am the next morning, they were back at the start line, ready to continue their journey to Paris. And me? I flew back to Heathrow later that same day – dirty, exhausted, but proud.

This is why we do it. Not for the podium, but for the stories you carry with you. The Peking to Paris Rally isn’t just a race – it’s an ordeal. A test not just of man and machine, but of everyone behind the scenes as well.

What began as a bid for the top of the leaderboard has become a fight simply to finish. And honestly? That might just be the best part of the story.

As a small yet well-established business located just 20 minutes north of Goodwood on the road to Brooklands, we work exclusively on W.O Bentley models 1922 – 1932. Competing, supporting and attending international events, races and rallies comes naturally to our team at Vintage Bentley with a series of major victories across 17 countries including the Peking to Paris, Flying Scotsman and Goodwood. On-event support allows the team to offer their technical skill, enabling their event experience to grow continuously whilst keeping original W.Os doing what they do best!

Words and photos: Vintage Bentley

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