Nationality British Role Automobile racer Best finish 1st (1927) Died January 20, 1957 | Class wins 1 (1927) Education University of London Name Dudley Benjafield Participating years 1935 | |
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Teams Bentley Motors Ltd.
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A Vintage Celebration – Reviving The Ethos Of Pre-War Racing At The Benjafield Racing Club | M1TG
Joseph Dudley "Benjy" Benjafield, MD was born on 6 August 1887, in Edmonton, London, UK. He attended the University of London and received his MD from University College Hospital in 1912. Specializing in bacteriology, he served in Egypt during World War I and later used his expertise combating the great flu epidemic of 1918-1919.
Benjafield had a passion for motorsports which started with boating, but moved on to automobiles in the 1920s, following the accidental destruction of his beloved motor launch. Upon purchasing a Bentley 3-litre, he started racing in 1924 and 1925. Benjafield's success led to him being offered to drive a company racer at the behest of Bentley founder W.O. Bentley. He competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans seven times, and won the event in 1927 with co-driver and fellow "Bentley Boy" S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis; while their car was badly damaged, they frantically made on-the-spot repairs and wound up winning the race.
Benjafield later created the British Racing Drivers' Club, and continued racing until 1936. He died in 1957.