Picture Perfect

The Chairman has chosen this photograph of Patrick and James Blakeney-Edwards in their 1934 Frazer Nash TT Rep during the Generations Rally held this March.

OCCASION:

Generations Rally, Lake District DATE TAKEN:

28 March 2022

SUBJECT:

Patrick Blakeney-Edwards with son James in their 1934 Frazer Nash TT Rep PHOTOGRAPHER:

Gerard Brown FATHER AND SON, Patrick and James Blakeney-Edwards, the former consulting his young navigator – few pictures convey the spirit of this year’s inaugural Generations Rally better than this. For the record James is 13, one year older than the minimum age permitted on a rally designed to bring generations together in a shared love of historic motorsport.

“It had a wonderful dynamic with lots of youngsters misbehaving themselves but, once in the cars, they were all brilliant,” recalls Patrick, a Club member and multiple winner of the RAC Woodcote Trophy. Obviously, none more so than his son James. “He was the youngest navigator but, I have to say, he was a little legend.”

However, it was how the experience brought the pair even closer together that will stay in Patrick’s memory. “Rallying competitively like this is a wonderful thing to do from a parental perspective. You need to have trust in and respect for your navigator and when that navigator is your son, it bridges the generation gap and puts you on an equal footing.” Having got the bug, Patrick will be back next year, this time with daughter Scarlett (12) navigating. And James? He’ll be navigating for his godfather in a 1924 Bentley. May the best offspring win.