On the 6th June, Harry Chandler set off from the gates of Bentley Motors Factory in Crewe, his destination, the famed Le Mans 24 Hours race in France. 2024 marked the 100 year anniversary of Bentley’s first victory at the race, it also marked Harry’s 15th year visiting the race (having first visited as a car mad 6 year old), but finally and most importantly, Harry and his family wanted to make a Difference. In 2012, Harry’s elder brother Jack learnt of the devastating news that his rugby team mate, Matthew Dewhirst, had lost his life due to an unidentified heart defect. They were both aged just 17. In 2021, lightening struck twice. Harry had spent his previous 3 years enjoying life at University, where he would play cricket with Josh Downie. He would then receive the message no one wants to receive, That Josh had passed away, with an unidentified heart defect again being the cause.
So to try and make a difference, we wanted to give the opportunity for young people in our local area to be screened, and either allow them to have the peace of mind that their heart health is all in order, or the support they need to address any underlying issues. So to raise those funds Harry decided the best way to do this was to grab his trusty bicycle, and ride it 1000 Kilometres, from Bentley to the Le Mans 24 Hours!
Over the following 7 days, Harry would visit and meet some of the best figure the British Motoring Industry has to Offer. Day 1 saw the team stay at the Caffeine and Machine Hotel in Stratford Upon Avon. On day 2 he rode with 3 times Le Mans Winner, Darren Turner, and Rode a complete Lap of the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. Day 3 started and finished with visits of Bentley’s dealerships at High Wycombe and Royal Tunbridge Wells. A quick visit to Mazda’s UK Heritage centre started day 4, and so began the adventure through France after the tunnel was Crossed. Day 5 would see the team travel from the Seaside town of Le Touquet through to the Cathedral City of Rouen, the longest day at 180 Kilometres. A rainy Start to day 6 saw a quick trip to the Former Race circuit that existed at Rouen Les Essarts. Something Harry described it as ‘sketchy’ at 70 Km/h on his bike so we can’t imagine what this was like in the 70’s race machinery. We’d then encounter what was unexpectedly the most difficult day. Long periods of slight inclines made getting any rhythm super difficult, but after another 5 hours in the saddle the end was in sight. 85 Kilometres laid ahead of us at the start of Day 7, these would fly by, before we knew it we were outside the famous gates of the Circuit De La Sarthe and ready to officially complete the ride. At 1:25 we would enter the track, just before the start of the first practice session, and to the applause of the Crowd, Marshals and some of the teams, we take the chequered flag on the Start/ Finish Line at Le Mans! We would be greeted by Pierre Fillon (President, ACO), Wolfgang Ullrich (Special Consultant to the ACO) and Kazuki Nakajima (Grand Marshal, Le Mans 2024).
Since, then we have gone on to raise over £13,000 for such an important charity, and with the support of Debbie Dixon and all the team behind the Aaron Dixon memorial fund, we have 2 screening days planned in Wem, Shropshire to be held in March 2025.
We must also say a huge thank you to everyone who supported this event, without the support of those this would not be possible. In particular these thanks must go to:
- Debbie Dixon
- Progressive Motorsport (Corporate Sponsor)
- Bentley Tunbridge Wells (Corporate Sponsor)
- Horobin LTD (Corporate Sponsor)
- Radio Le Mans (Corporate Sponsor)
- Swift Caravans (Campervan Support)
- 1st Tickets (Travel Partner)
- Darren Turner (Ride Support)
Finally, a massive thank you must go to my family. Louise, Steve and Megan, who travelled down with me and were there every step of the way!
We all really hope that the money we have raised makes a real difference in reducing Cardiac Deaths in young people, and hopefully we inspire other people to do the same!
