March brought along International Women’s Day celebrations and the next Be Right Back (BRB) Social.
Not one to usually celebrate International Women’s Day, it was great to be invited to attend not one, but two, brilliant events.
The morning started back at Bicester Motion for the What She Drives (WSD Club) and Bentley International Women’s Day event. Wrapped up warm, we arrived and parked inside Hangar 113. Not knowing what to expect, we did feel a little out of place against the Bentleys and various other cars, but we added that sprinkle of interest and intrigue. Plus, the lighting somehow made the car shine!
It was great to see so many well-known female car influencers and personalities, as well as the general public, who had like us, decided to support this event.
We were privileged to see the Bentley bespoke Continental GTC (more pictures on Instagram) designed in collaboration with three female musicians – Anna Lapwood, Tina Guo and Sister Bliss. There were a lot of cool features included that had a nod towards the music industry. The blue on blue (Peacock Satin external and Imperial Blue imperial) with gold, Tornado Red and Pillar Box Red accents were a stunning choice. We didn’t see the Dark Grey Metallic roof as it was down for the event. I am not sure I was a fan of the Copper Stone veneer on the interior though, but I love the meaning behind why Tina Guo chose this. What a great opportunity to help design a car for women by women.
The event had some great female speakers, involved in all different aspects of the automotive and motorsports industries.
And I think the highlight for many, the Joe & The Juice Bentayga. It was a lovely morning and a great start to the International Women’s Day activities. (Bonus, myself and Mr Tall Car Girl were captured in a photo posted by Bentley at the event!)
Then onto Caffeine and Machine for the evening. The Hill was hosting an all-day International Women's Day event, with BRB and Michelle Hands from She Who Dares Wins. We joined for the Dakar Classic talk from the Gazelles Offroad Team as we are big fans of the Dakar rally, so would be great to get some first-hand experiences.
Driver Helen Tait Wright and Navigator Marcella Kirk where the 1st British Women’s team to complete Dakar in Purdey, their rally car Land Rover 110 Td5. It was so inspiring, yet slightly heart-breaking, to hear how they put everything into building the car to the letter of the rules (sometimes annoying their Dakar contact, as Helen wanted everything to be above board) and getting the money to get to the start of the race, selling many personal items and being turned down by many potential sponsors.
They encountered many trials and tribulations over the race, but they never gave up. Even when a puncture threatened their finish!
Marcella did share a funny story about pooping in the middle of the desert, with no privacy and potentially being spotted by the camera helicopter. And the catering team’s favouritism over the breakfast bananas.
It was great to get first-hand knowledge about the Dakar rally and hear the stories from these inspirational women, who prove that it doesn’t matter what age or experience you are, just go for it if you believe you can do it.
Then to round of March, it was back to the Hill for the March BRB social.