Bernard Rubin

Le Mans drivers
Name = Bernard Rubin


Nationality = flagicon|GBR British
(flagicon|AUS Australian)
Years = 24hLM|1928-24hLM|1929
Team(s) = Bentley Motors
Best Finish = 1st (24hLM|1928)
Class Wins = 1 (24hLM|1928)

Bernard Rubin (6 December 1896 – 27 June 1936) was a British racing driver and pilot who was a member of the "Bentley Boys" team at the Bentley Motor Company and winner of the 1928 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Personal life

The son of Australian pearl salesman Mark Rubin, Bernard was born in Carlton, Victoria, before he eventually moved to London with his family in 1908. He served in the Royal Garrison Artillery in World War I where he was badly injured and required three years of treatment before he could walk again. Following his father's death in 1919, Rubin began purchasing properties in the Northern Territory, before his interest in auto racing developed in 1928.

Motorsports

Rubin became close friends with Woolf Barnato, the director of Bentley Motors, and even lived together for some time. Rubin made his driving debut at Brooklands in 1928 where he finished in sixth place before he made his first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driving alongside Barnato, the two won the event in a Bentley 4½ Litre, even though the car had been damaged before the end of the race. He remained at Bentley for Le Mans in 24hLM|1929, but his car failed after only seven laps.

In August in 1929, Rubin was injured when his Bentley overturned during the Tourist Trophy. With his injuries, Rubin turned to team ownership, and helped fund fellow "Bentley Boy" Henry Birkin's racing efforts.

Bernard Rubin died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1936, a year after marrying Audrey Mary Simpson.

References

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