Jack Dunfee was one of four sons of Colonel Vickers Dunfee, and the older brother of Clive Dunfee. Beyond motor racing, Dunfee pursued careers as a theatrical impresario and, later in life, as a farmer — a breadth of occupation that set him apart from many of his contemporaries in the racing world.
Dunfee competed at the highest levels of pre-war British motorsport, earning his place among the Bentley Boys — the wealthy, glamorous group of amateur racers who campaigned Bentley cars at events including Le Mans and Brooklands during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
In 1929, Dunfee partnered Glen Kidston at the Le Mans 24 Hours, finishing second overall and winning the 5 litre class. The result brought him significant recognition within British racing circles.
Two years later, in 1931, Dunfee and Cyril Paul won the Brooklands International 500 Miles Race driving "Old Number One," the famous Bentley Speed Six. The victory cemented Dunfee's reputation as one of the foremost Bentley campaigners of his era.
The 1932 Brooklands International 500 Miles Race turned from competition into catastrophe for the Dunfee family. Jack and his younger brother Clive shared "Old Number One," which had been fitted with a brand-new 8-litre engine for the event. After Jack completed the first driving stint and came in fourth place at the pits, Clive took over at the wheel.
Shortly after resuming, Clive attempted to pass Earl Howe's Bugatti on the banked circuit. In doing so, he went too high up the banking, putting the wheel of the car over the lip. The car cartwheeled over the top, struck a large tree, and plunged down through the trees to the road below. Clive was thrown clear of the wreckage and killed instantly. The accident cut short what had been a promising career for the younger Dunfee and cast a long shadow over Jack's subsequent life.
In 1939 Jack Dunfee married actress and dancer Sandra Storme, but the marriage ended in divorce. In 1953 he married model Audrey White; that marriage also ended in divorce. Dunfee died on 13 September 1975, aged 73.
Jack Dunfee's career stands as a vivid illustration of the golden age of Bentley racing at Brooklands. His second place at Le Mans in 1929 and his outright win in the 1931 Brooklands 500 are among the notable results achieved by the Bentley Boys in their era-defining campaign. The 1932 race, however, remains the defining event of his story — a reminder of the dangers that lay beneath the glamour of pre-war motor racing.
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