素
THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1961.
PRINCES OF SPORT
The speed-crazy sculptor from Siam
It was the eve of the 1939 French Grand Prix at Rholms. A pint-sized figure, drossed in royal blue overalls and royal blue scarf, crouches at the wheel of a British ERA racing car scorching the track on a 100 mph test run. Suddenly, on the second lap, he appears to lose control. For 300 yards the car swings crazily from side to side. Then it skids completely off the track, turns a double somersault, and makes a pancake landing.
Track ofleinds rare to the Brene. Some way Tran the wreckage they find the driver. slightly scratched, at smiling.
"The" eight-stone, Jockey-tike Agure who had been thrown from the enckpit, dists dowZ1 his royal blue tire, walks towards the stancis, ami eleclares; i "I shall be in the race tonnorrow Kron el anther car in time." Thai diminutive driver, nged of 19 winner 24, already ⚫ major motor-racing events was HR Prince Birabongse Bhanuel Bhabandh of Slant (now Thailand). nephew of King Chulalenkorn who reigned from 1853-1918
To the motor-racing fraternity "R. Bira. Ta fellow he was Elonians he was "the Man"! His incredible record of death-
By
JOHN COTTRELL
creased his lead but in the 4181 lap, when broking at the corner at the fout of a steep hill, he went into a sick und fotled to straighten out.
His car sitthered off the track towards The bales of straw packing the corner and as he struggled desperately to keep the engine going he felt both foolish and annoyed,
The engine was still revving ami somehow he was away again within a few seconds. But the delay brought Sommer back into a challenging position.
sporilug Prince of Stam, one of the foremost racing drivers for 20 years. His interests were many--sculpture, yacht- ing. d fying especially. Above all he was thrilled by
For twelve laps the two the tear of the internal com-rst man to qualify for an "A"
Reence after the ban on civil drivers fought almost neck and bustion engine.
neck until Sommer went into a flying had been lifted.
The following year, Bangkok-skld himself and fell behind. barn Bir had his mest thrilling 60-lap battle for the 1947 Prix Lerman 1 The out- skirts
Mirfield an
His most thrilling race
On leaving Eton, he Roon made is mark as sculptor the a xliibited at the Royal Academy) und racing driver. "Art and unfor roving balance my life perfectly he explained. "After the excitement of speed on the track, I go to the quietness and eatin of the studio."
The 'Bluc Prince'
اوم
same. Switzerland.
near
It was on event for racing cors of only 1,100 er unsupercharged --the equivalent of the ordinary snall family saloon--but for Rira brought as much pleasure
15
He began with a 1dley and un high-powered Formula K3 MG Magnette. Then he ac- quired a 3.500 er supercharged
cheating escapes suggests tAond cased sensations by he would have been butter aleloaned
Cat" the sportsman with nine lives.
Nightmare year
Bira's nightmare year Wa 1849. in
Buen Aires Grund Prix, he swerved his Maserati of the track sul ripped throught a burrier
to avoid spectators who had warned forward to welcome victorious Alberto Ascari. He esenped with a broken leg.
In the Grand Prix of Cze choslovakia, he drove Die of three cars that ploughed into " speetatars enusing fatal injuries.
Izi
the International Trophy Race #1 Silverstone, he shot off the course at 02 mph and careered into straw bales,
Thut
he escapet year, too, with culs and bruises when his Klider crashed in Devon, narrow- ly missing high-tension wires.
Yet these and many more deter the
Cheapes
could not
regularly beating the Works team drivers.
After the ERA enne a 3-litre Maserati in which he achieved the first 100 mph imp at Ireland's Phoenix Park,
Grand Prix battle.
Ite wriggled into the seat of his little Simea. pulled down his dark goggles, and looked accoss at his famous rival, Raymond Sommer, then one of the most spectacular of French aees. This was the man had to beat. He resolved to keep ahead of hint from the
Bira came into prominence In | his first year
start. of motor-racing when he finished second in the: the 1935 Swiss Grand Prix, beating the famous Lord Howe. He was so small that the seal at his Aston Martin had to be specially constructed.
Everything
Skidded
he
In practice laps, Sommer had recorded 1 min 52 sees whereas
|
|
With two laps to go. victory for Bira seemed assured. But
then
he heard a suspicious grating from underneath his car's bonnel. A vulve spring had broken.
Not a professional Second by second, the noise grew louder and more ominous, Bira could feel the power ebbingt Sommer drew from his control. neorer and nearer. On the finali bend the Frenchuman appeared i again in Bira's mirror.
The Prince of Siam was Just two lengths ahead of the French nee when he crossed the finishing the chequered Bag line and swept down.
expensive to compute privately against the highly-organised works teams.
Yet his performances against auch giants as Fangio and Asrarl were xd Impressive that in 1951 the 37-year-old Bira was invited to drive the BRAI He finally declined the offer.
Yacht-wreck
Among his last track triumphs was victory in the 1955 New Zealand Grand Prix. He led from start to finish in a Maserati and covered the 210-mile evorge non-stop in 2 hour } rin
I see.
Soon after, the sporting Prince, who had also won awards for motor-cycling and gliding, concentrated 17 yachting to fulf his ambition to compete in the 1050 Melbourne Olymples.
Danger ant drums which had been his constant companii on the race track,-entight up will him again on water.
yacht,
In 1955, his pleasure
was wrecked in a Lelanta 1,
turn off the Italian coast in the
nsfeldle of the night.
Once again. Peluce Bira was the hero of The hour. For nearly an hour he held his baby son from drowning and refused to be rescued himself bonimen had saved his wife aud all the other women among their 20 guests,
Sports Diary
TODAY Water-Polo to Tin 7 pm). Aony Kin v HK Begt (6,29 pin);
Buth
matches ni Victoria Park
Tut
For Bira, who had previously CYMCA competed in 85 rond events and won 25 International races, it was the most kausfying moment! in his racing carcer,
tens
of
shall Ku on racing till I om
stopped. Racing makes
Bira's best was 1 min 53 secs.
The Prince won about the Now the Siamese went directly | thausands of pounds as a racing Prince's racing was sick and ¦ into the lead and in the second driver, but never regarded him- polished. His curs had to be lap he touched over 100 mph sett as a professional. "It is Immaculately clean and spark-¦ on the straight as he fought to splendid hobby,” he said.
og even his pit attendants shake off the Frenchman. had to wear the royal blue As Dira passed his pit the uniform he adopted. They | second time, the signals told called him "The Blue Prince."alm he had achieved 1 min 51 Sleek, dapper Dira was British wees. Yet he could still road champion three years in a Semmer in the mirror. row before the war. Then be By the 11th lap, the Prince became a wartline gliding in- was over-lapping the stragglers structor in the Air Training while Sommer hung doggedly Corps, and in 1945 he was the on his tail. Bira slowly In-
Four D. Jones JONES IS SITTING IN A CAFÉ BY MADDOCKS
MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS,
THE UNSUSPECTING JONES IS HAVING HIS SUBCONSCŪKIS THING)
WHEN THE DEVIL WALKS IN PATONE BU BATAMPERED WITH
OUR HERO IS A
LIKELY-LOOKINGIDIOT
I'LL TRY ONE OF MY
EVIL TRICKS ON
HIM
SEG THE BIRD
SITTING IN THE CORNER?)
NIP OVER AND POUR YOUR COFFEE OVER
HER HEAD
nee
steady. All the time I am driving. I have to keep control, to steady myself, to keep a efear heart."
Speed-crazy Bira would drive thousands of miles to compete in But in later years he race. found it increasingly tough and
QUR HERO CARRIES OUT THE EVIL DEED THAT HAS BEEN PLANTED IN HIS MIND...
~SPLENDID/ SPLENDID! NOW ASK HER IF SHE TAKES SUGAR
TOMORROW
Walking
Anual Round The Jeland walk from Government Stadium 245 pm.
Lawn Bowl
Div 1: necrelo "W" v KBGC: CCC v Heermio "D"; KCC v FC; USRC v
KDC: Talkoo v INC.
Div 2: 180 "B" v HKCC; PAC "B" ✔ IRC "C": FC v PRC “A”: CCC" v HILENC.
Diy 3: KFC Talkoo, SC CCC; KDC v FC: KCC v KBCC.
Lailles' League Div 1: Taikoo v ccc; Kace V JKFC.
Soccer
Youth League: Happy Valley v Eastern 15. China graundi à pm.
517 flon Ying (S. China grund! 4.30 pm
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