Motor racing driver. 'B Bira' was a pseudonym used by Prince Birabongse Bhanetej Bhanubandh, a member of the Siamese Royal Family whose grandfather King Mongkut had inspired the 1950s musical, 'The King and I'. Bira, born in Bangkok, Siam, came to England at the age of thirteen to be educated at Eton and Cambridge, and was cared for by his cousin Prince Chula Chaakrabongse. By 1936, Prince Chula's 'White Mouse Stable' bought an ERA for Bira to drive, one of a three-some, and painted in light blue and yellow and therefore becoming the Siamese racing colours. He was very successful with the cars winning a number of races. During the War years, both Princes spent a quiet life in a cottage in Cornwall. After the War, the ERA was dusted off but Bira soon bought a Maserati winning the 1947 GP des Frontieres at Chimay, Belgium. In 1949, he travelled to Argentina, and gained two 5th places at Buenos Aires and came 2nd to Fangio at Mar del Plata. He then returned to Europe, and to a string of good results. The World Championship was established in 1950 and he found the Maserati to be outclassed. By 1954 he bought a Maserati A6GCM, won at Chimay, with two 2nd places at Rouen and Pescara. In 1955, after a win at the New Zealand GP at Ardmore and two more places in Europe, he abruptly retired. Two days before Christmas in 1985, an elderly man collapsed and died of a heart attack in Baron's Court Underground Station in London. Nobody knew who he was but a note found on him led Police to the Thai Embassy and the discovery that this old man was not only a former racing driver but a Royal Prince. In accordance with Buddist and Thai customs, he was cremated at the Wimbledon Temple.
Motor racing driver. 'B Bira' was a pseudonym used by Prince Birabongse Bhanetej Bhanubandh, a member of the Siamese Royal Family whose grandfather King Mongkut had inspired the 1950s musical, 'The King and I'. Bira, born in Bangkok, Siam, came to England at the age of thirteen to be educated at Eton and Cambridge, and was cared for by his cousin Prince Chula Chaakrabongse. By 1936, Prince Chula's 'White Mouse Stable' bought an ERA for Bira to drive, one of a three-some, and painted in light blue and yellow and therefore becoming the Siamese racing colours. He was very successful with the cars winning a number of races. During the War years, both Princes spent a quiet life in a cottage in Cornwall. After the War, the ERA was dusted off but Bira soon bought a Maserati winning the 1947 GP des Frontieres at Chimay, Belgium. In 1949, he travelled to Argentina, and gained two 5th places at Buenos Aires and came 2nd to Fangio at Mar del Plata. He then returned to Europe, and to a string of good results. The World Championship was established in 1950 and he found the Maserati to be outclassed. By 1954 he bought a Maserati A6GCM, won at Chimay, with two 2nd places at Rouen and Pescara. In 1955, after a win at the New Zealand GP at Ardmore and two more places in Europe, he abruptly retired. Two days before Christmas in 1985, an elderly man collapsed and died of a heart attack in Baron's Court Underground Station in London. Nobody knew who he was but a note found on him led Police to the Thai Embassy and the discovery that this old man was not only a former racing driver but a Royal Prince. In accordance with Buddist and Thai customs, he was cremated at the Wimbledon Temple.
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