Wednesday 15th July 1914
Born on this day, “B. Bira” (Prince Birabongse Bhanutej Bhanubandh), a member of the Royal Thai family, Birabongse came to England in 1927 to study at Eton and Cambridge. He started racing in 1935 with a Riley and a MG Magnette. His Formula 1 record includes 19 championship starts and 8 points. Extremly short sighted and always racing with glasses or special built goggles, “Bira” was considered to be a good driver if not among the very fastest. He was also an accompished sculptor and his art works can be seen on the base of a fountain at the Silverstone track.