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MUSEUM COLLECTIONS


Update


Bira in ‘K3030’ at Brooklands in 1935.


Ex-Prince Bira 1933 MG K3 ‘K3030’ We are most fortunate to have another historic Brooklands racing car on display in the Museum until next summer. The owners, John and Helen Gillett, have kindly loaned the ex-Prince Bira MG K3 K3030 for display in the Motoring Village until May 2017.


This car was initially ordered by Italian racing driver Lelio Pellegrini for the 1935 Mille Miglia, but the import was blocked by Mussolini and the sale lapsed. Instead it was purchased by Prince Chula of Siam (now Thailand) to be driven by his cousin Prince Birabongse (Bira) as part of the new White Mouse Racing Team. Bira raced the car six times at Brooklands and Donington Park in 1935 and 1936, lapping Brooklands at 109mph. It was then sold to Australian John Snow to compete in the 1936 Australian Grand Prix at Victor Park and has remained in Australian ownership ever since.


Bira in MG ‘K3030’ at the August Bank Holiday meeting in 1935.


Its last big race was the 1955 Port Wakefield Australian Grand Prix but it has continued to race both in Australia and overseas.


Bira went on to become one of the most accomplished drivers in pre-war British motor- racing, driving ERAs and Maseratis. He was awarded three British Racing Drivers Club Gold Star Awards for Road Racing and won the 1937 Campbell Trophy.


The last of the 33 K3s manufactured in 1933/34 to leave the factory, ‘K3030’ has a six- cylinder, overhead camshaft, 1,086cc super- charged engine and also visited the Museum earlier this summer, when it was in action in the Double Twelve Speed Trials and at the Brooklands Reunion.


John Pulford Tackling the Test Hill in 2016 (Katharine Allen).


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