RACING MOTORIST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 11

RACING MOTORIST

SERIOUS ILLNESS INJURED ARM THE CAUSE (Received May 30, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUCBY, May 20 Sir Henry Birkin, the well-known racing motorist, is seriously in a nursing home in London. He is suffering from injuries to on© of his arms, which came into contact with a red-hot exhaust pipe when ho was competing for the Tripoli Grand Prix three weeks ago.

Ono of Britain's foremost racing drivers, Sir (formerly Captain) Henry Birkin, became a millionaire and a baronet on the death of his father. Sir Thomas Stanley Birkin, on April 8, 1931. He is in his 37th year and he is the only surviving son of the former baronet, his brother .Archie having been

killed while practising for the "T.T." motor-cycle races in the Isle of Man in 1925." Another brother died from war injuries in Salonika, and a sister also died. "Tim" Birkin' ran his own motor business until he went into partnership with Mr. W. M. Couper, another wellknown racing driver, with very modern motor racing "stables" at Welwyn Garden City. Formerly he was racing manager and chief driver for tho Hon. Dorothy Paget's team of Bentley cars and lie' has driven in most of the big races, his greatest success being in finishing seeoYid, against almost overwhelming foreign opposition, in the Belgian Grand Prix.