UK Edition
My First Car - Prince Michael of Kent: 'I managed to turn a couple of cars upside down'
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is the President of the Royal Automobile Club, as well as a long-standing promoter of road safety issues through his own road safety awards scheme and his work as the patron of the commission for Global Road Safety. As he prepares to help revive the London Motor Show after an eight-year hiatus, we talk to him about his motoring life.
So, Your Royal Highness – tell us about your first car.
I learned to drive in a Hillman Minx, but the first car I ever owned was a Singer Gazelle – a most unusual motor car that few people remember. I replaced it with a Mini, and then an MGA Twin Cam.
How old were you when you started getting interested in cars?
Well, by the time I was about 12, I'd already driven more than 100 cars, because we had a front drive at home – probably about 300 yards long – and I got to drive all sorts of things up and down it. Cars with crash gearboxes; automatics; left-hand drive; right-hand drive. I used to drive all our guests mad, I think.
Can you remember what kicked off your love of cars?
Probably going to Goodwood. I used to go every Easter Monday to watch the Tourist Trophy, which was tremendously exciting. But I also remember visiting the Coventry assembly line of the Rootes Group [which owned brands such Hillman, Singer, Sunbeam and Talbot] in the early Fifties. Of course, in those days cars were made with pressed steel, so you had these enormous presses. Quite spectacular.
What was your first crash?
I did some rallying in the Seventies and managed to turn a couple of cars upside down. I remember the second time it happened, we were going round a bend and it turned out to be rather sharper than I thought. And as the car started to tip I actually said to my co-driver, "I'm very sorry, but we're going to go over". People came running over, asking "are you alright, are you alright?" And the answer was we'd only not got out because we were laughing too much.
Which cars do you own now?
I have a Bentley Flying Spur and a BMW, both of which I'm delighted with. But before that I had a series of Fords, starting with an RS1600. It looked bland, but was a very special motor car. Of course, the majority of them were built for competition purposes. I actually didn't use one for my first rally, but after that I saw the error of my ways.
What do you most regret selling?
A drop-head DB5 – oh, happy days. It was my first Aston Martin and I paid a fortune for it: £2,100. It must now be worth about £1.5 million.
What’s the dream car?
There are so many things I'd love to have a go in, but one of the cars I'm most excited about is Bloodhound [the land speed record car which is designed to top 1,000mph and will be on display at the London Motor Show].
I first met [Bloodhound project director] Richard Noble when he was building his Thrust record car, which was more than 30 years ago, and his determination and vigour is absolutely extraordinary.
If anyone is going to break the 1,000mph record, it will be Richard and his team.
What’s your most memorable experience in a car? (Keep it clean!)
By far the most incredible drive I ever had was on the Mille Miglia in the late Eighties, before they tried to restrict speeds.
There was no stigma about speed back then, because it was before anyone had heard the term speed camera. And anyway, the attitude to speed was quite different in Italy to the UK. I was driving a 1957 Aston Martin DBR2, of which just two were made, and I think Stirling Moss had won while racing one of them.
Anyway, the car was amazingly fast and beautifully prepared.
More recently, I was driven by an autonomous BMW on the German autobahn. What stood out was how frightfully undramatic it was when the driver took his hands off the wheel and let the car take over.
What’s your biggest pet peeve when you’re driving?
I must admit I do get irritated when road users don't take the trouble to put themselves in the position of other people. For example, you sometimes see drivers get angry when people cross the road slowly. Have patience. For all you know they've got bunions or something. Also, motorists frequently don't give people on horses enough room.
That said, consideration works both ways, and some vulnerable road users can be their own worst enemy at times. Whenever I go anywhere in London, I can count on two hands within 20 minutes the number of cyclists who go through red lights or turn left or right when they shouldn't. I think they have quite a lot to answer for.
Turbo or supercharger?
I've driven all sorts of cars with turbos, but superchargers feel more special. The first time I experienced one was in a vast Mercedes, which belonged to the racer Colin Crabbe. Don't ask me which Mercedes it was. But what I do remember was that if you put your foot hard to the boards it made a wonderful howl.
Straight-line speed or handling?
In the old days, the first thing I'd do when I got in a car was see how fast it would go. But I also enjoyed going round roundabouts on opposite lock – it was perfectly normal. You couldn't do that now, of course.
Manual or automatic?
When I was a young man I wouldn't have dreamt of having an automatic. But now I prefer them because in the modern world all you usually do is sit watching the car in front, particularly when you're driving in town. My BMW can be driven as an auto or a manual, but I find I almost never take it out of auto.
Front-, rear- or four-wheel-drive?
I've never really enjoyed front-wheel drive, whereas I like the feel of rear-wheel drive, and four-wheel drive can be wonderful, too – the first time I drove an Audi with it I was amazed. My Own Bentley has it. But unless you're going to drive very fast or in filthy conditions, you really don't need four-wheel drive, I think.
Why did you decide to become patron of the reborn London Motor Show?
Well, I've attended motor shows since I was a boy, at Earls Court and the NEC, and once or twice at ExCeL. But this new show is also a wonderful opportunity.
The British motor industry is a great success story, and I hope all those that promote it come and support this show as a major shop window. I also hope that those organisations which, for whatever reason, have chosen to keep away will see what a success the show is and come and join us in future years.
The 2016 London Motor Show will be held in Battersea Park from May 5-8. Tickets cost £15, with kids under 11 going free. Book tickets here
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