Glen Kidston facts for kids
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| Nationality | British |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 January 1899 |
| Died | 5 May 1931 (aged 32) |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
| Years | 1929–1930 |
| Teams | Bentley Motors Ltd. |
| Best finish | 1st (1930) |
| Class wins | 1 (1930) |
George Pearson Glen Kidston (born January 23, 1899 – died May 5, 1931) was a brave English motor racing driver and aviator. He made a record-breaking flight from Netheravon, England, all the way to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1931. Glen Kidston was also one of the famous "Bentley Boys," a group of wealthy racing drivers who loved speed and adventure.
Contents
Glen Kidston's Amazing Career
Early Life and Family Background
Glen Kidston came from a well-known family. His grandfather founded a successful company that dealt with metals and machinery. His family also had interests in shipping, law, and banking. This meant Glen Kidston was one of the wealthiest members of the "Bentley Boys," a group already known for their riches.
Glen Kidston was a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy. He faced danger during World War I. He was on two different ships, HMS Aboukir and Hogue, that were both sunk by a German submarine on the same morning! He survived both times. Later, he served on a large battleship called HMS Orion during the Battle of Jutland. He bravely delivered messages on the open deck while under enemy fire.
Kidston also served on advanced British submarines, including the X1. He even commanded an H-class submarine, H24, in 1926. Besides his work with submarines, he was also an early expert in naval aviation, which means flying planes for the navy.
Racing Adventures and Triumphs
Glen Kidston loved to race! He competed in many exciting motor races, like the Monte Carlo Rally and the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races. He even raced a Sunbeam motorcycle up a hillclimb in Hong Kong and did speed tests on the sand. He brought his motorcycle with him on his submarine while it was on patrol!
In 1929, he raced in the Irish Grand Prix Éireann Cup. He also owned and raced the very first Bugatti car in the UK. Kidston entered the famous Le Mans 24-hour race in 1929 and 1930. In 1930, he won the race, driving a Bentley Speed Six with his teammate Woolf Barnato. That year, the Bentley team achieved an amazing 1-2-3-4 victory!
Surviving a Plane Crash
In 1929, Glen Kidston was flying from Croydon to Amsterdam when he felt the plane was about to crash. He quickly got into a safety position. When the plane hit the ground, he kicked his way out of the wreckage. His clothes were on fire, but he rolled in the wet grass to put out the flames. He was the only person to survive the crash and was hospitalized with serious burns.
Explorer and Record Breaker
Kidston was also a famous big game hunter and an excellent shot. He went on exciting safaris in remote parts of Kenya. Films of his adventures, his early naval flights, and his Bentley racing teamwork are kept at the British Film Institute. They are important because they show pioneering footage of these activities.
In April 1931, Glen Kidston set a new record with his flight from Netheravon, England, to Cape Town, South Africa. He flew his own special Lockheed Vega monoplane and finished the journey in just 6 and a half days, averaging about 131 miles per hour!
A Tragic End
Sadly, Glen Kidston never made the return trip from South Africa. After many close calls in plane, motorcycle, speedboat, and even submarine accidents, he was killed just one year after his big win at Le Mans. His borrowed de Havilland Puss Moth plane broke apart in the air while he was flying through a dust storm over the Drakensberg mountains.
Glen Kidston's Family
Glen Kidston married Nancy Miriel Denise Soames in 1925. They had a son named Archibald Martin Glen. His granddaughter is the well-known designer Cath Kidston. His nephew, Simon Kidston, is famous for collecting and writing about classic cars.
Memorials to Glen Kidston
Glen Kidston's gravestone is at St. Peter's in Glasbury-upon-Wye, Wales, which was his childhood home. It has a sundial and reads "Time and tide wait for no man." There is also a memorial to him at the crash site in the Drakensberg mountains. It is an aluminum propeller set in stone.
Racing Record
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans Results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 |  Bentley Motors Ltd |
Jack Dunfee |
Bentley 4½ Litre | 5.0 | 167 | 2nd | 1st |
| 1930 | Bentley Motors Ltd |
Woolf Barnato |
Bentley Speed Six | >3.0 | 179 | 1st | 1st |
