By guest writer Alexis Parr
Today’s offshore powerboat racing is now a highly sophisticated marine sport.
But there is still huge nostalgia and fascination for the early glamorous proponents, like Lord ‘Lucky’ Lucan whose dashing James Bond image helped bring the elitist activity into the wider public domain.
Indeed it is sixty years since the dashing but doomed Anglo-Irish aristocrat competed in the 1964 Cowes Torquay International Power Boat Race. It was an expensive past time even then, but in his hey day Charles Bingham, the 7th Lord Lucan, had money to burn and was in possession of a number of lucrative trust funds not to mention a generous endowment from his wife, Veronica’s father.
For the younger generation reading this, Lord Lucan has slipped into modern folk lore after a notorious murder case in which his children’s nanny , Sandra, was murdered at the family home in London’s smart Belgravia. It is said he mistook Sandra for his estranged wife, with whom he was involved in bitter legal proceedings fighting for custody of their children.
Lucan disappeared after the murder in November 1974 never to be seen – at least officially (!) again, his whereabouts continued to be an international mystery and scandal until he was eventually granted a death certificate in the UK in 2016. Ironically, it was his wife Veronica’s sister, Christina, which led to Lucan getting involved in power boat racing in the first place.
Lucan became great chums with Christina’s sporty husband, wallpaper heir, Bill Shand Kydd, whom he met on the Cresta Run in St Moritz. He was impressed by his daredevil brother in law even more after seeing him race in BLUE MOPPIE, the ex Bertram/Griffiths 1962 boat.
So way before his rackety personal life and compulsive gambling caught up with him, Lord Lucan made a name for himself as a dashing speed freak. Lucan was attracted to the glamorous South of France where much of the action took place, where all the beautiful people conglomerated. After all despite his aristocratic background he had a relatively austere childhood. During the World War II years – he did not see much of his father, the 6th Earl, who was said to be a Socialist and was evacuated, first to Wales. He didn’t really see the ‘good life’ until he ended up in New York via Canada under the guardianship of multi millionaire Marcia Brady Tucker. From darkened war torn Britain he was now in the sun playing golf, and yes, being introduced to racing power boats.
He was hooked on speed, motor cars like his favourite Aston Martin, and what we might call these days ‘ living it large.’ Way before he ended up racing at Cowes, in 1956 Lucan stated his desire was to ‘have £2 million in the bank , and as many cars, expensive holidays and yachts that would give me alot of pleasure’.
Unfortunately Lucan, who did a short spell in the Coldstream Guards did not want a conventional route to such costly hedonism. He ditched his job in the City of London to become a full time professional gambler. With his lush Coldsteam guards moustache and dashing appearance he even flirted with becoming a film star and he is said to have turned down an audition for the role of James Bond 007 himself!
The Old Etonian modelled himself on the handsome hero who was often depicted in fast moving power boat chases. Lucky’s first boat was a 25 footer, Christina, which with it’s 2 Ford Dearborn interceptors totalling 800 hp, was regarded as quite a power in those days.
In 1963 he competed with co-driver, Bruce Campbell in the Cowes Torquay National Power Boat Race as owner driver of 25 footer, White Migrant. He seemed to be going great guns and was in the lead against Tommy Sopwith in Thunderstreak, Keith Schellenberg in Blue Moppie, Sonny Levi in A’Spereanziella, and Dennis Miller in Damian 3, all averaging 42 knots in the Solent. Suddenly as Lucan approached the Needles, it sank. Lucan and Bruce were rescued and no reason for the cause was ever officially stated.
Lucan had another two attempts the following two years, in 1964 with one of the new Aronow Formula 233 powered by a single 388 hp called Migrant and with the same vessel the next year, but without success. One theory regarding the 1963 sinking was that the tanks had been overfilled and Lucan was slopping out petrol in the bilges when his cuff caught the propshaft. The material dragged into the floating bearing which seized up and water started pouring in. The bilge pump packed up and then it sank.
Despite Lucan’s failure to win his name is still spoken with a nostalgic reverence for exemplifying the glamorous early days of power boat racing.
Ironically, his heir, George Bingham, the 56 yr old 8th Lord Lucan, has become involved in the world of fashion and style himself after marrying effervescent Danish heiress Anne-Sofie Foghsgaard (Fie), now the Countess of Lucan. She set up the highly respected and award winning firm, Lucan Fashion, which specialises in luxury outdoor and sports wear.
And it says ‘Lucan clothes marry a venerable name with distinct modern sensibility,’
She has even got husband George, the 8th Earl of Lucan, to model.
Who knows, upmarket sailing apparel could feature in their next collection.
