RIP Phil Hill

[JB]

When I was a budding racecar driver in the 50s Phil Hill was my hero.

He won everything he tried in open wheel and "sports" cars. . . The first American F1 Champion, LeMans several times, all the local SCCA races of that era.

A gentleman of the first class and a role model for racers everywhere.

I met him once, at the Hawaiian speed week in 1958. I was a nobody neophyte and he treated me as though I was important...praised my homemade racer and my driving.

He died this morning. He was 81.

My generation of motorheads will miss him dearly.

 

[DJ]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

Indeed, a class act. Something missing today.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

R.I.P. , Phil.

And may the family find solitude with his passing.

 

[dave11]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

Gone but not forgotten. I grew up reading about his exploits. Unfortunately, I never got to see him race.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

I had to google him to bring myself up to speed...............................The Greatest Generation has lost one to be proud of.........

 

[CATransplant]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

Sad to hear. He was an inspiration to a lot of would-be racers, including myself. I quit racing cars and motorcycles pretty quickly, but I always enjoyed reading about Phil Hill and his conquests.

 

[rmmpe]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

Phil Hill, Jimmy Clark, Mike (the Bike) Halewood..................
It's sad to see the Icons go.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

A gentleman racer of the best sort. A hero of my youth, and a reason I came to Europe in the first place. I knew I would never walk in the shoes of such greats, but I could dream. I have driven some of the tracks that he won at. I have even shared the tracks with cars he won in. I met him years ago, and I didn't know what to say, other than thanks, he just smiled, and ask if we would like a coffee in the VIP tent. He walked us to the door and said we were friends of his, slapped me on the shoulder, and walked off into the crowded pits.

Jim Clark, Mark Donahue, Juan Manuel Fangio, Roger Penske, Carol Shelby, Stirling Moss, Colin Chapman, Bob Bondurant, Dan Gurney, A.J, Foyt, George Folmer, Danny Sullivan, Wolfgang von Trips, Parnelli Jones, Sam Posey, Mario Andretti, Jim Hall, Jacky Stewart...

... these guys were gods in my eyes, but Phil Hill was a special god to me, he was an American in a race world of Europeans, and he beat them at their own game.

Phil Hill - 1961 World Grand Prix Drivers Champion

He won the 24 hours of LeMans in the same year and it wasn't the only time he would do so.

It is not the same today. It has nothing to do with my age, it is just not the same.

Thanks for the dreams Phil.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

In my high school years I was a regular attendee at Sebring and the 24 hr race at Daytona. In those years he was co-piloting the Chappral cars and drove marvelously against all the foreign drivers.

Who would know that two years later he would win his final race at Brands Hatch in a Chaparral.

I remember autocrossing my old MGA always thinking of his description of driving through a decreasing radius just knowing I would do it as good.

However, there were very few who would do it just as good.

God bless you, Phil Hill for many a wonderful memory....

 

[CATransplant]

Re: RIP Phil Hill

Yah...I remember racing my 1959 AH Sprite in local club races...imagining I was Phil Hill. Somehow, I think his cars went somewhat faster and never collided with the hay bales. Poor Sprite! It suffered greatly for my fantasies.