Phil Hill 1927-2008

One of the greats and one of the few who could drive and win with all types of cars on all types of tracks. Front engine,rear engine,formular cars, sports cars, GT cars, road courses, road tracks.high speed tracks low speed tracks, short tracks, long road courses daylight racing, night racing, sprint racing, endurance racing.Find me a driver today who could do this.He had great discipline both off the track and on which enabled him to to stay focused on his sport and weather the storms at Ferrari. He new his limits and always drove within himself which is why he remained with us so long. His interests in automobilia went far beyond racing to include restoration and collecting and he had interests in classical music, travel , his family and more. A man for all seasons whome we should never forget and let him be an example to us all. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

une pensée pour Phil Hill.

2 pics from LMC 2004

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/275582/DSCN0953.JPG

http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/275582/DSCN0952.JPG

 

Denis Jenkinson commended Phil to me in the '60s as the one racing driver who could converse intelligently on any topic you might care to pick. His range of interests was incredible, despite his still being - to the core of his being - "a car guy". He loved old as much as new, and middling too - and the story of how he and Dan Gurney drove his ex-Amherst Villers 1930 'Blower' Bentley back south from Monterey, hosed down one Californian chapter of the De Tomaso Pantera Club, and were partway through their meal in a diner before the chastened 'supercars' trailed in - spouting steam and brakes smoking (and tail-end Charlie with a fresh new speeding ticket!) - is an enduring classic.

Here's one grand day out with Phil, in the second country he always loved - England.

The guys with him are racing photographer Geoff Goddard with whom Phil (as a superb photographer in his own right, and music collector) had so much in common - and then
former Ferrari 275GTB/C and LM privateer Paul Vestey - who vividly recalls "beachball-sized balls of fire" blasting back at him out of the Chaparral 2F's drainpipe exhausts as Phil braked it down into the Monza chicanes (as he lapped Paul's GTB/C) - The steam railway locos were on The Watercress Line at Ropley, Hampshire (highly recommended) - where Phil spent ages poring over the restoration shops and chatting with the dedicated volunteer craftsmen there, and he then asked me to take him to see Mike Hawthorn's resting place in the West Street Cemetery, Farnham. He had never been to Mike's home town before, which wasn't a suprise 'cos it's only small. He said he had always pictured it as being industrial, and expressed surprise when he found it's largely Georgian, with a castle and surrounded by hills, forests, heaths, lakes and farmland.

He stood for several minutes like this, alone with his thoughts of long ago, while I backed off and kept quiet. Then he looked up at me and grinned and simply said "Thanks - just beautiful...".

I couldn't think of anything to say.

Words weren't necessary.

Next morning he hit the rev limiter with delight...because he'd been awoken by the sound of passing horses' hooves.

Over the long years it was a privilege to watch him race, and to get to know and work with him. Phil Hill the man was even greater than Phil Hill, the World Champion Driver.

Our thoughts are now with Alma, Derek, Vanessa and the rest of his family and battalions of old friends. They will all be in pain - but after a tough time, at least he's comfy.

DCN
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Thanks Mr. Nye!
CH

 

That's a great story, thanks for sharing it.

 

just thinking, how it must to be sad to lost a friend.

 

The stories speak volumes about a wonderful life. The photos are great too. Thank you.

 

http://www.philhill.com/

 

One of the giants of motor sports.

I have a tape of Monterey historics from about ten or twelve years back. Phil ran in the drum brake class in a little 212 or 166 barchetta. He started about sixth on the grid with a gaggle of bigger newer Ferraris in front of him. On the start he just drove it down into the corner about twice as hard as anybody and came out leading, then simply motored away from all of them....in a class by himself.

And in a class by himself as a person as well.

I think I'll dig out the tape and watch it again.

Tom W

 

Below photos were taken at last years Parkinson charity event
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strange feeling now.
nice pix, i notice the tie too..

 

FYI: Phil actually had MSA, an "orphan" disease very similar to Parkinson's.

 

Beautiful pics of the late Mr Hill!

 

tongascrew has it right. Phil Hill raced any kind of car--which is what most of the top drivers from the '50s did, including the great Juan Fangio--unlike today's specialists. Moreover, he drove cars during the bulk of his career that were pre-World War II technology and far more dangerous than today's prototype and Formula 1 cars. And, he drove under much more dangerous course conditions than today's drivers do. That he won the World Championship and never had a serious accident in the mnay races he contested and won is a great tribute to his skill. We are left with only a handful of his contemporaries. How sad.

 

Was in my storage units last weekend, selling off a lot of stuff I have collected over the years. Found a book I had not looked at for many many years. I knew there was something special about this book entitled "Legendary Race Drivers", but at first age and one too many auto accidents blocked my memory.

As if by magic, I opened the book and it happened to be in the section with drivers whose last name started with an "H".

"Best Wishes Ron, Phil Hill".

I uttered something that sounded sort of like "luck me".

I had to sit on the floor for 15 minutes before I could go on with my work. It's not for sale.

 

The more I hear of Phil and the others of his time the sadder I feel when I look at some of the current crop of F1 drivers.

 

At Phil's memorial service, the hand-out included these lovely words by Ernie Nagamatsu, which I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing:

If I could, I would, gather my family "crew" for a team meeting one last time, to thank them all for they allowed me to dream my dreams and were always there for mer...and regardless of the circumstances on the "track of life".

If I could, I would, I would run my hands along the beautiful 1931 Pierce Arrow that set standards for me in beauth and elegance and later gave me fond memories of Pebble Beach.
If I could I would, drive one more time slowly along the old roads that were once the race circuits for Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, and Golden Gate Park, as it always stirred wonderful memories fo days gone by.

If I could I would, I would put on some LP records, to hear once again the thrill of the moemnt in time of the great races at Sebring, Riverside, Le Mans, and Daytona to re-live moments hearing the interviews of my dear friends such as Gendebien, Gurney, Moss, Shelby and Collins, if I could I would.

If I could I would, sit one last time in some of the great magnificant race cargs that I raced, such as Ferraris, GT-40S, Chaparrals and turn on the ignition one last time...just to hear the fine staccato sounds of the finely tuned motors as it was like symphony music to me ears always.

If I could I would, visit some race circuits that resonated in my mind forwver such as Nurburging, Spa, and of course Monaco...and I would have afternoon tea as Europe taught me.

If I could I would go to a race track to take a 156 "Sharknose" Ferrari that seemed to always be attributed to my name, and I would salute all of the Grid Marshals and "Corner Workers" around the world...for they spent much of their time to make sure that I was always safe on the tracks that I raced at...I was grateful indeed.

If I could I would, go to Goodwood Circuit one last time and watch from the "Start-Finish", to see Derek drive for me taking my "seat" at the Revival Meeting...and racing with all his heart to win one for me...a moment that I cherished as much as any win I ever had.

If I could I would, have a beach picnic with my lovely girls; Alma, Vanessa, Jennifer, Bella, Lela and Liz, and if I could I would hug my grandson baby Vaughn...one more time.

If I could I would, thank all of the great racing fans, for they always made me bigger in life and more than I could have expected over the years. I would thank them for always including my family with all of the adulations in life...as a family were were a "team".

If I could I would, step into my garage in Santa Monica and spend some last quiet and special moments to be thankful of being given the opportunity of spending endless hours on projects which were so memorable to me...and gaze at the cars to say goodbye...if I could I would.

If I could I would, race to the checkered flag that had touched the face of God, and he was flagging me home as well.

Today, Phil, on your journey home, may the gentle winds touch your face kindly and may the grace of God embrace you and protect you always. God Speed and thank you for making all of our lives richer and more meaningful as you will be in our hearts forever...and ever...

 

Those are indeed beautiful words.

 

Thank You for sharing. Once again, RIP. Jimmy

 

http://www.sportscarmarket.com/auctions/platinum/In_Loving_Memory_of_Phil_Hill.pdf

 

At Phil's memorial service, the hand-out included these lovely words by Ernie Nagamatsu.

Those words capture the essence of the man we all admired, a true "car guy" and a true gentleman in every phase of his life.

RIP Mr. Hill.

Regards,

Jim Walker
365 GT 2+2 #12451

 

Just wonderful. I have printed this out and it will go with file on this rare American and also race driver etc etc etc. just one man's opinion tongascrew

 

What a great post. Thank you.

 

Hi Tom!

Welcome to the Fchat community!

Tom is one of the greatest American racing photographers IMHO... You can check his beautiful photography on his web site: www.tomburnside.com

Please find below an extraordinary portrait of Phil (Venezuela 1957) made by his old friend Tom... Copyright you know who ;-)

Tom, Maybe you can comment this beautiful pic...



C.
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