By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. Racing a car, motorcycle or anything with some sort of power is a pursuit like no other. It is a passionate endeavor requiring an obsessive single-mindedness that consumes the people involved to a degree that outsiders find hard to understand. Ask any driver who has competed at the top level, and they will tell you that there is nothing half-assed about what they do, because the focus required is almost incomprehensible. Drivers talk about being in "the zone" - a strange state of mind that takes over their entire being while they're racing - when the faster they go the more things seem to slow down for them. They're aware of everything around them, but at the same time their focus on the task at hand is impenetrable, because anything less can result in a mistake that will likely have severe consequences. Racers are indeed a rare breed, willing to sacrifice everything for the pursuit of what they love to do, to the detriment of everything else. These racers have left an indelible mark on the sport. Drivers who were fierce competitors, flawed heroes and incredible, gifted talents. Their legacies are what make the sport of motor racing so fascinating. In the next few issues of "Fumes" I will recall some of my favorites. This week, I'm featuring Phil Hill, America's First World Champion.
(Getty images)Philip Toll Hill Jr. was the first American - and only American-born - driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship (1961). (Mario Andretti, only the second American ever to win the World Championship, was born in Italy.) Phil Hill competed in F1 from 1955-1964, and for one more year (1966) driving various machines including ATS, Cooper, Eagle, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren and Porsche. The Californian began driving for Enzo Ferrari in 1959, recording three podiums and finishing fourth in the final F1 Championship standings. Hill won the 1960 Italian Grand Prix at Monza driving a Ferrari 246, becoming the first American driver to win a Grand Prix since Jimmy Murphy won the 1921 French Grand Prix. It also marked the last time a front-engined machine won a Grand Prix race. In 1961, Hill won the Belgian Grand Prix, and with two races left in the season and heading to the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, he trailed only his teammate, Wolfgang von Trips, in the Championship. But that race would become one of the most tragic days in the history of F1, as von Trips crashed and was killed, along with fourteen spectators. Hill went on to win the race - his third and final Grand Prix win - but it proved to be bittersweet, to say the least. It would be compounded by the fact that Enzo Ferrari withdrew his team from the final F1 race at Watkins Glen, New York, thus preventing Hill from competing in his home race as the new World Champion. 1962 would be Hill's last driving for Ferrari in F1. He was famously quoted as saying, "I no longer have as much as I need to race, to win. I don't have as much hunger anymore. I am no longer willing to risk killing myself."
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Besides being America's first World Champion, Hill (with Mike Spence, above) was spectacular in sports cars, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times driving a Ferrari with co-driver Olivier Gendebien (1958, 1961, 1962). Hill's 1958 win was also the first for an American driver in the French endurance classic. Hill also won the 12 Hours of Sebring three times. He won it in 1958 with co-driver Peter Collins in a Ferrari 250 TR; in 1959 in a Ferrari 250 TR59 with co-drivers Olivier Gendebien, Chuck Daigh and Dan Gurney; and in 1961 with Olivier Gendebien in a Ferrari TRI61.
Besides being America's first World Champion, Hill (with Mike Spence, above) was spectacular in sports cars, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times driving a Ferrari with co-driver Olivier Gendebien (1958, 1961, 1962). Hill's 1958 win was also the first for an American driver in the French endurance classic. Hill also won the 12 Hours of Sebring three times. He won it in 1958 with co-driver Peter Collins in a Ferrari 250 TR; in 1959 in a Ferrari 250 TR59 with co-drivers Olivier Gendebien, Chuck Daigh and Dan Gurney; and in 1961 with Olivier Gendebien in a Ferrari TRI61.
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Hill was the lead driver for Ford on the initial Ford GT effort, and continued to drive Ford GTs from '63 - '65. Here, Phil and co-driver Bruce McLaren are getting acquainted with the brand-new Ford GT40 before the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers, May 1964. Hill qualified second in the No. 140 Ford GT40 to John Surtees in the No. 143 Ferrari 275 P, which was co-driven by Lorenzo Bandini. Hill and McLaren did not finish due to suspension issues. The race was to be a warmup for Le Mans, but the GT40 effort wasn't ready there either.
Hill was the lead driver for Ford on the initial Ford GT effort, and continued to drive Ford GTs from '63 - '65. Here, Phil and co-driver Bruce McLaren are getting acquainted with the brand-new Ford GT40 before the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers, May 1964. Hill qualified second in the No. 140 Ford GT40 to John Surtees in the No. 143 Ferrari 275 P, which was co-driven by Lorenzo Bandini. Hill and McLaren did not finish due to suspension issues. The race was to be a warmup for Le Mans, but the GT40 effort wasn't ready there either.
(Dave Friedman)
Phil Hill was also prominent in the early days of Shelby American. Here he wheels the No. 12 Shelby American Cobra at the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 23, 1963. Phil started the race in the No. 15 Shelby American Cobra team car with Dan Gurney, but that car finished well down in the field. Phil also joined Ken Miles and Lew Spencer in the No. 12 team car during the race, and they finished 11th overall and 1st in GT+4.0.
Phil Hill was also prominent in the early days of Shelby American. Here he wheels the No. 12 Shelby American Cobra at the 12 Hours of Sebring, March 23, 1963. Phil started the race in the No. 15 Shelby American Cobra team car with Dan Gurney, but that car finished well down in the field. Phil also joined Ken Miles and Lew Spencer in the No. 12 team car during the race, and they finished 11th overall and 1st in GT+4.0.
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Hill also drove for Jim Hall in the Can-Am Series, delivering a huge win against the best in the series at Laguna Seca in October 1966. Hill won Heat 1 in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, followed by Jim Hall in the No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet. Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) finished third. Parnelli Jones won Heat 2 in the No. 98 Lola T70 Mk.2 powered by a DOHC Ford Indy V8 and entered by John W. Mecom Jr. Hill finished second and Hall finished third in Heat 2, and Hill was the overall winner of the weekend.
Hill also drove for Jim Hall in the Can-Am Series, delivering a huge win against the best in the series at Laguna Seca in October 1966. Hill won Heat 1 in the No. 65 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet, followed by Jim Hall in the No. 66 Chaparral 2E Chevrolet. Bruce McLaren (No. 4 McLaren Elva Mark II B Chevrolet) finished third. Parnelli Jones won Heat 2 in the No. 98 Lola T70 Mk.2 powered by a DOHC Ford Indy V8 and entered by John W. Mecom Jr. Hill finished second and Hall finished third in Heat 2, and Hill was the overall winner of the weekend.
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Phil Hill won the 1966 Nurburgring 1000 km in the No. 7 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet with co-driver Jo Bonnier. It was the second major international sports car win (after Sebring, 1965) and the first on foreign soil for the Chaparral Cars team.
Phil Hill won the 1966 Nurburgring 1000 km in the No. 7 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet with co-driver Jo Bonnier. It was the second major international sports car win (after Sebring, 1965) and the first on foreign soil for the Chaparral Cars team.
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May 1, 1967. Phil Hill put the No. 1 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet on the pole for the 1000 Km race at Spa. Phil and co-driver Mike Spence didn't finish due to gearbox issues, unfortunately.
May 1, 1967. Phil Hill put the No. 1 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet on the pole for the 1000 Km race at Spa. Phil and co-driver Mike Spence didn't finish due to gearbox issues, unfortunately.
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Targa Florio, Sicily, May 14, 1967. Phil Hill and Hap Sharp competed in the famous Italian open road race in the No. 222 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet. They didn't finish due to a tire puncture. Why the No. 222? In the Targa Florio, car numbers were assigned based on the car's start time during the day. Now you know.
Targa Florio, Sicily, May 14, 1967. Phil Hill and Hap Sharp competed in the famous Italian open road race in the No. 222 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet. They didn't finish due to a tire puncture. Why the No. 222? In the Targa Florio, car numbers were assigned based on the car's start time during the day. Now you know.
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The B.O.A.C. 500 - or Brands Hatch 6 Hours - July 30, 1967. Phil Hill and Mike Spence (No. 1 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet) delivered the last major international sports car win for the Chaparral Cars team in the 1000 Km race at Brands Hatch that day. Hill qualified third and the dynamic duo sprinted to the win ahead of Chris Amon/Jackie Stewart (No. 6 Ferrari 330 P4) and Jo Siffert/Bruce McLaren (No. 11 Porsche 910). Hill retired from driving after that race.
The B.O.A.C. 500 - or Brands Hatch 6 Hours - July 30, 1967. Phil Hill and Mike Spence (No. 1 Chaparral 2F Chevrolet) delivered the last major international sports car win for the Chaparral Cars team in the 1000 Km race at Brands Hatch that day. Hill qualified third and the dynamic duo sprinted to the win ahead of Chris Amon/Jackie Stewart (No. 6 Ferrari 330 P4) and Jo Siffert/Bruce McLaren (No. 11 Porsche 910). Hill retired from driving after that race.
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Phil Hill in his Ferrari 156 Grand Prix car. Phil loved to race and he loved driving for Ferrari, until it wasn't fun anymore and he moved on. But the smile on his face in happier moments said it all. He was World Champion in 1961.
Phil Hill in his Ferrari 156 Grand Prix car. Phil loved to race and he loved driving for Ferrari, until it wasn't fun anymore and he moved on. But the smile on his face in happier moments said it all. He was World Champion in 1961.
(Bernard Cahier/Getty images)
There are so many great images of Phil Hill from his motor racing career, but whenever he is pictured in the classic Ferrari 156 it's always worth a closer look.
There are so many great images of Phil Hill from his motor racing career, but whenever he is pictured in the classic Ferrari 156 it's always worth a closer look.
(Getty Images)
Laguna Seca Can-Am, 1966. Phil Hill in the iconic Chaparral 2E Chevrolet is an image that never gets old.
Laguna Seca Can-Am, 1966. Phil Hill in the iconic Chaparral 2E Chevrolet is an image that never gets old.
(Getty images)
Daytona International Speedway, 1966. Phil Hill and Jim Hall during practice for the Daytona 24 Hour. Phil qualified the No. 65 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet in second position behind the No. 98 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby. Phil and co-driver Jo Bonnier didn't finish, and Miles/Ruby led a 1-2-3 finish for Ford, with Dan Gurney/Jerry Grant (No. 97 Shelby American Ford Mk II) in second, and Walt Hansgen/Mark Donohue (No. 95 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II) finishing third. After Phil retired, he had a thriving - and highly successful - classic car restoration business. He died on August 28, 2008, in Monterey, California. My Phil Hill story? I was designated to pick him up at Detroit Metropolitan Airport for a press event in the spring of 1983 (I had never met him). By the time he arrived from California, it was early evening and very dark because of looming thunderstorms. As we made our way to the suburban hotel that I was to deliver him to, it started raining fairly hard. My car at the time was an Audi GT - with the raked windshield - and I had just put a fresh coat of Rain-X on it that morning. As I said, it was pitch black out, but I didn't put the wipers on because I didn't need to (Rain-X was relatively new at the time). All of a sudden, Phil blurted out, "What the hell is that?" as the sound of the pelting rain slammed into the windshield. I said it was the rain, and he said, "Why aren't you using your wipers?" And then I explained what Rain-X was and he was flabbergasted... and excited. "That is fantastic! If I had had that at Le Mans... in the rain... at night. Amazing!" He couldn't get over it all the rest of the way there. My brief experience with Phil? He was a cool dude, and a very gracious man.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG
Daytona International Speedway, 1966. Phil Hill and Jim Hall during practice for the Daytona 24 Hour. Phil qualified the No. 65 Chaparral 2D Chevrolet in second position behind the No. 98 Shelby American Ford Mk II driven by Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby. Phil and co-driver Jo Bonnier didn't finish, and Miles/Ruby led a 1-2-3 finish for Ford, with Dan Gurney/Jerry Grant (No. 97 Shelby American Ford Mk II) in second, and Walt Hansgen/Mark Donohue (No. 95 Holman & Moody Ford Mk II) finishing third. After Phil retired, he had a thriving - and highly successful - classic car restoration business. He died on August 28, 2008, in Monterey, California. My Phil Hill story? I was designated to pick him up at Detroit Metropolitan Airport for a press event in the spring of 1983 (I had never met him). By the time he arrived from California, it was early evening and very dark because of looming thunderstorms. As we made our way to the suburban hotel that I was to deliver him to, it started raining fairly hard. My car at the time was an Audi GT - with the raked windshield - and I had just put a fresh coat of Rain-X on it that morning. As I said, it was pitch black out, but I didn't put the wipers on because I didn't need to (Rain-X was relatively new at the time). All of a sudden, Phil blurted out, "What the hell is that?" as the sound of the pelting rain slammed into the windshield. I said it was the rain, and he said, "Why aren't you using your wipers?" And then I explained what Rain-X was and he was flabbergasted... and excited. "That is fantastic! If I had had that at Le Mans... in the rain... at night. Amazing!" He couldn't get over it all the rest of the way there. My brief experience with Phil? He was a cool dude, and a very gracious man.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG