Tonight 9:00 BBC4 Graham Hill

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Mon May 26, 2008 6:57 pm

A motor racing legend and father of Damon. Great after dinner speaker. Great character. Great driver. Only driver to win F1 champ., Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 hour.

I was at my sister's house in Arkley, Herts. the very foggy night his plane crashed on the golf course, trying to find Elstree airfield. Bloody tragic loss

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Mon May 26, 2008 7:03 pm

Agree with you there Gerry. I used to watch Graham Hill race and it was/is a huge loss to the sport.

Will be watching this - cheers.

Mike Broadbent · Post by **Mike Broadbent** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:05 pm

I met Graham Hill when I worked For Lotus in the 1960s. I think it was 1967 when he flew in to see ACBC. He was due to leave in the afternoon but took the time and trouble to delay his departure so he could give a talk to our car club that evening. He was extremely funny and a very good speaker. I still remember that he used the same line about his first race that he used on the Parky Show, " I held the revs at 6k, dropped the clutch and found myself in the lead."
He was truly one of the greats who got on well with all the drivers, and, like others of that era did not only drive in GPs but also like that other great driver, Jim Clark, drove Lotus Mk1 Cortinas with some success.
I still have his signed photo to this day !

duncan · Post by **duncan** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:19 pm

Forgot to say thanks Gerry - great programme on a great man.

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:51 pm

dynamix wrote:Forgot to say thanks Gerry - great programme on a great man.

I really enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Shame they didn't spend some time on his F2 and saloon car successes, especially as Mike said, with the Lotus Cortinas. I used to love watching those taking corners with a front wheel cocked in the air

On a sad note, it was tragic to see the fireballs that were the hallmark of a crash in those days. Today's drivers owe a great deal, including many lives, to the likes of Jackie Stewart who made himself very unpopular with his safety camaigns.