Comments on: Phil Hill, 1927-2008

By: rob cochran

rob cochran — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 06:46:48 +0000

As a little boy, I attended Phil Hill’s first Grand Prix. This was Monza 1958 when he was drafted in to support Mike Hawthorn’s title challenge. I was surprised to see this driver with his extra pair of goggles on his helmet appear in a Dino 246 but recognised his as Phil Hill – especially after his epic Le Mans win in the rain earlier that summer. I spent Saturday evening in the paddock ( as one did in those days ) next to my campsite and got very excited as I watched Ferrari change to Dunlop disc brakes for the first time. I watched the race at the Parabolica pressed up (lucky me) against a small but very knowledgeable Italian lady who was much enthused by the arrival of Phil Hill ( a “comingman” as she said.) What a race! Moss and Tony Brooks in their Vans, Fangio and Jean Behra (the latter in an oversteering V12 Maserati.)
Thanks for the memory, Phil. You were a true champion.

By: Gman

Gman — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:27:20 +0000

Indeed a sad day for the international racing community- Phil Hill was someone who will always be rembered as being a tremendous representative of the motor racing world for the duration of his life. My prayers go out to he and his family, and may his spirit live on in the Formula 1 world for many more years.

By: Brar

Brar — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:51:03 +0000

Probably the legendary Phil Hill winned the most dramatic and mythic championship in history.

By: Ninad

Ninad — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:39:47 +0000

We will miss him………

By: the limit

the limit — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:19:26 +0000

I remember reading many years ago about Phil Hill, and how he used to get so nervous at the start of a grand prix, that is teeth would chatter like crazy. I was struck at the time by just how humble a man he was in the way he came across, a real gentleman.
To race when death was commonplace, in those fragil cars, at the speeds they did, took nothing more than courage and passion of the highest order. Thankyou Phil Hill, for everything you gave our sport. x.

By: Steve K

Steve K — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:08:20 +0000

Thank you for the post. Connecting a sport to the past makes the present more meaningful. His teammate dies in a race while he lives to be 81. Those guys were truly daredevils.

By: Wesley

Wesley — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:42:38 +0000

According to Wikipedia he was the first driver to lap the old Nurburgring in under nine minutes.

He was returning from an antique car race when he passed…..passion for racing till the end.

RIP Mr. Hill,you made your country proud.

By: Dan Brunell

Dan Brunell — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:42:49 +0000

This just brought my day down today. I never meet the man but heard and saw him a few times both in person, read some of his occasional writings, and on TV.

If I could encapsulate the guy, he was a plain but well spoken gent who loved racing and automobiles in general. He had a very pleasant “American” way about him; confident but not cocky, always warm to anyone who recognized him, know who he was or what he accomplished in his amazing career.

On a personal note, I always wanted to do a book or wish someone would do a book on the American drivers like Hill, Shelby, and Dan Gurney who were prevalent in F1 and international racing in the 1960′s. Sadly, with Hill’s passing; one of those figures have left us and their stories, antidotes, jokes, and personality are now gone to the ages.

Prayers around to all that had the honor of knowing him and being in his family.

By: amy

amy — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:11:55 +0000

He was a fantastic driver and a fantastic man. He will be sorely missed. RIP