Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Phil Hill, 1927 - 2008

[red5hilser (red5hilser]

I remember the 1961 season well. It was a 2-way battle between Hill and von 
Tripps, both driving for Ferrari for the Championship. If Tripps hadn't been 
killed in the opening laps at Monza, heÂcould have been Champion. By far, the 
best driver that year was Sterling Moss, driving a Rob Walker entered Lotus. 
Moss also won two races, Monaco and the old 14.2 mile per lap Nurburgring. His 
Lotus was at least 40hp less power than the Ferraris, but he just out-drove the 
others, including both Hill and Tripps. I remember seeing Moss only once, at 
the 1960 USGP held at Riverside. His style was extra fluid and smooth, almost 
like he was in a trance. You could actually see down into the cockpits in those 
days, and he just laid back in the seat, never changing his expression, as if 
he were asleep while turning fastest laps, lap after lap.

Too bad Moss never drove for the Old Man. The only Ferraris that he ever 
competed in were the Rob Walker owned 250GTs, which he did well in. BTW, Moss 
and Walker never had a written contract. Ever! They respected each other so 
much that all they ever needed was a Gentlemens Agreement and a handshake. 
Imagine that!

Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba


-----Original Message-----
From: Max



Thanks for that message. Ever since I started following F-l in 1970, I 
remember them mentioning Phil Hill as the only American born driver to win a 
world championship. Saw where they said he won it with only two victories. 
Must've been a different world in20the fifties to win it with so few race wins.

Â


In a message dated 8/28/2008 9:34:52 P.M. Central Daylight Time, Red5hilser 
writes:


Subject: Fwd: Phil Hill, 1927 - 2008



Back in the 1950's and early '60s, a time when you could just walk into the 
pits at sports car races without a care, Phil Hill was my hero and I discovered 
that Ferrari was my marque of choice. Since Southern California was a hotbed of 
sports car racing in the Western U.S., I attended most of the races held there 
during that time. Phil and Richie Ginther drove Ferraris for John von Neuman, 
along with John's daughter Josie. Carroll Shelby, wearing his bib 
overalls,Âdrove a 4.5 Maserati belonging to John Edgar, who usually watched 
the races, sitting in a director's chair atop his car hauler. For some reason, 
their pits really attracted me.

I usually hung out around Hill's pits for a while before he raced and found him 
to be a very friendly guy who would answer my dumb questions with a smile. It 
saddens me that we have lost such a fine friend, true Tofosi,Âand ambassador 
of our sport. 

RIP Phil, yer pal, Bill 





 







 




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUGUST 28, 2008 Update: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~









 

Word has just reached us that America's first World Champion, Phil Hill, passed 
away this morning due to complications from Parkinson's disease. 
All of us at The Motorsport Collector wish to extend our deepest sympathy 
to Phil's wife Alma, his son Derek and daughters Vanessa and Jennifer. 

We have fond memories of the many autograph sessions and other contact we had 
with Phil over the years. He was a true gentleman and a great Champion. 
He will be missed. 
 
Paul Zimmermann and the TMC Staff 
















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