26 replies to this topic

[f1steveuk]

I've just been told that Christopher Hilton died suddenly in Berlin over the weekend.

[Barry Boor]

That is very sad news.

[Tim Murray]

Sad news indeed. I've just realised that, although I've got a couple of his books, I know absolutely nothing about him - age, background etc. I'm also amazed (having just Googled) at how many books he has written, and not just on motor sport. Condolences to his family and friends.

[Gabrci]

This is really bad news. I remember seeing him in some documentary a couple of years ago, and realizing that I'd read so many books of his, but never seen him or known anything about him. An excellent author with very detailed research and entertaining style, he made a huge contribution to motor racing.

[alansart]

That's sad news. I always thought his motor racing books were good and honest.

Having been to Berlin earlier this year I've retained an interest in it's recent history. I ordered his book on the Berlin Wall over the weekend - It comes highly recommended.

[jj2728]

Sad news indeed. R.I.P.

[proviz]

R.I.P. Chris.

He had a Fleet Street approach to motor sport, at least to begin with, but with decades of involvement behind him really got to embrace it. Very, very friendly chap, and good company.

[RTH]

Sad news indeed. Only this week I am reading his book on Murray Walker.

[David Force]

Me too, an excellent writer and he really gets to the core of Murray's enthusiasm.

Reading it on the balcony somewhere very warm while working on the next great Revival event for December 2011...

[Richard Jenkins]

What a tremendous shock this is and a huge shame.

He will be much missed - he did much to make motor racing more understandable and more interesting to the mainstream, casual reader, making them interested into either the sport or the sport's history - a pretty resonable legacy.

[Giraffe]

I particularly liked 'A Man Called Mike', his story of Mike Hailwood and it appears that he wrote a number of novels as well as covering several Olympic Games. His hobby was his allotment, so his sleeve notes say. Very sad indeed.

[Bauble]

I did meet Christopher once at Silverstone, and we discused 'The Ten Greatest Drivers', I told him that you put Nuvolari, Fangio and Moss on pedestals and you could then pick the bones out of the rest! He found that to be an interesting idea and pretty well agreed. He came across as a very pleasant person without any airs or graces about him.

Should his family or friends view this site I offer them my sincere condolences.

Bob

[midgrid]

Sad news, I own several of his books and they were all a pleasure to read. Quite a shock as well, he was interviewed as part of the recent 1955 Le Mans documentary and didn't look particularly old. RIP.

[Paul Parker]

What very sad news.

I knew him from about 12 years ago, he lived just a few miles away from me in Sawbrigeworth at the time.

My sincerest codolences to family and friends.

[Rob G]

Sad news indeed. The racing history community is very much the poorer for his loss.

[vashlin]

I am devasted by this.

I considered Chris a good friend and I will miss our almost daily exchanges via email more than I can say.

I last heard from him on Wed or Thurs of last week. He was really looking forward to revisiting Berlin and he was returning there for a bit of research on a book he was working on.

He was so excited about the England vs Australia cricket test matches just begun last week.

I can't believe he is gone.


My most sincere condolences to his family.

Lin

Edited by vashlin, 30 November 2010 - 14:12.

[CSquared]

I'm currently in about chapter 4 of his "Le Mans '55," and I also liked "Inside the Mind of the Grand Prix Driver" quite a lot. He did an amazing amount of research for these books. Thanks for all your work, Christopher.

[Les]

Indeed that's very sad news. Just recently I had contributed a few pictures to his book 'Grand Prix Battlegrounds' and despite my contribution being very small he very kindly kept in contact with me via email and sent me a signed copy once the book was completed. From my brief dealings with him he seemed a very nice and generous man and also a real enthusiast so its a sad loss.

[JacnGille]

RIP

[Tuboscocca]

in pitpass Eoin Young pays tribute:

http://www.pitpass.c...es_art_id=42666

Regards Michael

[Charlie Z]

Very sad news. My condolences to his family and friends.

Christopher was a writer with the gift of being able to touch the lives of his readers. Having read 'Legend Grows' I wrote him a letter back in 1995 and I was very surprised to receive a reply from him.
We stayed in touch over the years, and I will cherish the memory of visiting him once in Sawbridgeworth and discussing his fascination with Ayrton Senna and totalitarian regimes over a few bottles of lovely red wine from his cellar.

Salute Christopher!

Martin Zustak

[Richard Jenkins]

For those who keep tabs on these things, Chris was 65 years of age.

[Coral]

How very sad, I have read many of his books and enjoyed them. R.I.P. Christopher.

[Twin Window]

This message has been received by autosport.com and forwarded to me;

I would like to thank everyone for posting their kind words on my father's death. Your comments and wishes mean the world to me and my mum. He was the best dad ever and I can't believe he has gone from this world but never from my thoughts and heart. It is amazing to see how many people feel the same and how many lives he touched. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have been his daughter and during these sad times to have such nice things to read helps. For those of you who have his email address it will remain active for now and I will endeavour to answer as many emails as possible.

Once again many thanks for your words and may his books live on in memory of one of life's thoroughly decent gents.

Julia Hilton


Julia, if you read this, you have my sincerest condolences. My father died on November 11th and we cremated him on Tuesday.

I collaborated with your father on a couple of things and always found him to be a smashing chap.

Stuart x

[LittleChris]

Stuart / Julia, my sympathies are with both of you having lost my dad last year.

Not sure how to put it but it does get easier to bear and the good memories remain .

Chris

[ReWind]

Haynes Publishing has put this obituary online.
An appreciation of Christopher Hilton is followed by a letter from this daughter Julia and memories by John H. Haynes, Ross Brawn, Matt Bishop, Nigel Roebuck, Rebecca Nicholls, Peter Nicholson, Richard Parsons, David Hayhoe, Ian Heath, Darryl Reach, Maurice Hamilton, and Julian Nowell.

[Lutz G]

How very sad. A few month ago I got my hands on Christopher Hilton's "1982: The Inside Story of the Sensational Grand Prix Season" (the year Chris arrived in F1). IMO it's a superb book. On page 152 you'll find just a big picture of Riccardo Paletti followed by great article "Remembering Riccardo". For Christopher F1-Rookie Paletti wasn't just a footnote in the history. Very sympathic. The stuff about John Watson is also very well written and interesting (found a few answers about Wattie's performance in the second half of the season)
Now I run out of talent, to choose the right words in a foreign language.

RIP

Lutz

Edited by Lutz G, 19 January 2011 - 23:40.