Last night our friend Adrian Hamilton - of Duncan Hamilton Ltd, son of the 1953 Le Mans-winning Jaguar driver - succumbed to a massive stroke suffered a few days previously.
'Hammy' was a real character. He played a leading role within the classic car market for over 40 years and was in many ways the archetypal 'gentleman' wheeler-dealer. He also became what I used to rib him about as being the only known hereditary member of the BRDC. I think his only serious first-hand racing experience was competing with a Mercedes once at Thruxton or somesuch - and also with a GT40 in the Blackbushe Dragfest?
But Hammy lived his life precisely the way he drove - absolutely FLAT OUT!
He was a blazered Barney Bear of a man, hugely extrovert but he was genuinely so big-hearted, and if anyone within his world was in trouble or in need or hurting, Hammy would instinctively just wade right in and help.
He was the driving force behind his friend and client Roald Goethe first founding the remarkable Rofgo Collection of primarily Gulf-liveried racing cars.
He was a force of nature, and we will miss him. My sincerest condolences to his children - including professional racing driver/instructor Archie - and to all his extended family and many, many other friends.
Above all else, I do remember learning from Hammy the foolishness of ever - as a passenger - exhorting him as the driver: "Go on, then - floor it!". Once done - never repeated. God speed Hammy.
DCN
