41 replies to this topic

[Rockford]

On this day, 30 years ago Graham Hill was so tragically killed. There is an interesting page on the BBC website looking back on that fateful day, including video of the news report:

http://news.bbc.co.u...000/2527363.stm

[bill moffat]

A decade out ?

[Rockford]

Oops - well spotted. I've also just noticed that this should be in a thread posted by Barry Boor further down the page - not got my brain in gear this morning...

[alfredaustria]

Another seven years gone: Today it is already 37 years that Graham lost his life.

[RCH]

They say everyone can remember where they were when they heard that JFK was shot. You have to be old enough of course! I can remember having fallen asleep in front of the TV and waking up just as the news about the plane crash came on and hearing the headline and then having to wait until the end of the news to confirm I hadn't dreamt it. And only a couple of miles away from where I was living at the time.

Back at the International Trophy in '62 when Graham pulled out that last minute pass to beat Jim Clark he became my hero. Somehow, in my eyes, the fact that he could beat Clark made him better than Clark, well made sense to me.

[alfredaustria]

Today would have been Graham's 84th birthday. Unbelievable!

[SJ Lambert]

BBC article is somewhat inaccurate. There is no mention of the Aussie who was on board.....

Edited by SJ Lambert, 15 February 2013 - 09:52.

[alfredaustria]

Hallo, I revive this old thread, with a question to a wellknown early photo, which shows up in many books about Graham, but no further details about this photo: no exact date (which race, result?), no photographer.

Source: "Graham Hill" by Simon Arron. 

Who knows more about this photo? Which race? Which exact date? The text of the photo says only: Early days: Graham with a 500cc Kieft at Brands Hatch.

 

[moffspeed]

Must be 1954, GHs early 500 races (and Racing School experiences) were in (or should that be on?) a Cooper.  His Kieft outings at Brands that year were on 7th June and the 4th of the following month. I don't have access to race numbers but I would guess that it is one of those 2 dates.

 

Running in the "Junior" category (not a word that you would freely associate with Hill) he finished the final in 4th position in June and 3rd position in July.

 

From little acorns... 

[dgs]

Must be 1954, GHs early 500 races (and Racing School experiences) were in (or should that be on?) a Cooper.  His Kieft outings at Brands that year were on 7th June and the 4th of the following month. I don't have access to race numbers but I would guess that it is one of those 2 dates.

 

Running in the "Junior" category (not a word that you would freely associate with Hill) he finished the final in 4th position in June and 3rd position in July.

 

From little acorns... 

According to Formula 1 Register Record Book, Formula 3, 1953-1954. Graham Hill was entered in Half-Litre Car Club race at Brands Hatch, 7th June 1954, as No 41 (Premier Motor Racing Club) Keift-Norton. As moffspeed  stated he finished 3rd, heat 1, 4th final in Race 2 (Junior Race). No 33 is shown as Alan Eccles (Staride-Norton).

At the Half-Litre Car Club meeting at Brands Hatch, 4th July, he is again shown as No 41 (Premier Motor Racing Club) Kieft-Norton, finishing 4th, heat 1, 3rd final in Race 2 Race 2 (Junior Race). No 33 is shown as Henry Koring (Cooper-JAP)

 

At the V Daily Telegraph International Trophy meeting, held at Brands Hatch, 2nd August, Graham Hill is again No 41 (Premier Motor Racing Club) Kieft-Norton. He is shown as an other entry in heat 1, (Open Challenge Race), in Race 2 (Daily Telegraph Trophy) he is shown as other entry (heat 4). not shown on starting grid for final. This time No 33 is shown Tommy Bridger (Kieft-Norton).

 

So a mystery as to what race meeting the picture was taken at.  

[BRG]

This time No 33 is shown Tommy Bridger (Kieft-Norton).

Are we certain that it is Hill in the photo?  I know it does look like him, but after all, moustaches were two a penny in those days. And no rowing club colours on the helmet.

Edited by BRG, 09 November 2017 - 17:20.

[alfredaustria]

 

Are we certain that it is Hill in the photo?  I know it does look like him, but after all, moustaches were two a penny in those days. And no rowing club colours on the helmet.

 

 

Well, this is really a mistery. The wellknown helmet Graham used from 1956 onwards.

 

In his first race (april 19, easter monday) in Brands Hatch - Graham had No 62

He came second in Junior race Heat 2 - and 4th in the Junior Race Final

 

The second race was on may 1 - also in Brands Hatch. I don't know which starting number Graham had. This race meeting on may 1st should be the race, where Graham retired and then met Colin Chapman.

Possibly the photo showing Graham with No 33 is from this race?

[Gary C]

It certainly looks like NGH to me.

[D-Type]

Tommy Bridger didn't have a 'tache.  Could this be a practice photo of NGH trying out Bridger's Kieft?

[dgs]

Well, this is really a mistery. The wellknown helmet Graham used from 1956 onwards.

 

In his first race (april 19, easter monday) in Brands Hatch - Graham had No 62

He came second in Junior race Heat 2 - and 4th in the Junior Race Final

 

The second race was on may 1 - also in Brands Hatch. I don't know which starting number Graham had. This race meeting on may 1st should be the race, where Graham retired and then met Colin Chapman.

Possibly the photo showing Graham with No 33 is from this race?

The 'Half-Litre Car Club' meeting at Brands Hatch, 1st May 1954, shows (using same Formula One Record book) Graham Hill, No 41 (Premier Motor Racing Club) Cooper-JAP. It also quotes he had an alternative car at meeting (Kieft-Norton). Race No 33 car at that meeting was for David Walker, shown as dna (show in introduction page of book - "Entry made but the car and/or driver did not appear at the circuit at any time".   

[moffspeed]

 

Are we certain that it is Hill in the photo?  I know it does look like him, but after all, moustaches were two a penny in those days. And no rowing club colours on the helmet.

 

To misquote someone famous (was it Oscar or Groucho?) - "if that man is not Graham Hill he should sue his face".

 

Seriously though are we being confused by the attributed circuit rather than the driver - that low earth bank in the photo with a blur of grey spectators could represent any circuit that the 500s ran on in those days...to me it looks more like Castle Combe, the 500 s did run there in April '54. I can't see NGH in the results list for that meeting - although Ivor Bueb, Stuart Lewis-Evans and Les Leston all appeared in 500s that day.

Edited by moffspeed, 10 November 2017 - 07:45.

[Eric Dunsdon]

That's Graham Hill at what looks like Brands Hatch. I saw one one of his earliest races there in which he drove Mark Lunds Cooper-JAP. I recall Tom Bridgers Kieft being a very pale shade of green.

[dgs]

To misquote someone famous (was it Oscar or Groucho?) - "if that man is not Graham Hill he should sue his face".

 

Seriously though are we being confused by the attributed circuit rather than the driver - that low earth bank in the photo with a blur of grey spectators could represent any circuit that the 500s ran on in those days...to me it looks more like Castle Combe, the 500 s did run there in April '54. I can't see NGH in the results list for that meeting - although Ivor Bueb, Stuart Lewis-Evans and Les Leston all appeared in 500s that day.

The Castle Combe meeting held 3rd Apri (Ashmead Tankard) does not show Graham Hill as an entrant. Race numbers only ran up to No 30. The other Formula 3 race held at Castle Combe in 1954 was held on 28th August. Again no entry for Graham Hill, race numbers only up to No 23.

[RCH]

Just to add a bit of a red herring here. My much treasured "Eagle Book of Cars and Motor Racing" c. 1958 has a chapter on learning to race which includes a photo of a Graham Hill like person with a Cooper 500 and a Cooper Manx at a racing school, often wondered whether it was in fact Graham Hill. Unfortunately the book is currently packed away in store so I cannot check it.

 

Years ago a "Classic cars" type magazine had a photo of Dan Margulies C Type Jaguar in the pits at an exotic location (Targa Florio?), closer inspection showed Damon Hill standing alongside it. Couldn't be! Then the penny dropped....

[dgs]

Tommy Bridger didn't have a 'tache.  Could this be a practice photo of NGH trying out Bridger's Kieft?

Having checked all Formula 3 races held in 1954, I believe Graham Hill only entered five, all at Brands Hatch, all entered by Premier Motor Racing Club.

First one 19-04-1954 where he raced as no 62 (Cooper-Norton), 

Next race 01-05-1954, again raced  no 41, Cooper-Norton.

The other three 07-06-1954, 04-07-1958, 02-08-1954, were all raced no 41, Kieft-Norton.

Only at the August meeting was another Kieft-Norton raced as no 33 (as previously mentioned race car of Tommy Bridger.

It looks likely that the picture of Graham Hill in race no 33, was him practicing Tommy Bridger's car, unless Graham Hill was entered in a obscure race (ie Formule Libre or club event) in a Kieft-Norton, race no 33.

 

I have found a further 13 Formula 3 events (1954) that had a driver race as no 33 In twelve of these no driver raced a Kieft car.The only one I do not know the driver or car was at 500cc Championship of Wales race held at Fairwood on 24th July, where it is possible a driver took part as no 33 . 

[cooper997]

To celebrate Graham and BRM's success 60 years ago, today

 

.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

 

 

[Rupertlt1]

I made another visit to Tarrant Rushton on Boxing Day. Was Graham Hill there, with Hazel Chapman, in 1955?

 

https://forums.autos...-7#entry9759867

 

https://forums.autos...-7#entry9763021

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 29 December 2022 - 08:26.

[alfredaustria]

Graham tested a Lotus Mk 9 at Brands Hatch in October 1955. Perhaps he drove this Lotus Mk 9 at this Speed trial meeting at Tarrant Rushton? 

 

I made another visit to Tarrant Rushton on Boxing Day. Was Graham Hill there, with Hazel Chapman, in 1955?

 

https://forums.autos...-7#entry9759867

 

https://forums.autos...-7#entry9763021

 

RGDS RLT

[Rupertlt1]

Graham tested a Lotus Mk 9 at Brands Hatch in October 1955. Perhaps he drove this Lotus Mk 9 at this Speed trial meeting at Tarrant Rushton? 

 

Does anybody have a report on Tarrant Rushton, 30 October 1955, from Autosport, Motor etc?

 

RGDS RLT 

Edited by Rupertlt1, 30 December 2022 - 11:14.

[Roger Clark]

There is a full page report in Autosport Nov 11. No explicit mention of Graham or Hazel, but it does refer to a works Lotus in the racing car class.  A photo of the Jaguara says that it narrowly beat Hazel Chapman (Cooper-Climax)!

[Rupertlt1]

There is a full page report in Autosport Nov 11. No explicit mention of Graham or Hazel, but it does refer to a works Lotus in the racing car class.  A photo of the Jaguara says that it narrowly beat Hazel Chapman (Cooper-Climax)!

 

"The new President's wife cleaned up the 1200 cc. Sports

Car class, the same car winning the Racing Car 2000 cc. Class driven by G. Hill."

K. W.   

750 M.C. Bulletin

 

We are looking for a Lotus-Climax, driven by both Hazel Chapman and G. Hill.

 

RGDS RLT

[GazChed]

How many Lotus Mk IXs did Team Lotus possess ? I thought they had one MG engined car (9 EHX) and one Climax engined car, raced at Le Mans, XPE 6. As Tarrant Rushton was after the main racing season, I have always assumed it was XPE 6 driven by Hazel Chapman and Graham Hill.

[Ray Bell]

From Marc Schagen's book
MK 9 Chassis Number 87
This was one of two works Mk 9s raced during 1955 and ran an 1100cc Coventry Climax engine. Although it looked like a Mk 9, the body was non-standard, being made in magnesium alloy. It had many other non-standard details, most notably a new style of chassis which was much closer to the true spaceframe and a progression from the Mk 6-based chassis of the production Mk 9s.The car also had disc brakes, unique rack and pinion steering, and Borrani wire wheels. It was raced but disqualified at Le Mans in 1955 (Chapman/Flockhart), raced vigorously by Chapman against Ivor Bueb's works Cooper-Climax in UK events and sold to Doctor Bill Wyllie in America at the end of the year.

 
Joe Bosworth may have more information about this car and its siblings as he became the owner who transported it to Australia.

[cooper997]

The 11/11/55 Autosport Pit and Paddock page mentions "Andre Loens was seen down at the Tarrant Rushton sprints on 30th October taking more than a casual interest in the works Lotus-Climax, which he took on an unofficial run up the course." 

 

As Roger points out the Tarrant Rushton report does mention Hazel in a Cooper Climax within the Gordon Parker Jaguara photo caption. Although under Results she is listed "Sports Cars... Up to 1200cc Mrs Chapman (Lotus) 19.77 and slightly further down under "Racing Cars... 1,101 -2,000cc G Hill (Lotus) 19.00"

 

The only other photo included is the Tommy Atkins 300SL Gullwing.

 

There's a Tony Dron 2 part feature of the Mike Brotherwood restored, Charles Levy-owned ex Works Lotus MkIX XPE 6 in Jan & Feb 1993 Thoroughbred & Classic Cars mags. Featuring on the cover of the first issue. Hazel and Tarrant Rushton get a brief mention also. .

 

 

 

Stephen

[Ray Bell]

There's an interesting story relating to this car, Chassis No 87-XPE 6, in Australia...

 

After it had been denuded of its better parts, including the de Dion rear end, for them to be put into a Nota for and by Joe, the remnants were sold to Ted Witherden in Newcastle, NSW, to be built up again as a hillclimb car. A BMC engine, gearbox and rear end were fitted, presumably A-Series as he had previously competed in hillclimbs in an A30 and a Morris Minor, though he was to also run a Giulia TI before he completed the car. A Triumph Herald front suspension also saw duty in it.

 

Graham Howard bought this car in the early seventies but was a bit perplexed about his ability to return it to original as so many parts had been taken out of it for the Bosworth Nota. And the Nota had slipped from public view, he had no idea who had it although it was road-registered.

 

"I was thinking to myself," Graham once told me, "I would need to spot the Nota abandoned on the road, broken down, and then make an offer on it."

 

And he continued, "The next day I was driving up Eastern Valley Way and there it was!" So he left a note on the car and the owner contacted him and he was able to buy it.

 

Charles Levy bought the car in a semi-restored state from Graham.

[Rupertlt1]

What a ripping yarn this is turning out to be!

Here are some pics of XPE 6 from 1955:

 

https://library.revs.../search/XPE 6/1

 

RGDS RLT

[Ray Bell]

Was it possible for the car to run at both Brands Hatch and Tarrant Rushton on the same day?

 

And then be ready for immediate sale to the US buyer?

[GazChed]

According to racingsportscars, Brands Hatch held a meeting on the 9th October 1955, it's last meeting of the season apart from the Boxing Day meeting. The Tarrant Rushton sprint was held on the 30th October 1955, three weeks after Brands' October meeting and two months before the Boxing Day meeting, plenty of time between those three meetings to prepare the car.

[Rupertlt1]

This set of 15 pictures by George Phillips at Revs, note dated 31 October 1955, show XPE 6 and 9 EHX together. Any clues in the Autosport road/track test as to where they were taken?

 

https://library.revs... IX Road Test/1

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 December 2022 - 14:45.

[Ray Bell]

Rupert mentioned Boxing Day at Tarrant Rushton...

 

But yes, there was also mention of an October 30 meeting there.

[Rupertlt1]

I mentioned Boxing Day at Tarrant Rushton because I was there this year on that day! (One of a number of recent visits, lured back by the legends of 'D' Day, and a most obscure track for a future World Champion.)

 

RGDS RLT

[cooper997]

Rupert, the 18/11/55 Autosport carries the Bolster Lotus test with some of the Phillips photos you link in post 34. There's reference to driving through London and he had tried it on track. That was most likely during the Guild of Motoring Writers day at Goodwood. Tied in with Earls Court MS (19/10 - 29/10).

 

 

Stephen

[Rupertlt1]

Rupert, the 18/11/55 Autosport carries the Bolster Lotus test with some of the Phillips photos you link in post 34. There's reference to driving through London and he had tried it on track. That was most likely during the Guild of Motoring Writers day at Goodwood. Tied in with Earls Court MS (19/10 - 29/10).

 

 

Stephen

Thanks. So, when was the Goodwood Press Day in 1955?

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 January 2023 - 08:29.

[cooper997]

I assume you mean 1955?

 

As far as I can work out, during this era the Guild day at Goodwood would be held on the Sunday during the Motor Show. This likely means 23/10/55. I dont have any of the October 1955 Autosport issues, 28/10 might have a report.

 

In the 4/11 and 11/11 issues show some related photos - 4/11 shows Colin Chapman and Ivor Bueb having swapped cars...

 

and the 11/11 issue shows King Hussein trying out the Cooper bobtail. So if the Revs library has any of him, a photo date might be forthcoming.

 

 

Stephen

[Rupertlt1]

Yes, I did mean 1955 (I've amended above to avoid further confusion).

I can confirm that the Goodwood Motor Show Press Day, of the Guild of Motoring Writers, was held Sunday 23 October 1955 ( a week before the Sprint at Tarrant Rushton).

XPE 6 was also seen at Castle Combe, Saturday 1 October 1955, driven by Colin Chapman.

 

RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 02 January 2023 - 09:08.

[Roger Clark]

I couldn’t find any mention of a 1955 Guild of Motoring Writers press Day in Autosport. The index for the volume (jul-Dec) only mentions the Guild twice, both relating to the selection of Jean Behra as driver of the year. 

[cooper997]

We are but a week off the anniversary of Graham's 96th birthday. So that must be the reason I went into a local hobby store and left lighter in the pocket because of his Championship-winning BRM P57 slot car.

 

Not sure how many World Champions' cars they have done in this 1/32 slot car format, but Mario's JPS Lotus was there too.

 

 

 

Stephen

Edited by cooper997, 08 February 2025 - 07:26.