Phil Hill 1927-2008

Phil was absolutely one of my favorite car heroes, with a close tie to my favorite marque. RIP. David

 

AUGUST 28, 2008 Update from the Motorsport Collector:
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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

 

Very sad. Condolences to the family

 

Phil Hill at The Quail, Friday 15th. August 2008.
RIP.
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Sad news, a great and good champion is gone from us, he will be remembered and admired as long as there are cars and men. M

 

RIP Phil, you were one of my early F1 hero.
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RIP. Very nice guy, although he was not doing as well for several years.
I have met him many times at historical races in California and at Road America. He really loved old Italian cars!! He will be missed.

TT

 

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-hill29-2008aug29,0,1758007.story

 

He was a great man. RIP

Art S.

 

Not just a great driver, but a true renaissance man. Very knowledgable about old cars, classical music and the devices that make music, food and wine, and you name it. What a great dinner companion: full of wonderful tales, and not afraid to tell it like it was. He met his share of fools and suffered them, but not gladly! Here are some pix from when the Club Ferrari France honored him at Mas du Clos on the 20th anniversary of his championship; happier times. (Also shown, 0808LM, Johnny von Neuman, Jess Pourret).
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Was very fortunate to meet Phil first in the mid 1970's. Phil later restored one of my dad's cars, which won 1st in class at Pebble, also driven by Phil at the Monterey Historics just for the fun of it. He became a friend. Just missed seeing him on the Thursday before the Monterey Historics.

Never could one hope to meet a more humble and gentlemanly person. Damn sad day...there goes my one hero.

 

During a trip to Scottsdale many years ago Count Clutini invited my wife and I to dinner with a group of his friends. Phil was amongst the others at our table. My wife who cares little for and knows nothing about automotive history sat beside him. She had the very best time talking to Mr. Hill about everything except cars. He told me he did too.
With out question an American treasure.
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Phil Hill at the 1000 km de Buenos Aires 1954.
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My tribute to Americas first World Champion
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Some of my favorite Ferrari art is of cars Mr. Hill drove. I ran my fingers over his signature on an art piece I have in my den tonight and said thanks for the memories.

RIP Phil.
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He was my hero from the time I started reading Road & Track at the age of 13. I feel like a piece of me has died today. RIP Phil and deepest condolences to Alma, Jennifer, Vanessa, and Derek.

 

Truly a great Gentleman, always courteous and generous with his time for interviews in person or on the phone and yes a world class driver capable of talking about many other subject matters beyond cars and racing.

It is a little known fact that he was the last man to win a GP in a front engined car, at Monza 1960, a year before he won again there to win the championship.


At the Torrey Pines hillclimb in October 1998 I was doing a story on pontoon fendred Testa Rossa #0748 for Cavallino and was asked by the owner to offer it to Phil to drive when I was finished with it: it was a great honor to say: mister Hill you are welcome to drive this TR. He asked me to open the hood, looked at it from a safety point of view (famous drivers get offered to drive cars all the time and some of these cars are poorly maintained and best avoided) asked me how it was and, satisfied, drove his wife Alma up the hill for a couple of gentle runs.

RIP Sir.

 

Che peccato. Was looking forward to seeing him at the Historics a coupla weeks ago and was worried when I heard later that he had fallen ill that same day, knowing that his health had recently become more fragile.

The first race of the first day I ever attended the Montery Historics, mumble years ago, the first car I saw I saw blasting down the Corkscrew was a beautiful Ferrari 212 Barchetta, being driven con brio (how else?) by none other than Phil his own self. The surprise, amazement and pure pleasure of that moment was eclipsed a short time later when I happened upon Phil in the paddock area getting ready for an autograph session or some such. Had a chance to shake his hand and mumble something dopey about "..great contributions to American motortsports' credibility on the world stage, appreciation for classic cars/Pebble Beach, being a major part of Ferrari history..", and then trailed off as the next supplicant bored in for his monent. Couldn't believe my good furtune, to be honest. Standing in the presence of a giant. How often does one get to do that? The Vintage Ferrari world is a little poorer today, my friends. A wonderful, genuine, generous guy who contributed so much to our hobby on so many levels is gone from our midst. Don't know if we'll see his like again.

 

Not really my generation but i like him for what he did for the SF.
Very touching pictures here.

Condoleances for all his familly.

 

One of the best, an icon.
Sad day.

 

Another Icon passed away.
Condolences to the family and the many friends.

 

Sad news

Difficult to find words to this great man of motor sport. A great pilot is leaving us, a true gentleman, his passion was communicative ... that paradise is as good for you, you deserve Mr Phil Hill.

Adieu

My condolences to his family and friends

 

Condolences to the Hill family and all his close friends on the passing of a great WDC champion.....

Lets hope Ferrari SPA marks his considerable contribution to the Scuderia's success, in both F1 and sportscars, in an appropriate manner.

E

 

was a favourite down under in the early/mid '60s Tasman years.