Phil Hill 1927-2008

[Duke W.]

In case you haven't heard, Phil passed on Thursday, August 28, 2008, age 81.

http://www.philhill.com/

Does anyone know if Phil ever drove a Corvette in competition? I don't recall hearing that he ever did.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: Phil Hill 1927-2008

'Don't know about driving a Corvette but do know about the XK120, TC and Ferrari from Luigi Chinnetti in very early 50's. Denise McCluggage has a great story on AutoWeek website. I believe it was originally written in '61.

[John N.]

Re: Phil Hill 1927-2008

In case you haven't heard, Phil passed on Thursday, August 28, 2008, age 81.

http://www.philhill.com/

Does anyone know if Phil ever drove a Corvette in competition? I don't recall hearing that he ever did.

Duke

By memory, I believe that he drove the Chaparral of Jim Hall. A very GM connected race effort with Covette type power. I remember at the Monterey Historics in 87 with Chevrolet as the featured Marque that Phil was tracing a electrical circuit on one of Halls cars. He was a great driver, mechanic, photographer, writer and enthusiast.
Regards

[John N.]

Re: Phil Hill 1927-2008

'Don't know about driving a Corvette but do know about the XK120, TC and Ferrari from Luigi Chinnetti in very early 50's. Denise McCluggage has a great story on AutoWeek website. I believe it was originally written in '61.

Phil also drove a beautiful 38 Alfa Romeo 8C2900B Mille Miglia #412030 when he was a mechanic at International Motors. He won the Del Monte Cup at the 51 Pebble Beach race. He also won one of the first Monterey Historics with the car. The car with a Pebble Beach race scene was the featured cover car at this years event. Car now owned by Ralph Lauren.

[Duke W.]

Re: Phil Hill 1927-2008

Yes, I think the Chaparrals were his last rides as a race driver before he retired after the 1966 season- both in Can-Am and FIA races in Europe. He won the 1966 Laguna Seca Can-Am in a 2E - the first race car with a high mounted moveable wing. With its automatic tranmission, the driver used his left foot to push a pedal that rotated the wing to a high angle of attack for braking and cornering.

The last time I saw him at the wheel of a 250 Testa Rossa at the Monterey Historics he still drove with plenty of verve, and I think he drove at Monterey up until just a few years ago.

Circa mid-nineties I attended a presentation by Phil where he showed many of his personally taken photos during his driving career. Many had never been shown in "public" before.

Phil also taught me how to execute heel-an-toe double clutch downshifts when I was in junior high - through the pages of Road & Track.

By the time I got my SWC in 1963 I had mentally "performed" the procedure so many times that I was a near expert from the get-go.

...jack of all trades, a true gentleman, and a great racer!

Duke

[Bill M.]

Re: Phil Hill 1927-2008

Phil was also an expert Packard restorer...