Phil Hill, American Racing Champion, Is Dead

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Phil Hill, the only American-born Formula One champion, died today at the age of 81. He died at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and another degenerative neurological disorder.
But Mr. Hill was the hero — and during the most dangerous era of Formula One. Death lurked around every corner and down every straight, and death played a part in his career, although he never had a serious injury. Along with his Formula One title, with Ferrari in 1961, Mr. Hill also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times and the 12 Hours of Sebring three times.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08 ... index.html

personal i was not into formula 1 racing. as a teenager 13-14 maybe i was a gofer / pit crew member for a neighbor on his formula IV race team. i did go to Watkins glen ny. and some local tracks with the team. it was fun once i did get a ride once in a Porsche 914 Spyder . like 2 laps around the race track. this will always live in my memory. as my stomach felt like it was going to jump out my mouth. as we took the curves on the road track.(waterford hills http://www.waterfordhills.com/cms/e107_ ... llery2.php ) i will say that made me chance any idea i had of being a race car driver.