From: pod@sour.sw.oz.au (Paul O'Donnell)
Subject: Obituary: Denny Hulme 1936 - 1992
Organization: Softway Pty Ltd
Date:  6 Oct 92 05:32:04 GMT

For those who didn't read my Bathurst report, Denny Hulme suffered
a massive heart attack while at the wheel of a BMW M3 at Bathurst
on Sunday.  He could not be revived.

The following is from the Sydney Morning Herald.  5 Oct 1992.

Denny Hulme.  1936 - 1992

Denny Hulme loved motor racing.  Twenty Five years after winning
the Formula One world championship in a Repco Brabham, his 1992
season was as busy as ever.

Born in Motueka (NZ) in 1936, Hulme was affectionately referred to
as "The Bear", which said more about his gruff, did-not-suffer-fools
personality than his broad, strong physique.

His competition debut was made as a 19 year old at a gravel hillclimb
in an MG sports car, driving in bare feet.

In 1960 he was on his way to Europe after a string of promising
performances in a Cooper Climax single seater.

His performances were recognised by Jack Brabham and his career
took of, first in Formula Two and then in Formula One.

He became New Zealand's first Grand Prix world champion when he
beat his boss to take the title in 1967 by a narrow five points.

He also became the first driver to win the title without taking
pole position, a feat equalled by Niki Lauda in 1984.

Hulme switched to the McLaren for the following season.  Until he
retired in 1974, after 112 starts, he had always finished in the
top 6 in the world championship, winning 8 Grand Prix between 1967
and 1974.

He won his final GP at the age of 38, the 13th oldest man to have
scored a victory.

He also won the Can Am sports car championship twice and finished
runner-up four times.

In 1966 he was runner-up in the Le Mans 24 hr race behind fellow
Kiwis Chris Amon and McLaren.

It was Hulme's strength of character and fierce determination that
helped keep the McLaren team together in 1970 after the death of
Bruce McLaren.  Hulme was then recovering from fearful burns he
received while testing for the Indianapolis 500.

Looking back on his retirement from the big time in 1974, Hulme
said recently that he thought it was the rigth thing to do.  "I
got sick of the politics involved."

He stayed away from the cockpit for a few years, but by the end of
the 1970s had started touring car racing after returning home.

In his second career he won the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone in
England in 1986 in a Rover Vitesse in a round of the European
Touring Car Championship.  It was his fourth victory in one of
Britain's oldest races, a good way to celebrate his 50th birthday.

His touring car career became international in 1982 with the first
of what would be nine Bathurst appearances.  His best finish at
Bathurst was fifth, achieved in 1984, 1989 and 1991.

In the last few months, he competed in historic races at Silverstone,
the German Truck Grand Prix at Nuremberg, and won a Can Am race in
Michigan in one of the sportscars he drove 20 years ago.

Hulme is survived by his wife and a daughter.
-- 
Paul O'Donnell - Softway Pty Ltd         |"You're just saying that because
Internet: pod@softway.sw.oz.au           |you don't understand art."
Phone: +61 2 698-2322 Fax: +61 2 699-9174|     - Jeremy Fitzhardinge