Denny Hulme

Name: Denny Hulme

Nationality: New Zealand

Date of birth: June 18, 1937 - Nelson

Date of death: October 4, 1992 - Bathurst

Denny Hulme's late father Clive won the Victoria Cross at Anzio and his son inherited the same qualities of determination and single-mindedness when it came to his motor racing career. In many ways, Hulme was the least likely of World Champions. He went racing because he loved the sport, not for self-aggrandizement. He worked for Jack Brabham initially as a mechanic before getting his chance as a driver, but not until 1966 was he promoted to a full-time F1 role. The following year he won at Monaco and in Germany, those two successes giving him a crucial leg-up to the World Championship. The following year he switched to drive alongside fellow Kiwi Bruce McLaren and raced through to the end of 1974, retiring without fanfare or fuss. The rugged, easygoing New Zealander would later return to saloon car racing, but succumbed to a heart attack while racing a BMW in Australia at the age of 55.

BACKhome <---------------------------------