Duncan Hamilton (racing driver)

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Duncan Hamilton
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
BornJames Duncan Hamilton
(1920-04-30)30 April 1920
Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Died13 May 1994(1994-05-13) (aged 74)
Sherborne, Dorset, England
Formula One World Championship career
Active years1951–1953
Teamsprivateer Talbot-Lago, HWM
Entries5
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points0
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1951 British Grand Prix
Last entry1953 British Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1950–1958
TeamsNash-Healey Motors, Jaguar Cars Ltd., Scuderia Ferrari, J. Duncan Hamilton
Best finish1st (1953)
Class wins1 (1953)

James Duncan Hamilton (30 April 1920 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland – 13 May 1994 in Sherborne, Dorset, England) was a British racing driver.[1] He was known for his colourful and extroverted personality[according to whom?]. After fighting in the Second World War, he took up motorsport. Although adept in single-seaters, he was more successful in sportscars, winning the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans, two Coupe de Paris events, and the 12 heures internationals Reims race in 1956. He retired in 1958 and ran a garage in Bagshot, Surrey for many years. He died of lung cancer in 1994.

Early years[edit]

Born in County Cork, Hamilton was brought up in relative obscurity. During the Second World War, he flew Lysanders in the Fleet Air Arm. After the war ended, he opened a car garage. During the years between the war ending and the start of the 1950s, Hamilton started racing in local events. He began racing in such cars as the MG R-type and the Bugatti Type 35B. After racing a Maserati 6CM in 1948, Hamilton began driving a Talbot-Lago Grand Prix car.[2]

Formula One career[edit]

Hamilton participated in five World Championship Grands Prix and 18 non-Championship Formula One races. His Grand Prix debut was at the 1948 Zandvoort Grand Prix, where he placed fourth with a Maserati 6CM. However, at his last race of 1948, the RAC International Grand Prix, the first official post-WW2 British Grand Prix, he retired with oil pressure problems.[2][3]

Throughout the 1949 Grand Prix season, he only suffered one retirement, however he did not finish higher than ninth, which he managed twice, both times at Goodwood.[citation needed] The following season, he competed in fewer Grand Prix races, while he expanded his racing experience by racing sportscars. He won the Wakefield Trophy, a minor Formula Libre race, held at Curragh in the Republic of Ireland.[2][3]

He finished third in the 1951 Richmond Trophy (ERA B-Type), second in the 1951 BRDC International Trophy (Talbot-Lago T26C), third in the 1952 Richmond Trophy (Talbot-Lago T26C) and fourth in the 1952 Internationales ADAC Eifelrennen (HWM-Alta).[4]

Hamilton was known for his skilled driving in wet weather.[according to whom?] At the BRDC International Trophy race at Silverstone in 1951, he beat world champion Juan Manuel Fangio, finishing second to Reg Parnell.[5]

24 Hours of Le Mans[edit]

He took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race nine times, most famously [according to whom?] in partnership with Tony Rolt. The pair finished fourth at their first attempt in the 1950 race and sixth in 1951, both times in a special-bodied Nash-Healey coupe. Their Jaguar C-Type did not finish in 1952, but they returned with a C-Type to win in 1953. They were second with a Jaguar D-Type in 1954, losing to a much larger-engined V12 Ferrari. They came within two miles of victory, with Hamilton halving the lead of the Scuderia Ferrari of José Froilán González and Maurice Trintignant in the final stages of the race, as the track was awash following a cloudburst. As the track started to dry out, the Ferrari maintaned the lead. He did not finish in 1955. In 1956 Hamilton partnered Alfonso de Portago in a Ferrari but again did not finish. In 1957 he reverted to a Jaguar D-Type and partnered with the American driver Masten Gregory to finish sixth. His last Le Mans appearance was in 1958, when the D-Type he shared with Ivor Bueb failed to finish.[5][6]

Hamilton also won the 1956 Rheims 12-hour race for Jaguar with a D-Type co-driven by Ivor Bueb. Despite the win, the factory dropped him from their 1956 Le Mans roster for speeding up and passing team-mate Paul Frère's car at Rheims when Lofty England had ordered the entire team to slow down, hence his switch to a Ferrari that year.[citation needed] In 1957 Jaguar did not enter Le Mans as cars and equipment had been destroyed by a fire at the factory. Instead, Hamilton used his privately owned D-Type.[7]

1953 Le Mans Victory[edit]

Jaguar C-Type, similar to that which Hamilton and Rolt drove to victory at Le Mans

Hamilton won the 1953 event in a Jaguar C-Type shared with Rolt. Initially, the pairing were disqualified for practising in a Jaguar that had the same racing number as another on the circuit at the same time, but they were reinstated. According to Hamilton's own account, when Jaguar team manager Lofty England persuaded the organisers to let them race, both drivers were already drunk in a local bar. England said: "Of course I would never have let them race under the influence. I had enough trouble when they were sober!"[8]

When the race was under way the team tried to sober Hamilton up by giving him coffee during the pit stops but he refused it, saying it made his arms twitch; instead he was given brandy. He also struck a bird face first at 130 mph and broke his nose. Despite the circumstances, the duo went on to win the race and recorded the first 100 mph average speed at Le Mans.[9]

Both England and Rolt have denied that they were drunk.[8][10][11][12][9][13]

Lucky escapes[edit]

On one occasion in 1947, he was transporting his MG R-type to the Brighton Speed Trials, when going down a hill near Guildford, he "saw the splendid honeycomb radiator of a Bugatti in the outside rear-view mirror", so he moved over and waved it past, but the car hung back. Further down the hill, the Bugatti drew level with Hamilton, at which point he saw there was no one in it and realised it was his own car, which he had forgotten he was towing.[13][14]

A week after the 1953 Le Mans win, Hamilton drove to Oporto to prepare for the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Circuito da Boavista. He was leading into the first corner of the race when he crashed his Jaguar into an electricity pylon. He was thrown out of the car and into a tree, from which he fell down on the side of the circuit and was almost run over by a Ferrari. He was taken to hospital for an emergency operation. The accident cut off the power supply to Oporto for several hours.[5][14][15][16]

Retirement[edit]

Hamilton sustained injuries during the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans, while contesting the lead in his Jaguar D-Type, and then he was affected by the death of his friend Mike Hawthorn in early 1959. He retired from racing in 1959, and concentrated on his garage business in Bagshot. His love and passion for classic cars had led Hamilton to establish his own company back in 1948. Since then, Duncan Hamilton & Co Limited have become internationally recognised specialists in historic cars.[5][17][18]

Hamilton co-wrote an autobiography called Touch Wood!. He died in Sherborne, Dorset. His son Adrian Hamilton, a classic car dealer, ran his father's garage in another location until his own death in 2021.[19] Hamilton's grandson Archie Hamilton is also a racing driver.[17]

Racing record[edit]

Career highlights[edit]

Season Series Position Team Car
1950 Wakefield Trophy [20] 1st Maserati 6CM
1951 BRDC International Trophy [21] 2nd Duncan Hamilton Talbot-Lago T26C
Richmond Trophy [22] 3rd ERA B-Type
Wakefield Trophy [23] 3rd HWM HWM
1952 Richmond Trophy [24] 3rd Duncan Hamilton Talbot-Lago T26C
1953 Les 24 Heures du Mans [25] 1st Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar C-Type
1954 Coupes de Paris [26] 1st Duncan Hamilton Jaguar C-Type
Aintree International [27] 2nd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar C-Type
Les 24 Heures du Mans [28] 2nd Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar D-Type
12 heures internationals – Voiture Sport Reims[29] 2nd Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar D-Type
Hedemoraloppet [30] 3rd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar C-Type
1955 Johnson's Trophy [31] 1st Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
Coupes de Paris [32] 2nd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
Grand Prix de Dakar [33] 3rd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
Grande Prémio di Portugal [34] 3rd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
1956 Prix de Paris [35] 1st Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
12 heures internationals Reims [36] 1st Jaguar Cars Jaguar D-Type
GP des Frontières [37] 2nd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
Coupes des Salon [38] 2nd Duncan Hamilton Jaguar D-Type
BRDC Daily Express International Trophy [TC] [39] 3rd Jaguar Cars Jaguar 2.4 Litre
Sveriges Grand Prix[40] 3rd Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 860 Monza
1957 BRDC Daily Express International Trophy [TC] [41] 2nd Jaguar Cars Jaguar 2.4 Litre
Aintree International [42] 3rd Jaguar D-Type
1958 Whitsun Trophy [43] 2nd Jaguar D-Type
Sussex Trophy [44] 3rd Jaguar D-Type

Complete World Championship results[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Points
1951 Duncan Hamilton Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot-Lago S6 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
12 		GER
Ret 		ITA ESP NC 0
1952 HW Motors HWM 52 HWM S4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR
Ret 		GER NED
7 		ITA NC 0
1953 HW Motors HWM 53 HWM S4 ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR
Ret 		GER SUI ITA NC 0

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1950 United Kingdom Healey Motors Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Nash-Healey E S5.0 250 4th 3rd
1951 United Kingdom Healey United Kingdom Tony Rolt Nash-Healey Coupé S5.0 250 6th 4th
1952 United Kingdom Jaguar Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Jaguar C-Type S5.0 DNF
(Head gasket)
1953 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Jaguar C-Type S5.0 304 1st 1st
1954 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Jaguar D-Type S5.0 301 2nd 2nd
1955 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Jaguar D-Type S5.0 186 DNF
(Gearbox)
1956 Italy Scuderia Ferrari Spain Alfonso de Portago Ferrari 625 LM Touring S3.0 2 DNF
(Accident)
1957 United Kingdom D. Hamilton United States Masten Gregory Jaguar D-Type S5.0 299 6th 6th
1958 United Kingdom J. Duncan Hamilton United Kingdom Ivor Bueb Jaguar D-Type S3.0 251 DNF
(Accident)

Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1956 United States Jaguar of New York Distributors Inc. United Kingdom Ivor Bueb Jaguar D-Type S5.0 63 DNF
(Brakes)

Complete 12 Hours of Reims results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1954 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Tony Rolt Jaguar D-Type 214 2nd 2nd
1956 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars United Kingdom Ivor Bueb Jaguar D-Type S3.5 1st 1st

Complete 12 Hours of Pescara results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Pos. Class
Pos.
1953 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Jaguar C-Type S+2.0 DNF
(Steering)

Complete 12 Hours of Hyères results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Pos. Class
Pos.
1954 United Kingdom Peter Whitehead United Kingdom Peter Whitehead Cooper-Climax T33 DNS

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tremayne, David (24 July 1994). "Obituary: Duncan Hamilton". The Independent. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c McMullen, Jeremy. "Duncan Hamilton - 1951 Formula One Season". conceptcarz. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "f1-images.de". f1-images.de. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  4. ^ Darren Galpin. "The Formula One Archives". Silhouet.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d David Tremayne. "Obituary: Duncan Hamilton". The Independent. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  6. ^ "CAMRRAD: Duncan Hamilton". Top Gear. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Mike Hawthorn's Tribute Site - the Jaguar D-Type". mike-hawthorn.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Tony Rolt". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  9. ^ a b "The Drunken Tale of Duncan Hamilton | Venn Motor Sport". Vennmotorsport.wordpress.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  10. ^ "News - Latest breaking UK news". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  11. ^ Alan Henry (9 February 2008). "Obituary: Tony Rolt". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Le Mans winner, Tony Rolt, dies aged 89". Autocar. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Duncan Hamilton, Gentleman Driver | Classic Driver Magazine". Classicdriver.com. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Duncan Hamilton". Petergiddings.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  15. ^ "The Drunken Tale of Duncan Hamilton | Venn Motor Sport". Vennmotorsport.wordpress.com. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Duncan Hamilton (S. 1934-36) | Old Brightonians - The Alumni of Brighton College". Old Brightonians. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  17. ^ a b Allen Brown. "Duncan Hamilton «". Oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Our Heritage". Duncan Hamilton. Archived from the original on 17 February 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  19. ^ Nye, Doug (25 August 2021). "Adrian Hamilton obituary 1947-2021". motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Wakefield Trophy [Formula Libre Hadicap]". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  21. ^ "1951 BRDC International Trophy". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  22. ^ "1951 Richmond Trophy". ChicaneF1.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Wakefield Trophy [Formula Libre]". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  24. ^ "1945 Robert Benoist Cup". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  25. ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  26. ^ "Coupes de Paris". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Aintree International". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  28. ^ "Le Mans 24 Hours". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  29. ^ "12 h Reims". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Hedemoraloppet [Sports]". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  31. ^ "Goodwood International - Johnson's Trophy". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Coupes de Paris". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  33. ^ "Dakar Grand Prix". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  34. ^ "Portugal Grand Prix". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  35. ^ Darren Galpin. "1952 Formula Libre Races". Teamdan.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  36. ^ "12 h Reims". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  37. ^ "GP des Frontières". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  38. ^ "GP des Frontières 1956". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  39. ^ "1956 Silverstone International Trophy". Touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  40. ^ "Sveriges Grand Prix". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  41. ^ "1957 Silverstone International Trophy". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Aintree International". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  43. ^ "Whitsun Trophy Goodwood". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  44. ^ "Sussex Trophy Goodwood". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • Duncan Hamilton. Touch Wood - The Autobiography of the 1953 Le Man Winner John Blake Publishing. 2014 978-1782197737.
  • Paul Skilleter. Jaguar Sports Cars. G T Foulis & Co Ltd. 1976 ISBN 978-0854291663.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1953
With: Tony Rolt 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Inaugural
 Wakefield Trophy
1950 		Succeeded by
Preceded by 12 Hours of Reims
Winner
1956 		Succeeded by
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