James Hunt: Remembering F1's 'swashbuckling playboy'

[Terpe]

A few years back, Niki Lauda branded Lewis Hamilton boring. As insults go, it's up there with being called ugly by Quasimodo. Because in his heyday, the cool, calculating Lauda was about as buttoned up as Formula 1 could get.



Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22887679

[stevewool]

i remember him well in F1 and afterwards as a commentator with John Watson, he told it how it was,plus was he not the man who stopped his car to rescue Nicky Lauda from his car when it caught on fire

[Terpe]

I have a great memory from around 1974
I had a technical business meeting with my then boss at a place called Easten Neston.(just outside Northampton near to Towcester)
At that meeting was, among others, James Hunt.

At that time I was researching into short-life component performance for specific wheel elements. We made the 'sale' by the way. (well actually we gave the stuff away considering the cost of research)

Anyway I remember that day for reasons other than business. James Hunt was interesting, charming, accommodating and knew how to have great time.

1975 saw James Hunt win the Dutch Grand Prix ahead of Niki Lauda in the Ferrari.

I never actually met any other F1 driver, although I did do quite a bit of business with the same products for many cars.

RIP James Hunt, who died 20 years ago today

[gWaPito]

nice one Peter I remember where I was and what I was doing the moment the news of his death come over the radio...driving my truck in Hull...It was a warm sunny day!...my childhood f1 hero in 76.

[grahamw48]

Yes, what a character he was, one of the last of the 'gentlemen drivers' too. RIP James.

Thanks for posting the article Peter.

Reminds of a guy who was my best friend from the early 70s right up until I married my Filipina wife in the 90s, after which he emigrated with his lovely wife and 2 kids to Canada.

Bill Wood...millionaire playboy racing driver, from York. We shared so many fun experiences and our ups and downs too.

Pictured here in his F5000 racer:

.


Sadly he drowned in a boating accident in Canada, a couple of years ago.