Denny
Hulme
Denis Clive
"Denny" Hulme (June 18, 1936 - October 4, 1992) was born and raised
on a tabacco farm belonging to his parents in Moteuka on South
Island, New Zealand. Denny left school, went to work in a garage
and saved up enough money to buy an MG TF, promptly entering this
in hillclimbing events. After making impressive progress, he
purchased a Cooper-Climax - subsequently being chosen for the New
Zealand Driver to Europe. Once there, he worked as a mechanic in
Jack Brabham's garage in Chessington and began to pave his way on
his motor-racing path. In 1961, he appeared at Le Mans for the
Abarth team, before the late great Ken Tyrrell invited the likeable
New Zealander to race in his Formula 2 team. After some impressive
performances there, it was his old boss Jack Brabham who gave Hulme
the call - and he joined the Australian legends' F2 team. The pair,
set about dominating the Championship that year resulting in a
one-two finish in the European Championship.
The 1967 Formula
One Championship, was essentially an internal affair within the
Brabham team for most of the year, but the new Lotus 49 gave Jim
Clark and Graham Hill the opportunity to bite back. But two wins in
the eleven race Championship, at Monte Carlo and the ferocious
Nurburging (the Green Hell) - and a series of strong points
finishes - gave Hulme the advantage and he won the Championship by
five points from Brabham, and a further 5 from Jim Clark - hence
Hulme was the first (and to date, only) Formula One World Champion
from New Zealand. Hulme, later went on to race for McLaren in
Formula One, before retiring from top-level single seater racing -
instead becoming a hero in CanAm and subsequently Australian
Touring Cars.
Hulme's untimely death, caused by a heart attack whilst driving a
BMW M3? during the Bathurst 1000 - made him the first Formula One
Champion? to die of natural causes.
World
Championships 1
Grand Prix Entries 112
Grand Prix Wins 8
Pole Positions 1
Nationality New Zealander
Remember to
record the number inside the cache as it will be needed to
determine the coordinates of the final in the
series:
GC31PQ4 Grand
Prix Legends - Finish Line
