Photos

Damon at 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix – World Champions demo run in his old 1996 World Championship winning Williams
(Photo J. Penrose)

Article

Damon Hill is a bit of an enigma, very difficult to know, not easy to work with. I knew his father Graham from the 1970’s, an immense character, who just oozed bravado, fun and was every bit ‘larger than life’. To be a son of such an incredible man and to lose your father in such a terrible way must have been crushing to Damon.

I spent some time with Robert Brooks (Brooks Auctioneers / Bonhams Auctioneers) in past years assisting valuing racing memorabilia, checking authenticity and so forth. I remember Robert telling me about one of his early career auction jobs, being sent to Graham’s house in Shenley to catalogue and value Graham’s things for sale after his death. Damon answered the door saying ‘You’re the man coming to take all my Dad’s things away.’

So Damon came up the hard way, privilege taken away, and as only son must have felt an enormous burden. Somehow he worked his way through bike racing and the lower levels of club racing to get into F1, albeit into a grotty team to start. But through sheer determination he fought his inner battles and made it to win the world championship in 1996 with Williams Renault.

Damon had some very specific requirements for his made-to-measure helmets and over the years I made several helmets with last minute changes, working through the entire night at races and never heard a word of thanks, or if there was it was mumbled at best.

My father lost his father at 8 years old and went through a very tough childhood, no money, menial jobs, something he didn’t talk about very much, but when he did I can relate from what he said to me to what Damon must have gone through. So if I had those same years over again I’d still do what I did for him regardless.