Damon Hill drives a Renault RS01 around Monaco

[davidc1]

Damon found out about his fathers plane crash on the tv news and ran in to tell his mum. Can you imagine.this was recounted on the bbc documentary on graham a few years ago
i still feel pain when i think of damons engine letting go in Monaco 96 and Hungary 97 , what a win that would have been!
also robbed of a couple of wins in 93 too.
i always think a film would work because no one could ever make up the story.

[Kawasicki]

hora said:

Kawasicki said:

If he finds driving over 70mph too stressful maybe road driving isn't for him.

I'd prefer no speed limits on motorways, autobahn style. It's not about kicks, it's about getting from A to B at a reasonable pace.

Valid point though-I struggle to see how many people should be allowed at 50mph+ they seem to bring their work/private life stress into their driving at rush hour and the big car third lane pilots are terrible.

I have a very different view of UK drivers...I see them as reasonably competent and very courteous. I just don't see a major safety risk with moderate (ca. 100mph) speeds on motorways. I think the speed differences between drivers is one of the reasons why the UK motorway network is so safe. Speed differences help to keep the driver engaged, which helps with attention/concentration.

[onyx39]

Kawasicki said:

Rich_W said:

Kawasicki said:

Nice guy. Bit safe for me though...

"Hill, who won 22 Grand Prix and a Formula One world championship, said he hardly ever drives above 70mph because "it's too stressful".

The Government is consulting on raising the speed limit from 70mph to 80mph on English and Welsh motorways.

The F1 champ, who retired in 1999, told the Radio Times: "Most people aren't safe to drive over 55.

"Honestly, the speed limit going up to 80mph makes me shudder..."

Translation.

Most like 99.99% of drivers are not up to his standard. So dealing with their unpredictability is stressful if you have the kids in the car. That's not even wrogn is it. How often do you see texting, lane discipline all manner of nonsense.

And TBH, once you;ve been through old Tamburello at 190 probably difficult to get kicks in a road car.

If he finds driving over 70mph too stressful maybe road driving isn't for him.

I'd prefer no speed limits on motorways, autobahn style. It's not about kicks, it's about getting from A to B at a reasonable pace.

I saw Damon in a petrol station near Reading a couple of years back sitting having a cup of coffee in his Golf Diesel.

[onyx39]

mikial said:

Rich_W said:

We like Damon in this household.

I always worry that if I ever get the chance to meet him, he'll be having a bad day and it'll become of those "don't meet your heros" moments

Anyone met him in real life as in not at a function where he was there officially.

I went to a party at Phil Reads house over 30 years ago and Damon's mum Bette was there , easy to see where he gets his good manners and attitude from .

The few times that I have seen him at Goodwood, he seems to stay hidden away in the Drivers Club, and then runs out at the last minute, so no time to stop. He does not seem to enjoy mixing with the public.

[0000]

Enjoyed those. Always supported Damon in F1, slightly baffled by his current views on motorway driving but we're all complex people. Lots of respect for him.

[Sexual Chocolate]

Been a bit of a lucky boy has old Damon of late. Driven this and Senna's old cars. I am not envious at all. No, not at all. Really I am not.

[Rich_W]

Kawasicki said:

I have a very different view of UK drivers...I see them as reasonably competent and very courteous. I just don't see a major safety risk with moderate (ca. 100mph) speeds on motorways. I think the speed differences between drivers is one of the reasons why the UK motorway network is so safe. Speed differences help to keep the driver engaged, which helps with attention/concentration.

And from your profile

Region : Victoria
Country : Australia

So of course you have complete and utter 100% credibility on the subject

[0000]

Bit difficult to guess how much time he's spent in the UK from that.

But I have a similar viewpoint. I've lived across much of England and Wales, Pembrokeshire to Norfolk, Devon to Yorkshire. Currently in Worcestershire, FWIW.

[sideways man]

hora said:

You know I thought this at the time and I still do now, he should be on of our national treasures but because hes not outspoken, rude, a serial-shagger or a degenerating pisshead the redtops didn't want to know him.

I've never met him but I have a feeling that hes hardwired polite/normal. If you saw him at a motorway services and said 'oi Hill sign this for me' he'd cut you very short. If however you said 'hi, can I say/etc' he'd probably have a moment to shoot the breeze...


Much like any of us polite/normal people would

He should have been a double champ but hey ho.

+ lots. Couldn't have put it better.

[Kawasicki]

Rich_W said:

Kawasicki said:

I have a very different view of UK drivers...I see them as reasonably competent and very courteous. I just don't see a major safety risk with moderate (ca. 100mph) speeds on motorways. I think the speed differences between drivers is one of the reasons why the UK motorway network is so safe. Speed differences help to keep the driver engaged, which helps with attention/concentration.

And from your profile

Region : Victoria
Country : Australia

So of course you have complete and utter 100% credibility on the subject

Who has more credibility to comment on UK drivers, someone who has only ever driven in the UK or someone who has extensive experience of driving in 10+ very varied countries?
The safety stats back up my viewpoint, the UK has a nice calm/competent motoring culture, despite the huge amount of people speeding.

[Kawasicki]

hora said:

I dont see UK drivers like that. Try riding a bicycle or driving in traffic on the motorway. 10+ countries? They must be the bottom 10 for ability...India, Vietnam
..

Uk
Ireland
France
Germany
Austria
Spain
Portugal
Italy
USA
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Australia
New Zealand

Hardly the bottom ten for safety.

I am puzzled why so many on PH think that Uk drivers are so poor. The UK is a paragon of calm and order. The motorway system is so consistent in design/engineering, Germany could learn a thing or two from the UK.

[Schermerhorn]

Damon proved his percieved "better-than-average" abilities when he took that Arrows in 1997 to near victory, passing Schumacher (who I rate as the greatest ever) and just losing out to Villeneuve in an ailing car. Mega drive and proved he is top notch.

That was an awesome drive in a less than awesome car.

Edited by Schermerhorn on Wednesday 4th June 15:09

[mistakenplane]

Rich_W said:

We like Damon in this household.

I always worry that if I ever get the chance to meet him, he'll be having a bad day and it'll become of those "don't meet your heros" moments

Anyone met him in real life as in not at a function where he was there officially.

He isnt particularly fan friendly.

Not outright rude, more clearly isnt interested in meeting people and signing stuff.

Ive seen him pull the fake phone call trick before, and you dont normally get a reaction out of him in terms of a chat, or smile or much else.

[fatbutt]

ash73 said:

Just spent the last couple of weeks driving across Europe and I don't agree with this at all. UK and Swiss really stood out for their aggression and poor manners, France and Italy were ok, Germany was by far the best; no aggression at all, everyone just got on with it.

I drive a lot around the US and consider driving in the UK to be a breath of fresh air. In fact, on my last trip home about a month ago I drove from Brighton to Aberdeen (and loved every minute). And yes, I've driven in maaaaaany different countries too.

[hilly10]

Nice to see Damon enjoying himself. I bet that car is totally manic. Some people on here ought to have more respect, unless they can do any better. Total wkers