The Shy Future Champion

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 19

The Shy Future Champion

(Special Crspdt. K.Z.P.A.) LONDON. As J. Brabham completed his lap of honour, after winning the British Grand Prix on Saturday, the man who took second place, Dennis Hulme, of New Zealand, drew into the pits, climbed out of his car and grinned shyly.

People crowded round to offer their congratulations but he slipped away quietly to sit beside his wife, who had been marking his lap card, and helped her work out his average speed for the race.

He was now in third place for the world championship. Such unobtrusive behaviour is typical of this 30-year-old driver from Te Puke, who says: “I don’t like being in the public eye at all really, it's all so embarrassing.” But Hulme is in the public eye and is tipped as a future world champion. He has won every sports car race he has entered this year, including the R-A.C. tourist rally for the second year in succession, a feat accomplished by very few i drivers.

In formula two races he has one win, four seconds and a third to his credit, and he was well in the lead at Rhiems when his car failed. Hulme is very modest about his ability and believes that racing drivers are made and not bom. “I took a long time to learn what I know about racing cars, and I am learning more with every race,” he says. That he has learnt well is indicated by his record since he started driving seriously in 1962. It was in that year that he left his home and joined the Brabham “stable.” Until ■ then he worked as an “oddjob man, doing anything that comes along and looked interesting.” Included in these jobs was a bit of lorry driving and two years spent as a general mechanic in a garage where he “did from a bit of shoe repairing to welding whacking great bulldozers together.” After two years overseas he- sent for his home-town girl-friend, Greeta Main. She spent a holiday in Britain before they flew back to Te Puke to be married. Now they have a small flat in London, but see very little of it Greeta goes everywhere Hulme goes, covering more than 50,000 miles a year. Next week-end they plan

to be in their flat—their first week-end they have spent at “home” for the last six months. Such is the life of a successful racing driver. In spite of almost continual travel Hulme really likes jwhat he is doing: “I get a 'real sense of satisfaction out ■ of doing what I like. I don’t think there is anything else I would rather do. It’s tremendously satisfying putting a car through a bend at tentenths.” (A racing expies-

sion which means that the car, in theory, is actually out of control). “Eventually, I suppose, we shall go back home to New Zealand and settle down quietly somewhere. I shan’t be opening a garage or anything like that. When I quit, I’ll quit altogether and get away from cars and everything to do with them. Mean-

while, though, I want to go on doing what I am doing.” Does he ever think about the dangers of his chosen profession? “Sure I do. All drivers do, I think, but I don't let it worry me. I just take things as they come, you know. Yesterday’s gone and I don't care much for tomorrow: it’s only today that matters. ... I find life goes a lot smoother and more easily that way.” Would he like to be world champion eventually? “Yes, I would like to be champion, but I’m not worried about it yet” If he was close to the championship and had to beat his team-mate and sponsor, Jack Brabham, to win. would he do so? “No, I know Jack would dearly love to win the championship again and if he is in the lead and there’s no-one pressing us, sure I’d let him go. ... As I say, I’ve got lots of years ahead of ;m«."