Nationality British Career end August 26, 1934 Role Racing driver | Name Hugh Hamilton Years active 1930-1934 | |
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Died August 26, 1934, Bern, Switzerland | ||
Hugh 'Hammy' Caulfield Hamilton (18 June 1905 - 26 August 1934) was a British racing driver, who was killed in the 1934 Swiss Grand Prix. He was born in Omagh, in Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It has been said that he was "perhaps the top British driver at that time [before his death]". He raced with Dick Seaman on occasion, and was good friends with him.
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Early life
Hamilton was born in Northern Ireland, but moved to England in 1922. He started off as an MG salesman, but then started racing motorbikes, in 1930 he started racing with a Riley.
Death
Hamilton was racing an MG Midget in the 1933 Masaryk Grand Prix, when he crashed, after his waterproof cape blew over his eyes. He seemed to have fully recovered from the three broken ribs and internal injuries which he sustained, which led to his taking up racing again the following year. However, in the 1934 Swiss Grand Prix, Hamilton, driving a Maserati 8CM, crashed into a tree. This occurred after his front left tyre failed around 1500 meters from the finishing point at 150 km/h. This led to his crashing into a fir tree. Two spectators were hurt in the crash.
A post mortem revealed that his heart stopped before the crash, which led to the feeling that his heart stopping was the result of his crash in 1933.
Funeral
Hamilton's funeral was arranged by the British consul and Dick Seaman, and was held in Bern.