Hugh Hamilton (racing driver)


Hugh 'Hammy' Caulfield Hamilton 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 ". He raced with Dick Seaman on occasion, and was good friends with him.

Early life

Hamilton was born in Northern Ireland, and moved to England in 1922. He started off as an MG salesman. He took up racing motorbikes and then in 1930 started car racing with a Riley.

Races

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 that he sustained, which led to his taking up racing again the following year.
In the 1934 Swiss Grand Prix, Hamilton, driving a Maserati 8CM, crashed into a fir tree after his front left tyre failed at 150 km/h around 1500 meters from the finishing point. 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.
Hamilton's funeral was arranged by the British consul and Dick Seaman, and was held in Bern.