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Denis Clive Hulme(OBE) was born in Nelson, New Zealand, 18. June 1936 and remains to this date the only Formula 1 world champion of that country.
Hulme
rose to prominence in the mid-sixties after securing a ``Driver to Europe" stipendiate which was successfully introduced in New Zealand in the years 59 -61 to promote the local talented drivers - realizing the fact that you could only reach the top by going to Europe - more precisely to Britain. Hulme drove a variety of cars throughout his career. Formula 1 and Formula 2, Indy, Sports Cars and last but not least Can-Am. Although he won the world title in 1967 driving for Jack Brabham he is very much synonymous with McLaren driving for his fellow countryman Bruce McLaren from 1967(in Can-Am) and in Formula 1 from 1968 until he retired in 1974. By today's standard he was a very different type of driver but so was his era. Formula 1 had a much more relaxed and open atmosphere and although competition was fierce among the drivers everyone had more respect - and fun - on and off the track. Hulme was always regarded as a very safe driver - never one to put himself or others at risk with some badly calculated move - still he was a driver who gave his all when he felt the day and time was right. During some periods in Formula 1(especially 1971) he seemed to lack the inspiration as he felt - ``this is a long race" - and left others to dice for the top positions. However his last years brought some very fine drives in 1972 and 1973 when Peter Revson joined as a very good teammate that fired up Denny ``the Bear".
1974
was Hulme´s final year in Formula 1 and his decision to quit at the end of the year came very suddenly but may have been prompted by Revson´s death earlier that year. Hulme was at the scene of Revson´s crash at Kyalami but maintained his loyalty throughout the year to the McLaren team who took its first world title that year with Emerson Fittipaldi.
Hulme
then retired from top-line racing and returned to New Zealand, but he kept his interest in motor racing serving as president for the GPDA(Grand Prix Drivers Association) until 1975, and continued to make numerous appearances in both touring cars, trucks and the beloved and legendary Can-Am McLaren´s at historic race meetings in North America and Europe.
Hulme should be remembered as a very good - clever - and safe driver. During his career he drove some of the most powerful, colorful and best racing machines around at the time.
Hulme mastered
both Formula 1 and 2, Indy cars, Sports Cars, Can-Am and Endurance Racing - later trucks and touring cars also - mostly within the same year..Many drivers may have been faster than him but he still made it to the top - being tough and determined and focused in his approach.
Above all he walked away from a sport in which so many paid the highest price. Few drivers at his level ever had as few accidents as he had.
Hulme
died while driving - but not from driving - at the early age of 56 during the Tooheys 1000 miles race at Bathurst in Australia in 1992. While behind the wheel he suffered a heart attack but still managed to slow his car before rescuers found him dead behind the wheel.
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