The undrunk talent of a brilliant racer (9 photos)

This story clearly demonstrates that the true calling to drink away is impossible even with active attempts to do so. Although, in order to avoid problems, repeating such an experience is categorically not recommended.







Duncan Hamilton

Duncan Hamilton (1920 - 1994) was an Irish racing driver. Not say, to be straight outstanding, but in five World Championship Grand Prix and 18 races "Formula 1", not related to the championship, he noted. Even without prize places. But on the other hand, he successfully showed himself in other competitions, and the 1953 Le Mans endurance race, held annually during France since 1923, and completely went down in history.





Teams have to find the right balance between speed and reliability of machines, as well as testing the strength of the myself. Indeed, in the interval between pit stops, they have to spend driving up to 6 hours. Therefore, before the main race, the teams release shut down the track.

Duncan qualified with teammate Tony Rolt departed safely. But one of the meticulous competitors noticed on two cars the same number, which is strictly prohibited by the regulations. Crew disqualified.



The guys were wildly upset and went to pour grief into nearest bar. But Jaguar team manager Frank England turned out to be meticulous guy and sat on the judges so that they canceled too harsh punishment. They argued for a long time, but in the end they appointed a fairly solid a £25 fine in the hope that Frank will fall behind. But the owner "Jaguar" calmly contributed the required amount, and the guys were allowed to the main competitions.



Early in the morning, joyful England rushed to his riders, to give them glad tidings. But Tony and Duncan's hotel doesn't discovered. On tips from the staff, he found two completely insane bodies in the bar, where they continued to flood the sorrows of the world. Poor Frank clutched his head in horror: at 4 o'clock the race, and at 10 in the morning he had on the hands of two bodies that won’t even sit on a pot, not that for steering wheel.

But the manager was a stubborn and purposeful guy and decided go till the end. All available methods were used, starting with an ice shower and ending with liters of coffee.

Of course, it is not possible to bring riders to the state of a vigorous cucumber managed. But at the appointed time they show no signs intoxicated, set out on the road.



Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton win the 24 Hours of Le Mans '53

After the race, Hamilton said that at the pit stops they drank. Coffee. They didn’t just drink, but poured an invigorating drink into themselves in such volumes that the body, driven into stress, reacted with a tremor of the hands. And in a state of permanent fine shivering to drive a car at a speed of 250 km/ h was somewhat problematic. And the rider decided that it would be best brandy. And used it at pit stops instead of coffee. With him returned strength and confidence.

It seemed that all the tests were over. But fate decided that the bag with problems for today is not yet completely full. Full speed in the face poor Hamilton got hit by a bird. And broke the rider's nose. Was really painful and hard. But the brandy splashing in Duncan dulled the pain. AND the crew finished the race with, amazingly, first place. But champagne on the podium became the true nectar of the gods...



Tony Rolt and Duncan Hamilton win the 24 Hours of Le Mans '53



Frank England

After the race, the dodgy manager denied that Hamilton partner were, to put it mildly, in an inappropriate state. After all, they posed a direct threat to the lives of spectators and other participants. Yes and the image of the Jaguar was dealt a tangible blow.



But the winners are not judged. Yes, and prove after the lapse a few days the fact of intoxication was impossible. However, this was there is no time to do it, because a week later Duncan was already in Porto and was preparing for Grand Prix of Portugal. I must say, in a specific way: after passing the first turn,he fit his Jaguar right into the power pylon. He flew out of the car, hung on a tree for a minute, after which he gracefully glided to the ground, noticing out of the corner of his eye that a centimeter from his leg another car passed by.

When Duncan woke up, he found himself in the operating room. table. The chest is opened, and ashes almost fall into it from cigarettes of a bent-over surgeon. She smoldered so beautifully in the dark ... After all Duncan, who knocked down the support, safely deprived the entire city of electricity, including the hospital where he was operated on.

With such a frantic temperament, the racer managed to live quite a long life, open your own business and go down in history as the standard of an old-school English athlete.