The Ferrari and sports car community has been shattered by the loss of George Watts Hill, Jr. who
collapsed while gardening at his home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Friday March 15, 2002. Hill
was an enthusiast and a gentleman, one who freely shared with others his wonder of sports cars in general
and his love of Ferraris in particular.
An active member of both the Sports Car Club of America and the Ferrari Club
of America, Hill served as the Regional Executive of the North Carolina Region of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA)
and as a member the Competition Board of Directors for the National organization, his efforts being
recognized by the SCCA leadership with the awarding of it's highest honor, the Woolf Barnato Trophy in 1969.
Hill was fascinated by the Grand Prix driver and traveled frequently to Europe throughout the Sixties where he
befriended Carol de Beaufort, Jochen and Nina Rindt and others before serving as Steward of the Meet for the
United States Grand Prix for almost a decade throughout the Seventies.
Trading a Ford GT-40 that he drove on the street for a Lusso then owned by GM Chief of Design Chuck Jordan in 1972 set Hill on a path that would
culminate in his "love affair" with the 250 GT/L. Selling his ex-Jordan Lusso in 1988, he then bought s/n 5593,
which he drove for many years, winning one of the prestigious GT Awards at the FCA National Meet in
Monterey, California and after a wonderful restoration by David Carte, his Coppa at Cavallino XI in January of this year.
More than a personal interest drove him to share his experience in vintage racing and Ferrari Club
driving events with friends and fellow enthusiasts, with Hill often "tossing the keys" to those he felt
deserved to be trusted with these automotive works of art.
More than anything, Watts Hill, Jr. did everything he could to "give something back" to the sport, serving on the Board of Directors
and heading the Competition (later Track Events) Committee for the Ferrari Club of America, freely sharing his
knowledge and historical resources to further event safety. Hill was a figure who could make you feel like a
million bucks while he was dressing you down for an on-track infraction. It was more than diplomacy;
it was a kind, but firm, word from a friend. He will be missed...
. . . . . . . .
Provided by:
Peter Krause of www.krauseandengland.com
