Obituary: Stalwart Tyrell Chief Mechanic Roger Hill

For a country with a population of only five million people, the amount of New Zosender affecting motor racing is so high, it almost feels that working in motor racing is a default profession for someone from the island country in the Pacific Ocean.

Currently, the World Championships and Constractors World Championships of both Formula 1 drivers are going into a team founded by a Kiwi, Bruce. McLarenAnd the list of people from New Zealand following McLaren is a long and successful; Just to take a few names: Phil Kerr and Hoven Gainley (both were in McLaren), Bill Stone, Alan McCal, who revealed the TUI racing concern, and Max Rutherford and John Bullock who worked with Kane Tierell.

When talking to New Zealand about mechanics, one of the most respected and most successful among them was Roger Hill, who was the main mechanic of Tierel for 20 years, which included Jackie Stewart during the three of the Championships. Hill died on 19 July 2025, 84 years of age.

Born on 11 November 1940 at New Plymouth, Roger began to work as a fitter, welder and engine tuner in his homeland, and also created a scramble bike frame and worked in a foundry. In 1965, he was one of a group of six enthusiasts (including the above Rutherford and Bullock), who came to England for scratching and motocross’s ‘working holiday’ and ended living in England for the rest of his life.

Roger said, “Getting out to travel to the other side of the world was probably a big experience, as much as I really gave to any serious idea, but it was a good idea at that time,” Roger said.

While living in England, he initially worked with a famous speedway engine tuner, Mike Arskin, then served himself with cars for Pierce Karez and Roy Pike in Charles Lucas’s Formula 3 team. In the appointed time, Rutherford introduced Roger to Kane Tierel.

As Roger recalled, the job interview with Kane was very simple: “I went to see him, shook hands and I had a job. I lived in that job by 1998, effectively, in that job. I loved it completely.”

Although he remained in Tierel to the very end, he actually came very close to joining Rutherford in New Zealand. In 1969, like Rutherford, whom he replaced as the main mechanic, he was tired of long and hard trips and was going to quit racing to return to New Zealand in late 1970: “For a few years, you have fun and it’s pleasant.

Away from leaving Tierel, there was a property for the hill team that he became the main mechanic for a long time, closing the role only in 1990 when the shake-up orchestrated by Joan Wildelprat replaced Chris White. However, he remained in Okham in a more workshop-based position, although he continued to participate in the race until the team ended in 1998.

The tenure of the Hill as the main mechanic included the three of the F1 World Championships of Stewart, all 23, 1971 F1 World Constructors of Tierel’s World Championships and spread a series of drivers from both different designs (P34 and ‘Hi-Nacas’ 019) and Johnny Sarvoj-Gevin. Jean elie,

During this time, Hill appears to have a reputation to solve untowardness, which seems to be his adaptability, peace and complete dedication, untrustable and careful approach to solve untoward, who not only had respect for their fellow mechanics, but also of drivers, who had full belief that they were driving a safe and reliable car.

After Tyrrell, he created a promotional replicas of F1 cars for a company, who worked Ferrari And Toyota.

It is a matter of regret that his last few years were difficult. His beloved wife, Angela, who was married to more than 45 years, died in 2015. He developed dementia a few years later and eventually had to go to a care house. However, until the day of his death, he remained active and lost none of his brightness and enthusiasm for life, always enjoying trips from his former colleagues.

Joe Ramirez, who worked in Tierel with Hill, said: “He was the most careful and creative mechanic that I ever worked and a pleasure to work together. Although I had a lot of experience, I still learned a lot from him. Without doubt, he was one of the best race mechanics of all time, as well as a amazing person.”

Danny Sulivan recalled: “Roger Hill was so calm that it meant a lot when he said. He was very respected and very funny. Some of his words were always right at this point and said a lot.

“The best example of this was when I found a call from Kane to get a test in Rio to get a seat for Formula 1 drive in 1983. There were other drivers, they looked very professional, and I felt that I should be the same. I sat in the car and fed around with everything like him. I started to faster in the comparison of others.

The last word goes to a person whose Roger’s honor was so great that, even in the mid -80s, flew directly from Switzerland to attend the funeral of Hill on 26 August.

Sir Jackie Stewart said: “Roger Hill was one of the greatest mechanics that the game ever had known. He was better in his job as much as I was mine.”