Born February 15, 1929 in Hampstead, London, England, Norman Graham Hill, simply known as Graham, was a Formula One racecar driver. Until and long after his death in 1975, Hill was one of the most controversial inclusions on the sport's “all time greatest” list.

Part of the reason some fans and critics wish to see his name included among the greats is the fabulous feat he pulled off during his career, the Triple Crown of Motorsport. Hill remained active in racing from 1958 to 1975, where he participated in 179 races, won 2 Championships, earned 14 victories, secured 36 podium finishes, recorded the fastest lap 10 times, and won 13 Pole Positions.

Graham Hill's life didn't seem destined for racing. In fact, at the age of 16, Hill joined Smiths, the instrument makers. He served a five-year apprenticeship with the craftsmen, and then was called into the navy at the age of 21.

After he was out of the navy two years later, he promptly returned to Smiths, took up rowing as a hobby, and even met his future wife. It wasn't until Hill was flipping through a magazine and saw an ad for a new racing school that he decided to get behind the wheel. Hill went to the Universal Motor Racing Club where he exchanged his talents as a mechanic for a spot in one of the race cars.

Although this attempt to drive didn't pan out as expected, Hill did not give up on the dream. He entered into a similar arrangement and soon was behind the wheel of a car. After a few years, Hill was ready to move on to bigger and better opportunities. He hitched a ride to London and met a man, Colin Chapman, who was affiliated with Lotus. Working as a mechanic with Lotus, Hill tried to convince Chapman to let him race. Hill would quit after being declined, but eventually came back to convince Chapman of his talents.

In 1958, Hill made his move into driving full-time - with his debut in Formula One. Hill showed promise as a driver, but the car never seemed to cooperate. After a horde of mechanical failures, Hill left and joined BRM in 1960. He was with the team for 2 years before winning his first race at Zandvoort - the same year he went on to claim his first Championship (1962). The next five years at BRM proved to be déjà vu all over again, with massive mechanical failures affecting the car almost every race. He decided to return to Lotus in 1967, where he formed part of a stellar team with double World Champion Jimmy Clark.

Clark died in a tragic accident soon after the team was formed, but Hill continued to race on. He was crowned Champion that year. After this year, Graham Hill's career went downhill. He was severely injured in an accident that confined him to a wheelchair during his convalescence. However, Hill continued to race after his recovery, and even started his own team. In 1975, Graham Hill was piloting his plane when a heavy fog set in. After losing direction, Hill tragically crashed the plane and was killed. Hill's son, Damon, began racing in 1993 and carries on the iconic name.