HAPPY HAMILTON STORY

Many thanks Mark for your outstanding article on Alan Hamilton.

As a youngster I used to watch him with amazement in the David and Goliath race fights and achieve results that were not expected with the huge horsepower Mustangs etc against the gorgeous athletic 911 with their small capacity rear mounted engine...

A few years later on, then an apprentice employed directly by ADH in the mid-70s, I could and still do wholeheartedly agree with your title of Alan as ‘Mr Porsche’.

As I learned much about the amazing 911 in those days like a kid in a toyshop, I also watched and learned the qualities that make a man of substance and integrity from him.

Alan was always even keeled even under pressure, never prone to ego tantrums, not a chest beater, always quietly driven and committed to excellence and authentic customer friendships, a Porsche hallmark from Ferry’s example, something the other brands tried to emulate.

Alan was authentic and always approachable from all walks of life. He was always the same in his open door office, on a TV interview or in the showroom where he was chatting enthusiastically with his friends (customers).

There were many times we in the workshop could hear Lorna his wife and secretary yelling out for him to answer the phone but we knew he could be found in the machine shop, smoking his pipe fiddling on a lathe as he loved to get involved with technical concerns.

He was an extremely generous man and this extended many times to his employees and Porsche friends, noting extravagant Christmas parties and the fabulous annual Staff Drive Day at Sandown, Calder, Winton (and Porsche Park cricket days...) where we would go nuts (almost) in the cars of our dreams with tuition from Alan, Alfie and Jim Hardman together with hot laps in other specials he would bring along ...like a 934 & 917/30...I still pinch myself. These were expensive days in more ways than one!

This generosity was most recently shown when he hosted & ‘covered’ the wake event for his best friend and National Service Manager Eduard Hackel who worked with ADH for decades.

His wealth was richly deserved and he took delight in sharing it with others.

I can assure you I am not alone in expressing these sentiments from staff and customers who respect and are quick to honour Alan Hamilton.

Warwick McKenzie ED: I am glad you liked Mark’s article Warwick and thanks for sharing your memories of Alan with us.