Tell a Friend - ‘Da boy is class’

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I must say that in my opinion, the Hamilton phenomenon is one that could only have happened in Britain. The interest in motor racing in this country has been unrelenting, ever since I can remember. Because of that, I have been able to pass my own personal interest in the sport seamlessly to my kids. They now share my enthusiasm for Hamilton, although unlike me, they cannot relate Hamilton’s driving ability to that of Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart or Graham Hill - the great world champions of my age. They do see a Michael Schumacher in the making, though. The comment of one of them, after Hamilton’s performance on Sunday took him into the lead on the points table in this year’s world championship, was: “Da boy is class!” The reason why I say the Hamilton phenomenon could only have occurred in Britain is that motor racing is a rich man’s game and most black kids follow it from a distance, given the money needed to go karting and to move on to the junior arena that precedes Formula One. For a black kid to have both the resources and the ability is hard to imagine, and Hamilton’s father deserves great credit for the enormous sacrifices he must have made to finance his son’s ambition. That Ron Dennis, the McLaren boss, when approached for his autograph - and telephone number - by a 9-year-old Lewis Hamilton, who told him, “I’d like to drive one of your cars one day!” responded, “Call me in 10 years’ time,” and then remembered to monitor the boy’s progress and give him a sponsorship while he was still at school, says a lot for the total lack of prejudice that operates amongst a certain type of Briton - the best and most talented. Guardian. http://www.autoracingdaily.com/5689/