Unfortunately, this obit is real.

[Bimwad at remote location]

The only American-born F1 champion has passed. A gentleman racer, but either title would still be fitting on its own.

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-hill29-2008...2168.story

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/...s-dead/?hp

[kj]

That's too bad. I talked to him for a minute once and got is autograph. Seemed like a nice guy. Sterling Moss, on the other hand... kj.

[chopper]

Generally, with top level racers, many times the normal rules don't apply. Focus and drive make them seem pretty rude at times. It's not that they don't like talking to fans, it's that to them no one exists in the entire world except for them and the guy who might beat them. A few of them never lose this, even in their 60s.