Adorned in the London Rowing Club’s colours of dark blue featuring white oars, this helmet’s livery would be catapulted into legendary status by motor racing’s greatest father and son duo, Graham and Damon Hill. Remarkably, the Hill family are the only one to have two generations of Formula 1 World Champions.

This Buco Resistal II helmet was first used by Graham Hill at the August Bank Holiday Guards Trophy meeting at Brands Hatch on 29/30 August 1965 driving a McLaren M1A and a Lotus 35 for John Coombs. The next race with this helmet was the Italian Grand Prix at Monza where Hill finished 2nd overall, despite leading into the final corner where Hill misjudged it, letting his teammate Stewart through for his first win.

Following an appearance in the Gold Cup race at Oulton Park, Hill headed over to the United States with this Buco helmet for the Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Driving his BRM P261 with a dayglow orange noseband, his produced a masterful drive to take the win, fastest lap and pole position. Hill raced twice more in the 200 Mile Riverside race with the M1A and then the Mexican Grand Prix.

Graham Hill’s 1966 season began with the start of his new relationship with Ford Motor Company as one their works drivers in the GT40 programme, specifically with Alan Mann Racing. Teamed up with his great friend, Jackie Stewart in a lightweight GT40 for the 12 Hours of Sebring. Despite qualifying 3rd, the pair’s raced ended with engine failure. Days later was the Le Mans Test in a 7-litre GT40. Another drive in a big-engine sports car was in a Team Surtees-entered Lola T70 Mk II at Snetterton on Good Friday where he clinched pole position before final drive failure spelled the end of the weekend. It was a busy weekend for Hill as he raced a Brabham BT16 for John Coombs in the Formula 2 race and finished 5th.

Hill’s final European appearance with this helmet was at the 1966 Monaco Grand Prix. Driving a BRM P261, Hill enjoyed a battle royale with Jim Clark’s Lotus for 3rd place before suspension failure caused Clark’s retirement. Hill finished on the podium at a circuit that would eventually earn him the nickname “Mr Monaco”.

Hill’s known last appearance with this Buco helmet was at the 1966 Indianapolis 500. Held just a week after Monaco, one cannot imagine a circuit more different to the tight streets of Monte Carlo than the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Driving a Lola T90 entered by John Mecom Jnr. and sponsored by American Red Ball, Hill drove an assured race to take a famous win, even more impressive as it was his rookie attempt. In doing so he became the first Formula 1 driver to triumph at the famous oval, and would later add a Le Mans win to his record alongside five victories at Monaco and 2 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championships. By any definition, this Indianapolis victory made Hill the only Triple Crown of Motorsport victor to date.

It is believed that Hill retired this helmet after his success at “The Brickyard” and later a world map of motorsport races was added to the crown. Since it was first worn by Graham, this helmet has remained in the care of his family, making it a remarkable piece of automobilia. With the Indianapolis victory, a United States Grand Prix win and Monaco podium to its race history, this helmet is undoubtedly one of the most significant of the very few Hill helmets in existence.