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  Those readers
familiar with the Grand Prix History website know that central to this site is the Hall of
Fame. Illustrating that section is a famous photograph by Gary Bramstedt entitled Heroes.
Amongst such giants of the sport as Clark, Brabham and Hill is a small freckle-faced
driver with crew cut hair looking somehow out of place, but if truth be told beating in his
chest was a heart as big as any other. His name was Paul Richard "Richie"
Ginther; born in Los Angeles, California in 1930 he grew up racing hot-rods. He became the
friend of another Southern-Californian named Phil Hill. After a brief stint in the
military during the Korean War Ginther joined Hill in driving a private Ferrari in the
grueling Carrera Panamericana in 1953 and 1954. The later year saw them finish an
impressive second to the works Ferrari of Maglioli.Ginther was also an accomplished mechanic as well as driver and he would often
trade one discipline for an opportunity doing the other.
Ginther began to tire of the politics in Formula One and together with frustrations brought about by his own sense of perfection caused him to abruptly retire from Grand Prix racing in 1967. Later he would sell his business and move to Baja, Mexico. In 1989 he was reunited with many of his former rivals at Donington for the 40th anniversary of BRM. For a moment the twinkle in his eye returned but days later he was dead from a heart attack at the age of 59. |
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In
1955 he drove for VW/Porsche dealer John von Neumann and began to make a name for himself.
With other top Californian drivers such as Phil Hill, Shelby, Gregory and Gurney racing in
Europe, Ginther was the class of the local field. His success racing Ferraris brought him
to the attention of the factory and after finishing second in the 1000 Kilometers of
Argentina with von Trips he was given the job of development driver for Ferrari. This
marriage between his mechanical and driving skill worked to the benefit of both parties.
Ginther is credited by many with introducing the rear spoiler to racing by convincing
Ferrari to add it to his sports cars. Periodically he was allowed to drive one of the
Ferrari Grand Prix cars and it was in 1961 that he first entered the record books not as
the winner but as the hard charging driver who chased the Monaco race winner, Stirling
Moss to the latter’s most famous finish. Phil Hill would win the World Championship
for Ferrari that year and credit his fellow Californian for the development work done on
the works cars.
While Ginther was
undoubtedly fast he often found himself overshadowed by teammates, first Phil Hill at
Ferrari and later Graham Hill at BRM. His humble beginnings and stature caused him to be
under estimated on more than one occasion. When Honda entered Grand Prix racing they
signed Ginther as much for his racing ability as for what he could offer in the
development of their car. In 1965 he rewarded Honda with their first World Championship
victory at the Mexican Grand Prix.. The car he drove to victory had originally been meant
for his teammate Bucknum but was switched on race morning. This victory would prove to be
the high point of his career.