Remembering Mike Hawthorn

[patriot66]

Remembering the first British F1 World Champion, Mike Hawthorn who died 60 years ago today in 1959 aged 29. Found this great photo of him larking about with Stirling Moss back in the day. Dangerous times , great characters, heroic drivers :driving:

 

[Paulwirral]

A long time ago an old girlfriend asked what I wanted for Xmas , I asked for the book " mon ami mate " or something along those lines , it was a long time ago ! I read it and I'm not a book person , amazed I was reading a book and thinking it was something special she read it too . First time I'd ever seen her moved by words , she said something along the lines of " what a waste of talent and life "
Must have been good !

 

[buzyg]

And we worry about crossing the road. Different breed. 8)

 

[patriot66]

A long time ago an old girlfriend asked what I wanted for Xmas , I asked for the book " mon ami mate " or something along those lines , it was a long time ago ! I read it and I'm not a book person , amazed I was reading a book and thinking it was something special she read it too . First time I'd ever seen her moved by words , she said something along the lines of " what a waste of talent and life "
Must have been good !

A fabulous book, one of my favourites. I have it on my bookshelf

 

[Paulwirral]

That's the one , I think it's the only book I've ever really read

 

[ronk]

I seem to remember that he died in a motoring accident in the Lake District?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I thought it was in a Jaguar on the A3 in Guildford - his Dad had a Jaguar dealership in Farnham.

Brilliant book too.

 

[ronk]

I thought it was in a Jaguar on the A3 in Guildford - his Dad had a Jaguar dealership in Farnham.

Brilliant book too.

The Jag rings a bell - The Lake District is just something in the back of my mind.
Off to Google it now.!

 

[ronk]

Yep - A3 Guildford.
(Off for a slice of humble pie)

 

[Mr Tidy]

No need for that pie - it probably sticks in my mind because I've been using the A3 past Guildford at least once a week for years.

 

[patriot66]

Hawthorn was in his modified 3.4 MkI Jaguar. He was racing team owner/manager Rob Walker in his Merc 300SL Gullwing. The road was wet and Hawthorn lost control, clipped a bollard and a truck before literally wrapping the Jag around a tree. He ended up in the backseat. Apparently, he had lost a kidney in '55 and the remaining one was failing also leaving him with only about 3 years left to live
Some good info about his life, career and death on this website https://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/