Posted 20 April 2010 - 16:18
John,
I remember it well!! I was 8 years old at the time and our dad took us to watch at Signpost corner - we were behind the big 'arrow' sign, which gave us a bit of shelter from the rain (but not much!). We thought Hailwood was amazing - keeping going with the bike in quite a mess, and in the wet too! The exhausts were flattened on the left, and the fairing all battered with bits of the screen flapping about. I believe most of the gear lever had been wiped off and he was using his hand to change. There are 'before' and 'after' photos on photographer Mike Pollit's web site, taken at the Gooseneck (mikepollit.com) - worth a look.
From memory, there was some argument about whether Hailwood had broken the rules by re-starting the bike downhill against the traffic, and I think there was a photo taken of it happening, and another of him trying to kick things straight with the bike against the bank. Agostini had also fallen on the same corner apparently, and had Hailwood stopped virtually at his feet! I don't think anyone put in a protest in the end - it was a truly heroic performance, and we were privileged to have seen it. Definitely worth getting soaked for. I can still remember being behind that sign, the sun finally coming out and Hailwood going by with a blinding reflection of the water on the track and everyone cheering - fantastic!!
Excuse my rambling on!! Good luck with the search - interesting to see what you can turn up!
Then there was 1967 of course......
ATB
Ray