5 replies to this topic

[Greystone]

Twenty five years ago today one of my all time heroes, Mike Hailwood, died in a senseless road accident.

I saw him on two wheels on many occasions and there is no doubt in my mind that he was in a different class to anyone else around at the time. In my opinion possibly the greatest ever on two wheels but the point of this thread is not to start an argument.

Unfortunately I never saw him on four, where he made his mark but didn't achieve the same level of success.

I was fortunate enough to briefly meet Mike once and came away with a favourable impression of the man. Above all else I always felt that was in racing for the fun and enjoyment.

Does anyone else have any fond memories or anecdotes regarding Mike the Bike?

Andrew

[Gary Davies]

Thanks Greystone. I didn't particularly follow Mike's career but I remember well the sadness I felt, and still feel, at the untimeliness and futility of his and his daughter's passing.

I remember, too, the enormous admiration I felt upon hearing of his fabulous and victorious return to bikes in the Isle of Man in 1978.

I have a curious little book called "Racing and all that.", co-authored by Mike Hailwood and Stirling Moss. Rob Walker contributed the foreword. In it, he wrote: "Mike's comeback is one of the most amazing accomplishments ever witnessed in the sporting world, especially when he had told me years before, 'I will never return to bikes, they are too frightening'."

A brave and decent man.

[Macca]

Yes, thanks for the head-up - the passing of one of the all-time good guys.

In the 1960s I didn't know much about bike racing, other than that SMB was the best - I certainly didn't know he financed his drives in the Parnell F1 team out of his bike winnings kept in a pair of cowboy boots under his bed!

My interest in bikes started just before his comeback in the 1978 TT, which I followed avidly - the first I heard of the result, pre-teletext days, was when his win made the TV news.

His car career was hampered, not by a lack of skill, but by technical knowledge - of how bad the Parnell Lotus-BRMs were, for instance. If only he hadn't had that 'Ring crash, he might have gone even further with McLaren - which reminds me that it was his right ankle that was smashed, and as he had been brought up on British bikes with right-hand gearchanges, he had to adapt to a left-hand gearchange in his bike comeback.

As well as the 864cc 4-stroke Ducati, he also rode 250cc, 500cc and 750cc Yamahas that year, which being two-strokes were also bikes on which he had little experience, (I believe he had ridden a 350cc Yamaha in a 1-off ride at Silverstone in about 1970) but was leading the Classic TT on the 750 and well up on the 500 before they broke.


Paul M

[soubriquet]

Mike Hailwood's death affected me like no other.

I watched him race many times at the Mallory Park post-TT races. It was his home circuit, and the crowd (me too ) loved him. Beating Agostini (500 MV) on a 350 Honda was typical of his class. He always put on a show too.

Coming out of retirement and winning the TT on the previously unsuccesful Ducati illustrates his brilliance. Hailwood was a great man as well as being in the absolute top flight as a racer.

[Paul Rochdale]

I have this superb Alan Puckett artwork framed in my study, a painting which does the great rider proud. I saw him race on two wheels many times at Brands. He didn't always win - the Count would be difficult in allowing him to bring the MV over - and Derek Minter often had the measure of him - yet overall, he was quite exceptional. I remember reading of him falling off the MV during a Senior TT, and he bump started down hill in the WRONG direction. The officials turned a blind eye.

It is probable that he wasn't the best of riders at analysing a bike's faults and tended to ride around them. I think that this inability held him back in F1 where being technically minded was/is so important. I've also read in this forum that he loved bikes and hated cars, but I think it was the friendly atmosphere in the paddock at bike races he missed, something that apparently was missing in F1.

A truly great rider.

[Marc]

We've heard the news, it's hard to bear,
He was the one respected by all,
We weren't expecting the final call.
Memories of the past come flooding back,
Dicing with Ago lap after lap.
78, the TT and he did it again,
The Island alive with the sound of his name.
Alas, no more will see his face.
Alas, no more will we see him race.
The end of an era, but a legend forever,
Perhaps God is getting a team together.
It matters not how a man dies,
But how he lives.
The act of dying is of no importance,
It lasts so short a time.

Author Unknown

_____________________________________________________



Hillberry was the place I chose, to sit in the hedgerow with a rose.
The countryside was strangely still,
We sat in silence til.....
A noise was heard up the hill from Kate's,
to cause in crowd debates.
Was it Gary? Was it is Mike? A noise I've never heard the like.
Down to Creg to the hands that wave.
Up four gears then down five, out of Brandish to the dive.
And down to Hillberry flat on the tank, the noise was like a wine you drank.
A Honda Six on full song, like an arrow through the throng.
Cronk ny mona no respite, keeping the throttle cable tight.
Skipping like a stone on pond, round to Signpost, Governors beyond
It was Hailwood, first on the road, an experience time will not erode!
Ambition is a funny thing, I'd been to Mecca and seen the KING.
And this is how I'll remember the man, fate had a wild unruly plan.

Author Unknown

Thanks to Elizabeth ...