Born in mexborough, yorkshire, he won the 1958 world formula one championship driving a ferrari. His racing debut at goodwood in 1952 in the eastern trophy was remarkable, but the win was no fluke. He seems to be having a good time of it, talking affably to his unseen audience. This would never show up more vividly than in school where he would be never more than an average student. Riley, he entered the motor sport brooklands memorial trophy, a seasonlong contest run at goodwood, winning it by one point. New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorns death. Jan 02, 2019 60 years since racing driver mike hawthorns death cars on display include lotus 11 and jaguar dtype unique collection of hawthorn memorabilia from private collection revealed this years motor sport hall of fame live will include a unique tribute to british racing driver mike hawthorn when it returns to race retro. His childhood was surrounded by motorcycles and racing cars, as his father was the owner of a garage at farnham were racing bikes and cars were fixed for competition.
British racing driver mike hawthorn wearing a flat cap and smoking a pipe, in the pit during the friday practice session of the british grand prix, silverstone, 18th july 1958. Mike hawthorn loved life, drove fast and died young. Big, blond and boisterous, he often raced wearing a broad grin and a bow tie. Rob walker, a friend of hawthorns had been driving a mercedes just.
Mike hawthorn 19291959 was a british racing driver, the first british formula one champion in 1958 and the winner of the 1955 24 hours of le mans. Hawthorn had spent much of his racing life driving his beloved jaguars against all types of foreign cars on the race tracks of the world. New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorn s death as the 50th anniversary of britains first formula one champion mike hawthorn s death approaches, a new theory has emerged into the crash. See more ideas about racing, race cars and vintage racing. National sporting club presents a cocktail cabinet to racing driver mike hawthorn.
Mike hawthorn outside the tourist trophy garage in 1958 with his jaguar 3. Held at stoneleigh park, warwickshire, from 2224 february, the hawthorn showcase features both cars and artefacts from his career that have been curated for a bespoke display. A notable moment highlighting mosss character took place in 1958 at the portuguese grand prix. The legendary racing driver, mike hawthorn, drives a lap around the le mans circuit, as it was in 1956, before. The classy act of sportsmanship which cost the late sir. Mike hawthorn driver data born 10 april 192919290410 mexborough, yorkshire, england, uk died 22 january 195919590122 aged 29 guildford, surrey, england, uk nationality gbr formula one world championship career status deceased car crash races 47 47 starts pole positions 4 wins 3 championships 1 podiums 18 fastest laps 6 career points 127. Hawthorn and fellow briton stirling moss of the vanwall team share a joke during their battle for the 1958 world championship. Mike hawthorn never married, but fathered a son, arnaud michael delaunay, by a young girl he met in reims after winning the french grand prix in 1953. Killed in a road crash after retiring from driving in 1958. As the 50th anniversary of britains first formula one champion mike. Three years later the farnham flyer was driving a formula one car for enzo ferrari.
Born in 1929 he inherited his fathers passion, enthusiasm and determination. Mike hawthorn had, of course, used these tyres on the d type at le mans but in very different conditions. Unique tribute to mike hawthorn at race retro 90right uk. Mike hawthorn became the first englishman to win the formula 1 world championship in 1958 but it is easy. Mike hawthorn was britains firstever formula 1 champion. On board with mike hawthorne at le mans 1956 dtype jaguar. British racing icon stirling moss left adjusts the helmet of ferrari driver mike hawthorn before a race in 1958 legend is often overused. On the 22nd of january 1959, only months into his retirement, world famous racing driver mike hawthorn died on the a3 guildford bypass while driving his comprehensivelymodified 1958 jaguar 3. It was the battle between mike hawthorn and stirling moss for the 1958 drivers title that first stirred my interest in formula one. Several shots show the scene of mike hawthorns fatal car crash. The driver is nattily attired in a pullover dotted by a bow tie, wearing a cromwell helmet that would probably be useless in a highspeed impact, plus glass goggles. Mike hawthorn, one of the greatest talents in motor racing, became a racing driver almost by accident. It was clear that hawthorns greatest education would be in the field of motor racing. John michael hawthorn was born on 10 april 1929 at mexborough, yorkshire uk, but in 1931 his father leslie hawthorn went into partnership in a garage business at farnham, in surrey.
Mike hawthorn was not yet 30 when in 1959 he crashed his 3. Mike hawthorn had only 60 hours to live when a club dinner at the national sporting club was held in his honour, dubbed the gay cavalier of motor racing, he lost control of his mki jaguar on the guildford bypass hitting a lorry, mounting the embankment and finally hitting a tree at high speed. Jan 22, 2019 john michael mike hawthorn shot to fame as the first british formula 1 world champion back in 1958, clinching the title after a difficult racing season fraught with mechanical problems and infighting with italian teammate luigi musso. Mike hawthorn made his competition debut driving his 1934 riley ulster imp, kv 9475, winning the 1,100 c. His first chance at racing success came in 1952 when a family friend invited him to race their cooperbristol. Mike hawthorn was at the vanguard of british drivers who swept into formula one in the mid 1950s and heralded an era of domination in terms of drivers and. Born in 1929, he inherited his fathers passion, enthusiasm and determination. Hawthorn died in a road accident driving his jaguar six months later. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Mike hawthorn became the first englishman to win the formula 1 world championship in 1958 but it is easy to overlook that achievement. Moss testified in favor of his opponent, mike hawthorn, who had been accused of reversing on the track after stalling his car on an uphill section. Peter collins and mike hawthorn win monza grand prix. His father carried on supporting mike through his racing career, but was killed in a road accident aged 51.
He was engaged at the time of his death to the fashion model jean howarth, who later married another racing driver, innes ireland, in 1992. John michael hawthorn 10 april 1929 22 january 1959 was a british racing driver. Mike hawthorn became a professional driver almost by accident. Mike hawthorn in the cockpit of the ferrari dino 246 which took him to seven podium finishes and the drivers championship in 1958. Mike hawthorn britains 1st world champion racing driver. Mike hawthorn born 10 apr 1929 mexborough, yorkshire. On the 22nd of january 1959, some forty years ago, john michael mike hawthorn, britains first world champion driver, was killed after losing control of his jaguar whilst driving along the a3 guildford bypass in southern england. While moss continued to be the countrys most famous racing driver of.
He his competition debut driving his 1934 riley ulster imp, winning the 1,100 c. This years motor sport hall of fame live will include a unique tribute to british racing driver mike hawthorn when it returns to race retro. The following year, 1956, was similarly lacking in results. British racing driver mike hawthorn arrives at london airport. Sitter in 4 portraits born in yorkshire, and brought up in farnham, surrey, hawthorn was the son of a racing motor cyclist. British racing driver mike hawthorn wearing a flat cap and. New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorns death as the 50th anniversary of britains first formula one champion mike hawthorns death approaches, a new theory has emerged into the crash. Here paul skilleter examines his jaguar works drive in the tragic 1955 le mans race. Shots of racing driver mike hawthorn drinking with jack hawkins and joe davis at a recent national. He clinched the world title driving a ferrari, while at le mans he won behind the wheel of a jaguar. Early radials did not share the progressive breakaway of their crossply equivalents, which is why the four wheel drift was so prevalent in racing, instead they maintained their grip for longer but then broke away quite suddenly.
Profile for racing driver mike hawthorn from britain. Shots of racing driver mike hawthorn drinking with jack hawkins and joe davis at a recent national sporting club dinner see 597 for full story. To this day controversy surrounds the cause of his crash. Apr 16, 2020 a notable moment highlighting mosss character took place in 1958 at the portuguese grand prix. He became the united kingdoms first formula one world champion driver in. Experience had made him a faster yet more mature driver. One of britains most captivating and gifted racing drivers, john michael hawthorns career included disasters as well as triumphs. While moss continued to be the countrys most famous racing. He regarded motorsport as a quick way to further the fun he constantly pursued. Stirling moss, one of the greatest drivers of all time. John michael mike hawthorn shot to fame as the first british formula 1 world champion back in 1958, clinching the title after a difficult racing season fraught with mechanical problems and infighting with italian teammate luigi musso.
Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Young mike hawthorn decided he would be a racing driver when he was just nine years old. He came closest in 1958, but testified on behalf of another driver, mike hawthorn, who was accused of an infraction in the portugal grand. Material relating to newsreel story sportsmen honour mike hawthorn 597. Video of race car driver mike hawthorn driving le mans. Mike hawthorn was not a clinical driver in the fangio and moss mould, arguably a little inconsistent, but when he was on song he was almost unbeatable. Apr 12, 2020 british racing icon stirling moss left adjusts the helmet of ferrari driver mike hawthorn before a race in 1958 legend is often overused. Moss shouted to hawthorn to turn the car downhill, where he could get rolling and bump start the engine. Click on the site to see mike hawthorns career results at that track glossary.
New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorns death telegraph. When his pastime became a profession he partied as hard as he drove, though his career was also tinged by tragedy, scandal and personal misfortune. He clinched that by a single point from compatriot stirling moss but his rival scored four grand prix wins to one during the season. Mike raced in just five grands prix, failing to qualify twice and scoring only four points. But ferrari kept faith with hawthorn and called him back for 1957. The following graph shows the change in the driverdb rating of mike hawthorn and james hunt over time since january 1st 20. He became the united kingdoms first formula one world champion driver in 1958, whereupon he announced his retirement, having been profoundly affected by the death of his teammate and friend peter collins two months earlier in.
And after leslie took mike around brooklands in a 2. View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of mike hawthorn, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. Legend driver stirling moss passes away at reincarnation. British racing driver mike hawthorn arrives at london. On board with mike hawthorne at le mans 1956 dtype. We see an uprooted tree on the grass verge of the guildford bypass and skid marks where hawthorns car left the road and hit the tree.
Carnage in the wildly unlikely event that hed lived so long, the racing driver mike hawthorn would have been 84 today. The story of mike hawthorns death on january 22nd 1959 has. British racing driver mike hawthorn 1929 1959 arrives at london airport with louise collins, the wife of fellow racing driver peter collins, uk, 4th august 1958. His team mates at maranello were luigi musso and peter collins. Apr 29, 20 todays video clip is something of a treat. John michael hawthorn was born on the 10th of april of 1929 in mexborough, england. A camera is strapped to the back of a dtype and a microphone fitted to mike hawthorn so he can commentate his way around the circuit in 1956 the result is rare and revealing treat. A largerthanlife fellow, his father leslie instilled the racing bug in him, and although mike was damn good and will always be britains 1st world champion, he also liked the social element of the sport. Mike hawthorn won only a single grand prix during his world. Mike hawthorn 19291959, racing driver john michael mike hawthorn.
Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. In 1955 he won the le mans 24hour race in spite of controversially being involved in an accident which resulted in the worse loss of life 80 people in motor racing history. Mikes meteoric rise from club racer to grand prix driver took place within on. Driver mike hawthorn 1958 formula one results racing. Jan 05, 2009 new theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorn s death as the 50th anniversary of britains first formula one champion mike hawthorn s death approaches, a new theory has emerged into the crash.