Mike Hailwood is considered by some to be the most naturally talented motorcycle racer ever seen. He started racing bikes competitvely in 1957 and won his first Grand Prix just two years later. His first World Championship came in 1961 and was quickly followed by eight other World Championship titles in three different classes. In 1968 the Honda factory pulled out of motor cycle Grand Prix racing and effectively  paid Hailwood not to ride for any other team.

He switched to car racing, winning the Formula Two championship and quickly moving into Formula One. Although never winning a GP race “Mike The Bike” was a popular, brave and determined driver. He is perhaps best remembered in F1 for pulling fellow driver Clay Reggazoni out of a burning wreck at considerable risk. Hailwood retired from F1 in 1974 after being injured in a crash at the German GP. He had competed in 50 Grands Prix and scored 29 championship points. During his car racing career he also scored a podium finish at Le Mans.

In 1978 Hailwood returned to motorcycle racing for another attempt at the legendary TT race, which he promptly won – his 14th victory on the 37 mile mountain circuit. He returned for another year before finally retiring at the age of 39.

On March 23rd, 1981 Mike Hailwood and his young daughter were killed in their road car when a truck made an illegal U-turn in front of them.

I was lucky enough to meet “Mike The Bike” during his 1978 “comeback” year and he was the epitome of a gentleman, and despite his enormous successes and legendry reputation, had time to chat with a young awe-struck race fan like me. He was a true class act.

The Official Mike Hailwood website.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 at 10:01 pm and is filed under Drivers, Formula One, Le Mans, Racers Past. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.