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. 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. Mike hawthorn was britains firstever formula 1 champion. Hawthorn and fellow briton stirling moss of the vanwall team share a joke during their battle for the 1958 world championship. Riley, he entered the motor sport brooklands memorial trophy, a seasonlong contest run at goodwood, winning it by one point. Mike hawthorn britains 1st world champion racing driver. Mike hawthorn was not yet 30 when in 1959 he crashed his 3. Several shots show the scene of mike hawthorns fatal car crash. Apr 29, 20 todays video clip is something of a treat. The legendary racing driver, mike hawthorn, drives a lap around the le mans circuit, as it was in 1956, before.
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. 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. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. His first chance at racing success came in 1952 when a family friend invited him to race their cooperbristol.
Mike hawthorn became a professional driver almost by accident. Mike hawthorn became the first englishman to win the formula 1 world championship in 1958 but it is easy to overlook that achievement. Profile for racing driver mike hawthorn from britain. National sporting club presents a cocktail cabinet to racing driver mike hawthorn. British racing icon stirling moss left adjusts the helmet of ferrari driver mike hawthorn before a race in 1958 legend is often overused. New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorns death. 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. Born in 1929 he inherited his fathers passion, enthusiasm and determination. Mike raced in just five grands prix, failing to qualify twice and scoring only four points. To this day controversy surrounds the cause of his crash.
As the 50th anniversary of britains first formula one champion mike. He came closest in 1958, but testified on behalf of another driver, mike hawthorn, who was accused of an infraction in the portugal grand. He his competition debut driving his 1934 riley ulster imp, winning the 1,100 c. The classy act of sportsmanship which cost the late sir. Mike hawthorn became the first englishman to win the formula 1 world championship in 1958 but it is easy. On board with mike hawthorne at le mans 1956 dtype jaguar. 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.
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. He clinched that by a single point from compatriot stirling moss but his rival scored four grand prix wins to one during the season. 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. Sitter in 4 portraits born in yorkshire, and brought up in farnham, surrey, hawthorn was the son of a racing motor cyclist. Born in 1929, he inherited his fathers passion, enthusiasm and determination. Peter collins and mike hawthorn win monza grand prix. Mike hawthorn born 10 apr 1929 mexborough, yorkshire. 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.
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. John michael hawthorn was born on the 10th of april of 1929 in mexborough, england. New theory emerges 50 years after mike hawthorns death telegraph. Mike hawthorn, one of the greatest talents in motor racing, became a racing 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. British racing driver mike hawthorn wearing a flat cap and. On board with mike hawthorne at le mans 1956 dtype. Born in mexborough, yorkshire, he won the 1958 world formula one championship driving a ferrari. His team mates at maranello were luigi musso and peter collins. His racing debut at goodwood in 1952 in the eastern trophy was remarkable, but the win was no fluke. Big, blond and boisterous, he often raced wearing a broad grin and a bow tie. The following year, 1956, was similarly lacking in results. Click on the site to see mike hawthorn s career results at that track.
British racing driver mike hawthorn arrives at london. 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. While moss continued to be the countrys most famous racing driver of. Video of race car driver mike hawthorn driving le mans. He seems to be having a good time of it, talking affably to his unseen audience. Experience had made him a faster yet more mature driver. 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. Mike hawthorn outside the tourist trophy garage in 1958 with his jaguar 3.
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. 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. Carnage in the wildly unlikely event that hed lived so long, the racing driver mike hawthorn would have been 84 today. He became the united kingdoms first formula one world champion driver in. 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. This would never show up more vividly than in school where he would be never more than an average student. Rob walker, a friend of hawthorns had been driving a mercedes just. 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. John michael hawthorn 10 april 1929 22 january 1959 was a british racing driver. Driver mike hawthorn 1958 formula one results racing. Three years later the farnham flyer was driving a formula one car for enzo ferrari.
Mike hawthorn had, of course, used these tyres on the d type at le mans but in very different conditions. 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. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. See more ideas about racing, race cars and vintage racing. British racing driver mike hawthorn arrives at london airport. The following graph shows the change in the driverdb rating of mike hawthorn and james hunt over time since january 1st 20. Mike hawthorn made his competition debut driving his 1934 riley ulster imp, kv 9475, winning the 1,100 c. Hawthorn died in a road accident driving his jaguar six months later. Mikes meteoric rise from club racer to grand prix driver took place within on.
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. Young mike hawthorn decided he would be a racing driver when he was just nine years old. 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. But ferrari kept faith with hawthorn and called him back for 1957. 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. 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. 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.
London stirling moss, a daring, speedloving englishman regarded as the greatest formula one driver never to win the world championship, has died. Mike hawthorn 19291959, racing driver john michael mike hawthorn. 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. 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. 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. A notable moment highlighting mosss character took place in 1958 at the portuguese grand prix.
View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of mike hawthorn, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. Killed in a road crash after retiring from driving in 1958. Here paul skilleter examines his jaguar works drive in the tragic 1955 le mans race. Unique tribute to mike hawthorn at race retro 90right uk. Stirling moss, one of the greatest drivers of all time. Apr 16, 2020 a notable moment highlighting mosss character took place in 1958 at the portuguese grand prix. Material relating to newsreel story sportsmen honour mike hawthorn 597. Moss shouted to hawthorn to turn the car downhill, where he could get rolling and bump start the engine. It was the battle between mike hawthorn and stirling moss for the 1958 drivers title that first stirred my interest in formula one. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. 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. John michael hawthorn 10 april 1929 22 january 1959 was a racing driver, born in mexborough, yorkshire, england, and educated at ardingly college, west sussex references.
Shots of racing driver mike hawthorn drinking with jack hawkins and joe davis at a recent national. 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. In the days that followed, thousands came to drive quietly past the spot where hawthorn had died, hundreds of wreaths were laid to mark the spot where a racing legends luck had finally run out. 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. Legend driver stirling moss passes away at reincarnation. He clinched the world title driving a ferrari, while at le mans he won behind the wheel of a jaguar. Mike hawthorn loved life, drove fast and died young.
Collins had been killed the day before, during the german grand prix at nurburgring. Click on the site to see mike hawthorns career results at that track glossary. It was clear that hawthorns greatest education would be in the field of motor racing. 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 regarded motorsport as a quick way to further the fun he constantly pursued. The story of mike hawthorns death on january 22nd 1959 has. Mike hawthorn won only a single grand prix during his world.