HAILWOOD’S HAT!

Dear CR,

In 1979 (as usual), I was at the TT. I watched the Classic TT from the park on Glencrutchery Road and after the race I wandered back through the paddock to go back into Douglas. There were two youngsters in the paddock, one on a Bmx-style bike, and as I approached them I became aware of Mike Hailwood himself following me! I was absolutely gobsmacked and didn’t dare speak to him! He nodded to me as he passed, took the Castrol baseball cap he was wearing off his head and slapped it on the head of the youngster on the bike, who obviously didn’t know who he was. The other youngster had his arms full of fork leg stickers and said he would give the lad all his stickers for the hat. “Never mind that,” I said, yanking the hat from his head. “Here’s a pound!” Having got the hat, I made good my escape! The hat has spent the last 43 years on the wall in my house (Hailwood House, can you believe!). I understand David Hailwood is putting together an exhibition of his father’s memorabilia and wondered if he may like to add this hat to the collection I must stress that I cannot prove that this story is true but I assure you that it is and that the hat is the genuine article. I am hoping to go to Stafford in April and thought I might take the hat to see David, but he will probably be too busy; if he would like the hat, I could post it to him.

Dave Burkinshaw

The Editor says: “Dave! Lovely story… those poor lads! Ha! We’ve contacted David and he’s happy for you to keep the hat. Also, he’s happy to see you at the show, so go and say hello! He may nab the hat and give you a quid for it…”