Mike Hailwood in 100 Objects

We are pleased to bring you extracts from an exclusive new book by The Classic Motorcycle editor James Robinson which details the life of the world’s greatest twowheeled combatant in an intriguing and intimate manner.

Arguably the world’s best-ever motorcycle racer, Mike Hailwood transcended eras and generations.

Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood’s two-wheeled racing career began in the era of – and he initially made his name with – big British singlecylinder machines. Then he took to high revving Japanese and Italian fourstroke multis, before finishing on booming V-twins and screaming two-strokes.

Hailwood went from the black and white era, from one-colour dark leathers and pudding basin crash helmets, to the multicoloured, full-face helmeted, sponsorship-driven days of the late 1970s. He also found time to do some car racing too, recording a third at Le Mans in 1969 driving a Ford GT40, winning the

1972 Formula 2 European Championship and competing in 50 F1 Grands Prix, his debut in 1963 and his last in 1974.

Indeed, his car racing career would be enough to enough for many people to have deemed their competition days a success.

Though the car statistics are impressive, it is the motorcycle ones that are astonishing; nine world championships, 76 GP wins, 14 TT victories – his TT victories separated by 18 years, the first 1961, the last 1979.

Hailwood won TTs on a British Norton, Japanese Hondas and Suzuki, Italian MVs and Ducatis. He was desperately unlucky not to also win another on a British machine – the 1961 Junior on an AJS – while he raced all manner of machines, from single-cylinder, small capacity Mondials and Benellis (as well as multi-cylinder Benellis) to 750cc BSA triple to two-stroke late 1970s Yamahas.

The breadth of machinery is mind-boggling, the fact that he invariably won on them all harder still to comprehend.

On top of this he was made an MBE and then awarded the George Medal for his bravery in rescuing fellow F1 driver Clay Regazzoni from the fiery wreck of Regazzoni’s BRM in the 1973 South African GP.

It is almost impossible to comprehend the tragic irony that the life of this man who had risked and survived so much, who was a hero to thousands for his derring-do, was curtailed as he drove the family car to collect a fish and chip supper. That his daughter Michelle died alongside him adds an extra layer to the tragedy.

Mike’s son David survived the accident which claimed the lives of his father and sister and has allowed exclusive access to the family’s treasure trove of personal artefacts. A family who threw away nothing, the 100 objects selected truthfully only scratch the surface of what’s there, but what fascination they provoke.

The photographed paraphernalia ranges from the mundane to the magnificent; from championship medals to schoolboy swimming awards, telegrams, contracts, wallets, passports. It’s a remarkable collection. Together, they tell the incredible story of Mike the Bike.

Mike Hailwood in 100 Objects is limited to an initial print run of 1000 and costs £30. Call 01507 529529 or visit www.mortonsbooks.co.uk

RIGHT: From South Africa, an early driving licence. Mike had a real affinity for the place, from his early visits through to living there in the 1970s.

RIGHT: MV telegram dated 22-7-1965 and bearing a marking from Cannes, so it was clearly to do with Stan Hailwood. Domenico Agusta was the top man at MV Agusta.

Mike Hailwood, in action on the MV Agusta. He won four 500cc world championships riding the Gallarate-made machines.

BELOW: For winning the 1960 ACU 350cc Star. In the 350cc class, Mike favoured the single overhead camshaft, single cylinder AJS 7R, despite that year having a Ducati twin, too.

RIGHT: The 1968 Honda contract, detailing the paid-notto-race payments being made after Honda’s withdrawal from GP racing. The firm expected to make an imminent return. LEFT: After lobbying by his father, among others, Mike was made an MBE in 1968.

ABOVE: This magnificent Manx Norton model was made by staff at Norton and presented in the wake of the 1961 Senior TT triumph. In 1975, Mike is handed his This is Your Life book by presenter Eamonn Andrews.

After his 1961 Senior TT win, Hailwood is presented with the model Norton, which the family still has.

RIGHT: The big red book, as presented on the television show This Is Your Life, of which Mike was the subject in 1975 – aged just 35. The sleeve contains a 10in audio recording.