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Mike Hailwood
Born {{{birth_date}}}
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Died {{{death_date}}}
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Formula One career
Nationality
Years 1963 - 1965, 1971 - 1974

Stanley Michael Bailey "Mike" Hailwood, MBE, GM (2 April 1940 – 23 March 1981) was a British Grand Prix motorcycle road racer regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time.[1][2] He was known as "Mike The Bike" because of his natural riding ability. Later in his career he went on to compete in Formula One auto racing, becoming one of the few men to compete at the Grand Prix level on motorcycles and in auto racing.

Early life[]

Hailwood was born at Langsmeade House, Great Milton in Oxfordshire, His father, who also raced in the pre-World War II era, was a successful motorcycle dealer and as such, Hailwood had a comfortable upbringing.[1] He learned to ride at a young age on a minibike as a small boy in a field near his home.[1] He was educated at Pangbourne College, but left early and worked for a short time in the family business before his father sent him to work at Triumph motorcycles.[2] He married Pauline Barbara Nash on 11 June 1975 and together they had two children, a son and daughter named David and Michelle.

Motorcycle racing career[]

Hailwood first raced on 22 April 1957, at Oulton Park. Barely 17, he finished in 11th place, but was soon posting successful results.[1] In 1958, he teamed with Dan Shorey to win the Thruxton 500 endurance race. By 1961, Hailwood was racing for an up and coming Japanese factory named Honda. In June 1961, he became the first man in the history of the Isle of Man TT to win three races in one week when he won in the 125 cc, 250 cc and 500 cc categories.[3] He lost the chance at winning a fourth race when his 350 AJS broke down with a broken gudgeon pin whilst leading. Riding a four-stroke, four-cylinder 250 cc Honda, Hailwood won the 1961 250cc world championship.[4] In 1962, Hailwood signed with MV Agusta and went on to become the first rider to win four consecutive 500cc World Championships.[1][4] After his success with MV Agusta, Hailwood went back to Honda and won four more world titles in 1966 and 1967 in the 250 cc and 350 cc categories.[1][4]

File:Honda RC162.jpg

Honda RC162 as ridden by Hailwood in 1961

Hailwood won the 1965 Hutchinson 100 Production race at the Silverstone racecourse on a BSA Lightning Clubman in heavy rain, beating the Triumph Racing Team's Bonnevilles. The 'Hutch' was the main production race of the season, so it was very important to manufactureres to establish the racing credentials of their latest range. Triumph Bonnevilles were ridden by World Champion Phil Read and ex works rider Percy Tait. BSA Lightning Clubmans were ridden by Hailwood (with a large number 1 on the fairing) and factory rider Tony Smith. Conditions were poor and Smith was out of the race at slippery Stowe Corner. With little regard for the rain, Hailwood was achieving laps of Template:Convert/mi/h to establish his winning lead.[5]

Hailwood is remembered for his accomplishments at the famed Isle of Man TT. By 1967, he had won 12 times on the island mountain course.[4] He won what many historians consider to be the most dramatic Isle of Man race of all time, the 1967 Senior TT against his great rival, Giacomo Agostini.[1][6] In that race he set a lap record of Template:Convert/mi/h on the Honda RC181, that stood for the next 8 years.[1][7]

In 1968, Honda pulled out of Grand Prix racing, but paid Hailwood Β£50,000 (equivalent to over Β£620,000 or US$1.1m at 2006 prices) not to ride for another team, in expectation of keeping him as its rider upon return to competition.[1][8] With no other factory racing teams available to compete against MV Agusta, Hailwood decided to pursue a career in auto racing.

Auto racing career[]

During his auto racing career, Hailwood never achieved the same level of success that he had on motorcycles. He posted respectable results in Formula One and World Sports Cars. He won the 1972 Formula Two European title and earned a podium finish at the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans.[9][10] Hailwood participated in 50 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting in the British Grand Prix on 20 July 1963. He achieved two podium finishes, and scored a total of 29 championship points.[11] Hailwood was in contention for a victory at his first Formula One race in 6 years, the 1971 Italian Grand Prix. He and 3 other drivers finished 1-2-3-4 over two-tenths of a second, Hailwood finishing fourth. Hailwood was recognised for his bravery when in the 1973 South African Grand Prix he went to pull Clay Regazzoni from his burning car after the two collided on the second lap of the race. Hailwood's driving suit caught fire, but after being extinguished by a fire marshall he returned to help rescue Regazzoni, an act for which he was awarded the George Medal, the 2nd highest gallantry award that a British civilian can be awarded.[12] He left Formula One after being injured badly at the 1974 German Grand Prix at the NΓΌrburgring.

Comeback[]

On June 3, 1978, after an 11 year hiatus from motorcycling, Hailwood performed a now-legendary comeback at the Isle of Man TT.[1][2] Few observers believed the 38-year-old would be competitive after such a long absence. Riding a Ducati 900SS provided by Manchester (UK) dealership Sports Motorcycles, he was not only competitive, but managed a hugely popular win.[7][13][14]

He raced the following year at the Isle of Man TT before retiring for good at the age of 39. In that final Isle of Man appearance, Hailwood rode a two-stroke Suzuki RG 500 to victory in the Senior TT.[7] He then opted to use that same 500cc bike in the Unlimited Classic and diced for the lead with Alex George (1100cc Honda) for all 6 laps in yet another TT epic. A minute or two apart on the road, they were rarely a few seconds apart on time each lap, Hailwood losing by just 2 seconds.

Death[]

Following his retirement from motor sport, in late 1979 Hailwood established a Honda-based retail motorcycle dealership in Birmingham (UK) named Hailwood and Gould, in partnership with former-racer Rodney Gould.

On Saturday 21 March 1981, Hailwood set off in his Rover SD1 with his children Michelle and David to collect some fish and chips. As they returned along the A435 Alcester Road through Portway, Warwickshire near their home in Tanworth-in-Arden, a truck made an illegal turn through the barriers onto the central reservation, and their car collided with it. Michelle, aged nine, was killed instantly. Mike and David were taken to hospital, where Mike died two days later from severe internal injuries. He was 40 years old. David survived with minor injuries. The truck driver was fined just Β£100.

Hailwood claimed to have been told by a fortune teller in South Africa that he wouldn't live to 40 and would be killed by a truck. The story was repeated by Elizabeth McCarthy in a 1981 memoir, while recounting her relationship with Hailwood, whom she had met at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1967. When he asked her hand in marriage, she replied that she was hesitant to marry someone who could die at any weekend race. He then told her his story and said; "...so you see, it won't happen on a track."[15]

Legacy[]

File:Ducati 900 cc Mike Hailwood Replica 1984.jpg

1984 Ducati 900 Mike Hailwood Replica

An annual "Mike Hailwood Memorial Run" takes place in March. The starting point is the former Norton factory in Aston, Birmingham. The run goes out to Portway, where the accident occurred and then onto the church in Tanworth-in-Arden where Mike and Michelle are buried. The 25th anniversary of this tragic accident was in 2006.

Hailwood retired with 76 Grand Prix victories, 112 Grand Prix podiums, 14 Isle of Man TT wins and 9 World Championships, including 37 Grand Prix wins, 48 Grand Prix podiums, 6 Isle of Man TT wins and 4 World Championships in 500cc.[4] He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1979.[16] The FIM named him a Grand Prix "Legend" in 2000.[17] He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001.[1][18]

After Hailwood's victory at the 1978 Isle of Man Formula One motorcycle race, Ducati offered a 900SS-based Mike Hailwood Replica for sale. Approximately 7,000 were sold.[19]

In 1981, part of the TT course was named Hailwood's Height in his honour.

Motorcycle Grand Prix results[4][7][]

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Points 8 6 4 3 2 1

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Points Rank Wins
1958 125 cc Paton IOM
7
BEL
-
GER
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
0 - 0
Ducati NED
10
250 cc NSU IOM
3
NED
4
GER
Ret
SWE
2
ULS
Ret
NAT
-
13 4th 0
350 cc Norton IOM
12
NED
5
BEL
-
GER
4
SWE
3
ULS
8
NAT
-
9 6th 0
500 cc Norton IOM
13
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
SWE
-
ULS
-
NAT
-
0 - 0
1959 125 cc Ducati IOM
3
GER
3
NED
3
BEL
Ret
SWE
4
ULS
1
NAT
8
20 3rd 1
250 cc FB-Mondial IOM
Ret
GER
5
NED
4
SWE
5
ULS
2
13 5th 0
MZ NAT
9
350 cc Norton FRA
-
IOM
Ret
GER
-
2 13th 0
AJS SWE
5
ULS
Ret
NAT
-
500 cc Norton FRA
-
IOM
Ret
GER
-
NED
-
BEL
13
ULS
-
NAT
Ret
0 - 0
1960 125 cc Ducati IOM
Ret
NED
8
BEL
6
ULS
-
NAT
-
1 10th 0
250 cc Ducati IOM
Ret
BEL
4
GER
-
ULS
4
NAT
Ret
8 5th 0
FB-Mondial NED
5
350 cc AJS FRA
-
IOM
Ret
NED
-
ULS
-
0 - 0
Ducati NAT
Ret
500 cc Norton FRA
-
IOM
3
NED
5
BEL
4
GER
-
ULS
Ret
NAT
3
13 6th 0
1961 125 cc EMC ESP
4
GER
Ret
FRA
4
16 6th 1
Honda IOM
1
NED
Ret
BEL
Ret
DDR
Ret
ULS
5
NAT
-
SWE
-
ARG
-
250 cc FB-Mondial ESP
Ret
44 1st 4
Honda GER
8
FRA
2
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
3
DDR
1
ULS
2
NAT
2
SWE
1
ARG
-
350 cc AJS GER
Ret
IOM
Ret
NED
-
DDR
-
ULS
-
6 8th 0
MV Agusta NAT
2
SWE
7
500 cc Norton GER
4
FRA
2
IOM
1
NED
2
BEL
2
DDR
2
ULS
2
40 2nd 2
MV Agusta NAT
1
SWE
2
ARG
-
1962 125 cc EMC ESP
4
FRA
Ret
IOM
Ret
NED
5
BEL
4
GER
3
ULS
-
DDR
-
NAT
Ret
FIN
-
ARG
-
12 5th 0
MZ FIN
Ret
250 cc Benelli ESP
-
FRA
-
IOM
Ret
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
ULS
-
NAT
Ret
ARG
-
0 - 0
MZ DDR
2
350 cc MV Agusta IOM
1
NED
2
ULS
Ret
DDR
2
NAT
-
FIN
-
20 3rd 1
500 cc MV Agusta IOM
12
NED
1
BEL
1
ULS
1
DDR
1
NAT
1
FIN
-
ARG
-
40 1st 5
1963 250 cc MZ ESP
-
GER
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
ULS
-
DDR
1
NAT
-
ARG
-
JPN
-
8 8th 1
350 cc MV Agusta GER
-
IOM
Ret
NED
2
ULS
2
DDR
1
FIN
1
NAT
Ret
28 2nd 2
500 cc MV Agusta IOM
1
NED
Ret
BEL
1
ULS
1
DDR
1
FIN
1
NAT
1
ARG
1
56 1st 7
1964 250 cc MZ USA
-
ESP
-
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
BEL
-
GER
-
DDR
Ret
ULS
-
NAT
-
JPN
5
2 20th 0
350 cc MV Agusta IOM
-
NED
2
GER
-
DDR
-
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
-
JPN
2
12 4th 0
500 cc MV Agusta USA
1
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
1
GER
1
DDR
1
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
1
40 1st 7
1965 250 cc Honda USA
-
GER
-
ESP
-
FRA
-
IOM
-
NED
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
-
JPN
1
8 10th 1
350 cc MV Agusta GER
2
IOM
Ret
NED
2
DDR
Ret
CZE
Ret
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
Ret
JPN
1
20 3rd 1
500 cc MV Agusta USA
1
GER
1
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
1
DDR
1
CZE
1
ULS
-
FIN
-
NAT
1
48 1st 8
1966 125 cc Honda ESP
-
GER
-
NED
-
DDR
-
CZE
-
FIN
-
ULS
-
IOM
6
NAT
-
JPN
-
1 15th 0
250 cc Honda ESP
1
GER
1
FRA
1
NED
1
BEL
1
DDR
1
CZE
1
FIN
1
ULS
-
IOM
1
NAT
1
JPN
-
56 1st 10
350 cc Honda GER
1
FRA
1
NED
1
DDR
Ret
CZE
1
FIN
1
ULS
1
IOM
Ret
NAT
-
JPN
-
48 1st 6
500 cc Honda GER
-
NED
Ret
BEL
Ret
DDR
Ret
CZE
1
FIN
2
ULS
1
IOM
1
NAT
Ret
30 2nd 3
1967 250 cc Honda ESP
Ret
GER
-
FRA
3
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
2
DDR
Ret
CZE
3
FIN
1
ULS
1
NAT
Ret
CAN
1
JPN
Ret
50 1st 5
350 cc Honda GER
1
IOM
1
NED
1
DDR
1
CZE
1
ULS
-
NAT
-
JPN
1
40 1st 6
500 cc Honda GER
Ret
IOM
1
NED
1
BEL
2
DDR
Ret
CZE
1
FIN
Ret
ULS
1
NAT
2
CAN
1
46 2nd 5

Complete Formula One results[11][]

(key) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts.
1963 Reg Parnell Racing Lotus 24 Climax MON BEL NED FRA GBR
8
GER NC 0
Lola Mk4 Climax ITA
10
USA MEX RSA
1964 Reg Parnell Racing Lotus 25 BRM MON
6
NED
12
BEL FRA
8
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
AUT
8
ITA
Ret
USA
8
MEX
16
21st 1
1965 Reg Parnell Racing Lotus 25 BRM RSA MON
Ret
BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX NC 0
1971 Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA
4
CAN USA
15
18th 3
1972 Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees TS9B Ford ARG RSA
Ret
ESP
Ret
MON
Ret
BEL
4
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
AUT
4
ITA
2
CAN USA
17
8th 13
1973 Brooke Bond Oxo Team Surtees Surtees TS14A Ford ARG
Ret
BRA
Ret
RSA
Ret
ESP
Ret
BEL
Ret
MON
8
SWE
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
Ret
NED
Ret
GER
14
AUT
10
ITA
7
CAN
9
USA
Ret
NC 0
1974 Yardley Team McLaren McLaren M23 Ford ARG
4
BRA
5
RSA
3
ESP
9
BEL
7
MON
Ret
SWE
Ret
NED
4
FRA
7
GBR
Ret
GER
15
AUT ITA CAN USA 11th 12

Footnotes[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Mike Hailwood at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Who Was The Man Many Call The Greatest Roadracer Ever?, by Dean Adams, Superbike Planet, 1998
  3. ↑ "T.T Ace Killed On Last Lap". Evening Times. 16 June 1961. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lexAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EqcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2098,5993772&dq=mike+hailwood&hl=en. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Mike Hailwood career statistics at MotoGP.com
  5. ↑ Reynolds, Jim (1990). Best of British Bikes. Patrick Stephens Ltd. 
  6. ↑ 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix (1st edition). Hazelton Publishing Ltd, 1999. ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Mike Hailwood Isle of Man TT results at iomtt.com
  8. ↑ Goodwin, C. 1999. Untouchable... Unforgettable... Mike Hailwood. Motor Sport. LXXV/6, 86-93
  9. ↑ 1972 Formula 2 season results at www.formula2.net
  10. ↑ 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Competitors & Results at www.experiencelemans.com
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mike Hailwood Formula 1 results at www.4mula1.ro
  12. ↑ www.grandprix.com
  13. ↑ Alan Cathcart (September/October 2009). "Road Test: Mike Hailwood's Ducati 900TT1 racer". Motorcycle Classics. http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/mike-hailwood-ducati-900tt1-racer.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-20. 
  14. ↑ 1978 Isle of Man TT at iomtt.com
  15. ↑ My Memories of Mike Hailwood, by Elizabeth McCarthy
  16. ↑ www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk
  17. ↑ MotoGP Legends at MotoGP.com
  18. ↑ Mike Hailwood at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame
  19. ↑ Melling, Frank (23, 2010-08-23). "Memorable MC: Mike Hailwood Ducati Replica". Motorcycle USA. Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/289/7782/Motorcycle-Article/Memorable-MC--Mike-Hailwood-Ducati-Replica.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-04. "The Hailwood replicas just wouldn’t stop selling and, although the final figure is unclear, something in the region of 7,000 official MH replicas left Ducati. In fact, they transformed the poor selling 900SS into a financial success and played a significant role in keeping the factory alive." 

Sources[]

  • 50 Years Of Moto Grand Prix (1st edition). Hazelton Publishing Ltd, 1999. ISBN 1-874557-83-7
  • Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

External links[]

Preceded by:
Gary Hocking
500cc Motorcycle World Champion
1962–1965
Succeeded by:
Giacomo Agostini
Preceded by:
Ronnie Peterson
European Formula Two
Champion

1972
Succeeded by:
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Preceded by:
Phil Read
TT Formula One World Champion
1978
Succeeded by:
Ron Haslam



Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Mike Hailwood. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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