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[9], In 1962, Hailwood signed with MV Agusta and went on to become the first rider to win four consecutive 500cc World Championships. He plans to play the lead role of Hailwood and co-direct the film alongside friend Robert Connolly. Bana will star as Mike Hailwood, considered among the . I did, though, make the switch later and won the 1972 Daytona 200. The South African mechanics, no, the handsome pilot methinks yes!! Mike stuck the nose of the Iso to within inches of the bikes rear number plate roaring with laughter all the way. Subscribe Shop Subscribe Articles F1 Articles F1 Opinion Mark Hughes History MotoGP Podcasts Competitions The Showroom Articles The Showroom Racing memorabilia Auctions Luxury He was sharing a house with Frank Perris a former Suzuki works rider. The key factors behind F1s Premier League-style managerial revolving door, The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets, The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets 1984 E. Lawson David Hailwood, who was in the rear of the car, survived. We left the UK at the end of November for Johannesburg and at about the same time Mike shipped the Iso Grifo to Durban. He led, again, only to break another motor. Many believe Giacomo Agostinis 15 Grand Prix championships (including 8 premier class titles) qualify him as the GOAT. 1964 J. Redman It was just one of those things that wasnt his fault., Time shouldnt diminish Hailwoods achievements to the die-hard enthusiast, according to Kel. Thanks for your report on Mikes two Isos. 1991 W. Rainey Then we went to Oulton Park for two more days to try more suspension. In April 1971 the 120 km/h limit was introduced. "He came in for a scheduled fuel stop [from third place after three hours] and it started spotting with rain," said John Horsman, the team's chief engineer. I suggested to Mike that as we plan to be in the car painting business together he might as well see how paint is manufactured. He then told her his story and said; "I will be killed by one of those damn lorries so, you see, it won't happen on a track". One Saturday in March 1981, driving his Rover 3500 with six-year-old son David and nine-year-old daughter Michelle on their way home from picking up a fish-n-chip supper, Hailwood encountered a large big-rig transporter suddenly pulling an illegal U-turn. The next step, in terms of building his confidence in powerful open-wheel racecars, was coming under the tutelage of Surtees, who had set up Team Surtees back in 66, won the Can-Am championship as an owner/driver and had also found success with his own cars in Formula 5000. Dijon 1974, and Hailwood's McLaren M23 Ford leads Jody Scheckter's Tyrrell 007 and Jacky Ickx's Lotus 72. The previous record of 143mph (230km/h) was set by Bob McIntyre on a 350cc Gilera at Monza in 1957. [57] He was 40 years old. 2021 F. Quartararo 1989 S. Pons, 1990 J. Kocinski My teammate Dick Mann, however, won the race on Dunlops, the exact scenerio that Mike had suggested. Mike Hailwood on the right and Frank Perris. [6] In heavy rain, Hailwood won the 1965 Hutchinson 100 Production race at the Silverstone circuit on a BSA Lightning Clubman entered by dealer Tom Kirby, beating the Triumph Bonnevilles entered by Syd Lawton. Author - Paul Barden. Hailwood died in 1981 following a road traffic accident in Warwickshire, England. The year started off with Hailwood finishing runner-up in the Tasman F5000 championship down under. Continue. He came to our house on the mine property a couple of times and even took me and my bro for some spins in his little GSM Dart. When we painted new company vans and pick-ups in corporate colours 24 hours not a problem but most cars had dings and dents that took a little longer to repair (hopefully they were able to compare car insurance). What I probably remember most was that Mike was such a cool guy. Isnt it the most annoying thing when you know theres something important you have forgotten, but you havent the foggiest idea what it is? 1964 P. Read Imported from Japan and produced on acid-free, heavyweight paper stock, this is a 11.75" x 16.5" print. I had heard about him and he lived up to his reputation, lets say that., Nicky HaydenRemembered 1998 L. Capirossi So perhaps more satisfying for Hailwood was that he drove a Surtees TS10 to Formula 2 championship glory. In 1966, Mike the Bike returned to Honda and nabbed four more championship crowns in 1966 and 1967 (250cc and 350cc). [9], He was awarded the Segrave Trophy for 1979 "in recognition of his Isle of Man exploits in the Senior and Classic TTs", with his close friend Ted Macauley also awarded a special Seagrave Medal. He had also raced, in the pre-World War II era. I was able to bring his 1970 bike in for 3rd and collect my Goodyear contingency money. By 1967, he had won 12 times on the island mountain course. A great motor cycle champion. 1952 U. Masetti [32] Pauline Hailwood died in June 2020 following an illness.[33][34]. 1957 C. Sandford He married their mother, model Pauline, on 11 June 1975. Goose bumps come to mind! A company by the name of British Domolac in Woolwich manufactured the quick drying acrylic for Paint-a-Car. 1962 J. Redman Mike used to do the Johannesburg to Cape Town trip in about ten and a half hours at an average speed of 85 mph. 1992 W. Rainey Rheims Grand Prix. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. Sign up for a free Trove . At that time i never realised Bud had a bro or that he would go so far in life in the racing world! Hailwood stated to Motorcycle Mechanics that even without suitable machinery from Honda he would not go elsewhere, preferring to retire prematurely and he would in any case finish at the end of the 1968 season. He was a supremely neat and precise bike racer, and therefore sliding a racecar was quite anathema to him. Revitalized by the 1978-win, Mike the Bike gave the Isle of Man TT one last shot in 1979. Good thing I ignored the insurance assessor who said complete write off and decided to have the car rebuilt in the head office workshop of the Mike Hailwood Autospray System in downtown Johannesburg. The resultant collision left David slightly injured, killed Michelle instantly and left Mike himself clinging onto life. Mike had a flat at Heston in Middlesex and Jim said he once accompanied Mike on a trip to central London along the Great West Road as I recall. He was bumped into premature retirement in 1967 when the Honda factory suddenly quit . Can Rossi match Agostini's MotoGP winning record? A year later, much to my surprise, I was asked to head up the VIP direct factory sales department. 2013 P. Espargar document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Log in --- Copyright Michael Gulett 2010 - 2023, Random Memories Of Mike Hailwood And His Iso Grifo In South Africa. 1981 M. Lucchinelli When he asked for her hand in marriage, she replied that she was hesitant to marry someone who could die at any weekend race. 2003 M. Poggiali As they say in legal circles I rest my case. The rookies looking to make their mark on F1 in 2023, The rookie crop of F1 2023 It was in 1980 at the Easter Match Races in England. So there was potential, clearly, but it wasnt consistent. He said there had been an accident and Mike had been seriously injured. [1][9] At the 'Motor Cycle' 500 race at Brands Hatch in 1966, Hailwood demonstrated a Honda CB450 Black Bomber fitted with a sports fairing. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Then Mike died in 1981yes, in an accident with a lorry, as foretold by a psychic in South Africa. Hailwood, who once interrupted his own race to pull a burning competitor out of his blazing Formula One race car and save his life, would himself die tragically at age 40 along with his daughter. Once traveling north to Johannesburg he passed through the Karoo town of Beaufort West some 300 miles from Cape Town. The 40-year-old was on his way to get some fish and chips with his son David and daughter. I mean I dont think people realize how difficult things like that 500 Honda and the big MVs and that would have been to ride. The Grand Prix racer, 40, had left his house with his two. Now, Eric Banaan actor known for his work in The Time Traveler's Wife and 2003's Hulk is writing a screenplay for a new Hollywood film about Mike the Bike's last TT run. Why "grounded" Hamilton remains confident in Mercedes' F1 recovery. Mike's unassuming, fun-loving personality won him numerous friends and fans. He participated in 50 Formula One Grands Prix, starting with an early phase between 19631965, debuting in the British Grand Prix on 20 July 1963, achieving two podium finishes and scoring a total of 29 championship points. In 1965 I met Gill who worked for Rootes in Devonshire House, Green Park, and we were married in December 1966. 1953 G. Duke Quickly he assimilated the scene and realised it was the launch of the towns Gatsometer. 2014 M. Mrquez I was just twenty and had followed his career in GPs for many years. Tragic irony, then, as the Rover sedan Mike Hailwood was driving to get a Saturday night fish-and-chips supper with daughter Michelle, 9, and son David, 6, somehow rammed into the rear of a. 1950 U. Masetti Despite a life lived dicing with death on the race circuit Mike Hailwood was sadly killed in a car accident near his home in 1981. Mike Hailwood, MBE 1940 42 - 1981 323 Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood 2 . Some see Valentino Rossi as a shoo-in for the honor. They purchased Dr James Hulls huge collection of cars which included many important Jaguars. 1966 G. Agostini On the Friday I went to Parys to arrange for the wreck to be railed to our head office workshop thats when I took the photos. Mike no doubt went flying over the rise but unfortunately there were three cows in the road. The day he died, Id flown into Amsterdam from America and I got to Yamahas workshop, remembers Kel. He drove in Formula One, competing in 50 Grands Prix. In fact it could have done justice to the hull of a battleship, no doubt a major contributing factor to Mike and Peter having survived the huge impact. He is regarded by many as the greatest rider of all time ; winning nine World Championships during the 1960s (including 76 Wins in 152 GPs). Operated by the Mike Hailwood Foundation, an Isle of Man-based charity, it is staffed by volunteers and also promotes the races together with supporting new competitors. By an eerie coincidence the damage to Mikes Rover 3500 in which he and his daughter were fatally injured in March 1981 was virtually identical to that of the Iso Grifo with head lights intact and the roof peeled off and twisted towards the left rear. [17][49][50] Machines for other race categories were provided by Yamaha NV (Netherlands);[51][42] Hailwood finished 12th in the 250cc Junior event, 28th in the 500cc Senior race being affected by a faulty steering damper,[52] and a DNF in the Classic (1000cc) race. The start point is the former Norton factory in Aston, Birmingham. Heck, Big John was still racing the other team car, so his feedback and analysis couldnt have been more up-to-date and relatable. [18][30], In 1964, together with British commentator and journalist Murray Walker, he published the book, The Art of Motorcycle Racing. 1999 . Crivill, 2000 K. Roberts Jr. 1965 P. Read Hi Andre, Limited Stock. National Sporting Club presents a cocktail cabinet to racing driver Mike Hawthorn. 1975 J. Cecotto At the time we were setting up Autospray Bloemfontein (300 miles south of Johannesburg) and at about 11:00AM on Wednesday November 26 I set off for Bloemfontein with the company Hillman Hunter estate loaded with equipment and materials. However, by 1962 Hailwood signed with MV Agusta and turned his attention to the 500cc class. [17] 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 six laps. That guidance led Hailwood to his race debut in 1957 at the tender age of 17. At this point, Hailwood decided to retire from racing, aged 34, and move to New Zealand. Mike recognised the estate and we flashed lights at each other. He drove it back from the factory on those Italian EE (export) plates which Hailwood seemed to have kept on it for a while, maybe until he shipped it to South Africa. 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 third lap of the race. 2015 J. Lorenzo The Iso had the strongest and thickest body of any car I have ever known. With Dunlops. Hailwood rushed to Regazzoni's car and tried to pull him out only for his own. On the second lap, Hailwood collided with driver Clay Regazzoni. In an F1 car, Hailwoods efforts were solid rather than startling, driving for Reg Parnell Racing in a year-old Lotus 24-Climax, then a Lola Mk 4, in a handful of championship and non-championship F1 races in 1963. From time to time when the guys revved the Climax engine for half of London to hear a Russian lady who lived around the corner would arrive to complain and every time she would drag along her stunningly beautiful niece. Still, others believe Mike Hailwoods accomplishments outshine all contenders. Leading the Formula 2 field at Rouen-les-Essarts, in 1972, the year he would clinch the championship. The winter racing honed the young firebrand and the 1958 season was littered with major National success. 1965 M. Hailwood He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle world championships from 1958 to 1967 and in Formula One between 1963 and 1974. He was the captain of the British team, and we were intermixed much of the time we were over there., Spencer recalls the quality Hailwood was renown for: He was very colorful. [1] In 1958 he won ACU Stars at 125cc, 250cc, and 350cc classes, earning him the Pinhard Prize,[6] an accolade awarded yearly to a young motorcyclist under 21, who is adjudged to have made the most meritorious achievement in motorcycle sport during the preceding year. Only recently did I hear that Coys had auctioned the restored car in 2011. [7] He teamed with Dan Shorey to win the Thruxton 500 endurance race and finished in four classes of TT race with one podium. Nine time world champion Hailwood was 41 and was officially retired when he and his daughter were killed in a car accident in England on March 23, 1981. Already got a Trove account. On their return they were involved in an accident . I mean, God, the poor guy, theyd follow him into the bathroom and everything. [59] The starting point was the former Norton factory in Aston, Birmingham, then on to Portway, where the accident occurred, followed by a service at the church in Tanworth-in-Arden. But there was an itch he couldnt scratch, and in 77 he started racing bikes once more Down Under, and in 78 entered the Isle of Man TT races and won the Formula 1 class in dominant fashion on a Ducati. Bahrain GP: Verstappen beats Perez, Ferraris to first pole of F1 2023, St. Pete IndyCar: Herta, McLaughlin top FP2, Dixon shunts Ironically, Hailwoods 1970 bike was now my ride for the 1971 race, and he had a new bike. He died in a road accident along with daughter Michelle, nine. Ive always regretted a bit that I didnt take his advice at the bar that year. Accessed 5 April 2014. To go through what he went then get killed on the streets You know he used to drive cars fast but, I mean, I dont think he was stupid. A race marshal aimed a fire extinguisher at Hailwood, whereupon he went straight back to Regazzoni, whose car remained engulfed in flames. Michelle, aged nine, was killed instantly. Walker put it another way: "He was a party animal." 2013 M. Mrquez I have my story at: http://hamley.blogspot.se/p/remembering-gary-hocking-1937-1962.html. Read all Directors Jon Carey Adam Darke Stars Carl Fogarty In fact his standout moment came outside the cockpit pulling Clay Regazzoni from his burning BRM after the pair collided at Kyalami, an act of bravery for which Hailwood received the UKs prestigious George Medal. When I arrived in London in mid-1964, Hugh Dibley, a BOAC first officer at the time owned 18 Queens Gate Mews. He lived a playboy lifestyle as a jet-setter covering 30,000 road miles and 160,000 air miles in a year travelling to circuits around the world whilst based in his bachelor-flat at Heston, West London, where he kept his high-powered sports cars. [1][9], In February 1964 during preparations for the US Grand Prix, Hailwood set a new one-hour speed record on the MV 500cc recording an average speed of 144.8mph (233.0km/h) on the oval-shaped, banked speed-bowl at the Daytona circuit. On Sunday night, March 22, 1981, Mike Hailwood took his two children for a short drive to buy fish and chips. 1955 H. Mller On the second lap, Hailwood and Clay Regazzoni collided. 1968 G. Agostini On Saturday, 21 March 1981, Mike Hailwood set off in his Rover SD1 with his children Michelle and David to collect some fish and chips. David survived with minor injuries. 1951 G. Duke I told Tony to work on the Grifo in between other jobs and when he had some spare time. This time he managed to pull the Italian out. Nine time world champion Hailwood was 41 and was officially retired when he and his daughter were killed in a car accident in England on March 23, 1981. I met Mike Hailwood in 1979 at Donington Park; Hailwood was there for two days testing the suspension Girling. 1956 B. Lomas Davida were highly honoured to be the first manufacturer to recreate 'Mike The Bike's' immensely iconic 'For The Love Of Sport' Hailwood . Hailwood had them into the lead of the 750cc class when he handed over to Scaysbrook. His abilities on his bike can be measured in titles, 12 times a winner in the Isle of Man "the scariest race in the world" and nine times the Grand Prix Motor Cycling champion, as well as the less quantifiable but no less obvious esteem in which he was held by the sport. [12][13], After his successes 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. I mean he won on all sorts of bikes, Carruthers says. Of four points finishes, Monza was the highlight as Hailwood again finished runner-up to Fittipaldi although he hated the revamped track which he felt had been ruined by chicanes. 1962 J. Redman St. Pete IndyCar: Herta, McLaughlin top FP2, Dixon shunts, RLL drivers puzzled by underperformance in St. Pete FP1, RLL puzzled by St. Pete FP1 issues It was a dangerous game, and it was treated as a game. How the F1 2023 competitive order is shaping up after Bahrain testing. Peter Collins and Mike Hawthorn win Monza Grand Prix. 2003 V. Rossi As they returned along the A435 Alcester Road through Portway, Warwickshire,[56] near their home in Tanworth-in-Arden, a lorry made an illegal turn through the barriers onto the central reservation, and their car collided with it. [18], For 1968, Honda pulled out of Grand Prix racing, but paid Hailwood 50,000 (equivalent to over 870,000 at 2020 prices) not to ride for another team, in expectation of keeping him as its rider upon return to competition. Sure enough, at that point, it started to come together for him and aside from a couple of outings for BSA in the prestigious Daytona 200 bike race in 70 and 71, Hailwood became pretty much a car convert. 1957 L. Liberati I think he was the best rider. I mean he was the guy so to speak.. After an accident at the Nurburgring in 1974 in which he broke both legs, Hailwood decided at the age of 34 to give up racing and move to New Zealand. 1994 M. Doohan It was a wet, dark night and Mike had no chance of avoiding the collision which instantly claimed Michelle's life. 1983 F. Spencer 1968 P. Read . the white iso is garaged about 3 miles from gaydon museum and is looking very bright and desireable. Riding a four-stroke, four-cylinder 250 cc Honda, Hailwood won the 1961 250cc world championship. He finished on the podium twice, as he did once at Le Mans, making a decent fist of driving for lesser teams, believed Jackie Stewart. 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. Now that would have been a million to one coincidence! His return to motorcycle racing after his time on four. The Autospray corporate colour for our vehicles and the racing cars we sponsored was a bright emerald green that I chose to make a statement in an era of conservative colours. Today marks the fortieth anniversary of Mike's death, two days after the road accident which also took the life of his nine-year-old daughter Michelle. Achieving some success, he entered a 3-hour long-distance event in April 1978, as before with Australian co-rider Jim Scaysbrook. Magnificent sight it was! Mike "The Bike" won 9 Grand Prix World Championships including four consecutive 500cc World Championships (1962 - 1965). [27][28] Hailwood's son David completed a demonstration lap of the Isle of Man TT course on 3 June 2002, riding his father's Daytona 1971 BSA Rocket 3 carrying large letters 'H' instead of a race number. I ordered a bonnet, a roof panel, fenders, a windscreen and other parts from Iso and these we air freighted. [67] In 1984, Pauline Hailwood officially opened the Mike Hailwood Centre,[68] a multi-purpose building located at the TT Grandstand in Douglas run as a refreshment outlet during TT and Manx Grand Prix motorcycle race periods. Similar stories. Mike very coolly said, I think Id rather win the race on Dunlops than get 2nd or 3rd place contingency with Goodyears.. According to Walker, Mike Hailwood is the "greatest motorcycle rider who ever lived". Quite by accident, a work colleague showed me this article, which I really enjoyed reading. The former motorcyclist received a badly broken leg in the accident which became a career-ending injury. 1973 P. Read [64] He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001. However, Honda pulled out of World Championship bike racing at the end of 67, and Hailwood had a lot more time on his hands as the Japanese marque had paid him a years salary to not race for anyone else in 68. In 1972 Mike Hailwood had secured a fourth place at Monza . 1955 B. Lomas The majority of the Hailwood memorabilia to be sold by Bonhams was purchased by the vendor from the Mike Hailwood Collection sale in November 1997. 1965 J. Redman The problem was that Goodyear Blue Streaks were what we had all been using up to that time over here and Goodyear also had a contingency program. You have corrected this article This article has been corrected by You and other Voluntroves This article has been corrected by Voluntroves $ Close Captcha. . 2007 J. Lorenzo The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Wed 25 Mar 1981, Page 40 - MOTOR SPORT Mike Hailwood dies from car crash injuries. It was bought in the early 1970s and shipped back to the UK, tucked away for years and finally sold again in 2009 to the guy who had it restored in Germany. 2001 V. Rossi Mike Hailwood is one of the world's greatest motorcycle racing icons. 1966 M. Hailwood 1952 G. Duke On the second lap, Hailwood and Clay Regazzoni collided. In fact, Mike Hailwood owned two Grifos, the first was #081/D, a white 1966 350hp 4 speed car which was owned for many years by one of our members until quite recently. Still itching to race motorcycles, Hailwood returned to the Isle of Man TT in 1978. Not pit stops and red flags and eviscerated left legs of riders I know, but something that left me with a feeling that Id gone to the market and forgotten something on a list. From 1970 Welkom in the Orange Free State was included. British GP & road-race motorcyle rider and Formula 1 car driver nicknamed "Mike the Bike". At the culmination of what would stand as the fastest ever GP (150.754mph) for the next 32 years, five drivers Peter Gethin, Ronnie Peterson, Francois Cevert, Hailwood and Howden Ganley passed the checkered flag covered by just 0.61sec. The yellow car which he crashed in South Africa was #162/D, a 67 350hp 5 speed. 1981 A. Mang 1959 J. Surtees, 1960 J. Surtees After that we went to Isle of Man to practice for the TT for fourteen days. 1993 K. Schwantz The gearchange on the left. In 2002, two decades after Mike Hailwood's fatal car crash on March 23rd 1981, The Hailwood Estate commissioned Davida UK to be the first helmet manufacturer to produce their Official Hailwood Replica helmet. Find out how to get it through Domain Backorder. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. You know a lot of time, I mean hed come in there and hide from the crowd. Updated 19:44, 9 MAR 2022. Can Rossi match Agostini's MotoGP winning record? 1969 G. Agostini, 1970 G. Agostini Once it left our works I lost all contact with the car until someone based in Germany discovered that I knew all about the Iso Grifo that he bought in 2009 I believe. [1][17], After suffering breakdowns in 1967, Hailwood had intended to re-sign for Honda provided the 1968 machinery was to his satisfaction, and had relocated to South Africa where he started a building business with former motorcycle Grand Prix rider Frank Perris, completing their first house in October 1967, also selling one to ex-racer Jim Redman. Before he himself was injured, Hailwood was singled out for heroism. Hailwood's reads simply: "Too good in life to be forgotten in death.". As they had done the year before, BSA lured Hailwood out of retirement to come over from England for a Daytona-only appearance. A motorcycle raced to victory by Mike Hailwood in the 1979 Isle of Man TT has been started for the first time in more than 40 years after repair work. 2022 F. Bagnaia, 1950 B. 1974 P. Read Newspaper account of the Mike Hailwood fatal accident. In that final Isle of Man appearance, he rode a two-stroke Suzuki RG 500 to victory in the Senior TT. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. A guy by the name of Jerry Woods was a really good friend of Mikes. 1963 J. Redman Hailwood, the toast of the TT with a taste of Martini. While we commemorate his tragic death, we also remember what made Mike the Bike one of the greatest motorcycle riders of all time. Then four years in the UK with the Stirling Moss Paint-a-Car System, one year on the development of the Enfield Electric car in Wimbledon. In January 1969 I founded Autospray with a financial partner in central Johannesburg and within three years seventeen centres and seven affiliated companies were set up across South Africa. Those were damn fast motorcycles and pretty poor tires and not good suspension and the tracks were really rough and you were racing on eight, ten, and twelve mile tracks all the time and regular roads. I would love to get in contact with Mr. Andre Loubser regarding the borneo green 904, the color recipe, the ICI codes or and if the color was provided by Valentine Varnish and Lacquer Co. Upload Attachment(Allowed file types: jpg, gif, png, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx, mp3, m4a, ogg, wav, wma, mp4, m4v, mov, wmv, avi, mpg, maximum file size: 50MB. During and following his illustrious Grand Prix days, the accomplished racer also drove Formula 1 cars (1963-1965, 1971-1974). Mike, who had felt so out of place in an elite school, felt that he had really found his home in bike racing. He crashed at low speed when waving to the spectators at Governor's Bridge, a tight hairpin bend close to the end of the 37-mile course. So after crashing out of a couple of non-championship races in 65 and being blown away by teammate Dickie Attwood in his one championship outing that year, the Monaco GP, Hailwood was done with racecars for a while. This was the year that Dunlop had come along with the BSA/Triumph team from England, and being the companys tire supplier they assumed we Americans would all be using Dunlops. Because of this connection my dad obtained grandstand seats at Kyalami race track and we watched Gary Hocking race his last race there. As this was production-based racing open to all entrants, 'official' works teams were ineligible; instead, machines were prepared and entered through well-established factory dealers. Kel Carruthers has a unique perspective on Mike Hailwood. It sure took me back, not only to these episodes with Mike the Bike and the Springbok Series etc but also to the brief overlap we had with Racecourse Motors, Yamaha & Killarney. A commemorative motorbike run and service took place in Warwickshire on Sunday to mark the 25th anniversary of Mr Hailwood's death. Letter from Mike Hailwood to Andre Loubser. I certainly regard him as being the best and I also just regard him as being one of the guys. As Mike inched forward one the girls stood right next to the Grifo. 1979 K. Roberts, 1980 K. Roberts [1][16] In that race he set a lap record of 108.77mph (175.05km/h) on the Honda RC181, that stood for the next eight years. Hailwood after his 1964 Assen TT win. four in a bed contestant dies. Water buffalo dont as rule walk on South African roads but there could be a chance of colliding with one in the Kruger National Park but given the low speed limits a dented fender could be the worst damage but highly unlikely!