MIKE HAILWOOD
BY HIS FANS

Mike Hailwood racing at the TT made it look easy.
From experience I know that it is not !!
Harold Cosgrove--Niagara Falls

The greatest motorcycle racer that ever lived,
and voted "Motorcycle Racer of the Millennium".
www.mikethebike.com

Mike was famously non-technical. After his fairy-tale TT comeback in 1978 a fan at Mallory asked Mike how many gears the Ducati had.
Mike turned and asked Steve Wynne " Do you know ? I don't know.
How many gears has the bike got ?"
That was classic Mike. He didn't need to know the details.
He rode by instinct, with grace and brilliance.
A Friend

In 1977, I was photographing and reporting the Manx Grand Prix for some of the Scottish papers. In the course of practice week, I went into the old Press Centre to pick up my passes, and there, to my astonishment, was Mike Hailwood. Feigning nonchalance I said "Hi there", and was rewarded with a lovely knee-weakening smile.
Remember I was a young impressionable lassie in those days.
Several times in the next few days, I saw him, and became accustomed to seeing this god-like being as an ordinary, and very nice man. That was when the sophistication you all associate with me began to develop.
At the end of the 250 lightweight MGP, I was waiting for a Scottish competitor who was a long way behind everyone, but had been allowed through to complete the final lap and achieve his finishers award. An official closed the gate leading into the paddock, and I stood by it, ready to re-open it when Don appeared. A few minutes passed, and a hand passed over my shoulder and pressed a red sticker on the gate. "EGDAR JESSOP WAS HERE" it said. And not a word did I say about it for the next 20 years.(some achievement for me, as everyone who knows me will testify.)
The sticker is still a prized possession, but it was only a couple of years ago, I finally hinted on the ttwebsite bulletin board, and immediately received an anonymous e-mail saying I was a privileged member of a small group of people in the know.
Well, Mike, they all know now.
Helen Gibson
The only time I saw Mike at the TT was in 1979. His reputation preceded him but he barely looked to be going fast enough to win. A sure sign of a TT master.
Frank Finch

Apart from the memories of the sound of the MV hurtling around Windy Corner (which was a favorite place for us in the sixites) and the other, spine tingling sound, of the Honda six, there are two instances that will be with me for ever.

Memory No1.----I do not remember the exact year but it must have been 1964 or 1965. Early morning practice at the Grandstand. At that time the spectators were allowed, during the practices, to mingle with the riders in the pits (much has changed now and the "pit lane" was very much narrower than it is today). The sound was sometimes deafening (MV's versus Manx Nortons and AJS 7R's) and always the smell of Castol R - brilliant!. Mike had just come into the pits after a lap of the course and was talking in broken Italian to the mechanic trying to tell him there was something wrong with the bike. There I was standing not two feet away from my hero. When he had finished with the mechanic (and non too happy with the bike) I rather sheepishly asked him for his autograph. I do not remember anything he said to me but I came away with the signature of the most famous TT rider (at least he was in my book).
Incidentally, whilst also walking around the pits during early morning practice, and possibly on the same day as the signatures are together, my Dad pointed me in the direction of a gent in a rain coat and told me to ask him for his autograph. I could not understand as I was only interested in the riders and they were all wearing leathers. Anyway I did as told and when the gent had signed my book only then did I realise that I had added Geoff Duke to my collection! I knew of his TT exploits (99.97mph lap etc) but I am ashamed to say that I did not recognise him.

Memory No2.----Many years later I was living in the Midlands - the year was 1979 and Mike (and Rod Gould) had just opened his shop in Birmingham. I was driving home after work one evening and I stopped to have a look in the window. The lights were on and the doors open even though it must have been gone seven pm. I walked in to a completely empty shop. Empty that is except for Mike and Rod. I asked if they were still open or were they wanting to close up? Mike said " if we are here then we are open - come on in" By this time I was visibly shaking. He was still my Hero and there I was in the Maestro's shop talking to him one to one (or rather one to two). We chatted for a few minutes and I think I embarrassed him when I told him, of the first time I met him - at the Grandstand 15 years earlier. But he was such a gentleman he just laughed and said that made him feel even older. He had just given up racing having won the Senior TT (the trophy was right there in his shop alongside the Suzuki that he raced - I believe the Manx authorities do not let it go off the Island these days for fear of it getting stolen) as he said that he was getting too old and it was not fair on his wife & kids - he had had so much fun racing and now it was time to settle down.
It is an experience I shall never ever forget. I cried when I heard the terrible news of his death.

MOTOGUZZIBILL
Hi Ian, Just a short story about kindness being shown by Mike Hailwood. In the late seventies Mike rode in the Castrol 6 hour races at Amaroo raceway on the north/west outskirts of Sydney. It may have been 1977. My very dear friend, Barry Van Praag, was in attendance in a wheelchair accompanied by a friend. Barry had been made a quadriplegic in 1973 after suffering horrific spinal injuries at a speedway meeting at the famous Sydney Showground and had virtually no movement from his shoulders down. He was the second son of the famous 1936 World speedway champion, Lionel Van Praag. Barry was introduced to Mike who gave him so much special attention. Mike gave Barry his Pirelli cap (which I guess he brought over from New Zealand where I think Pirelli was a major sponsor). Because of Barry's condition he rarely went outside but he regularly wore the cap with pride. By the end of the eighties Barry knew he wouldn't have long to live and knowing how much my dad and I were involved in motorcycling he gave me the cap as he knew it would be loved and cared for. I remember once when I took it to a GP at Eastern Creek and showed it to my friends, one of whom was a passionate Hailwood supporter, the effect it had on people and the admiration for this magnificent motorcycle racer. Elizabeth McCarthy asked a few years ago on the BB if anyone had any memorabilia. This lady's story intrigued me and I felt very warm towards her so I surprised her and flew the cap to her asking her to be it's custodian for at least the next 10 years as I had had it for about 10 years and Barry, 10 before that. Naturally we have become very close friends, although we haven't met. Although this story isn't dramatic I think it showed what a kind, gentle person Mike must have been. He brought something very special into Barry's miserable life and I will never forget him for that. Kind regards, Jan
Hi Ian, My memories of Mike are: Mike was the most determined and skilful rider to race motorcycles, but a true sportsman as well. His style was neat and tidy with his knees kept well tucked in but his boots belied the theory that victories came easilly. They were always in shreds after each race on the TT Course showing how far he pushed his machinery. Regards, Mike Hammonds, Assistant Editor TT Supporters Club Magazine.
AUTHOR: Beau Brinker DATE: Thursday, 11 July 2002, at 5:08 p.m. Reply To: (#14673) help part two Author: ian huntly Date: Monday, 8 July 2002, at 3:26 p.m. I had the privileged experience of being passed by Mike and Ralph Bryans during practice for the '67 GP of Canada at Mosport. They were cornering in tandem aboard Honda 6s, the sound of which approximated 18 gauge sheet steel going through a bandsaw; I had plenty of warning. They used the outer 6 inches of a very rough track surface, someplace I'd never go, all in the days before 'High-Occupancy Vehicle' lanes. Such a thrill!