Mike Hailwood

Mike Hailwood was born in Milton, England on the 4th of April 1940. He didn't have a particularly great success in F1 but he will probably be remembered most for racing motorbikes.

Hailwood studied at Pangbourne nautical college and was a fantastic pianist and clarinet player. It would probably be fair to say that Mike got in to racing bikes through his father who gained his wealth from the Kings of Oxford chain of motorcycle dealerships.

His father made sure that his son only rode the best bikes but lets not be fooled in to thinking that he had no talent, I believe that he had a considerable amount of talent but achieved his goals quicker through the help of his father.

At eighteen Mike was a quadruple British Champion and at twenty-one he was the 250cc World Champion. From 1962 until 1965 he was World Champion in 500cc and not only that he won the isle of man TT twelve times.

Hailwood dabbled in the world of four wheeled drives for a while but only started driving full time in 1969. Most would say that 1972 was his best year in F1 and in 1973 he was awarded the George medal for rescuing Clay Regazzoni from his car when it burst in to flames.

His F1 career came to an end in 1974 after an accident at the Nürburgring where he broke his leg. Hailwood was tragically killed in 1981 in a car accident whilst driving to a take away near his home.