Today is a very sad anniversary, it marks 40 years since the greatest motorcycle road racer of all time passed away. Mike Hailwood was only 41 years old with a glittering career both on two wheels and four when an errant motorist did a U turn in front of his car on the road. Mike was on the way to the shops to get some fish and chips and both he and his young daughter died as a result of the collision.
I won’t detail his career, there is more than enough information available on the net for you to look up if you need all the information. The Wikipedia entry covers the salient facts.
I was very fortunate to have had quite a bit to do with Mike during his visits to both Amaroo Park and Bathurst during the late 1970’s. He was living in NZ at the time and had retired from active competition, several crippling injuries hastening his decision. Nevertheless, he was enticed out of retirement to race a Ducati in the 1977 Castrol Six Hour race where he did compete, partnered by Old Bike Australasia’s editor, Jim Scaysbrook, winning the 750cc class and delighting both the Ducatisti and the general fans as well.
That outing, and the attention that it garnered, led to an offer to ride a Ducati back at the Isle of Man in 1978, where, as we know, he scored a fairytale win on the Sports Motorcycles 900. But, to get some “seat time” on a proper race bike, Mike entered for the races at Bathurst at Easter time, 1978. He rode a brand new TZ750 (OW31 replica) and acquitted himself very well given the demands of getting used to such a powerful bike and riding the daunting 6.2km Bathurst track. He got some extra seat time by also entering in the Classic Bike exhibition on a Manx Norton though that was plainly more of a “just for fun” outing.
Mike had good backing, all the goodies were laid on as befitted his status in the world of road racing. He was partly sponsored by Welbank Supplies, a motorcycle accessory shop on Sydney’s north shore. Its owner, Cameron McMiillan and his wife, Judy, were real enthusiasts, Cameron dividing his time between his motorcycle business and his obsession with Bugatti motor cars.
Welbanks had been Ron Boulden’s sponsor since he started racing in 1976 (and remained so for much of his career) so we got to know Cameron and Judy well. Unlike most competitors who lived in tents and lean-tos in the pits in those days (hard to believe now), Cameron brought a caravan with an annexe and it was here where Mike spent much of his time when he wasn’t actually riding. Hanging out in the Welbank caravan then took on a whole different meaning for us. Mike was everything the media said he was; he was charming, approachable, had no tickets on himself whatsoever and was plainly there for a good time rather than a long one.
He told jokes, constantly, razzed anyone who came withing reach and wore t shirts with highly questionable graphics that caused more than a few raised eyebrows. He could recite, with the correct accents, reams and reams of Goon Show scripts and had something hilarious to say about anything and everything. Yet, at the same time, he was obsessively focused on what he was doing on the track, knowing that what he was doing that weekend was going to be a pivotal part of his TT comeback.
At the end of the weekend Paul handed him a copy of the picture above and asked him to autograph it. He drew a big arrow to his bum and wrote on the side of the picture, “Not a pretty sight.” It pretty much summed up his attitude.
Sadly, Mike’s death also coincided with the death of former World Sidecar champion, George O’Dell. George had been battling depression for some time and he finally snapped and took his own life in a gruesome house fire.
Fans who remember the time can always tell you just where they were when the news came through of Mike’s death. It was one of those iconic dates like the 20th July 1969 when Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.
I certainly count it a privilege to have seen him race and to have been able to spend time with him.