NEW EDITION NOW AVAILABLE!
From Classic and Sports Car -
"BOOK OF THE MONTH - CANDIDATE FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR"
From Motorbooks -
"Probably one of the most significant motoring books to be published in recent years and a particularly lavish production."
The above is what they said about the original 2008 Mike Hawthorn Golden Boy, now sold out after two editions.
And recently in 2017 Ben Horton of Hortons Books said of the original version:
Maybe I'm biased because Mike Hawthorn was very kind to my dad when he was a young man but I'd place this firmly in my all-time top ten of motoring books.
Yes there had been biographies of Hawthorn before - Challenge Me The Race, Champion Year, Mon Ami Mate - but this is unique in its presentation with outstanding use of images and ephemera; something not often found in driver biogs.
The plentiful illustration makes it easy to dip into; and it helps the very in-depth analysis of the infamous crash that caused Mike s death.
The original hardback is long out of print; and a smaller-format softback was issued in 2014; but the hardback is always to be preferred because it really benefits from its much larger size and better paper quality.
Ben Horton
Now we have the updated and revised 2014 Softback Edition! With 280+ pages, it contains much of the original book plus important updates and new photos. One update is a vindication of Mike in the 1955 Le Mans accident from a long lost letter to Jaguar Cars from an expert eyewitness. Plus we have new testimony on the 1959 accident that killed Mike from a policeman who still had his original police pocket book that was filled in at the time.
You can order it from Paul Skilleter Books now - it costs £29.95 inc post (UK only and is a special offer), Overseas extra.
Never heard Mike Hawthorn speak? Listen to Mike describe his race after the British Grand Prix in 1958 (mp3 format)
A Memorial Service for Mike with a car parade was held in Farnham on 25th January 2009 - see our coverage
with over 100 photos and BBC news video coverage
There is now a Mike Hawthorn Museum, built and maintained by one very devoted fan - read all about it!
The book launch took place very successfully on the 20th November 2008 - the BBC were there live and a message from Lewis Hamilton
was read out by McLaren's Technical Director - see the letter and some photos on our Book Launch page
With Lewis Hamilton now British World Champion, the BBC One Show Monday 3rd Nov 2008 at 7pm featured Mike Hawthorn
who was our first British World Champion exactly 50 years ago! Select above for some photos from the recording session...
There is also a news page with a shortened video for the Mike Hawthorn book on BBC NEWS
Paul Skilleter has a new Photo Archive Site covering 40+ years as a motoring photographer. Joining him there is Tony Bailey and between them you can find quite a few Mike Hawthorn relevant photos. This LINK will find them...
Please note that our new 447pp Book about Mike Hawthorn features a dedicated chapter devoted to a description and detailed analysis of the 1955 Le Mans crash with many images - the book is currently on Special Offer for the UK at £39.95 inc post rather than £68.50!
Images of Mike Hawthorn
These sections show images of Mike Hawthorn from our contributors and elsewhere. They are selectable by year.
If YOU have relevant images you'd like to share here, please use the Enquiries link.
We acknowledge all sources where these are known -
images showing no copyright notice are of currently unknown origin
- if you have information or own them, please contact us!
Mikes Jaguar D-type, XKD 505, having its tyres checked by a Dunlop team during practice
Mike with his Jaguar D-type, XKD 505, prior to practice for the race
Two of the Jaguar D-types prior to practice for the race - Mike had his windscreen lowered but this did cost him some speed in the end
Mike stands near his D-type prior to the race - his companion is unidentified so far
Mike on the grid in his D-type prior to the race
Mike at Le Mans 1955 prior to the race
Another of Mike at Le Mans 1955 prior to the race. These stills are taken from a 9 minute colour Video that you can watch on our site
The Jaguar D-types prior to the race at Le Mans 1955. Mike drove No 6, chassis XKD 505
Jaguar D-type XKD 505 at Le Mans in 1955 - Mike won the race in this car
Mike Hawthorn in the pits at Le Mans in 1955
Mike Hawthorn adjusts his famous bow tie at Le Mans in 1955
Mike in Jaguar D-type XKD 505 as practice is about to start. It's easy to identify pre-race photos as the vertical white strip at the back of the fin on the D-type was only applied shortly before the race itself started. Lofty England ordered this so he could easily identify Mike's car at distance.
Mike in Jaguar D-type XKD 505 during practice
Mike in Jaguar D-type XKD 505 in which he won at Le Mans in 1955
Mike in Jaguar D-type XKD 505 in which he won at Le Mans in 1955
Another of Mike in Jaguar D-type XKD 505
Mike Hawthorn enjoying a comment with a spectator at Le Mans in 1955
The Jaguar D-types assembled near to the start of the race
The Jaguar team D-types in the pits prior to the race. Mike's car is no 6
Two of the Jaguar D-types just prior to the race at Le Mans 1955. Mike is in No 6, chassis XKD 505 and Duncan Hamlton is getting in to No 7
Le Mans - The Race
Mike Hawthorn runs for his Jaguar D-type at the start of Le Mans 1955
A signed by Mike Hawthorn photo of Jaguar D-type No 6 leading through the Esses during Le Mans 1955 Contributed by Bob Harrison
Mike Hawthorn in Jaguar D-type No 6 leads at White House during Le Mans 1955
An acrylic painting by Benjamin Freudenthal of Mike Hawthorn with his Jaguar D-type at Le Mans in 1955 passing the Dunlop bridge. You can see many more Paintings on this site
Mike Hawthorn glances back at the camera during a night stop at Le Mans
Mike Hawthorn climbs into his Jaguar D-type during the night as the fuel tank is officially sealed by Gerard Leveque, the official 'Plumbeur'
Mike and Fangio between 4 and 5pm prior to the crash - the lead changed many times in the great battle between the two drivers
Lofty England (center) and Duncan Hamilton (left) in the pits at le Mans 1955
Mike Hawthorn in Jaguar D-type No 6 leads during Le Mans 1955
Mike Hawthorn in Jaguar D-type No 6 refueling at Le Mans 1955
The D-type in the pits Ivor Bueb is to the left with Mike's helmet just visible next to him
Mike Hawthorn in the pits getting ready to drive the last session and win Le Mans 1955
Mike Hawthorn glances back as he leaves the pits to rejoin the race. Note that the D-type has lost its rear number plate, destroyed by the heat from the exhaust
Mike Hawthorn in Jaguar D-type No 6 crosses the finish line 1st at Le Mans 1955
There is also an extensive set of 90+ images as part of the analysis of the 1955 Le Mans Disaster.
Celebrations
Victory Le Mans 1955 - from a Triumph publicity film of the time. You can watch a 9+ min colour video of the race from which this image comes by selecting the image below
Viewed from the upper pits, the victors mobbed by the press and others
Non Le Mans
Mike enjoying himself at Battersea Funfair
Mike Hawthorn at the launch of the Jaguar Mk 1 (2.4 Litre) in 1955. Mike later drove a 3.4 Litre both for racing and as a personal car in 1958 but died after a crash in it in January 1959
Mike Hawthorn at Ibsley in his Lancia Aurelia 2500 where he just turned up and raced! He finished 14th but did achieve the fastest lap of the day and won £3..