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From Lewis Hamilton, 2008 British F1 World Champion
"When I think of Mike Hawthorn, I think of a fine British gentleman - in a flat cap,
tweed jacket and bowtie - who embodied all that was sporting, good and British
about Formula 1 during its rich and intense early years. And while the sport
has changed almost beyond recognition since Mike's heyday, his ability and manner
both in and out of the cockpit still set an example that I am proud to follow.
I sincerely hope that this book is as great a success as the man himself."
(This is an extract from a goodwill message from Lewis that was read out at
the book launch by Murray Walker)
From motorsport guru DOUG NYE - The Atlas F1 Nostalgia Forum
Just saw a pilot copy of the Tony Bailey and Paul Skilleter tome on Mike Hawthorn - 'Golden Boy'. I couldn't study it in great detail but it looks outstanding - in the same mould as the Norman Dewis volume, but of infinitely greater significance. I think TNFers will adore it...and so would have poor Pete...
For more detail study Tony's website. You shouldn't be disappointed.
From automobilia guru Ian Cooling
"You and Paul have stolen two days of my life! I sat down yesterday morning to skim through the book over a cup of coffee. Apart from sandwich breaks and sleep, I found myself reading on and on until early this evening. I honestly cannot remember the last time a book has hooked me in this way.
You have created a truly outstanding book that has set new standards for those who follow. Yours is the first book that has ever set out to examine the whole man and his wider life and existence in such depth, not just skim lightly across aspects beyond the racing career.
Definitely front runner for motoring book of the year!"
From Classic and Sports Car, Dec 2008
"BOOK OF THE MONTH
Anyone who has discovered the captivating Mike Hawthorn website by joint author Bailey will relish this in-depth biography
of Britain's first F1 World Champion ...... Best of all, this absorbing work isn't just a glowing tribute. Bailey reveals
Hawthorn's spoilt character, troubled personality and erratic talent. A candidate for Book of the Year. MW"
From the Ten-Tenths Forum
"If there's one book I'd recommend you add to your xmas list this year its this title. It may be on the expensive side but it has to be the best motorsport book I've ever read!
It's truly brilliant in the way the book has managed to mix description from the authors, memories from people who knew Mike and collections of photographs and memorobilia.
The Hawthorn era was long before I was born but this book has brought it to life. If anyone has read 'Mon Ami Mate' this is the perfect compagnion as it focuses on Mike the person rather more so than a recount of his racing career. Gaz"
From Rob Stephenson
"I have received my limited edition copy thanks. Money well spent!
Excellent! Best thing I ever treated myself to! Congratulations to the authors on a job well done."
See more Press and Reader Reviews... and ORDER IT HERE now
The books are still in stock (both editions have sold fast) for immediate despatch.
ONLINE ORDER FORM IS HERE.
Due to the volume of information that has come in, content is now 447 pages, together with a very large number of unseen photographs (images total over 1000) of Mike at work and play, some taken only a day or two before his death. Many
people who knew Mike have talked to us freely, including his fiancee, now Jean Ireland. There are 120+ listed contributors.
New witnesses to the crash scenario have come forward and we also have a report of the Post Mortem that
discloses previously unpublished facts. We have to thank those photo archives that have generously donated
much of their relevant content for the book and many other people for all the time and energy put into assisting progress
in various ways. The book includes the first ever attempt at providing race car numbers for all races Mike took part in,
an invaluable aid for identifying and dating photographs.
Tony Bailey
Listen to Mike!
Note: many people have asked to hear what Mike sounded like - here's your chance
to hear Mike talk about his race at the British Grand Prix in 1958 where he finished second to Peter Collins, you can play this
short MP3 sound file... More recordings coming soon!
Since the Tribute Site was created in 2006, we've been completely taken aback by the volume of visitors and also really pleased with the amount and quality of information that's been sent to us from people who knew Mike or encountered him while at events and so on.
In particular, we have had contact with a number of people who actually worked with or knew Mike over longer periods – and this is
in addition to those we were already aware of. Several of these were Tourist Trophy Garage employees and they have not told
their story before.
Using these memories and those of others, we are pleased to announce that a new book on John Michael Hawthorn’s life has now been completed.
It is authored by Tony Bailey, who lives near Hassocks in West Sussex, and Paul Skilleter from Barton on Sea in Hampshire.
Paul also published the book which was launched on the 20th November 2008 in advance of the 50th Anniversary of Mike Hawthorn's death
(22nd January 2009). It also includes the initial research on Mike undertaken by Paul Roach in the early 1990s
plus a wealth of other never-before-published material about Mike. We had
a number of well known authors on board to assist in making this an enthralling read.
This new book primarily concentrates on Mike's personal life together with full details of his racing career, the latter introduced by respected journalist Doug Nye. We have much input from many who actually knew him in daily life and have come forward with their stories. It also includes some relevant articles that have been previously published only in specialist magazines. As well as a standard edition, there will be a signed leather bound Limited Edition presented in a slip case.
Mike's motor racing career is covered with many photographs, and the book singles out for close examination his special relationship with Jaguar – the cars and the company. This includes a detailed examination of Mike’s
role in the 1955 Le Mans disaster, for which many believe he was unfairly blamed, and the circumstances
surrounding his death in VDU 881, the 3.4L saloon he fatally crashed on the Guildford by-pass on 22 January 1959.
His many personal cars that he owned and also in some cases, raced, are covered in as much detail as possible.
Existing owners have been interviewed worldwide for period photos and facts from the time of Mike's ownership.
New facts
New information emerges about many events, especially the day of his death including eye-witness accounts from the Hawthorn's cottage 'daily' and an on-the-spot TT Garage employee. These start early on the morning of his fatal crash, detailing events inside his home up Folly Hill through to when he left the garage for the Guildford bypass and on to what happened at the TT after the crash - these accounts have never been published before.
We have also had access to many personal handwritten letters from Mike to his family while he was away - even to telegrams advising of Leslie's
crash and subsequent death. These are all reproduced and transcribed in the book.
This is in large format, a 447 page hard-bound publication printed on semi-gloss art paper with jacket, size approx.
225mm x 297mm and with over 1000 photographs and illustrations – the majority never seen in any book before. It is produced in
conjunction with Paul Skilleter Books - Paul wrote and published the best selling acclaimed book on Norman Dewis, for which he recently
won the Guild of Motoring Writers Montagu Award for the best researched and written motoring book of the year. He also published the recent major Ecurie Ecosse history by Eric Dymock.
The Mike Hawthorn book will be of similar high quality to these books and will form a companion volume to them. Due to the specialised nature of the book, only a limited number of the standard edition will be produced, together with a very special leather-bound edition with slip case, signed by the authors and someone closely connected to Mike, for those who want the best.
For some eight months, the project had taken on a life of its own with offers of help and information arriving daily from all over the world, some of major interest and importance to Mike's memory. Artist Paul Dove has kindly allowed use of the striking cover portrait that inspired the book's title and the book also features his latest painting 'Victory under the Sun'.
Stuart Spencer has also donated a custom rendering of Mike in the 1955 Jaguar D-type for the book.
The cost of the standard edition is currently £49.95 plus shipping when ordered directly via the Paul Skilleter Books web site (cover price is £60).
The signed Special Edition (limited quantity) costs £150 plus shipping - it comes complete with an especially made Tourist Trophy Garage badge affixed to the slip case cover.
The contents are:
| Title: Mike Hawthorn |
| Introduction | |
| Preface | |
| Chapter One: | The impossible dream - Mike's school days and adventures |
| Chapter Two: | The Family Business - The Tourist Trophy Garage Ltd |
| Chapter Three: | Life with the Hawthorns |
| Chapter Four: | Mike's Personal Cars |
| Chapter Five: | Le Mans 1955 |
| Chapter Six: | VDU 881: a very special Jaguar |
| Chapter Seven: | The Champion's girl |
| Chapter Eight: | The Road to the World Championship |
| Chapter Nine: | What really happened in 1959? |
| Chapter Ten: | Saying Goodbye |
| Chapter Eleven: | Memorials |
| Chapter Twelve: | Memorabilia |
| Chapter Thirteen: | The Mike Hawthorn art gallery |
| Chapter Fourteen: | Recollections |
| Appendix One: | Career Results in depth 1950 - 1958 |
| Appendix Two: | Experiencing the D-type |
| Index | |
Mike on advertising duty for Smiths Watches. The young boy is John Shaw whose father worked at the watch company.
John kindly sent us this and other photos - do you have anything similar that we could use in the book for the next edition?
If you are interested in the book then you may place an order HERE.
The book contains much information kindly provided by visitors to the web site. This paragraph informs you that if you supplied photos and or
text or even just comments to us for use on the site, we may have used such material in the book
(unless you stated conditions for other use at the time such as for photographs).
We will naturally provide attribution for all material used (but not e-mail addresses of course).
In the May 2008 issue of Jaguar World Monthly you will find an article by the site's creator and author Tony Bailey on an amazing find - Mike's original School 'Tuck Box' from the war years likely at Ardingly College. This has been unseen for over 50 years and I had full access to it via its current custodian. Read how it came to the family that owns it and what was in it .... This is naturally covered in the book but in more depth.
"Somehow, when you first look at and touch
this little wooden box, with the name ‘J M
HAWTHORN’ painted in black on the lid, you can’t
help but think how the legendary Mike Hawthorn
must have used this so often as a youngster,
possibly sitting on it to sort his cigarette cards.
The chest itself is sturdily built in wood with
metal corners and reinforcing plates. It has a lock
but no longer a key. The remains of a luggage
label on the side indicates that the trunk was sent
on the Southern Railway from Farnham Station,
most likely to Ardingly College in Sussex where
Mike spent the war years from 1942 as a boarder ..."
“... I was on my way to School with Michael - there was a set of traffic lights in Farnham at the
bottom of a hill on the way to the school. I remember
Michael stopping there once and another car
pulled up alongside us. Michael obviously knew
the other driver and that he was indicating he’d
like to race Michael away from the lights and up
the hill! Michel didn’t, though, and I assume that
was because I was in the car.
“I didn’t know him as a racing driver, of course -
he was just a man to me, but very amiable and he
seemed to get on with almost anyone.”
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From Classic and Sports Car -
"BOOK OF THE MONTH - CANDIDATE FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR"
There is a new Mike Hawthorn Museum, built by one very devoted fan - read all about it!
