Another Mike Hawthorne question

[a8hex]

I'm sure I've seen postings on PH pointing to

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sk2irKVQB4I

which shows Mike Hawthorne driving a demo lap of Le Mans before the 1956 race. He's driving a D type. The footage is clearly cut from more than one lap as there are different camera angles.

Over on Jag lovers yesterday someone asked if anyone knew which car it was. Well in the race he drive XKD605, but this clearly isn't that car. He's driving a short nosed D and it's clearly not going to be racing that year as it has the single seater wrap around windscreen and no passenger door (which were required in 56).

Neither Norman Dewis' book nor Andrew Whyte's mention taking a production car down, there would have been no point, they were already taking XKD603 as a spare race car.

[RW774]

Well that is a mystery.If you look at the film again , you can see an old Mk 7 in the background, with a number 4 on the wing, as Mike gets in the car. Early on you see other race cars but nothing as he pulls away.I think that this is sometime before the 56 le mans and maybe testing fuel injection.
I`ll keep looking and let you know if I find

[jonnylayze]

This is an interesting one - the track appears to be readied for the race - there are lots of straw bales in place around Mulsanne etc. However, the stands are empty which suggests to me that this is early in the week - maybe Tuesday or Wednesday. Certainly the pits are pretty quiet as he pulls away. There is no mention in 'Challenge me the Race'of this and although there was a Test weekend held at Le Mans in April from the 1960s onwards, I don't think this took place in the 50s.

[cardigankid]

What amazes me are the number of locals wandering over the track, on bikes and in cars going the other way.

[lowdrag]

cardigankid said:

What amazes me are the number of locals wandering over the track, on bikes and in cars going the other way.

Not really. Remember that this is a public road up until they close it for the race. Back in those days security was non existant too. As regards the film, which I've seen many times over the years, perhaps the best solution would be to write to th JDHT. They are certain to know about it.

Edit: it certainly isn't a Hawthorn car because it only has a three spoke steering wheel. He always favoured four spoke.

Edited by lowdrag on Wednesday 19th November 10:08

[RW774]

Hi I checked with Norman D and Paul Skilliter on thursday, definetly 1956 but they don`t have any further details.Apparently other Ds were taken to Le Mans in complete form to rob for parts I suppose.