Mike Hawthorne

[Carsie]

I'm sure you've seen this already Paul, but just in case - always worth watching again

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

Enjoy

[VetteG]

My boyhood hero in a D type, it doesn't get better!

G

[Dogwatch]

Great stuff! 'Elf 'n safety would have a fit if he did that these days with the locals wandering all over the place. :gallic shrug:

Was also interested in the video on MH's death in '59. I always thought the accident happened South of the A3/A31 interchange though that hardly made sense as he was a Farnham man. Questionable choice of soundtrack music perhaps.

[lowdrag]

Y'know, I've always wondered which D-type he did that lap in. It is a privateer car and certainly not a works 1956, since it is a short nose without fin. And yes, that video of Mike's death does have very tacky music. Remind me never to watch it again.

[RW774]

Thanks Mike, hope you are well. I have seen it before, but thanks anyway. Still very good though.
Re the accident, there is a large thread pertaining to it , of which I am responsible for starting. Re the music, that is how it was back in the day I`m afraid.

[johnxjsc1985]

I think the post war era upto about 1970 was just wonderful sport really pure.
Did you see how he had the mike held on his chest. Saw the 1955 Le mans documentary recently black andwhite footage seems to add something.

[aeropilot]

Dogwatch said:

Was also interested in the video on MH's death in '59. I always thought the accident happened South of the A3/A31 interchange though

That period map with crash location though can't be right though... as that would be before Coombes Garage and he 'lost it' on the downhill curve past Coombes Garage, so at least another half mile further along the A3...?

Agree though, very questionable choice of music

[RW774]

If you walk past what is now the little chef on that same side, heading toward the church on the footpath,you can count the mountain ash trees, until one is missing on the second bend .There is a man hole cover, road side of the spot where the car finished up.There is a fence now covering the edge of the footpath and the ploughed field adjacent is now a park.Enter the park and you can easily find it.

[johnxjsc1985]

One of my all time heros'Tom Simpson died in 1967 on the Ventoux mountain. The post war era still had pioneers as sportsmen they were one offs and very colourful characters bigger and larger than life itself.
Maybe its an age thing but I just dont get that anymore from sportsmen or women.