Mike Hawthorn

[compte deGraves]

This year is the 50th anniversary of Mike Hawthorn's death. I had been sent to a school in England by my father that was situated quite close to the scene of the crash on the A3 west of Guildford. I remember clearly the profound effect his death had on my class mates and me. Some of you might be interested to know that there will be a Memorial Service at St. Andrews Church Farnham (Surrey) on 25th January at 1330 prompt - followed by a parade of related cars through the town.

See http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/mservice.php

[Peter Mallett]

Used to travel the Hog's Back pretty often and just down the hill from what was Stag Hill Motors is the site of the accident. They've built a housing estate there and the tree is long gone.

Never have been able to work out how it actually happened, considering the bend there is pretty gentle. Mon Ami Mate provides a good theory but I'm not overly convinced.

[John Turner]

Wrong forum, though. Over to History!

[Peter Mallett]

Agreed. I've also put a post in tributes. Thanks for raising this Compte.

[thebear]

One might also wish to vist "The Bear's Archive of Motorsports Trivia" for some other details.

[recall2]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Used to travel the Hog's Back pretty often and just down the hill from what was Stag Hill Motors is the site of the accident. They've built a housing estate there and the tree is long gone.

Never have been able to work out how it actually happened, considering the bend there is pretty gentle. Mon Ami Mate provides a good theory but I'm not overly convinced.

Peter - the crash site is down from what was Coombs Service Station below the entrance to Manor Road- isn't Stag Hill up near the cathedral which would put it in the wrong direction and too far away if that is where that garage was?

There was an overhead picture of the crash site in a local paper at the time and the area hasn't really changed that much since. The actual crash site is still pretty well there despite road changes that were made just afterwards to make it into dual carriageways rather than a single four lane road and there is an an open arboretum by the side of that was open space at the time of the crash - no housing estate, just the houses that were there at the time a little further away in Manor Road.

There's also a Hawthorn tree dedicated in 1999 to Mike in the arboretum, located nearly opposite where the original tree that Mike hit was. If you haven't seen it, all this and photos including the newspaper overhead of the crash site compared to the same modern view is in the new Mike Hawthorn book that's out.

It also says that the crash wasn't as coincidental as it was always thought - an employee at the TT Garage recalls seeing Walker give Mike a V-sign as he drove by in the Merc and Mike gave chase a few minutes later....

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by recall2

Peter - the crash site is down from what was Coombs Service Station below the entrance to Manor Road- isn't Stag Hill up near the cathedral which would put it in the wrong direction and too far away if that is where that garage was?

Not according to my geography. Coombs had moved to the other side of Guildford by 1969 and Stag hill motors was in its place. I always understood the car crashed on the uphill carriageway side of the road. This is my recollection of Mon Ami Mate too. [Paraphrase]The car hit the kerb and spun across the road. This couldn't happen unless it was heading from Farnham to Guildford.[/paraphrase]

Originally Posted by recall2

There was an overhead picture of the crash site in a local paper at the time and the area hasn't really changed that much since. The actual crash site is still pretty well there despite road changes that were made just afterwards to make it into dual carriageways rather than a single four lane road and there is an an open arboretum by the side of that was open space at the time of the crash - no housing estate, just the houses that were there at the time a little further away in Manor Road.

There's also a Hawthorn tree dedicated in 1999 to Mike in the arboretum, located nearly opposite where the original tree that Mike hit was. If you haven't seen it, all this and photos including the newspaper overhead of the crash site compared to the same modern view is in the new Mike Hawthorn book that's out.

It also says that the crash wasn't as coincidental as it was always thought - an employee at the TT Garage recalls seeing Walker give Mike a V-sign as he drove by in the Merc and Mike gave chase a few minutes later....

Well, I'll stand to be corrected after all these years but I think you are a bit too far down the hill towards Guildford. I've just read the bit about the employee too and wasn't it "Hamilton" not "Walker"? And the tree was actually destroyed in the crash. The stump remained.

[Peter Mallett]

BTW. Welcome to our friendly forum Recall2.

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Not according to my geography. Coombs had moved to the other side of Guildford by 1969 and Stag hill motors was in its place. I always understood the car crashed on the uphill carriageway side of the road. This is my recollection of Mon Ami Mate too. [Paraphrase]The car hit the kerb and spun across the road. This couldn't happen unless it was heading from Farnham to Guildford.[/paraphrase]
Well, I'll stand to be corrected after all these years but I think you are a bit too far down the hill towards Guildford. I've just read the bit about the employee too and wasn't it "Hamilton" not "Walker"? And the tree was actually destroyed in the crash. The stump remained.

before this develops into another public disagreement might I humbly suggest everyone reads the story at the URL in post #1 (and follow the link 'Mike's Death'), complete with then and now pics etc.

[Peter Mallett]

No disagreement, I'm happy to be corrected on this.

[compte deGraves]

Just as a matter of historical interest my English lawyer, Michael Ashley-Brown (who also drives my Elite), is the God son of Billy Butlin. The crash occured on Mike's way to have lunch with B.B.at the Cumberland Hotel. Ashley-Brown lives just off the Hogs Back and tells me that he intends to be at the memorial service.

[Peter Mallett]

Compte. By deduction I'm assuming you were at school (in Godalming?) around the same time as Peter Gabriel and his mates.

[delta]

We were racing at Auguleme a couple of years back and the Compte was recognised by a spectator who told me he was a very accomplished drummer in a certain rock band in the 60's

[compte deGraves]

Originally Posted by delta

We were racing at Auguleme a couple of years back and the Compte was recognised by a spectator who told me he was a very accomplished drummer in a certain rock band in the 60's

Absolutely. Top ten hit in Japan and Norway with a cover of Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Doesn't get any better than that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[recall2]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

before this develops into another public disagreement might I humbly suggest everyone reads the story at the URL in post #1 (and follow the link 'Mike's Death'), complete with then and now pics etc.

Thanks MGDavid for that.

I believe Stag Hill Motors were there later certainly by 1969 but this was 1959. John Coombs certainly remembers going to the accident from the Garage up the hill and bear in mind that it was NOT a dual carriageway at that time (work started just after the crash on the conversion) but a single four lane road with central bollards and lamps at intervals- the part of the road that is lower down now opposite the crash site and heading towards Guildford didn't exist then. The tree was impaled in the crash but it was the police who cut it in half to get the car on to the trailer to get it back to the garage.

I have to admit that I am co-author of the book on Mike (and look after the web site) that is referred to so have in interest in trying to get it all correct as far as is possible.

Here's the photo referred to of the then (left) and now accident stretch - the X on the left photo marks the accident spot and was taken on 23rd January 1959. Coombs Garage is in the bottom right hand corner:



As far as the service in Mike's memory on Sunday week (25th January 2009) goes, all is going well and we expect a large number of people and relevant cars there. It all starts at 1:30pm but get there early if you want a seat in the church and expect the streets to be 'busy'. There are a lot of cars for the parade.

I'll post both the official Press Release and the Order of Service itself when they are available later today if that's okay?

Tony

[compte deGraves]

Tony, I know that, notwithstanding the rather morbid connection through his godfather, Michael Ashley-Brown is hoping to attend the service. Incidentally he tells me that he thinks that his father (who was a director of Butlins') was also waiting for Mike at the scheduled lunch at the Cumberland Hotel.

[recall2]

Apologies for the delay but the Press release for nest Sunday's event has only just become available. Trust anyone who is able will attend this as it is going to be a pretty unique gathering to mark the 50th Anniversary of Mikes death. I'll have the service programme shortly as well.

A few of the cars were present at today's first Memorial Lunch at the Barley Mow in Tilford where some 30 people remembered Mike. There is another lunch on the day itself, Thursday 22nd January.

==

New Release Issued 19th January 2009

Mike Hawthorn Memorial Service next Sunday

£30m-worth of cars to take part in town centre parade

To mark the 50th anniversary of 1958 World Champion driver Michael Hawthorn’s death in January 1959, a memorial service is to be held in his home town, at St Andrew’s Parish Church, Upper Church Lane, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PW on Sunday, 25 January 2009.

This is the nearest Sunday to 22 January, which marks exactly 50 years since Mike fatally crashed his 3.4 Jaguar on the Guildford by-pass. All those who wish to remember Mike Hawthorn are invited to attend and it is envisaged that a number of Mike’s former friends and fellow drivers will be present. The service is scheduled for 1.30pm but an early arrival is recommended as there is already heavy pressure on the approx. 600 places available.

Spectacular parade of cars!

Afterwards, from about 2.30pm, Farnham will be treated to a police-escorted parade around the town centre of some 50 cars associated with Mike Hawthorn. The parade will begin at the Wagon Yard car park, the route taking the cars into Downing St, right into The Borough, right at the lights into South St, then right into Union St and so back into Downing St. Several laps of the town centre will be completed.

A spectacular array of cars worth a combined £30m - £40m will be taking part. Expected are a Alfa Romeo 8C Le Mans, vintage Bentley 3.0 litre Red Label, Riley Ulster Imp, Riley Sprite, Fiat Topolino, Lancia Aprilia, Lancia Aurelia, C-type Jaguar, D-type Jaguar, Ferrari 166 Barchetta, Ferrari 2.0 litre Inter, Ferrari 250 TR58, Ferrari 246 Dino, Ferrari Tour de France, Jaguar XK 120 and XK 140, Jaguar 3.4 saloon, Jaguar Mk VII and Mk VIII, Healey Silverstone, AC Ace Bristol, Sunbeam Talbot Alpine, Cooper ‘bob-tail’, Lotus XI Le Mans sports-racing car, Triumph TR2, 3 and 3A, and a Wolseley 6/90 ex-police car.

For further information connected with this event please contact Michael Ballard on 07973 731144

[compte deGraves]

Tony, what would be a sensible time to get to the church on Sunday if you want to get a seat inside?

[recall2]

Originally Posted by compte deGraves

Tony, what would be a sensible time to get to the church on Sunday if you want to get a seat inside?

I really can't say for certain, pretty impossible to predict how many will attend but I'll guess there will be a lot more people than the church can hold - it does say capacity is 600 I know but it's less than that due to extra seating, plus there are some 150 reserved seats taken for those supplying the cars, celebrities etc. Personally I'd say maybe 11:30am but it's going to be a long wait... Weather may affect attendance as well of course.

We've added a Cooper-Bristol to the cars now.

[recall2]

The Order of Service that will be given out at St Andrew's Church on Sunday can be viewed here:

http://www.mike-hawthorn.org.uk/MikeHawthornOOS.pdf

Tony

[recall2]

You can see around 100 photos of the event on the Tribute Site including the BBC news report....



Tony