I hadn't seen this shot of the legendary Mike the Bike until Dave sent a batch from August 23, 1958 from the Aberdare Park race circuit, in his first year of competition. No wonder the girls were crazy for him - his shiny new leathers fit better than Emma Peel's from the Avengers. He would have been 18 years old, and at the end of the year he would be famous.
It's time for a biopic - and doesn't he look a bit like Ewan MacGregor in this photo? Sounds like a plan; I bet Ewan would be happy to play Mike, and he can ride! Having just seen Hailwood's Honda 4 at the Legends, I'm sure all the original bikes from his racing career could be found, including his competition's machinery. Who should play Ago? Phil Read? Comments please [and we've had one - apparently a film is in the works, with Francesco Quinn slated to play Ago].
The bike is a Norton Manx 350cc with a short-circuit tank, from his father Stan Hailwood's 'Ecurie Sportiv' team. It was tuned by Bill Lacey, the former Brooklands habitue, who at first refused to work on motorcycles after 25 years' hiatus (he had been tuning racing cars instead). Lacey tuned all of Hailwood's machines until he began racing with factory teams. Mike won third place on the Norton that day.
Second bike is an MV Agusta, a 125cc ohc single with tele (not Earles) forks; given father Stan's influence, Mike's bike is a works racer and not a production model - it was purchased from Bill Webster, who had strict instructions from Count Domenico Agusta to sell the racer only to a 'top rider' - no learners! Clearly Stan's arm-twisting paid off - although the bike was loaned to Mike at first. He had to buy it himself from his race winnings, on the 'hire purchase' scheme, as Mike refused his father's money to buy his racers. Mike won first place that day with the MV.The 'dustbin' (that's a garbage can to us Yanks) fairing would have been outlawed for GP racing after '57, as per FIM decree (dangerous in cross-winds, although they continued to be used in non-champoinship events in '58). Note team logo; 'For the Love of the Sport'. Stan Hailwood had style.
Third pic shows the comraderie among motorcycle racers in the day. The sun is fairly high, say 2pm, and the riders look relaxed, so I would imagine this is a post-race photo. The racers are (please correct me if I'm wrong): left (sitting) Derek Minter, midground - Mike H, Gary Hocking, Eric Hinton, back row - Dan Shorey, Jack Ahearn (in cap).
Bottom photo shows Mike at the '57 Isle of Man TT, after his third breakdown during practice, at the same spot! By now the ladies had figured out where to wait; the eager looks on their faces say it all - his first year of racing and already he was a sex symbol and superstar. Had he in fact 'broken down', or was the company just too compelling?
