Mike Hailwood’s Machines

 

Gilded Grit and the 125cc MV Agusta
Mondial, NSU, Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, AJS, Triumph, Norton, Itom, MV Agusta – the list of machines raced by Mike Hailwood is staggering.

And each of them reveals something of the time, the era and the driving forces in Mike’s career.

In the early years – from Mike’s first race at Oulton Park to his TT hat-trick of 1961 – the chief force behind his racing was his father.

So to understand Mike Hailwood – and more importantly for this feature – his machines, is to understand the ruthless, ambitious, indefatigable Stanley Hailwood.

Stan did the deals, secured the bikes, promoted Michael, drove him to meetings – drove him mad, no doubt. And – a former racer himself – he mentored Michael’s riding. The two proved an unbeatable alliance: motorcycle brilliance and business acumen. It also helped that Stanley had the chequebook. A very fat one.

Read more in the May issue of CBG – on sale now!