Mike Hawthorns`3.4 Jaguar and the accident
Discussion
I have been lucky enough to have spoken to Mikes` old Mechanics, Ted Papsh,Bill Field and Brit Pearce about Mikes` Mk1 Jaguar.The information they gave enabled me to build a replica of the car, which now sits in the garage at home.The same group of old boys where interviewed by a noted historian for a book about Mikes`Life. Revelations about the accident and the car appeared in book, not altogether correct.
Anybody interested to know more?
I am keen to get photos of the engine bay and interior of the car.They did exist as it was featured
in the `Motor` in Jan 1959
Anybody interested to know more?
I am keen to get photos of the engine bay and interior of the car.They did exist as it was featured
in the `Motor` in Jan 1959
I have researched this at some length. Modifications to Mike's Mk1 certainly appear to have contributed directly to the accident, although there is no documented proof. The tyres were apparently designed for track use and not suitable for wet weather. Modifications had been made to the throttle (it's rumoured that a hand-operated throttle had been fitted)and to the brakes which had not been extensively tested.
Mike was apparently seriously ill with kidney failure all through the 1958 season and it was always going to be his last year. There is some suggestion that he had cancer and was not likely to live long. It was still a tragic accident and an awful way for us to lose our first Grand Prix world champion.
Mike was apparently seriously ill with kidney failure all through the 1958 season and it was always going to be his last year. There is some suggestion that he had cancer and was not likely to live long. It was still a tragic accident and an awful way for us to lose our first Grand Prix world champion.
While I don't know much about the subject. I seem to recall having a copy of Classic and Sportscar years ago with an article about a Coombes MK11 that was built for the great man, but was sadly never delivered, due to his untimely death.
Do you have pictures of your MK1 rw? I find this a very interesting topic.
Stewy..
Do you have pictures of your MK1 rw? I find this a very interesting topic.
Stewy..
Hi mon ami mate.
VDU881 never belonged to Mike. It was loaned to him by the factory. It arrived at the Torist Trophy Garage
as a bogo 3.4.Even on Drum brakes.Lofty England allowed Mike to do as he wished with the Car and it was mostly prepared at the TT garage.However it went back to the factory to be prepared for the 1958 Daily Mail saloon car championship,as to a directChallenger Tommy Sopwith, who had been cleaning up with EN 400, the Equipe Endeavour Mk1.
When I Interviewed Bill Field and Ted Papsh, They told me what had been done to the car. The engine had been stripped, factory 9-1 pistons fitted,Bill had
ported and polished the head. It had been skimmed to raise the compression ratio further up to 10-1
A special tray was made to fit the battery in the boot,A 150mph( ala XK150) was fitted and Bill set about making a special exhaust.Iskandarian cams were used( as per Mikes` Lancia).The axle was striped of its`3.54/1 ratio,and replaced with a 4.09/1 together with a powerlock.Ted had rememebered some funny dampers were fitted,with a stronger roll bar,Borrani wires fitted with larger rear rims to cope with narrow track. The spats were cut away for clearance.
Big Disc brakes were fitted to the front( Mk 9), standard to the rear.The low axle got the car on the cams that much quicker Giving it tremendous
acceleration off the line
Hand throttle next after dinner
VDU881 never belonged to Mike. It was loaned to him by the factory. It arrived at the Torist Trophy Garage
as a bogo 3.4.Even on Drum brakes.Lofty England allowed Mike to do as he wished with the Car and it was mostly prepared at the TT garage.However it went back to the factory to be prepared for the 1958 Daily Mail saloon car championship,as to a directChallenger Tommy Sopwith, who had been cleaning up with EN 400, the Equipe Endeavour Mk1.
When I Interviewed Bill Field and Ted Papsh, They told me what had been done to the car. The engine had been stripped, factory 9-1 pistons fitted,Bill had
ported and polished the head. It had been skimmed to raise the compression ratio further up to 10-1
A special tray was made to fit the battery in the boot,A 150mph( ala XK150) was fitted and Bill set about making a special exhaust.Iskandarian cams were used( as per Mikes` Lancia).The axle was striped of its`3.54/1 ratio,and replaced with a 4.09/1 together with a powerlock.Ted had rememebered some funny dampers were fitted,with a stronger roll bar,Borrani wires fitted with larger rear rims to cope with narrow track. The spats were cut away for clearance.
Big Disc brakes were fitted to the front( Mk 9), standard to the rear.The low axle got the car on the cams that much quicker Giving it tremendous
acceleration off the line
Hand throttle next after dinner
stewy68 said:
While I don't know much about the subject. I seem to recall having a copy of Classic and Sportscar years ago with an article about a Coombes MK11 that was built for the great man, but was sadly never delivered, due to his untimely death.
Do you have pictures of your MK1 rw? I find this a very interesting topic.
Stewy..
It has appeared in Jaguar World, not long after I finished it, I will try to find the article.Mike would have his own Garage modify a Mk2, if he had lived.Coombes was just a big Jaguar dealer,helped alot by the factory.The Coombes Mk 2 was born out of Jaguar competion developments and an Idea from John Coombes,He marketed it as the GT mk2. Mike was already offering modified for Mk1s as per VDU881, before he died.
The Hand throttle.
All the Mechanics had been interviewed for a forthcoming book about Mike by the. Toward the end of the research, Bill should met the author and another in a public car park in Farnham
He was the former secretary of the BARC ,I think.
Both men put it to Bill, that he had fitted the hand throttle, which had jammed and caused Mikes death.
Bill was a man of honour, who had been employed by Mikes`dad prior to WW2 and had remained with the The TTGarage long after Mikes death.He was so upset,after all the help he had given with the research,that he stormed out of the car, not without first telling them both what he thought of them and there fictious story.
All the Mechanics had been interviewed for a forthcoming book about Mike by the. Toward the end of the research, Bill should met the author and another in a public car park in Farnham
He was the former secretary of the BARC ,I think.
Both men put it to Bill, that he had fitted the hand throttle, which had jammed and caused Mikes death.
Bill was a man of honour, who had been employed by Mikes`dad prior to WW2 and had remained with the The TTGarage long after Mikes death.He was so upset,after all the help he had given with the research,that he stormed out of the car, not without first telling them both what he thought of them and there fictious story.
The Accident.
Mike lost control of VDU on a fast RH bend, about
500 yds from the Coombes Ford garage on the Guildford bypass. He had overtaken Rob Walker, in a 300SL.Both were flat out. Mikes car broke away on the wet road and slewed across onto the other carriageway before hitting a tree
The author of the book totally missed the plot on this.If he had carried out an investigation himself and found/interviewed the Policemen who were first to the accident, as I have. It would have opened a completely new perspective.
Do you want more?
Mike lost control of VDU on a fast RH bend, about
500 yds from the Coombes Ford garage on the Guildford bypass. He had overtaken Rob Walker, in a 300SL.Both were flat out. Mikes car broke away on the wet road and slewed across onto the other carriageway before hitting a tree
The author of the book totally missed the plot on this.If he had carried out an investigation himself and found/interviewed the Policemen who were first to the accident, as I have. It would have opened a completely new perspective.
Do you want more?
The 2 police officers,found Mikes Car stuck in third gear,virtually cut in half. Mike had hit his head as the car hit the tree The O/S Top wishbone arm had been broken at the top ball joint.(I have a underside picture of the car confirming the damage) Keep in mind the fact that Coombes of Guildford were the biggest Jaguar dealer in the south at that time.They too owned the Ford garage mentioned, with a huge open yard for new car storage.
The News of the World,pictured the recovery truck facing Guildford, with the damaged car on board.Why did it go all the way to Guildford, only to return the following day where it was inspected by England and the independant Engineer, L. Shaw. at the Ford depot where the Recovery vehicle lived.The newspapers printed the Coroners report,on which it ststes the car was in perfect mechanical condition????????
Still, Jaguar owned the Car, the Mk2 was 2 months from launch and they had just anounced record profits for the previous financial year. Early Mk2s had the same front suspension as the Mk1 and it was not until sometme in 1960 before they were replaced by the forged items.
One of the Officers became the involved in the enquiry.Papers were passed to the DPP.but nothing happened. Odd also that Guildford Coroners`Office houses records going back to 1906, But Mikes file is missing.Bit like losing Ayton Sennas`accident report
don`t you think?
The News of the World,pictured the recovery truck facing Guildford, with the damaged car on board.Why did it go all the way to Guildford, only to return the following day where it was inspected by England and the independant Engineer, L. Shaw. at the Ford depot where the Recovery vehicle lived.The newspapers printed the Coroners report,on which it ststes the car was in perfect mechanical condition????????
Still, Jaguar owned the Car, the Mk2 was 2 months from launch and they had just anounced record profits for the previous financial year. Early Mk2s had the same front suspension as the Mk1 and it was not until sometme in 1960 before they were replaced by the forged items.
One of the Officers became the involved in the enquiry.Papers were passed to the DPP.but nothing happened. Odd also that Guildford Coroners`Office houses records going back to 1906, But Mikes file is missing.Bit like losing Ayton Sennas`accident report
don`t you think?
ettore said:
I`ve read Mon Ami Mate and the various articles about this - what`s your view?
The file was passed to the DPP occording to the reporting Officer, Sgt Brazier.His findings where crucial to the case. Brazier had been a Expert witness many times with vast experience in fatal RTAs.His reports and findings were lost forever the moment the DPP got involved. If the Author had taken the trouble to dig, instead of fabricating Hand throttle rubbish there would be serious implications for the car manufacturer.In Mon Ami Mate,he mentions the`film Ice cold in Alex`.This film had been on release some months before,therefore,scuppering his timing re the alledged hand throttle fitment
rw774 said:
If the Author had taken the trouble to dig, instead of fabricating Hand throttle rubbish there would be serious implications for the car manufacturer.In Mon Ami Mate,he mentions the`film Ice cold in Alex`.This film had been on release some months before,therefore,scuppering his timing re the alledged hand throttle fitment
I can't see where the author of Mon Ami Mate says a hand-throttle was fitted, merely that others had had memories of Mike saying he was thinking of it, and if it was true that it may have been a contributry factor in the crash. It also stated that there was no evidence when VDU was inspected post-crash that one had been fitted.
??????????
Hello aeropilot,
Your quite right. However, there have been features since in both Classic and Sports car and one of the Dailys`,in which two independant authors insisted the hand throttle WAS fitted.Both myself and Paul Skilleter ( Jaguar Historian)disputed the validity,through in a reply to the magazine.These people have insisted that Bill Fields accepted the allegation in the Car park meeting.Bill cannot counter the allegation( He died some years ago),but I have seen correspondance supplied by his son in which Bill states he is prepared to challenge his evidence in court should be associated with this rubbish.
He had the support of Mikes`General manager, Bill Morgan and mechanic Ted Papsh
Your quite right. However, there have been features since in both Classic and Sports car and one of the Dailys`,in which two independant authors insisted the hand throttle WAS fitted.Both myself and Paul Skilleter ( Jaguar Historian)disputed the validity,through in a reply to the magazine.These people have insisted that Bill Fields accepted the allegation in the Car park meeting.Bill cannot counter the allegation( He died some years ago),but I have seen correspondance supplied by his son in which Bill states he is prepared to challenge his evidence in court should be associated with this rubbish.
He had the support of Mikes`General manager, Bill Morgan and mechanic Ted Papsh
Hi,
I have a copy of the issue of Supercar Classics in which Rob Walker givs his account of the accident. Could post it on here if you haven't seen it.
To be honest, I've never really understood the fuss about the accident - by that I mean the so-called 'mystery' over it.
If Hawthorn did have a hand throttle fitted, surely that was his responsibility. I know its not nice for the guy who actually fitted it, but I would have thought that was a matter for himself and his own conscience.
I'd be surprised if Jaguar were worried about adverse publicity, I would have thought that the accident showed that world champions drove around in Jags out of choice etc. On the other hand I suppose people are - more so back then perhaps - naive enough to think "he was the world champion, he couldn't possibly maske a mistake, it must have been a failure on the car" etc. After Sennas death people would say that he couldn't possibly have made a mistake, when in fact Senna was quite prone to them.
It seemed clear that Hawthorn was enjoying a dice with Rob Walker, and he just lost it. After all, racing drivers have always been known for their 'creativity' on the public highways, and a tree is just about the worst thing to hit.
Rob Walker seemed to think that Hawthorn had overstepped the mark however, and according to his piece in the magazine was going to give him a telling off.
I have a copy of the issue of Supercar Classics in which Rob Walker givs his account of the accident. Could post it on here if you haven't seen it.
To be honest, I've never really understood the fuss about the accident - by that I mean the so-called 'mystery' over it.
If Hawthorn did have a hand throttle fitted, surely that was his responsibility. I know its not nice for the guy who actually fitted it, but I would have thought that was a matter for himself and his own conscience.
I'd be surprised if Jaguar were worried about adverse publicity, I would have thought that the accident showed that world champions drove around in Jags out of choice etc. On the other hand I suppose people are - more so back then perhaps - naive enough to think "he was the world champion, he couldn't possibly maske a mistake, it must have been a failure on the car" etc. After Sennas death people would say that he couldn't possibly have made a mistake, when in fact Senna was quite prone to them.
It seemed clear that Hawthorn was enjoying a dice with Rob Walker, and he just lost it. After all, racing drivers have always been known for their 'creativity' on the public highways, and a tree is just about the worst thing to hit.
Rob Walker seemed to think that Hawthorn had overstepped the mark however, and according to his piece in the magazine was going to give him a telling off.
Hi Heebeegeetee,
Walkers` account of the accident is consistant, from the day he was interviewed in `59 throughout his life
I spoke to him,he told me that the two of them had been `dicing` since Walker had joined the Hogs Back, on his way to London.
Correct, there were various theories,Mike had a blackout,he was drunk,etc all of which were I believe false.The Wishbone arm breakage is definetly as a result of the car colliding with the one of the two concrete plinths in the centre of the road(with Keep Left signs and steel poles front and back), at approx 250 yards apart. It is broken after the accident, but not when inspected by Louis Shaw(Engineer)and Lofty England, or when it was returned to Jaguar.
Walkers` account of the accident is consistant, from the day he was interviewed in `59 throughout his life
I spoke to him,he told me that the two of them had been `dicing` since Walker had joined the Hogs Back, on his way to London.
Correct, there were various theories,Mike had a blackout,he was drunk,etc all of which were I believe false.The Wishbone arm breakage is definetly as a result of the car colliding with the one of the two concrete plinths in the centre of the road(with Keep Left signs and steel poles front and back), at approx 250 yards apart. It is broken after the accident, but not when inspected by Louis Shaw(Engineer)and Lofty England, or when it was returned to Jaguar.
Hi Eglf,
After Mike died, the Mikes` staff and the local community got together and proposed starting a memorial fund .According to Ted Papsh,a considerable sum of money was collected both locally and nationally, especially via race meetings.An invite went out to Mikes` mother requesting his Alfa be bought to the 59 GP at Silverstone to parade around the track.A collection was then taken.I believe it was always his mothers`wish for a arch to be erected by the Garage .However, the monies were handed over to the Borough Council and in the end, a Road was named after him and a very impressive headstone erected at the graveside. It was insribed,`to a gay and gallant sportsman.The inscription was changed recently to remove the word `Gay`.I believe the rest of the monies were donated to charity.
After Mike died, the Mikes` staff and the local community got together and proposed starting a memorial fund .According to Ted Papsh,a considerable sum of money was collected both locally and nationally, especially via race meetings.An invite went out to Mikes` mother requesting his Alfa be bought to the 59 GP at Silverstone to parade around the track.A collection was then taken.I believe it was always his mothers`wish for a arch to be erected by the Garage .However, the monies were handed over to the Borough Council and in the end, a Road was named after him and a very impressive headstone erected at the graveside. It was insribed,`to a gay and gallant sportsman.The inscription was changed recently to remove the word `Gay`.I believe the rest of the monies were donated to charity.
They also asked Watneys Brewery to rename the Duke of Cambridge with some appropiate suggestions, the best of which I reckon was 'The Farnham Flyer'. The brewery didn't want to know. The council also didn't want to know about a memorial stone at the crash site.
I think today though, it would be appropiate to have one of those blue disc things attached to the wall of the Duke of Cambridge, as Mike spent most of his time propping up the bar there.....
I mean, you see those blue disc thing all over the place and most of them are arty farty people that once wrote a poem or something....
Having one for our 1st Formula 1 World Champion should be entirly appropiate IMHO.
Of course at the least the old TT Garage next door now bears his name as a TVR dealership which is something at least.
I think today though, it would be appropiate to have one of those blue disc things attached to the wall of the Duke of Cambridge, as Mike spent most of his time propping up the bar there.....
I mean, you see those blue disc thing all over the place and most of them are arty farty people that once wrote a poem or something....
Having one for our 1st Formula 1 World Champion should be entirly appropiate IMHO.
Of course at the least the old TT Garage next door now bears his name as a TVR dealership which is something at least.
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