Mike Hawthorn - Golden Boy

As we celebrate British Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton's momentous success, a new book published by Guild of Motoring Writers member Paul Skilleter sheds fresh light on the life and times of the first driver to achieve the same feat.

Mike Hawthorn became Britain’s first F1 world champion driver 50 years ago at the wheel of a Ferrari. He came second in the Morocco GP on 19 October 1958 to secure the title. In a nail-biting scene familiar to today’s Hamilton’s fans, Hawthorn finished only one point ahead of his rival – in his case, Stirling Moss.

The charismatic and naturally gifted Hawthorn was also a member of the Jaguar works team, winning Le Mans and the Sebring 12-Hours in the legendary Jaguar D-type.

However, the 440-page, 1,000-illustration Mike Hawthorn – Golden Boy reveals much more than the man’s racing exploits. With the help of those who knew him, it chronicles Mike’s family background, everyday life at the TT Garage, personal cars and even his social activities in Farnham, Surrey. It also adds astonishing new eyewitness testimony relating to his fatal crash on the Guildford bypass on 22 January 1959.

Mike Hawthorn – Golden Boy is by author and managing editor of Jaguar World Monthly Paul Skilleter, and Tony Bailey of the Mike Hawthorn tribute site (mike-hawthorn.org.uk).

Mike Hawthorn – Golden Boy by Tony Bailey and Paul Skilleter (ISBN: 978-0-9550102-4-8) is published by Paul Skilleter Books/PJ Publishing Ltd. It costs £60 and is available from paulskilleterbooks.com, as well as leading motoring book retailers.