One of my favourite books is Mike the Bike – Again, by Ted Macauley. It charts the return of Mike Hailwood, the nine times world champion, to the Isle of Man TT motorcycle races in 1978, after 11 years away. This was a massive event at the time, as Hailwood was (and still is) regarded with great affection on the Isle of Man.
Initially I started reading this for my work, as we have one of the motorcycles he rode during his comeback at the Manx Museum.
The subject struck a chord with me, firstly because I am just about old enough to remember seeing Hailwood on television in his 1970s heyday, but also because the warmth of his personality comes through so vibrantly.
At the end of last year I was fortunate enough to meet the author, Ted Macauley, for the first time, which was a very special moment. Now over 80 years of age, he was a Daily Mirror sports journalist, as well as being Hailwood’s friend and manager. He set up his comeback, and it was fascinating to chat to him about what those times were like (Hailwood sadly died in 1981).
Matthew Richardson is the curator: social history at Manx National Heritage
Initially I started reading this for my work, as we have one of the motorcycles he rode during his comeback at the Manx Museum.
The subject struck a chord with me, firstly because I am just about old enough to remember seeing Hailwood on television in his 1970s heyday, but also because the warmth of his personality comes through so vibrantly.
At the end of last year I was fortunate enough to meet the author, Ted Macauley, for the first time, which was a very special moment. Now over 80 years of age, he was a Daily Mirror sports journalist, as well as being Hailwood’s friend and manager. He set up his comeback, and it was fascinating to chat to him about what those times were like (Hailwood sadly died in 1981).
Matthew Richardson is the curator: social history at Manx National Heritage
