Mike Hawthorn Archives

#F1 Daily News and Comment: Friday, April 10th 2015

April 10, 2015April 10, 2015 by The Judge

UPDATED 13:01 GMT A Daily Round up of Formula One news, inside whispers, opinion and comment. Today, OTD Lite 1929 – Birth of Mike Hawthorn – The Farnham Flyer Mercedes gives you wings Fan invades track RB11 design still proving problematic in Shanghai OTD Lite 1929 – Birth of Mike Hawthorn – The Farnham Flyer … Read more

#F1 Daily News and Comment: Thursday 22nd January 2015

May 16, 2015January 22, 2015 by The Judge

This page will be updated throughout the day. Please if you are on Twitter press the tweet button below. If you re-write and tweet individual story headlines don’t forget to include #F1. You may not realise how hugely important this is and has helped grow our community significantly Previously on TheJudge13: #TJ13 #F1 Courtroom Podcast: … Read more

On This Day in #F1: 10th April

May 16, 2015April 10, 2014 by The Judge

Brought to you by TheJudge13 chronicler Jennie Mowbray 1929: Birth of Mike Hawthorn – The Farnham Flyer “You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you dies each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. But you knew there … Read more

On This Day in #F1: 22 January

January 22, 2014 by

Brought to you by TheJudge13 chronicler Carlo Carluccio – 1959: Hawthorn – Like a moth to the flame. Winter in the UK does not compare well to countries with warmer climes. It can be both hauntingly beautiful with low levels of light or it can be suppressed with heavy grey clouds supplying anything from fine … Read more

Formula 1’s first world champion:

May 16, 2015October 30, 2012 by The Judge

Rose tinted spectacles

“In the golden days of F1 every Grand Prix was a classic, with 20 changes of lead and a photo finish. Dashing drivers would climb from beautiful, sponsor-free cars, light a cigarette and regale the world’s press with quick-witted quips” (Keith Collantine). I love the picture this conjures up, and the further back in Grand Prix history we go, the more rose-tinted the spectacles become.

The names of Fangio, Ascari, Hawthorn and Moss all trip of the lips of every true F1 fan when discussing the very beginnings of Formula 1, but there is a name I never heard in my early F1 education and it is particularly strange because he is credited with winning the first FIA Formula 1 world drivers championship. Maybe this was because he was a ‘here today gone tomorrow type character’, or possibly he ‘lucked in’ to win a title when those much better around him failed to deliver.

Nope. None of that is true. Guiseppe ‘Nino’ Farina born in 1906 had nearly 25 years in motor racing and was still employed by a works F1 team when he retired at the age of 55. The nickname ‘Nino’ is Italian and means “God is gracious” and the reason for this label will become apparent.

New Jersey out, Turkey in?, Schumacher to receive ‘Legend of Sport’ award, and other F1 News and comment

October 22, 2012October 19, 2012 by The Judge

Great to see contributors coming up with news I’ve not yet found. Thanks to madmax for this one (23:36 18/10/12). By the way madmax, you gave us this about 7 hours before the mainstream media reported it. Probably something to do with my permanent state of insomnia too.

New Jersey: Unlike most new circuits who run the approval gauntlet with Mr. E, it appears New Jersey have declined to participate in the 2013 calendar. “The race, scheduled for June 16, 2013, will be pushed back a year in order for track organizers to finish the permitting process needed to complete the 3.2-mile road course along the Hudson River in Weehawken and West New York, N.J. Among other things, track officials are waiting approval from Corps of Engineers to take control of property along the Hudson River where grandstands will be erected” (Speed).

11:40 (19/12) Interesting that Mr. E isn’t saying the usual stuff about no money, in fighting or contractual matters being the problem. They just ran out of time to get everything organised” (Reuters). Interesting how in the developing world the legalities of Health and Safety and a whole host of other bureaucratic red tape don’t affect a new venue as much as in Western Society.

The judge13 did suggest in “A shrinking calendar for 2013” (link – published Sept 15) that, “unless some real sweetheart deals are done, and that 2013 will could well have fewer races than 2012”. Ecclestone’s problem is he can’t be seen to letting his grasp slip on the calendar; particularly as he has negotiated with the teams that they will participate in up to 23 races each season. On this basis to keep the momentum it must be highly likely Turkey, a track owned by Ecclestone and co., will make a return to the calendar. This is one of the better Tilke venues and has always provided a race that’s no procession.