To those who may have been born a bit too late to appreciate Mike Hailwood’s towering achievements on two wheels, here is a quick recap: with an active career in Grand Prix motorcycle racing spanning from 1958 to 1967, he won a total of nine world championships in the 250, 350 and 500cc classes.
His natural riding skill on virtually any type of bike earned him the nickname ‘Mike The Bike’, and aside from his GP wins he also triumphed at the treacherous Isle of Man TT no less than 14 times. One of those wins was achieved after an 11-year hiatus from the sport.
Hailwood also took part in a number of car races taking the European Formula Two title in 1972 and earning a podium finish in the 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. His foray into Formula One was slightly less successful but he still walked away with two podium finishes and, more notably, saved Clay Regazzoni from his burning car moments after they had collided. Hailwood himself met a sad and untimely demise on a public road at the age of 40 when a truck cut in front of his path.
This towering talent was posthumously inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2001. History lesson over, it does put into context the importance of the Heuer Carrera 1158 ‘Montre de Pilote’ or ‘Driver’s Watch’ that will be headlining Bonhams’ Autumn Stafford sale in the UK on 18 October.
This elegant watch was once presented to Formula 1 drivers in the ’70s and legends such as Niki Lauda, Clay Regazzoni, Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson were all gifted one of the 150 made by the manufacturer.
This particular example was given to Hailwood by Jack Heuer in 1973, when the champ had moved to four-wheeled racing and was driving for Team Surtees, run by another Grand Prix motorcycle champ, John Surtees. The inscription on the back refers to this move.
Ben Walker, International Department Director, Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcycles, said: “We are extremely privileged to be able to offer such an important piece of motorcycling history, which celebrates a true hero of the motorcycling world. I am sure that the watch will be the subject of much spirited bidding at Stafford.”
The Carrera 1158 features a ‘champagne’ dial, applied gilt hour and minute markers with black accents, black subsidiary dials for 30 minute and 12-hour recording, a black chronograph hand and a calendar function. It is expected to sell for between £10,000 ($12,200) and £15,000 ($18,300).
Images courtesy of Bonhams
