Farnham town centre played host to a special classic parade last Sunday (14th October) in honour of Grand Prix racer Mike Hawthorn.

Hundreds of spectators braved the damp soggy weather to line the streets and enjoy the parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of Farnham’s own Mike Hawthorn becoming Britain’s first ever Formula One world champion.

The Grand Prix parade was a repeat of the 2009 event which marked the 50th anniversary of Hawthorn’s untimely death, an occasion that attracted around 4,500 spectators as well as numerous legends of motorsport, among them Sir Stirling Moss and Damon Hill.

Many of the cars taking part in the parade were of the period during which Hawthorn was a racing driver, and it included many that Mike either owned or drove himself during his career.

Highlights were a Cooper Special Number One – 1937 – Charles Cooper constructed this car for his son John’s 14th Birthday.

An Ex-Works Triumph TR3A – 1957 – Works Competition Team car built for Monte Carlo Rally, and used extensively for recce and development work. Driven by Mike Hawthorn in the Ken Wharton Memorial Driving Test in November 1958.

A Mark I Jaguar of the type Hawthorn raced in 1955, a D Type Jaguar of the type he won the 1955 Le Mans with, Hawthorn’s own Riley Sprite and the Triumph TR3A he once drove in an auto-test as World Champion in 1958.

The parade took place on a circuit of Farnham town centre and after the parade, the cars lined up for a public static display in the Farnham Maltings car park. (The Paddock) followed by an invite only vintage tea party in the Maltings. Reverend David Uffindell, the Rector of Farnham, led a service of celebration in St Andrew’s Church at 1pm prior to the parade.

The Mike Hawthorn Grand Prix de Farnham was sponsored by Total Elf HTX and supported by Hawthorns car dealership in Farnham.

Photographs kindly supplied by: Simon Hildrew
www.simonhildrew.com call 07970 808510 for copies or hi-resolution prints.

Video is courtesy of http://ukmotortalk.co.uk

For more information of cars which were on the parade:  visit www.mikehawthorngrandprixoffarnham.co.uk