Back in 1931, Leslie Hawthorn relocated his family from Doncaster to be near the Brooklands race track, in pre-war days the hub of the British motor racing industry. He chose Farnham in Surrey as a convenient base when Mike was then 2 years old. In 1931, he had a small garage with pumps at 4a Hale Road, Farnham, based in an old nissen hut just down from the Albion Hotel.

He then took on a business partner, ace motorcyclist Paddy Johnstone, and opened what was to be the famous 'Tourist Trophy Garage'.

This was based in an empty hop kiln on the outskirts of Farnham in East Street, adding petrol pumps and a shop front.

By the time he was eight young Mike was at the garage every day during his school holidays. Even at that age, he would always try to help out the staff, dirtying his school clothes and upsetting his mother.

At nine years old, Mike attended Barfield Preparatory School in Runfold, just outside Farnham. He was a cheerful pupil, but only an average scholar as he placed a greater emphasis on sport and athletics than his schoolwork. Mike passed his common entrance exams and in 1942 went to Ardingly, an expensive public school near Haywards Heath in Sussex.

It was there, due to his thick shock of blond, almost white hair that he gained the nickname of "Snowball". Having wasted most of his time on non-academic pursuits he left school in the summer of 1946 to further pursue his love of cars and motorcycles.

Mike joins The TT Garage
Mike joined the Tourist Trophy Garage venture and, working with his father, built a very successful business. Over the years, they dealt in Fiat, Riley, Ferrari, Jaguar and other marques although it was primarily Jaguar for many years.

In 1952, the business became famous in its own right when Mike (or the Farnham Flyer as he became known) featured in a cinema film and news item about the garage and its work. There are a few stills later on this page but you can watch a short version (1m 30s) of the video here if you want. You will need FlashPlayer installed for this to work.



Tragedy for Mike
In 1954, Leslie died after a tragic road accident while driving his own Lancia Aurelia B20. He had been driving home after the Bank Holiday meeting at Goodwood. Rounding a corner in torrential rain in the Golden Valley near Hindhead, he failed to straighten up and the Lancia hit the opposite bank, flipped over and hit a car coming the other way. It cartwheeled on down the road, finally stoppping totally wrecked with its wheels in the air. Leslie was ejected and never regained consciousness. Mike failed to get to him in time from Paris where he was staying despite desperate efforts and much help from friends.

The accident was almost a mirror of what was to come later for Mike.

Mike was now in a quandary - he couldn't run the business and keep racing so he considered dropping the racing career to concentrate on the garage business - it was after all his investment for a future time when he could no longer compete in first class racing. And in the back of his mind was also the effort and encouragement that his father had put into getting him to race - not that he actually needed much encouragement!

The only problem was that Mike wasn't much use when it came to the business side. All of these problems were solved when his mother said she would run the business side (as she had in the past) and Bill Morgan (who had left the garage earlier that year) offered to return, running the garage while Mike went back to racing.

The Garage and Vandervell
By late 1954, downing pints at the Duke of Cambridge a few doors away from the Tourist Trophy Garage while racing for a UK team was looking a better option than racing for Ferrari, particularly now that his mother was running the place on a daily basis.

Mike Hawthorn and Vandervell started negotiations and soon agreed on terms. Vendervell suggested to Mike that he incorporate to avoid the charges that would go to the Revenue people if he contracted as an individual.

So they wrote the contract with the "TT Garage Ltd., of East Street, Farnham, Surrey," the "company" for the services of "John Michael Hawthorn, the driver." This ran from 1 April 1955 to 31 October 1955, with provision for his services beyond that date. Mike contracted a retainer at £3,000 and would receive 50% of all starting/ prize monies plus 50% of any supplier bonus money. The final contract was signed on 5 January 1955 with Mike now a driver for the Vandervell team.

His Grand Prix drives for Vanwall were plagued with problems though. The great days for Vanwall had not yet arrived. Lancia offered him top position in their team after the tragic death of Ascari and Tony Vandervell sportingly released Mike from the contract.

So he was now leader of a top Grand Prix and sports car team, albeit very short lived because, short of cash, Lancia then pulled out of racing altogether, leaving Mike without a Formula I drive.

In mid-1955, the garage constructed a major extension to its existing showroom.

The Garage and Jaguar
The garage stocked, sold and serviced many Jaguar cars over the years, including the Mk VII (Mike raced these) and later, particularly, the Mk 1 - a model that Mike had driven many times and used regularly as his own car as well as racing it. Mike's personal cars that he drove over the years - and some he also raced, particularly the ones from early in his career - tended to stay at the TT Garage and many can be seen in photographs here.

The Garage and Ferrari
After Mike won the 1958 Formula One world title, he concluded a deal with Enzo Ferrari to sell their road cars in the UK from the Tourist Trophy Garage showrooms - despite the fact that Enzo had refused to let him buy the Ferrari Mike had won the World Championship in. Rex Hayes, the famous modelmaker, did however make a scale model of the car and gave it to Mike's fiancee, Jean Howarth, after his death. She later sold this.

Selling the then very expensive Ferraris was not easy in the 1950s but he showed two at the London Motorshow in 1958 on his own stand. One sold reasonably quickly, the other did not. It eventually went to Col. Ronnie Hoare, another celebrity on the racing scene who formed Maranello Concessionaires Ltd after Mike's death. Also in 1958, his 'Mon Ami Mate', Peter Collins, was killed in front of him while they diced for the lead in the German Grand Prix - after this, Mike lost interest in racing and had privately decided to retire.

Mike Hawthorn at the 1958 London Motor Show by his Ferrari stand

Mike's Plans
Following his announcement of retirement late in 1958, Mike Hawthorn had made elaborate plans for a joint garage venture with fellow Jaguar dealer and racer Duncan Hamilton - he was due to meet with Duncan on 22nd January 1959 - the day he died - to finalise the arrangements. Mike was also on the verge of marriage to his girlfriend Jean Howarth and about to work with Donald Campbell on his upcoming world speed record attempt at Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA. But it was never to be.

A collection for Mike
An invite went out to Mike's mother requesting that his Alfa Romeo be bought to the 1959 GP at Aintree to parade around the track after which a collection was taken.

John Griffith, now living in Canada, remembers a man walking along the big embankment straight taking donations for a Mike Hawthorn memorial - he thinks he gave a shilling.

The monies collected were handed over to the Borough Council - Mrs Hawthorn always wanted a memorial erected to her son in the form of an arch at the garage premises but it never happened. In the end, a road off East Street (Mike Hawthorn Drive) was named after him and the very impressive 5 feet high headstone erected at the graveside by the council. It was inscribed,`A gay and gallant sportsman' The rest of the monies were reputedly donated to charity.

The Tourist Trophy Garage Sold
The Tourist Trophy Garage, originally set up by Mike's father Leslie in 1937, was sold by Mike's mother (to whom Mike had left the Garage in his Will) for around £45,000 some six months after Mike's death, meriting national newspaper reports.
The Daily Mail newspaper column from 1959

The garage was purchased from the estate by John Adams. Adams then re-registered the company 'The Tourist Trophy Garage Ltd' in August of 1959 (as a new Company No 00636045). It appears that Mrs Hawthorn may have changed the original company name (which was formed back in 1937 Company No: 336376 by Leslie Hawthorn) to 'Hawthorn Holdings Ltd' after Mike's death according to Companies House but the original records have been destroyed (like so many records associated with Mike for some strange reason).

Dave Westwood tells us he worked at the TT Garage from about 1964 to when John Adams closed it, first as a mechanic then foreman.

After several ownership changes, including Romans, an open market and as a Tesco development site (fortunately turned down by the council!), plus being empty and closed down with hoardings up for some three years, the Stoughton Motor Company from Guildford Road in Farnham took it over and it became 'Hawthorns', a TVR dealership in 1994. The original garage name was then owned by Inchcape Toyota of Lower Bourne, Farnham. It was subsequently disssolved in 1988 by Companies House.

The company 'The Tourist Trophy Garage Limited' was resurrected in 2007 though, purchased by a Hawthorn enthusiast. It does not have the same Registration number as either the original Hawthorn originated company or the John Adams version though.


The new garage owner, Rod Barrett, maintained a link to Mike with a fine display of memorabilia related to him and received numerous visits from fans across the world, eager to see the site of the old Tourist Trophy Garage. Rob also arranged that Mike's grave was regularly maintained and that fresh flowers were always on display.

Buried in the Foundations?
There have been rumours that various cars were buried in the foundations of the Garage - particularly Mike's Jaguar Mk 1 that he crashed and died driving in 1959. However, that particular car was cut up by Jaguar into small pieces and disposed of so no one could get their hands on any relics. There are rumours that it was buried at Browns Lane somewhere but no one has ever been able to substantiate this.

Author Doug Nye states what is actually down there in a post to the Atlas F1 Bulletin Board Nostalgia Forum. After Don Beauman (entered by Sir Jeremy Boles) had a fatal crash in his Connaught during the Leinster Trophy on 9 July 1955, Doug says:

"The sad remains of the Boles Connaught were brought back here to Farnham where the Hawthorns' mechanic Brit Pearce stripped out what few items remained of any value in their Tourist Trophy garage premises on East Street. Having finished the job he walked into the adjoining maltings business where Leslie Hawthorn had his office. Mike was there and Brit asked him what he wanted done with the bare bones of the charred chassis. "Stick it in the pit and pour concrete over the bloody thing...", Mike instructed.

"'The pit' was an open excavation for the garage's brand-new showroom extension being built at that time. Brit told me this is what they did, the Connaught frame was dumped in the hole, and the foundation concrete poured over it.

"The story developed into a legend which emerged about five years ago when the old garage changed hands and further building work commenced. A piece was published in the local paper from the new proprietor saying that he'd been told Mike Hawthorn's World Championship-winning Ferrari had been buried in the old foundations after his death in 1959, and should they find it they would have it restored because it would be worth over a million Pounds.

"Once disabused of that idea, I believe they left the Connaught frame in peace, though what state it would be in after decades encased in salts and lime-rich concrete I wonder."

Death of a Garage
Then Hawthorns had another change of frontage style and their sales pitch moved to performance sports cars.


Eventually, they moved to a location further away close to Farnham station and the memorabilia was mostly returned to its owners - but the new showrooms do have a dozen or so really nice photos of and relevant to Mike (plus the front page of the Daily Express from the next day) if anyone is passing there and welcome visitors. You'll find copies of their photos around this site including the very nice one that sometimes greets you when you enter our site.



The garage that Mike Hawthorn's father Leslie created back in 1931 is now, in 2006, a carpet shop! More photos of this location in the right hand column.

The name 'The Tourist Trophy Garage Ltd' was dissolved in 1988, then owned by Inchcape Toyota

We need your help!

If YOU have information that could help - such as you live(d) in Farnham and used this East Street garage regularly or know anything you'd like to share with us, please use the Enquiries form initially and tell us what you can contribute. Original photographs are especially useful. We'll try and use everything that you send us.

One item we would like more pictures of are the garage vans (there are partials on the right here and there are at least two vans, plus their converted-bus race car transporter) - if you have any images of these, we'd love to hear from you!

Thanks in advance.

Mike standing proudly outside the TT garage in 1957

Mike Hawthorn outside the Tourist Trophy Garage in 1958 - the car is his Jaguar 3.4L Mk 1, VDU 881

Another picture of Mike Hawthorn outside the Tourist Trophy Garage in 1958. This one was used in a Dunlop Disc Brakes brochure

A series of Mike Hawthorn at night at the Tourist Trophy Garage with his Jaguar 3.4L Mk 1, VDU 881

The Tourist Trophy Garage St Christopher dash plaque fixed to vehicles they supplied, probably dating from the late 1950s/early 1960s

Ted Papsch tends to Mike's Alfa Romeo 8C (FGC 409) outside the Tourist Trophy Garage. This photo was prob taken in 1957 or later. Leaning against the pumps is Alec Leveson-Gower.

Ted Papsch later ran his own garage in West Street, close to the old reliance Works where Britain's second car was built, during the mid 1960s. Sadly, he died a few years ago.

Another of Ted Papsch with Mike's Alfa Romeo 8C. The car was originally purchased by Mike's dad Leslie and painted light blue with red wheels. It has a straight-eight engine and is chassis no 2311204. The car was owned in the 1930s by Pierre-Louis Dreyfus who finished second at the 1935 Le Mans race.

The Trade Plate obscuring the real registration number: FGC 409

A distance view of the forecourt with Mike's Alfa Romeo 8C.

And a close up of the Alfa Romeo 8C engine

Mike's Ferrari 212 that he was loaned in 1953 for his personal use seen outside the Tourist Trophy Garage (does anyone have an original of this photocopied image?)

Mike driving in to the Tourist Trophy Garage in his Alfa Romeo


Two images from the early '50s, taken by TT Garage fitter Frank Swan, showing Mike's Riley Sprite inside the garage showroom. On the bonnet are a winners cup and a wreath/ flowers - the number 44 indicates this is after Mike won the Dundrod Handicap on Jun 2 1951

An original signed letter from Mike to a Mr Leedham from York explaining that he would be unable to attend the Annual Dinner and Dance on Feb 20 1959 as he hads another engagement. Possibly rather too prophetic... (select image to read it)

Mike carefully watching some welding work in the Tourist Trophy Garage

And the full version of the above with Mike Hawthorn watching the welding work by an Austin-Healey 100. John Harper, Healey 100 Registrar, confirms this is an early four cylinder 100 and from the brake drum that it is a BN1, the first model built from May 1953 until August 1955.

Paul Roach says that the person kneeling is Bill Field and that he is working on an exhaust for promotion of the mods the garage offered for the Jaguar Mk 1.

We talk to TT Garage Employees!
We have talked to Frank Swan from Farnham, a former employee of the Tourist Trophy Garage who worked there from 1950 - 1954 and knew most of the people mentioned and seen here! Read Frank's Story!

We also are developing the story of another employee who worked at the garage from 1956 to 1965 - he knew Michael well and has vivid recollections of daily life there - plus exactly what happened on the morning of Michael's death. We'll be telling the story in a major magazine article later this year!

Plus, we also have the recollections of a young girl, the daughter of another mechanic, who was at the garage around the time of Michael's death. Aged 15 then, and amongst many other memories, she recalls being called out of school to be told of the accident as it was thought her Father was also involved. We'll have her full story both here and in the May 2008 issue of Jaguar World Monthly (out early April). She also has Michael's school Tuck Box amongst her treasured posessions!




Mike discussing his Lancia Aurelia with mechanic Hughie Sewell on the forecourt of the Tourist Trophy Garage

Tourist Trophy Garage Transporter
Above and below, the TT Garage transporter used for Mike's Cooper-Bristols. In the one below, Mike's Cooper has just been removed from it. The transporter carries the registration 'KRF 119' (a 1943 Staffordshire plate) and was converted by Leslie Hawthorn in the early '50s from a wartime Bedford OWB utility bus, still with its original Duple coachwork type UB32F, first produced in 1942!

We have a separate page devoted to the Tourist Trophy Garage Transporter where you can find out all about it!

Also, the garage had a Standard Atlas utility van, the subject of a restoration (replica) project that is being looked at!

Team Lotus also used the same Bedford model for their 1954 transporter.

The smaller of their vans, a Standard Ten, seen from the back. Again, does anyone have more info and/or images?


Here is the Tourist Trophy Garage tow truck on the garage forecourt seen, probably, in the early '70s with the remains of a Jaguar E-type, Reg 5600 RW, probably chassis 850103 sold through S H Newsome in Coventry to a first owner in Warwickshire in September 1961. Mike Ellis told us more about what had happened to 5600 RW...


Len Hall, a mechanic, working on a Jaguar Mk 1 Reg VYM 924, on the Tourist Trophy Garage forecort. The bonnet has been removed. The car is possibly one of the Jaguar Mk 1 club racers. Thanks to Brian for identifying the person correctly

Mike racing his own Mk 1 flat out at Silverstone - people said they had never seen anyone race a Jaguar like Mike did!

Garage Key Fobs
Here are several key fobs from the garage for different periods - the number '3271' doesn't appear in telephone directories until 1960 so is likely from John Adams tenure. '5363' was used as the main contact number from at least 1946 or earlier through 1959. '7229' never appears in the directory so again may be later.

'4875' appears to possibly be a contact number for existing customers as it appears on the key fobs and the St Christopher plaques and was obviously current during Mike's tenure. The larger badge below dates back into the early '50s or even earlier and was a dashboard suppliers plaque - it was used on Mike's Mark 1 Jaguar, VDU 881

The small round TT enamel fob badge was used during both the Hawthorn and Adams tenures although Adams seems to have used it more. Ties exist from Mike's time with this badge embroidered on them.



Mike's personal keys and fob for his own Jaguar Mark 1, VDU 881. These were saved from the car when it crashed.

A series of photos of Mike's Riley Ulster Imp outside the Tourist Trophy Garage showrooms in 1957 - we can tell it's that year (or later) since there is a Jaguar Mk 1 in the showroom window with a wide spaced radiator grill. That version didn't appear until 1957

And Mike's Riley Ulster Imp at the National Motor Museum in 1997 - it's owned by Tim Ely who takes it out on regular runs

And a close up of Mike Hawthorn's trademark on the radiator...

Mike proudly showing off the glittering spoils from his 1951 racing season on his Riley Sprite!

The garage Telephone Directory entry for 1955 - this number stayed constant from the 1940s until around 1959

Below are photos of the sad state of the Tourist Trophy garage premises today - although recognisable, there is little left of the original layout. The building with the furthest of the small windows underneath the Majestic sign in the last image is part of the original premises though and that end is now a tool shop. The open forecourt where the pumps were is enclosed by a wall now. Inside the wine shop, the walls of the original hop kiln are still there as together with the steps up to front office part of the building.







Above, what was the 'Duke of Cambridge' public house a few doors to the west of the Garage and one of Mike's favourite haunts for a pint with friends. It was advertising for new bar staff in 2002, by 2003 it had been sold and, sadly (for us anyway), it is now the 'Thai Lord Restaurant' ...

And below, inside the Duke as it was in the 1950s! Behind the bar is Glyn (Charlie) Bishop with Bill Field from the TT propping up the bar, possibly with Mrs Clayton who was the pub's 'daily' at the time.
Paul Satterly tells us:
I used to go to the Goodwood Easter Monday meeting with my Aunt and Uncle Marjorie and Glyn Bishop, who kept the "Duke of Cambridge" pub next door to the Tourist Trophy garage in Farnham, Surrey. They were both great friends of the Hawthorn family and idolised Mike.

When not racing, he would come to Sunday lunch with us, you can imagine the banter. He would mix happily with the locals playing darts and cribbage, and they loved him for it. I was 15 years old at the time and his death left a lasting sadness with me to this day, although I knew he was an ill man. I was privileged to know him and to be able to enjoy what many still regard as the halycon days of motor racing

Below is a modern Google Earth view of the Tourist Trophy Garage (as was) - it lies at the centre of this image, the forecourt adjacent to East Street in Farnham running left to right.

There is some more Google Earth imagery as part of the coverage of the crash scene from Mike's death in 1959

Here is Mike standing proudly outside the Garage, image courtesy Hawthorns, Farnham

At the top of this page is the garage's letterhead from 1958 - below is one from 1955 - if anyone has any earlier ones, we'd like to hear from you...