MOTORING enthusiasts gathered at The Barley Mow in Tilford in October to celebrate the anniversary of Mike Hawthorn becoming Britain’s first Formula One World Champion driver in 1958.

In what has become a firm fixture at the Tilford pub, renowned as one of Hawthorn’s favourite drinking holes, dozens of classic cars - including Hawthorn’s first ever race car, a 1934 Riley Ulster Imp - again descended on The Barley Mow on Saturday, October 18 and Monday, October 19 to mark Hawthorn’s title win 57 years earlier.

Racing for Scuderia Ferrari at the Moroccan Grand Prix on October 19, 1958, Hawthorn finished second to take the F1 title by just one point - beginning a proud line of British world champions capped this year with Lewis Hamilton’s third title win.

The Farnham-bred driver immediately announced his retirement after his championship win but died in a road accident on the Hogs Back just six months later.

Tim Ely, who owns Hawthorn’s old Ulster Imp and helped organise the latest gathering at The Barley Mow, said: “On these occasions, it is wonderful to hear people speak about the huge contribution which Mike Hawthorn’s father, Leslie, made to his son’s career.

“The 1934 Riley Ulster Imp (reg no KV9475), which was Mike’s first race car, was prepared at Leslie’s Tourist Trophy Garage in Farnham’s East Street.

“In 11 speed events entered, Mike won six with four ‘seconds’ and one ‘third’ after a spin at Goodwood. So Mike won over half of his races and this was in a 17-year-old car against modern machinery, one being a Works Cooper driven by John Cooper.”

Owing to its history, the Ulster Imp was displayed at the RAC’s club-house in Pall Mall in the build-up to the anniversary and was driven by American freelance motoring journalist Dale Drinnon to East Horsley for breakfast on October 19, and onto Tilford by its owner Tim for lunch.

Also making an appearance at The Barley Mow on October 18 was another of Britain’s F1 champions, 1996 title winner Damon Hill, who took a keen interest in a Jaguar E-Type racing car in which his father Graham Hill beat Roy Salvadori in a race at Oulton Park in 1961.