After leaving F1 and motorsport, he's had a variety of jobs in between sightseeing; a special needs teacher, a helicopter pilot, steeplejack. potwasher and miner. These days he drives a disability bus for council, care homes and special schools. Mike doesn't keep many links to racing, but occasionally returns to a couple of historic events dependent on who asks him and who he knows. He lives in the South of England. He used to enjoy surfing and kayaking before a brief spell of ill-health stopped that. The special needs role came about because of his severely autistic son, but this intelligent, carefree man, never really had the passion for a politicised, commercial sport, a true talent never quite realised, but Mike, seriously affected by his Thruxton F2 accident in 1981, is more than happy with his lot. Thackwell's father Ray was a speedway rider and Mike took up motocross as a small boy. Mike won the Hong Kong Kart Grand Prix in 1975 and 1976 and the 1984 European Formula 2 Championship.

Biography last updated 4 May 2025