I got his autograph back in the day; very nice man. First motorbike champion to win F1 title too. Also tried to follow McLaren and others in building his own-named GP car but it never really worked out for him. RIP
Total legend of the motorsport world. Only man to ever win titles on 2 and 4 wheels - he should have had a knighthood in my eyes.
Did so much for junior motorsport in the country. My boy is in karting, and Big John was often at the side of the track encouraging the kids and watching them go round at Buckmore Park.
His brother Stuart is friend, and is a CAFC fan, so I got to know a lot about the great man, from his brother's colourful stories of the F1 world. The 'family' have had a few issues over the past few years. He was very well respected at Ferrari, and besides his unique title of being world champion on 2 and 4 wheels, was an astute businessman. Sad news indeed.
Total legend of the motorsport world. Only man to ever win titles on 2 and 4 wheels - he should have had a knighthood in my eyes.
Did so much for junior motorsport in the country. My boy is in karting, and Big John was often at the side of the track encouraging the kids and watching them go round at Buckmore Park.
From that golden era in the 1950's and 60's when the world of racing produced people like Bill Whitehouse, Stuart Lewis-Evans, Bernie Ecclestone, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss.
Watched a very good programme about John Surtees recently on one of the Sky Sports channels, well worth a watch.
I daresay part of the reason is (was) his unassuming personality but the term unsung hero can rarely be more apt than in the case of John Surtees.
A multi time world motorcycling champion and world champion at formula one too! A unique meaning unique achievement.
The fifties and sixties were more reserved times in terms of publicity for sporting achievement but even by those standards John Surtees was relatively overlooked.
Growing up in Belvedere, I seem to remember there was a mechanics' garage just off Nuxley Road in the village. The guy who ran it was, I think, the brother of someone famous in motor - racing. Was it the Surtees' family? Ring any bells for anyone else?
If ever a sportsman deserved a knighthood, this was the one. They say Valentino Rossi is handy in a car, and some of the GP guys over the last few years are/were pretty tasty on a bike, but John Surtees was the only person ever to have the guts and the ability to try both two and four wheels at the highest level and win world titles in both disciplines. I do not think we will ever see this again.
Saw him at the Crystal Palace motor racing circuit in Formula 2 in the sixties along with Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart & Jim Clark. All heroes, but only one left now. Surtees was a proper gentleman from a great era.
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Remember seeing the incident on TV with his Son; knew at the time it was bad
Did so much for junior motorsport in the country. My boy is in karting, and Big John was often at the side of the track encouraging the kids and watching them go round at Buckmore Park.
So sad.
Sad news indeed.
RIP
RIP
From that golden era in the 1950's and 60's when the world of racing produced people like Bill Whitehouse, Stuart Lewis-Evans, Bernie Ecclestone, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss.
Watched a very good programme about John Surtees recently on one of the Sky Sports channels, well worth a watch.
A multi time world motorcycling champion and world champion at formula one too! A unique meaning unique achievement.
The fifties and sixties were more reserved times in terms of publicity for sporting achievement but even by those standards John Surtees was relatively overlooked.
RIP
RIP John.
RIP John.