RIP John Surtees

[jonjh1964]

A man I greatly admire, Motorcycle and F1 World Champion (was World Champion when I was born) also was  successful at the IOM TT in the 50s and competed credibly at Le Mans in the early 60s - a truly fast racer - RIP

[stephenh]

Sorry to read that. However so many of his contempories died young, he at least made a good age.

[Stuart]

His son Henry didn't though. 

I'm a big fan too.  RIP

[Thrustyjust]

26 minutes ago, Stuart said:

His son Henry didn't though. 

 

I was at Brands on that fateful day. Awful experience to witness  . I dont know how I would keep it together to loose a child of that age doing something he wanted to.  From all accounts John was a very well liked and nice chap. I did think he looked very frail recently (last year) . 83 is not super old but a good age nonetheless. 

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Very sad, he should have been knighted years ago.

[Terry Everall]

sad day

[jeff oakley]

He should have been knighted years ago and only got a CBE? in 2016. If any sportsman deserved a knighthood it was him. Champion on 2 and 4 wheels. Ran his own F1 team and after the death of his son did fantastic work for charity.

At an early Goodwood Festival before drivers were corralled into their own area, I stood between Moss and Surtees at the urinal, chatting away as only men do in those circumstances. He had an air of normality happy to chat and sign things as he walked around, unlike many "stars" of today.

Hopefully the BBC will show the programme they made with Paul Hollywood just chatting with Surtees at his home. again so we can see what we have lost.

[Martyn Vann - Warwickshire AO]

Very sad loss of a true great of motorsport.

[DonPeffers]

Much admired and greatly missed.

[XTR2Turbo]

We occupy a warehouse / office that John owns and previously we were based in the building where John ran his Surtees team from. We share some space with the John Surtees and the Henry Surtees foundation.

He wasn't in the office often but he couldn't have been nicer and more helpful when I occasionally spoke with him

Sadly he had been gravely ill for a few months now and it was only a matter of time but still very sad when his PA emailed through the news.

What he achieved on two wheels would have made him a great but add to that his car achievements as a driver and a team owner and all that he has done since is very remarkable.  Yet so humble and a gentleman at the same time.

He had recently been very concerned  at the growth in paying drivers in F1 at the expense of raw talent and it was amazing to see his passion for the subject when chatting to him about it.

I once briefly discussed his Ferrari days and he recalled how Enzo was a huge fan of minis and he had a chauffer driven mini that he sent to pick John up from the airport and they then went out in it together ;-).  He had no end of fascinating tales and knowledge of a bygone era. In fact John is the only driver to have ever left Ferrari that Enzo asked to come back again but he never did.

The Goodwood Revival was very much helped get off the ground by John's contribution.  I expect he will be honoured by Lord March in some way this year.

He recently bought Buckmore park Kart track and was very active encouraging young talent. I hope that this is renamed as Surtees and as part of the HS foundation this work can continue.

David

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

Thank you David.  Moving to hear first hand accounts of great men like him. What a sad loss to the world, as well as his family.

[XTR2Turbo]

a nice tribute from Ferrari

http://formula1.ferrari.com/en/farewell-john/

 

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

F2 Surtees in the Oulton park Paddock in 1971

 

[pistonbroke]

http://

In the 3 ltr V12 F1 Honda RA 300 Dutch GP 1968 Zandvoort 

 

RIP Big John one of the all time greats , Surtees was a true racer whatever he drove , bikes , single seaters , BIG sports racers