| Author | Message | ||
     Slaughter |
Can't believe nobody posted 4 days ago with his passing. I STRONGLY feel that John Surtees is the greatest motorsport racer ever - winning the world's on 2 different displacement motorcycles and the F1 championship for Ferrari. Raced both 2 and 4 wheels in same season. BBC Radio interviewed Surtees in 2014 - the 50th anniversary of his podium in Mexico City F1 which clinched the title. Get a comfy chair and have a listen. 9 minutes well spent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04vx711 | ||
| 86129squids |
Hah! I saw the MC Daily piece... maybe there's something out there similar to the Dunlop saga to see. Good call, Slaughter. Let's recognize a giant's passing. Godspeed, John Surtees. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2017/03/john-surtee s-passes-away-at-83-only-winner-of-both-f1-automob ile-and-motorcycle-gp-titles/ | ||
| Akbuell |
Agreed, a unique talent. And from what I understand, a true gentleman. When someone from Ferrari refused to let him race an event because "he was not fit enough" Surtees quit on the spot, probably costing himself a second F1 title. A man who not only excelled but also survived in an era when 'cutting edge' and 'state of the art' meant helmets with cork liners, and drum brakes on the bikes. It also meant competing at tracks like the Isle Of Man, and the Nordschliefe (sp?) at the Nurburgring, as world championship points were on offer. Godspeed, indeed . . . | ||
| Nuts4mc |
If you want a good read...pick up a copy of "Go Like Hell" by A.J. Baime (former executive editor at Playboy)...Surtees went thru a mental hell with the Il Commendatore (Enzo Ferrari)...the book is a story of Ford vs Ferrari at Le Mans during the 60s and the ups and downs of the Ford Motor Company, Carrol Shelby and Lee Iaccoca...rumor has it Hollywood types (Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise) want to make into a movie. let us not forget the U.S. version of John Surtees, Joe Leonard who is living somewhere down here in Sun Diego. |
