How very sad. I always enjoyed hearing him speak. Losing his kid in 2009 yet he was still found at the racetrack every so often. Great guy, great life. Rest in Peace.
It's the end of an era; John Surtees was one the last drivers of the early 60s. He was a true gentleman, and a very eclectic racer on 2 and 4 wheels. I always found him very modest about his achievements, and reserved in his judgement. R.I.P. John.
A long life, well lived. His dual championships will likely never be matched. I will always treasure the 20 minutes or so he generously spent reminiscing with me about the 1963 12 Hours of Sebring in the Revival paddock. Condolences to the Surtees family.
One by one we´re running out of living legends. His blue F1 was one of my all time favourite Ferraris. RIP.
John Surtees at Watkins-Glen in 1964 with Guilio Borsari and Mauro Forghieri. RIP Mr. Surtees. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very sad. I met him once up at the historical races at Road America. If only he had stayed at Ferrari a few more years history could have been rewritten in 1966 and 1967, atleast until the Ford Cosworth V8 showed up.
One of my favorites. RIP. He knew the mechanics of engines and cars well, Tuned his racing M/C. Much more then just a driver.
Because of the famous spat with team manager Eugenio Dragoni at Le mans in 1966, Surtees walked away from Ferrari and what looked like a certain WDC. That was a huge loss for Ferrari, but it also curtailed Surtees' career, and apart from the occasional success, he was never able to repeat the 1964 season. John Surtees was the stalwart at the Scuderia from 63 to 66, and much of the success in sport cars and F1 was owed to him, and Ing. Forghieri.
He did get a win for Cooper in 66' after leaving Ferrari, and I'm sure Honda leaving when they did really hurt his career as it seemed like they were going to make the jump to next level when they pulled out. After that, all the good seats were taken if I remember correctly so he hitched a ride with BRM after J.S. left and then started his own team. I also wonder how much his wreck in the T-70 hurt his F-1 career as he was flying back and forth across the Atlantic racing in both series? May he RIP and thanks for the memories!
RIP John. True English Gentleman... what fun it must have been conquering 2 and 4 wheel championships. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
A WDC from my favorite era of F1. A champion in F1, a seven-time world champion on motorcycles (3 on 350cc, 4 on 500cc), and an outstanding sports car racer with Ferrari. I recall a great photo from either Road and Track or Sports Car Graphic, a head-on shot of Surtees cornering a 1.5 liter Ferrari on two wheels. The caption was obvious. In 1958 and 1959, Surtees won every 350cc and 500cc Motorcycle GP. The drivers from that era are almost all gone now. Stirling Moss, age 87, remains.
Legend and gentleman. Very unlikely anyone will match his achievements. Terrible tragedy what he endured losing his son. RIP.
Go to the 23 minute mark in this clip, nice memory of him in a 250GTO against Derek Bell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weJk9WclXTo
Very sad news! John Sutees was one of life's true Gentlemen, and came across as an incredibly likeable character. His Motorcycle and F1 World Championships will stand out in sport as an incredible, unique achievement for all time (one that should have been recognised with a Knighthood for sporting achievement!). In a curious quirk of fate, his death on the 10th March, came on the same date as another great British Motorcycle World Champion: Barry Sheene! RIP John Surtees - You will always be Sir John Surtees as far as I'm concerned!
What a great and accomplished man, and he managed to keep his spirits up after bis son's death. As a Ferrari owner I am a little ashamed to recall that Enzo jerked him around, but he wasn't the last to experience that fate, was he?