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The greatest multi-discipline racer of all time

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by rdefabri, Feb 15, 2013.

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Who is the greatest multi-discipline racer of all time?

  1. Mario Andretti

  2. Jim Clark

  3. Mark Donohue

  4. A.J. Foyt

  5. Graham Hill

  6. John Surtees

Multiple votes are allowed.
Results are only viewable after voting.
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  1. miurasv

    miurasv F1 World Champ

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    #26 miurasv, Feb 16, 2013
    For multi-discipline, John Surtees without a doubt. Multiple World Champion on motor bikes at the highest level and World Champion in cars at the highest level. Although the other candidates have been very successfu, the gap between their differing disciplines is not as wide as that between cars and motor bikes. To achieve the same level of success in the 2 differing forms of motor sport requires a greater number of skills.
     
  2. texasmr2

    texasmr2 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #27 texasmr2, Feb 16, 2013
    A.J. Foyt.
     
  3. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #28 rdefabri, Feb 16, 2013
    I struggled with him - he was on the bubble. I think with a F1 title, it would have put him over.

    So many fantastic racers of that era...really hard to boil it down.
     
  4. LMPDesigner

    LMPDesigner F1 Rookie
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    #29 LMPDesigner, Feb 16, 2013
    Try Parnelli Jones.
     
  5. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #30 GuyIncognito, Feb 16, 2013
    or his modern equivalent, Robby Gordon.

    I think Parnelli's lack of international success (F1 or sports cars) hurts him a bit though.
     
  6. 2000YELLOW360

    2000YELLOW360 F1 World Champ

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    #31 2000YELLOW360, Feb 16, 2013
    If it was just cars, I'd go with Mario. But it isn't, and so it's Surtees. Schumacher tried to make it in bikes but couldn't. So did Hailwood in cars. Nope, Sir John is heads and shoulders above the rest, nobody close.


    Art
     
  7. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #32 Whisky, Feb 16, 2013
    But Jim Clark won it in his second attempt with arguably the best chassis, motor, team and pit crew in racing at the time.

    Yeah, JV won in 'basically' the same type of car, ie, actually let's say the same type of tire, let's put him in a stock car on an oval, a trans-am car, or something totally different.

    Criteria was wins and championships across several types of 'popular' series.

    What did he race besides stock cars?
     
  8. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #33 GrigioGuy, Feb 16, 2013
    Where's the nod for Juan Pablo Montoya?

    CART champion
    Indianapolis 500 winner
    Monaco GP winner
    NASCAR wins
     
  9. The Kook Abides

    The Kook Abides F1 Rookie

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    #34 The Kook Abides, Feb 16, 2013
    John Surtees would obviously seem to be the correct choice.
     
  10. canadiantifosi

    canadiantifosi Formula Junior

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    #35 canadiantifosi, Feb 17, 2013
    Agreed on JPM and even Mansell, Fittipaldi, Unser Jr. These are a few other names that could be added to this list to at least round out the top ten.

    Cheers
     
  11. ARTNNYC

    ARTNNYC F1 Rookie
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    #36 ARTNNYC, Feb 18, 2013
    I was at a dinner table with Brian Redman one evening and one of the other dinner guests says to Brian "what does it feel like to be a living legend"?

    Brian immediately said "go ask Mario Andretti"
     
  12. merstheman

    merstheman F1 Rookie

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    #37 merstheman, Feb 18, 2013
    Ickx would be my answer too, but from the options available, I'd vote for Mario with Mark coming a close second.
     
  13. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #38 rdefabri, Feb 18, 2013
    All good points.
     
  14. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #39 rdefabri, Feb 18, 2013
    Could, but I was looking more at the classic racer of yesterday. I was also more focused on the international racers - so guys like Unser Jr. are too US centric.

    Look - when you are talking GOAT - do these modern names come up in conversation? That's really the litmus test...
     
  15. teegeefla

    teegeefla Formula Junior

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    #40 teegeefla, Feb 18, 2013
  16. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #41 GuyIncognito, Feb 18, 2013
    IIRC Mario (in his late 50's/early 60's) tested a MotoGP bike at Laguna Seca and was on race pace. and this was basically a PR stunt/fantasy camp test, not anything serious.

    what could have been...
     
  17. Turbopanzer

    Turbopanzer F1 World Champ

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    #42 Turbopanzer, Feb 18, 2013
    You might want to add Al Holbert's name to the list also!!!
     
  18. miurasv

    miurasv F1 World Champ

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    #43 miurasv, Feb 18, 2013
    John Surtees has not been knighted, although he should have been long ago.
     
  19. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #44 rdefabri, Feb 18, 2013
    I mentioned Gurney - didn't accomplish enough as a driver. He won an F1 race - Mario won a championship. Gurney - 2nd at Indy...Mario won it.

    Listen - Gurney is definitely an all time great because he won across all of those. But I believe the guys I listed were champs or reached the pinnacle in many disciplines.
     
  20. tundraphile

    tundraphile F1 Veteran

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    #45 tundraphile, Feb 25, 2013
    +1. Not sure why the only ones listed in the poll are English-speakers. Coincidence?
     
  21. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

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    #46 racerx3317, Feb 25, 2013
    I voted Mario but I'd put JPM ahead of Stewart of the modern drivers.
     
  22. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #47 rdefabri, Feb 25, 2013
    Give me someone that's not English speaking that qualifies. It's not the best driver or your favorite driver - it's the best driver across a number of different racing styles...those with extreme success.

    Dan Gurney had a lot of success, but frankly, Mario's accomplishments were far greater. There were a ton of people considered, but this group rose to the top.

    If you are around a water cooler, having a discussion about this, Nuvolari's name isn't coming up. He may come up as a GOAT, but he rode motorcycles and did GP.

    I'll give you all a name most of you may not know, but embodies what I am trying to ask...I should have put him on here - Eddie Hill. The guy won the 1972 Texas Motorcycle Road Racing championship, won over 100 races in his motorcycle career (mostly regional races), 4x ADBA drag boat championships (55 races won), 1x NHRA Top Fuel champion (1988), and simultaneously held the speed record for land and water (1st to do it).

    That's a multi-discipline racer. Raced whatever you gave him...that's the question.
     
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