John Surtees (1934-2017)

[Jimlaad43]

1964 Formula One World Champion and 1956, 58-60 Grand Prix Motorcycling champion John Surtees has died at the age of 83 .

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/john-surtees-dies-aged-83-881533/

To this day, he is still the only driver to win a World Championship in the top Tier's of 2 and 4 wheeled motorsport. He leaves behind a great legacy, and will be missed.

RIP John Surtees

 

[spyrrari]

RIP




Spy.

 

[05XR8]

Aww. RIP

 

[axletramp]

Proper Legend. Still throwing cars around circuits into his 80s.

 

[Peter.]

Awful news, he's an absolute legend. One of the last few relics of the old era, "When men were men." as they say. Shame that his son was never able to continue his legacy.

Rest in Peace.

 

[Liquid]

The word "legend" gets tossed around a lot. John Surtees more than meets the description.

 

[PzR Slim]

That is sad news. However, he lived a long an eventful life so one we should celebrate and not mourn too much. RIP.

 

[axletramp]

 

[Famine]

By far the cruellest error in the history of the honours system.

 

[Peter.]

By far the cruellest error in the history of the honours system.

Elaborate?

 

[TRGTspecialist]

Saw him (though regretfully didn't get to speak with him) about a year ago at Buckmore when I was there for a rookie round of the British uni karting championship. Hardly the premier hotbed of young karting talent, just a bunch of students crashing into each other mostly, but there he was to watch us race. That was awesome. Just as much a legend off the track as he was on it. RIP.

 

[TenEightyOne]

Sad news indeed

Elaborate?

I think he means that he only ever reached CBE instead of OBE.

 

[Scaff]

Sad indeed.

 

[Dotini]

1964 Formula One World Champion and 1956, 58-60 Grand Prix Motorcycling champion John Surtees has died at the age of 83 .

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/john-surtees-dies-aged-83-881533/

To this day, he is still the only driver to win a World Championship in the top Tier's of 2 and 4 wheeled motorsport. He leaves behind a great legacy, and will be missed.

RIP John Surtees

Surtees was also Can-Am Champion of 1966 in a Lola T70-Chevy.

• 
  
  
• 
  
• 
  
  
• 
  
  
• 

 

[Liquid]

Elaborate?

He never received a knighthood and was therefore never Sir John Surtees.

 

[Dotini]

Surtees was also one of a tiny handful of drivers entrusted to drive Jim Hall's legendary Chaparral cars, in his case the 2E and the 2H.

I followed his career from 1962 and on. From 1962 through 1967 John Surtees was clearly one of the top four or five F1 GP drivers along with Jim Clark, Dan Gurney, Graham Hill and Jack Brabham. In those years he ranked successively 4th, 4th, 1st, 5th, 2nd and 4th.

 

[Tom]

I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing John on several occasions for radio broadcast. My favourite moment by far was having the opportunity to commentate on the Henry Surtees Karting Challenge at Buckmore Park last year which, apparently, he liked. I'll remember that for a very long time.

He was, in my eyes, one of the nicest gentlemen I have ever had the pleasure to meet and work with. Goodbye John, and thank you. It was my pleasure.

 

[Obelisk]

Rest in peace, good sir. History will never forget you.

 

[JC_Dude]

Sad news indeed



I think he means that he only ever reached CBE instead of OBE.

I think he was awarded an OBE last year, but nor GBE or MBE, which means he was never a 'Sir'.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Big shame. A proper legend gone.

 

[jm79]

RIP... what this gent achieved was nothing short of incredible.

Sad day, but as @PzR Slim said, he had an amazing life.

 

[Sick Cylinder]

Sad news that John Surtees has passed. He enriched the lives of many people through both motorsport and his charitable work. In recent years he often brought cars and motorcycles from his incredible collection to shows open to the public with the proceeds from ticket sales going to charity.

Below - last year on Fathers day he took part of his collection of Grand Prix motorcycles and his Lola T70 to the Hever Castle car show. When some small boys showed interest in the car he helped them into the drivers seat so their proud Dad's could take photos and he was happy to chat.

 

[zed300]

RIP Mr Surtees

 

[TheCracker]

A legend and a true gent. RIP.

 

[Scuderia Paul]

Very sad to find out that the world of motorsport has long one of it's greatest legends.

RIP John Surtees.

 

[Spacegoat]

Sad to hear. One of the most iconic figures in motorsport.

RIP.

 

[mister dog]

RIP, hope he meets his son again up there.

 

[jontikis]

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

I was able to meet him at the 2014 Donington Historic Festival and got his autograph. He was such a lovely guy who had time to chat to anybody. Regrettably I only had a couple of minutes with him but I was awed to be around a WC.
I then saw him blast one of the Lola Can-Am cars around Donington. Christ that was incredible.
As people have said it is a huge shame he never received a knighthood. He'll always be deserving of one.
I'm now gonna have to go find that autograph.
Sleep well John, you'll be missed.