The only driver to win World Championships on both two wheels and four. Remembering the British legend John Surtees today Image Unavailable, Please Login
John Surtees was heavily immortalized at the World Class museum of G. Morbidelli in Italy. Unfortunately, the collection and museum was scattered in auction upon the death of Morbidelli. I remember a dedicated wing at the Skip Barber Museum (also a friend of Morbidelli) to Surtees with both some his bikes, and his F1 cars. Truly a Legend!
I had the privilege of meeting him at Goodwood the year he was honored driver. He was just standing in the paddock with no one paying him much attention so I very uncharacteristically walked over and introduced myself. When I told him that his first win for Ferrari was also the first race I ever attended, that seemed to spark his interest and he spent a good 20 minutes talking with me. It was quite a thrill.
The death of his son Henry at Brands Hatch was a massive blow to John Surtees. His heart sank and he was never the same after. The mention of the accident always drew tears to his eyes.
