Posted on 04/12/2020 8:56:41 AM PDT by Bruiser 10
One of the true greats of Formula 1, Sir Stirling Moss, has died at the age of 90.
Often referred to as the greatest driver never to win the world championship, Moss contested 66 Grands Prix from 1951 to 1961, driving for the likes of Vanwall, Maserati and Mercedes, where he famously formed a contented and ruthlessly effective partnership with lead driver Juan Manuel Fangio.
(Excerpt) Read more at formula1.com ...
Tim Brooke Taylor of the Goodies died today too.
Prior to that tragedy, Stirling had accidentally fallen down the shaft of the elevator in his home. Thinking his car was up on the floor where he was at the time, Stirling stepped in but wound up three floors down!
Having broken most every bone in some of the accidents during his many races, that fall managed to break the rest.
His wife, Lady Susie didn’t think he’d be up to continuing to further appearances for Mercedes Benz, but tough guy Stirling was, he was back at it after a while as he said, he didn’t race when the really big money was being paid so when MB hired him for “special appearances,” he said, “they pay, I go!”
He was truly a delight and never a down day when he was “on” for MB.
I’m proud I had the pleasure of getting to know Stirling and Lady Susie.
In the Sir Patrick video, Stewart is given the grand tour of the Mayfair house, which had many motorized items, such as window sun screen which Moss had specified. He made a point of mentioning the two person elevator cab was made of carbon fiber...in the video one can see how dark the cab was...must not have had a standard door interlock.
That’s exactly what the police used to say....but that was back in the days when u could still talk yr way off a ticket....now it’s all recorded and the police are on incentives to nick you.....that’w when us see them, as most sof the time they are watching cctv.
He said he was so sorry to have stepped back into retirement when he did, though he had been comatose for some time after the crash that made him decide to quit.
FYI, he never liked to wear a seatbelt for fear of dying in accidents when the car catches fire (like Ken Miles did in Ford vs Ferrari) and unable to get out, so when Indy wanted him to race and when he was set to go, they reminded him it was required he wear a seat belt, he said, they knew his feeling on the matter, so he stepped out of the car at the last moment and that ended that!
I think they thought they would talk him into at the last moment, as he’d come all across the pond for a well publicized event but Stirling stood his ground and refused to budge, money or no money!
Another not well known thing, is when the requirement to wear a helmet instead of his trademark British newsboy cap, he balked but decided to don his equestrian helmet instead! It met the requirement and Moss was familiar with wearing it!
Stirling was truly a one of a kind and they broke the mold with him!
I saw Stirling float a bird cage Maserati around Laguna Seca at an Historic race in the early 90’s. I say float because it was like there was no effort at all. Everyone else was fighting their cars but Stirling was the master of his.
Thank you. Here is a quote from the BBC:
“Three-time F1 world champion Jackie Stewart, who came into the sport shortly after Moss’ retirement in 1961, told BBC Radio 5 Live:
“”He walked like a racing driver should walk, he talked like a racing driver, he looked like a racing driver and he set a standard that I think has been unmatched since he retired.””
“...but I read that for years (decades?) the British cops would stop speeders and ask ‘who do you think you are, Stirling Moss?’.”
No timeline other than the “60’s” but recall anecdotal mention (RT/CD?) of Sterling Moss failing renewal of his driving license. Examiner cited his failure to use turn signals when turning. Moss countered by saying he saw no practical purpose in signaling a turn if there was no vehicle fore or aft of his location. Don’t recall the outcome but presume Moss aced a subsequent reexamination. True or not, the story has since stayed within easy recall and a laugh.
Even the undisputed one-off that he was, I wasn’t a particular fan of Sterling Moss, more a Phil Hill and Jimmy Clark fan.
Then there’s Bobby Allison and a slew of others in the Bull Rings of the South. In Argentina, Juan Fangio, “The Bull of the Pampas”, is near revered as a saint. Not even during his playing days did Diego Maradona have such a fan base.
Godspeed... RIP
RIP Sir Moss.
Agreed, Born into Technology Winner(s). Stick Hammybone into a REAL Car. No Traction Control, No Paddle Shifters, No Steering Wheels with 75 Buttons that Control 150 different Parameters, A 3’ diameter Steering Wheel with “ArmStrong Power Steering”. Tyres with 4” wide Treads.
I would love to see these new Generation NUTSCAR Drivers like jimmy “seven whine” johnson placed in the old cars, no Power Steering, Drum Brakes, Street Tyres (Truck Tyres for the smart ones), Bench Seats with maybe a Lap Belt, no Radios or Spotters, Street (Work) Chlothes, Leather Skull Caps or a Skid Lid (aka Brain on the Halfshell) maybe an open Face Helmet.
The Record Books would be WAY DIFFERENT !!!
LOL!!! 100%...
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