Chatting with a Champion: What would you ask?

Wonder if the recorder broke? Or you pressed the wrong button? Wonder if you blew it, and were summarily dismissed, shown to the door in shame, thrown out by virtue of your own stupidity or ignorance?

World Champions don’t get to be World Champions by being dumb, stupid, fearful, nor do most ‘suffer fools gladly’ on track or off. Even in retirement, ex champions don’t have time to listen to nonsense, silly questions or deal with someone who doesn’t know four wheels from two. Take the case of John Surtees, who is well paid to attend various functions and events, but often must literally run from one function or presentation to another. Organizers pay well for the name and want their money’s worth, packing in each minute of the special guest’s time with a extremely busy schedule.

That we were able to come away with an exclusive 6000 word in depth interview with John Surtees (parts of which were published in the August 2001 issue of Forza), was a bit of luck, timing, and helpful contacts. But the most important element to success is, like race driving, preparation. Homework, homework and more homework. Read everything. Remember everything. Be prepared for anything. Try to know more than the subject does about himself.

Dealing with famous people who have already written a comprehensive autobiography, authored many articles, and dealt with journalists all over the world in the course of thousands of interviews, is a daunting prospect. How does the one coerce the subject to say something new, something different, something controversial? After a very few years of the game, celebrities acquire pat (and often inaccurate) answers for everything, and anyone who can drift a GTO around Goodwood certainly has no problem steering a journalist in the desired direction. I didn’t want him to repeat, at least verbatim, what was in his book. This is the natural thing for the subject to do. “But that’s already in your book, tell me more”… was a common prod that often worked.

It is good to have some tough questions for when the subject warms up. For instance, I asked why Denis Jenkinson derided his ability for no apparent reason: Jenks wrote that “Had he not tried to become involved in the technical side of racing, and instead concentrated solely on driving, he undoubtedly would have been a far better driver than he was.” This sparked a further conversation of never before published anecdotes about Jenks.

Surtees was ever the gentleman. Sitting across a desk, he was immediately friendly, making us feel if not at ease, at least welcome. We started asking questions by going to the beginning—the easiest way to break the ice. He appeared to have a good sense of himself and his world. He was personable, yet very serious but refreshingly sincere about everything. I remember most his drive, memory, honesty, and his ability to communicate effectively. His remarks above were virtually raw off the tapes and needed few changes in order to convey a thought. They may or may not be rich, but champions are indeed different than you or I.

I was still in awe as the interview ended, but it was so clear that on that unforgettable day was before me a champion in every sense of the word. And thank God I had pushed the right buttons.