Surtees a the wheel of the Ferrari F1. Surtees died on March 10, 2017 at St George’s Hospital in London of respiratory failure at the age of 83. Graham Gauld photo.
Gauld, Sitz, Sharp and Vanhoolandt Remember John Surtees
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Graham Gauld
I have known John Surtees since he first started car racing in 1960. He was always a good and helpful friend who would answer your questions probably more honestly than most racing drivers.
I first met him with Jim Clark, when Jim and John were racing in Formula Junior and Formula 1 in 1960. It was John’s first racing season and, remember, he was still racing motorcycles. Indeed thanks to John, Jim Clark had his first Formula 1 Grand Prix drive with Lotus at the Dutch Grand Prix of 1960, when Surtees was away racing his MV Agusta.
In 1962 Surtees married Pat Burke, who was daughter of a Porsche enthusiast in England, and Jim Clark was his best man. However, the marriage ended in divorce.
However, John then met his second wife, Jane, when he was recuperating from one of his racing accidents. It was a very happy marriage and Jane brought a sense of balance and family life to him. I remember visiting him at his home to talk about the great racing driver Reg Parnell, whose biography I was writing. We were in his study when the door was pushed open and his toddler son Henry crawled into the room. John smiled and gently lifted Henry and took him back to his mother then came back and restarted the story.
At the time it demonstrated the calm that had come into his life. It was a calm shattered some years later when Henry, at the age of 18, was killed in a freak accident at Brands Hatch. It was a Formula 2 race and another competitor hit the banking. A wheel was torn off the car which bounced back on to the track and hit young Henry and he died on arrival at hospital. John then set up the Henry Surtees Foundation.
Back in the 1980s after John had retired from active racing I was helping a group in Scotland setting up a small racing car show in Glasgow. They were looking for a personality to open it so I rang John and he immediately agreed to come to Scotland and open the show. It was a typical gesture of John and, if I remember correctly, he accepted just his hotel accommodation and an air fare for he knew that having a racing car show in Scotland at that time was a labor of love rather than a commercial adventure.
John Surtees at his first Formula 1 British Grand Prix, in 1960, when he was driving for Lotus. Graham Gauld photo.
Last year the Grand Prix Drivers Club held their Annual General Meeting in Maranello, and many of the members of the club who had driven for Ferrari or had raced Ferraris were there. On the afternoon we arrived there was the sound of a Ferrari approaching and John and his wife Jane arrived having driven close on 1000 miles from his home at Edenbridge to Maranello at the age of 82. That was the kind of man John Surtees was. He could be prickly at times but was essentially a kind and honest man and those of us who had the privilege of knowing him will never forget him.
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Jim Sitz
In the paddock at Dutch Grand Prix in 1970 I encountered John Surtees, whose motorcycle career I had admired years before. Told him that I had been exchanging letters with his secretary Gloria Dollar in reference the new Surtees Grand Prix car. John then told me that I was most welcome to come by their shop in Edenbridge, Kent, when I pleased to.
I had seen him ride the MV 4 at the Dutch GP at the old street course. I was especially thrilled when it became known Surtees would enter car racing in 1960 and show his talent. That initial ride in the Cooper Formula Jr. prove just how good he was. This photo was taken in 1960 at Riverside. Jim Sitz photo
A few days later I was winding my way through the country lanes in my freshly restored MG TC and arrived to find a keen crew who were busy getting the Surtees TS7 ready for debut. Their business man had worked at RAC, and had color samples of red paint to consider for the Grand Prix car’s final coat. He actually came over to me and politely asked my opinion. I chose one the shade of my beloved red MG. Just imagine British Racing RED.!
Everyone was very nice and it was evident Surtees was that same hands-on man that I had seen during his Can-Am racing. They asked if I was living and working in the UK, but I told them I was flying home and had to get going to crate the MG TC up for safe voyage on the ship. For this Yank it was some vacation in England, and that day with Surtees and crew was very special to me.
New boy on the Lotus Team 1960 with Colin Chapman at Riverside and me trying to stay out of the way. I’m shooting with a Hasselblad 1000F with 150 mm lens. Jim Sitz photo.
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Jonathan Sharp
I only met John Surtees much later in his life, usually in the paddock at Goodwood, or as a guest of honor at a car show. John was seriously affected by the death of his son Henry in 2009. Even talking about him would reduce John to tears, and often we who were listening to him as well. John established the Henry Surtees Foundation in his memory. More information can be found at the end of this article. Jonathan Sharp photo.
John Surtees was one of very few drivers that Mercedes would allow to demonstrate their historic race cars. This is John at the Festival of speed driving the W165 1.5 liter Tripoli Grand Prix car in 2011. Jonathan Sharp photo.
Goodwood Revival 2014, John in a Lola T70, likely the one he raced in period. Jonathan Sharp photo.
The car that Jim Sitz went to see in 1970 was the Surtees TS7, which made its debut at the British Grand Prix, later won the Gold Cup at Oulton Park, and finished 6th in the US Grand Prix with Derek Bell driving. Jonathan Sharp photo.
Assembly area at the 2014 Festival of Speed; I remember the day, It was boiling hot and John and the rest of us had to wait over an hour for Kimi Räikkönen to arrive. John just waited, gave interviews, signed autographs and never complained once. Jonathan Sharp photo.
In May 2014 I had the pleasure to attend a celebration of the 50th anniversary of John’s F1 World Championship. The event was based around what had once been the Team Surtees factory in Edenbridge, Kent. It was raining but that did not stop John chatting with or posing to have his photograph taken with his fans and many of the locals for several hours. Jonathan Sharp photo.
When it came time to warm the Ferrari 158 up for the Edenbridge parade, it was John who was working the throttle. But before the run began, Surtees got a call from his daughter who was trying to start the MV Agusta-gifted BMW 507. He quickly walked across the park and found the mechanics who had been looking after the Ferrari peering in and tinkering without success. John strolls over, pops his head under the BMW’s bonnet, fiddles for a bit and the car starts the first time. Jonathan Sharp photo.
Stirling Moss and Surtees share a moment at Goodwood. Jonathan Sharp photo.
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Hugues Vanhoolandt
Surtees at Goodwood in 2010. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
John Surtees did some demonstration laps at the wheel of the Ferrari 158 he drove to victory in the 1964 Italian Grand Prix and that contributed to his World Championship title the same year. This was at Goodwood, 2014. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
The first Formula 1 car built by Surtees was this Cosworth TS7. John took it to 5th place in the 1970 Canadian Grand Prix. Engine problems plagued the new car throughout the season. Goodwood 2010. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
Two Surtees F2 cars: Number 5 is a Surtees Hart TS10. With this car John won the 1972 Japanese Grand Prix. Number 3 is a Surtees TS 15 Formula 2 car driven in the period by Carlos Pace and Jochen Mass. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
John Surtees and Jean Alesi, September, 2016 at the Goodwood Revival. This is one of the last pictures I took of him. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
John’s son Henry Surtees at the Spa F2 race, June 2009, three weeks before his fatal accident. Hugues Vanhoolandt photo.
A bit about the Henry Surtees Foundation:
In the first twelve months of the new HSF-supported service, Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance have performed 69 emergency blood transfusions. Please help HSF to save more lives, by working with the Air Ambulance service across England and Wales.
Henry Surtees was killed in a freak accident, through no fault of his own, at Brands Hatch on 19 July 2009. He was just 18, and one of the best young drivers of his era.
Inspired by Henry, his experience, and in celebration of his life; with your support HSF will:
– support accident care, with particular emphasis on head injuries
– assist people with brain or physical injuries caused by accident to return to community living through the provision of equipment and facilities;
– provide opportunity to be involved in education and training programmes for young people to help them find a career path and to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals
Donate to the Henry Surtees Foundation
A great pilot on two and four wheels, and an even greater character. I remember watching him on black and white TV winning the German GP on the old Nürburgring, bringing the prancing horse back to former glory, deeply regretting his clash with Ferrari at Le Mans 66 while respecting his proud attitude, and later admiring his bold efforts to bring HONDA and then his own Team to the top of the grid. Losing his young son who was following his example was the worst possible tragedy for him who had escaped death by a thin margin. John Surtees’ career and personnality honnor Britain and Motor Racing at the highest level.
Honestly, Pete, I don’t know how you do it — put all these fine writers and photographers together on short notice at a time of misfortune to the entire sport. What a nice tribute to a figure in the sport.
I was very fortunate to see John Surtees at the first Can AM series in St Jovite Mont Tremblant , year 1966
there was a fierce battle for pole position, during practice, between Bruce Mac laren,& John Surtees
John came to the pitts & yelled out loud “That is it I will not use my brakes no more”
he wint back on the track winning the pole position!
Great man
great souvenirs
Thanks Carl— it could not have been done without last minute cooperation from the team. I think they were all saddened to hear of Surtees’ passing, and did their utmost.
Pete
Having watched John compete for his World Championship at the Ring and numerous other times over the years, it was a great pleasure to run into him a couple of years ago at lunch at the Lodge in Pebble Beach. John was as friendly, open and informative as could be–a true champion on two and four wheels, constructor and enthusiast. Few can say they ever told Enzo no.
What a great tribute to a great man, a real legend, I was so lucky to see him compete in NZ in his prime. RIP, I suspect a fitting thing would be donations to the Henry Surtees Foundation.
In October of 2014 I sent John a letter telling him that fifty years ago I was interested in F1 and one of his fans! that back then no internet and scant racing news on the TV or in the paper but I had found one short wave station that gave racing results on Sunday night ! I tuned in listened to the results of the 1964 Mexican Grand Prix and learned that John had won the WDC! told him I was happy for him and that fifty years later a fan of his had remembered that was the reason for my letter ! about a month later I received a letter from John along with a card with his two championships on the bike and in the Ferrari which he had signed ! I was always impressed that he had won two F1 races at the ring in Germany ! A very difficult place to race and win ! So I had the letter and card framed and have in in my home !!!!! REST IN PEACE JOHN !!!!!!
One of your fans !!! Wayne
Pete,
This is an outstanding tribute to one of the greatest competitors on two or four wheels, and I think we can safely say we will never see the likes of Surtees again. Reading Graham’s comments makes me wish I was Graham, or at least had been born ten years earlier because, let’s face it, motorsports was a lot more interesting back then. A piece like this, from these contributors, and so timely, shows the true power of VeloceToday and your contribution to enthusiasts worldwide.
b.e.
Thanks for giving this Porträt of John Surtes your descript exatly Who he was
A Great Gentleman Driver
We will miss People like him
Pete
Appreciate this fine tribute to a fine man !
I was please to know him just casually and
his kindness.
Many writers have mentioned his being World
Champion on two and four wheels, but to me the
Big Deal was his racing on BOTH during his first
season with automobiles…Remarkable that he
could put the Lotus on front row with Moss and
Brabham.!
Jim Sitz
G.P. Oregon
A grand tribute to a grand racer!
Pete,
Thanks for putting this great tribute together as well as the Italian Odyssey articles. As an ex motorcycle racer with a son who races cars I can say that Surtees will always be on a pedestal in my mind for his accomplishments on 2 wheels and 4..
Phil
For all of us who are a little young to have witnessed John at his prime, thank you for the opportunity to “get to know him and his many accomplishments” RIP John. My condolences to his family.
i met john at the ’63 targa florio and during lunch we discussed motorcycle tires. he was such a friendly and open human being. charles lucas said john would occasionally call him in the middle of the night with a gardening question! anyone know if gardening was john’s hobby?
RIP to John Surtees one of the greatest champion as well to two to four wheels…
Thank you all for the tribute.
Being a young schoolboy in England during the 1960’s growing up near Brands Hatch, John Surtees was one of those ‘greats’ that you read about all the time, watched racing when you could, and imitated as we raced around the neighborhood on our bicycles pretending to be him on an MV. Later in life I had the distinct pleasure to connect with him a few times …initially when Rick Cole Auctions was selling the 1962 Ferrari 250P that he drove with with Lorenzo Bandini was being auctioned in 1988, and later when one of his F5000 cars driven by Sam Posey was being auctioned. Both times he was kindly responded to requests. At one of the early Goodwood Festival of Speed events an up close opportunity all weekend to witness an MV reunion with Surtees, Agostini, Read and Bonera riding up the ‘hill’ and then in 2014 at the Goodwood Revival Tribute to him. My favorite off track memory of Surtees will be from the Pebble Beach Concours. Following the Concours event I saw Mr & Mrs Surtees standing with a Concours person as they tried to work out how to get him to the post Concours Party. Knowing that options were limited at best and nothing was close by…I chanced my luck in talking a Rolls-Royce representative standing with his company car nearby into letting me ‘borrow’ his new Phantom to provide the ride. Not sure he actually got to answer before I politely said ‘thank you and I’ll be right back’. For the short 15 minutes drive to the Beach & Tennis Club it was my honour and pleasure and John found it amusing and an ‘only at Pebble Beach’ experience…and he was very appreciative. Not sure that Rolls-Royce rep will ever know how much he ‘made my day’. R.I.P Big John.
Hi Pete:
Life, for a variety of reasons, has been so hectic of late, that only now have I read and enjoyed your moving tribute to Big John.
Over the years we often bumped into John, and always found him to be friendly, erudite, and how about that captivating lisp?
Back in 1988, Judy and I were part of the Australian Adelaide Grand Prix event, coinciding with the 80 years celebration of Mercedes-Benz in motorsport.
John was driving one of the awesome 1937 W125s, and we were both down to race up a hill together, known as the Climb to the Eagle.
Driving one of our early 30s Alfa Romeo Monzas, we glued ourselves to the W125’s tail, only to discover Mercedes Benz’ secret weapon … to wit, an acrid fuel mix shooting out of the exhaust!
We could barely breath or see, pulling off to the side with our eyes streaming!
How we laughed afterwards, with John quipping “there is more than one way to win a race”.
Today, a November 1988 Adelaide poster has pride of place on one of my shop’s walls, with a charming note from John ….. happy days.
BTW: John and I are ones of less than a handful to have been entrusted with racing a ~ 600 bhp Silver Arrow W125.
When I first tested, I came in after a couple of laps, regretfully removing my helmet, whilst explaining “bad clutch slip in all gears”.
The smiling mechanics suggested that I go out again, and use less “wellie” …. wheel spin in 5th gear from those relatively skinny tires!
Best.
Peter