Thanks to ray kilminster for this picture of john surtees on a 500cc mv at a 1950s tt. About us clothing for motorcycle people jane motorcycles. John surtees won the 500cc motorcycle championship, what is now known as motogp, in 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960. But, in terms of the f1 world championship era, john surtees stands alone. Keen on motorcycle racing, surtees received an offer in 1955 to ride for mv augusta, he was nicknamed figlio del vento son of the wind. Former formula one and motorcycle world champion john surtees, has passed away in england at the age of 83.
In the late 1950s john surtees was the dominate rider in toplevel british and european motorcycle racing. Surtees was the son of a southlondon motorcycle dealer. Surtees remains the only person to win world championships on two and four wheels, winning seven motorcycle titles on 350cc and 500cc motorbikes between 1956 and 1960, before securing the f1 title. Surtees real estate group exp realty, nanaimo, british columbia. It is great for the english motorcycle nut like me. Surtees real estate group exp realty home facebook. Nycs custom motorcycle, apparel, accessory, book and espresso shop. In the late 1950s john surtees was the dominant rider in. My sons death saved so many young lives 14 john surtees was a world champion driver of both cars and motorcycles past master. Count agusta, the sly fox, changed his mind when he realized the benefit of greatly diminished competition. Latest news feature 50 years on john surtees on his unique bikecar double 24 oct 2014 share john surtees headed into the 1964 formula one season finale in mexico locked in a.
John surteess most popular book is twentyfive years in the rifle brigade. Books by john surtees author of the strange case of dr. F1 and motorcycle champion john surtees passes away fia. The honda ra302, and this car is the reason why honda didnt give development to the ra301 as they focus on the ra302. Although the surtees special was built for john surtees to race, he never actually competed on it due to a conflict with his then employer, mv agusta. He currently rides for yamaha, and his main residence is in central london. When there were no rain tires or even straw bales in places. Goodwood revival 2011 sir john surtees, the only man to win world championships in both grand prix motorcycle racing and formula 1 automobile racing. It is nice to read a book by him rather than the multiple books about him. A precocious talent, he began riding competitively on vincents in the early 1950s, then regs and nsus and nortons a precocious talent, he began riding competitively on vincents in the early 1950s, then regs and nsus and nortons. He drove for many of the big teams, including ferrari, honda and. John surtees headed into the 1964 formula one season finale in mexico locked in a threeway fight for the title. Enzo ferrari who had managed a motorcycle racing team in the 1930s was a great admirer of the passion and fighting spirit shown by surtees the bike racer, and. Its true that tazio nuvolari, european champion with alfa romeo in 1932, earned the european 350cc title for bianchi in 1925.
Surtees is the only man who has ever won the world championship in both a car and on motorcycles. Like many from that period john surtees was born into the trade his father was a motorcycle dealer and it was in that sphere that the teenage surtees made his name. John surtees has 16 books on goodreads with 39 ratings. F1 legend john surtees reunited with canamwinning lola t70 duration. World champion 1991 at the end of the 1957 season, on another day the music died, gilera, mv agusta, moto guzzi, bmw, nsu, and mondial all bowed out of gp racing, citing increasing expense and falling motorcycle sales. Containing nearly 300 photographs from surtees own collection as well as from the worlds finest. What made the ra302 was so innovative is it features an aircooled v8.
Surtees was such a superstar even in the early 60s. He won his first motorcycle grand prix race at the age of 17, his first world title at 18, and his first motogp championship at 22. A look back at john surtees racing career in photos fox. The bike that caused a riff between england and italy during the 60s. Documentary on the history of the bsa motorcycle company duration. Henry surtees, the 18yearold son of former formula one world champion john surtees, has died of head injuries following an accident in a formula two race at brands hatch. Surtees raced gp when the norton manx and those incredible old dustbinfairing bikes, which looked like twowheeled jets, filled the grid.
John surtees is a bit of a racing legend, having won championships in both cars and motorcycles. Surtees went on to win four world motorcycle titles with 500cubiccentimeter engines and three others in the 350c. The ferrari 158 in which surtees became world champion on four wheels in 1964 from the book john surtees. Geoff duke was the man to beat on bikes at the time, but at thruxton in 1951 a teenage surtees ran him close in both the 500cc and cc races and was noted as a rider to watch he even crewed for his father in the events sidecar race. My incredible life on two and four wheels first edition by john surtees, mike nicks isbn. John surtees brands hatch reunited with old friends and bikes. One of the championships he won was the 1957 500cc motorcycle world championship, now the motogp class. Valentino rossi was born on february 16, 1979, in urbino, italy. Instead, surtees gives his life in motorcycle racing full due, and i found the photos and text fascinating.