Many Happy Returns, Maestro!

Some people have referred to Moss as "the maestro" but to me he never could be that, for he never grew up, he was always youthful and maestro implies age, skill, wisdom and ability, Moss had most of these qualities and vast experience but somehow he never developed the personal character of a true "maestro" such as Fangio. In 1955 when I first met the late Mackay-Fraser in Lisbon we spent an evening with Moss and it was the ususal high-pressure animated eveningevening with Moss untiring until about 2am when he closed up instantly and was gone to bed, whereas Mac and I were happy to drift on for another hour and slowly unwind over a last drink or two. During that time Mac referred to Moss as "Golden Boy" and I always thought that title was very apt. He was not the equal of Fangio, he was young enough to be Fangio's son yet he was head and shoulders above the rest of his contemporaries. For me Fangio was the true "maestro" but Stirling Moss will always remain "The Golden Boy".

Denis Jenkinson, writing on Moss' retirement from racing, May 1963.

Thankyou for the image Wolf. I still feel in total awe every time I am fortunate to see Moss Drive
HPBD S.M.

Yes indeed. Many Happy Returns, Sir Stirling. It's nice to know he's the same birth sign as me!!

Indeed, best wishes to Sir Stirling. I was lucky enough to see him driving many times (remember, he would often be entered in 3 or more events at each British meeting), and I can't think of one where he didn't make things happen.

Luvely pic, Wolf

My own favorite picture ...

I was just too young to see Mossie racing in his prime, but it was mainly hearing about his exploits that drew me as a small boy to become fascinated by motor racing. What a splendid name for a racing driver he has. I've since seen him many times at historic events, and one memory lingers. At the Goodwood Festival of Speed a couple of years ago he was driving several cars, as usual. At one point time was obviously tight. He drove down the hill in one car and leaped out of it at the top of the paddock, then sprinted full tilt all the way down to the bottom, jumped into the next car and was off. Not bad for a seventy year old.

Slightly OT, but what a pathetic apology for a roll bar that Ferguson had.

Ironically it's a fact that if anyone saw Moss race... then they saw him at his prime.

He was still very much in his prime when he crashed his way into retirement.

Seems he's still in his prime too, if he could perform that stunt at Goodwood.