39 replies to this topic

[Michael Oliver]

...he just said live on Radio Le Mans that he wouldn't drive again this weekend at Le Mans as he was getting scared too easily and seemed to also imply that this also therefore marked his retirement from racing.

[Nev]

...he just said live on Radio Le Mans that he wouldn't drive again this weekend at Le Mans as he was getting scared too easily and seemed to also imply that this also therefore marked his retirement from racing.

After admitting he "gets scared easily", I reckon he still has gonads the size of spacehoppers to have continued competitive racing until now - latterly in some priceless machinery - and he remains a hero in my eyes! Anyone who started racing with nothing much more than a bit of cloth to protect his head and the odd straw bale to protect him from trees and telegraph poles is allowed to consider retirement in his 82nd year

[kayemod]

If this is indeed true, I'm rather relieved, I've thought for some time that one of the UK's National Treasures should stop putting himself at risk by continuing to drive in races, even fairly low-key mostly amateur ones like the Revival. I remember an in-car sequence from Goodwood a few years ago, Sir Stirling had spun a Mk VII Jaguar, and The Great Man looked decidedly flustered by what was happening. He's still probably far more competent than most of us of course, but I remember thinking at the time that he should call it a day before he hurts himself, sticking to safer activities like travelling in domestic lifts for example...

[Allan Lupton]

...he just said live on Radio Le Mans that he wouldn't drive again this weekend at Le Mans as he was getting scared too easily and seemed to also imply that this also therefore marked his retirement from racing.

That's pretty good for one whom we had all assumed would never race again when we heard the news from Goodwood in 1962.

[Bloggsworth]

Where did my post go?

[David Birchall]

And we all were devastated when we learned he had retired nearly 50 years ago! Fantastic "career" despite that! I agree it was past due for this retirement though-he has made a huge contribution to motor racing and will be missed on the track.
I was so impressed at the inaugural Revival when, while driving the DBR1 he was trailing Willie Green and an F1 driver. Suddenly he came alive-it was as though the thought process was: "I am Stirling Moss, in a DBR1 at Goodwood and this won't do!" . He took Willie Green in a very agressive move and shortly thereafter the F1 driver as well--stirring stuff and he was seventy years old!

[Vitesse2]

Where did my post go?

It's where you left it - in Racing Comments.

(A new variation on "why did I come upstairs"?)

[Barry Boor]

Relief was my first emotion, too. Followed by thanks for everything!

[Bauble]

Where did my post go?

B***** Post Office -useless.

[Gary C]

'and an F1 driver'
I think that was Martin Brundle, wasn't it?

[D-Type]

If this is indeed true, I'm rather relieved, I've thought for some time that one of the UK's National Treasures should stop putting himself at risk by continuing to drive in races, even fairly low-key mostly amateur ones like the Revival. I remember an in-car sequence from Goodwood a few years ago, Sir Stirling had spun a Mk VII Jaguar, and The Great Man looked decidedly flustered by what was happening. He's still probably far more competent than most of us of course, but I remember thinking at the time that he should call it a day before he hurts himself, sticking to safer activities like travelling in domestic lifts for example...

Relief was my first emotion, too. Followed by thanks for everything!

My sentiments exactly.

But, hopefully this doesn't apply to going up the hill at the Festival.

[Paolo]

After admitting he "gets scared easily", I reckon he still has gonads the size of spacehoppers to have continued competitive racing until now - latterly in some priceless machinery - and he remains a hero in my eyes! Anyone who started racing with nothing much more than a bit of cloth to protect his head and the odd straw bale to protect him from trees and telegraph poles is allowed to consider retirement in his 82nd year

[Ray Bell]

It's certainly been a very long way from his first Cooper outings to the second decade of the 21st Century...

I feel it's a shame he was out for so long after his Goodwood crash, I think it was about 14 years... I think he could have done better with that gap being shorter.

But there's no doubting the man, a wonderful contribution he's made and by recording most of it for us he's added greatly to our understanding of the art of driving and life in front-line competition in the fifties.

[Frank S]

Dear Sir:

Thank you again.

Love,

[Gary Davies]

Have to be content with this announcement. There were moments in the summer of 1960 and the spring of 1962 when I feared he wouldn't be in the position of making such an announcement in his ninth decade.

Thank you, SCM, thank you very much for the memories.

[ken devine]

Maybe he will still come to Australia for the AGP to run in the Historic Demonstrations,which is not really a race.
If he is retiring thanks for the memories.

[RogerFrench]

I first saw him at Castle Combe - 1951 I think it was. 60 years ago. A few years back I had the great honour to talk to him, and he autographed a book that I'd had for 50 years.
He's still my hero, from schoolboy days till now. If he never drives again, that's OK by me. Stay safe, Sir Stirling.

Edited by RogerFrench, 10 June 2011 - 03:01.

[David Birchall]

'and an F1 driver'
I think that was Martin Brundle, wasn't it?

Thanks Gary, I had a very senior moment there... I could only remember the name Martin. He was in a D type and Willie Green was in a Testa Rossa. I have a new computer and just typing on it is enough trouble-trying to see the minute script doesn't help though.

[cpbell]

I'm relieved also. Let's remember him in his pomp.

[Arjan de Roos]

... marked his retirement from racing.

Now he will take up historic racing?

[Stephen W]

Follow this LINK to Stirling's website & his announcement.

[pete53]

I never saw Sir Stirling race pre-Goodwood '62 - well I don't think so. When I was about 5/6 years of age a bank holiday family trip to Crystal Palace Park con-incided with the Whit Monday race meeting. We stopped and watched from just outside the gates on the bottom straight, where you could just get a glimpse of the track, and my aunt pointed out to an excited young me, Stirling Moss. For a number of years afterwards I believed I had seen the great man race. However, at some point, it dawned on me that my aunt, bless her, was probably using Stirling's name in a sort of generic manner, probably not knowing the name of any other racing driver - or not believing that I would.

As for his second coming, I will always remember the Goodwood Revival 1999 when he raced the Maserati 250F in horribly wet conditions. Stirling, along with Jack Brabham, two guys who really didn't have anything to prove, drove like men possessed. I was watching from Madwick and marvelled as they slid through that corner and accelerated away into the spray and gloom. Fantastic.

On second thoughts I think I will continue to lay claim to having seen SM race at the Palace in the 1950s!

[kayemod]

On second thoughts I think I will continue to lay claim to having seen SM race at the Palace in the 1950s!

Using a similar stretch of the imagination, I think I can claim to have seen Fangio race, though I must have been barely out of nappies at the time.

[Richard Jenkins]

I don't think anyone would mind if Moss didn't even demonstrate the cars a la Goodwood. I think Kayemod hit it on the head - my sentiments also. I count myself very fortunate to have seen him race and it's a treasured memory - we've been very lucky that he's kept on doing this for so long for so many people to get a brief glimpse, a brief inkling of what a talent he was.

[Paul Parker]

I don't think anyone would mind if Moss didn't even demonstrate the cars a la Goodwood. I think Kayemod hit it on the head - my sentiments also. I count myself very fortunate to have seen him race and it's a treasured memory - we've been very lucky that he's kept on doing this for so long for so many people to get a brief glimpse, a brief inkling of what a talent he was.

Me too, I saw him win the 1961 TT, for me racing in period was never the same again in period after his Goodwood accident.

[Alan Cox]

Like everyone here, I thank Sir Stirling for the way he has kept motor racing fans entertained for longer than I have been alive. I'm sorry that I never saw him race in period, but have enjoyed and appreciated his undiminished enthusiasm for his sport by way of his appearances at historic meetings over the past 30 years. I defy anyone to find a better ambassador for any sport.

[pete53]

Like everyone here, I thank Sir Stirling for the way he has kept motor racing fans entertained for longer than I have been alive. I'm sorry that I never saw him race in period, but have enjoyed and appreciated his undiminished enthusiasm for his sport by way of his appearances at historic meetings over the past 30 years. I defy anyone to find a better ambassador for any sport.

Exactly. Whenever you see him interviewed he always answers as though he is being asked the question(s) for the very first time - never shows any impatience even though he has probably been asked the same question umpteen times before. Professional.

[Mistron]

It strikes me as quite a brave way to call time on your career, to actually say openly 'I can't do this anymore, so I'm not going to'

Many would have parked it in the pits and say 'oh, we've got an engine problem so we can't race' and announce their retirement later. It takes a certain level of emotional bravery to do it in the way he has. Not that anyone would doubt the bravery of SM or any of his peers!

Better to go out this way with dignity intact than to push it when scared in a racing car and risk the worst.

Nicely, and honestly, handled, unlike so much in Motorsport these days!

[RA Historian]

Agreed. To bravery add honesty, class, dignity, humilty and a number of other virtues. Sir Stirling has always been and remains one of the true gentleman in racing, the term gentleman connoting all of a superlative nature that could ever be ascribed to that word.

Tom

Edited by RA Historian, 10 June 2011 - 19:15.

[Guido22]

Well at least the crumpet will be safe or will they?

[john ruston]

Lady Moss,Suzie,is one of the best people around and has been organising the old boy for years.In many cases it was needed!

[ZOOOM]

I first saw Sir Stirling at Sebring back in 1958.
Mostly read about him over here in Sports Cars Illustrated and Road & Track.
Just about every other driver of that era has either died or given up.
Fabulous career, perfect gentleman, consumate sportsman, helava racing driver and great human being.
Sir Stirling.... Bravo!

ZOOOM

[Jack-the-Lad]

[quote name='Gary Davies' date='Jun 9 2011, 20:39' post='5085905'

Thank you, SCM, thank you very much for the memories.
[/quote]


The greatest of which for me was meeting him at Robert Publicker's house in Fort Lauderdale during his (Sir Stirling's) recovery. He was incredibly gracious to this gawking 14 year-old who arrived unannounced at dinner time. I still have the copy of "A Turn at the Wheel" which he signed for me that night.

Jack

[Mal9444]

Does anyone know what it was that 'scared myself'?

I was talking to him in the RAC in London just a few days before he went to Le Mans, at a 50th anniversary celebration of his 1961 Monaco win (complete with open-sided Lotus 18) and he professed himself to be greatly looking forward to it.

[Giraffe]

Well at least one person will breath a sigh of relief! Here Sir Stirling gives Simon Ayliff (thanks for the correction RS250) (better known as "Fat Harry" though even he's not sure why) of Hall & Hall some proper earache at the Silverstone Classic 2009.


By giraffe138 at 2009-07-27

Edited by Giraffe, 12 June 2011 - 21:39.

[RS250]

Well at least one person will breath a sigh of relief! Here Sir Stirling gives Simon (better known as "Fat Harry" though even he's not sure why) of Hall & Hall some proper earache at the Silverstone Classic 2009.


By giraffe138 at 2009-07-27

Theres no truth in the rumour that Harry became a lift engineer after this encounter.

Edited by RS250, 12 June 2011 - 22:17.

[Tim Murray]

Stirling has just been interviewed on BBC Radio 4. He said that he set off on his first lap at Le Mans and suddenly realised that he was scared by the whole business of driving racing cars. This was different to being frightened by specific incidents, which had always happened to him. He felt that this scared feeling would prevent him ever getting anywhere near the car’s limit, with the possibility that he might now start ‘getting in the way’. So he took the immediate decision that he wasn’t going to race any more. Demonstrations, rallies etc, yes, but no more racing.

[Mal9444]

Stirling has just been interviewed on BBC Radio 4. He said that he set off on his first lap at Le Mans and suddenly realised that he was scared by the whole business of driving racing cars. This was different to being frightened by specific incidents, which had always happened to him. He felt that this scared feeling would prevent him ever getting anywhere near the car’s limit, with the possibility that he might now start ‘getting in the way’. So he took the immediate decision that he wasn’t going to race any more. Demonstrations, rallies etc, yes, but no more racing.

One can hear the interview on iPlayer (or whatever it is called) on the BBC website. He is very frank, very honest - but then is not he always, and has always been? Perhaps if he had been less straight (e.g. his determination to drive British, his refusal to countenance driving for Ferrari after the Bari incident) he might well have been Britain's first world champion, the great Fangio and Ascari notwithstanding.

I recall when at Goodwood just a couple of years ago he was down to drive the Fergusson. He tried it, came in and said with complete candour - 'I can't get the best out of this car anymore - you'd be better off letting Whizzo have a go'. Unembarrassed honesty.

As many others have remarked: what has he left to prove?

I first saw him race in 1954 at Dundrod, in a D-type - and was mortally affronted as they came through Leathemstown Bridge for the first time that there were other cars (in particular one M. Hawthorn in a Ferrari) ahead of him. At 10 years of age I simply assummed that my hero would win and for me winning meant being in front; at 10 years of age the explanation that Hawthorn was in a 3.5 litre car and Moss in a 2 litre car, and it was a handicap race, went some way over my head. Both cars looked to be the same size to me. And when, some time before the end D-type no 20 (another riddle - why was he not wearing number 7?) with that distinctive laid-back white helmet did not appear at all - well I was ready to go home. My first, but sadly not my last, experience of the deleterious effects of a lack of oil pressure.

Edited by Mal9444, 14 June 2011 - 07:50.

[xj13v12]

As many others have remarked: what has he left to prove?



Agree whole heartedly! We would all feel very selfish indeed if he were hurt or worse after such a distinguished career. While I am far too young to have have experienced his skill at the height of his considerable powers I at least saw him drive a C-Type in the early 80s with considerable aplomb. Later during the first Targa Tasmania I got to sit quietly (over dinner with just 8 people) and listen as he and Roger Clark discussed how they put on a show despite one stage being downgraded as "transport" rather than competition due to icing on the road and truly treacherous conditions. "There were people who came out to see us and sat in that miserable weather" was their reasoning. He had nothing to prove then either other than his professionalism.
I also got to sit in the new Jag XJ6 at Warwick Farm as he demonstarted the new ABS. With typical bravado he had devised a little scenario guaranteed to impress all who rode in her.
He deliberately ran very wide on a turn at 120 kph (3 passengers) onto the grass and then slammed on the brakes while poking his hand through the steering wheel to point out the speed (to those who had not yet lost consciousness) whilst turing around to the rear seat passengers (so they could hear clearly through their own howls of terror or giggles of childish delight) to explain the intracacies of the technology and then with a single deft movement bring the car calmly back onto the track to now accelarate into the next corner where surely he should should be braking to demonstrate how nicely the car was balanced during an induced power over steer. The coup d'grace upon bringing the big car to an abrupt halt in the makeshift pit area was to point out the virtues of the current leasing arrangement available to businesses. Professional indeed! He has been Motorsport for many around the world for 60 years.

Edited by xj13v12, 14 June 2011 - 09:26.

[xj13v12]

As many others have remarked: what has he left to prove?



Agree whole heartedly! We would all feel very selfish indeed if he were hurt or worse after such a distinguished career. While I am far too young to have have experienced his skill at the height of his considerable powers I at least saw him drive a C-Type in the early 80s with considerable aplomb. Later during the first Targa Tasmania I got to sit quietly (over dinner with just 8 people) and listen as he and Roger Clark discussed how they put on a show despite one stage being downgraded as "transport" rather than competition due to icing on the road and truly treacherous conditions. "There were people who came out to see us and sat in that miserable weather" was their reasoning. He had nothing to prove then either other than his professionalism.
I also got to sit in the new Jag XJ6 at Warwick Farm as he demonstarted the new ABS. With typical bravado he had devised a little scenario guaranteed to impress all who rode in her.
He deliberately ran very wide on a turn at 120 kph (3 passengers) onto the grass and then slammed on the brakes while poking his hand through the steering wheel to point out the speed (to those who had not yet lost consciousness) whilst turing around to the rear seat passengers (so they could hear clearly through their own howls of terror or giggles of childish delight) to explain the intracacies of the technology and then with a single deft movement bring the car calmly back onto the track to now accelarate into the next corner where surely he should should be braking to demonstrate how nicely the car was balanced during an induced power over steer. The coup d'grace upon bringing the big car to an abrupt halt in the makeshift pit area was to point out the virtues of the current leasing arrangement available to businesses. Professional indeed! He has been Motorsport for many around the world for 60 years.

I forgot to say that he took both hands off the wheel during this exercise!