39 replies to this topic

[Mal9444]

Is it permissable to start a new thread to wish Sir Stirling Moss 'Happy Birthday' tomorrow, 17th September? I tried to do so on the thread called Happy Birthday, which seemed a logical place to do so, but that now seems to be reserved for people born in years ending with 0 or 5, a subtlety that had escaped a bear of so little brain as I.

SCM is 77. Given the importance to him of the number 7, this will thus be a particularly special birthday. As always it was tremendous to see him drive at Goodwood. His starts in both the Sprite and the Mark 7 from the middle of the grid were as is usually the case a joy to watch and demonstrated that he is still no slouch and still the quintessential racer. Like many, I was looking forward to see him drive the Fergie, and disappointed to be deprived of the pleasure - but as DCN explained on the Goodwood Revival thread, there were good reasons (and didn't Barrie do well?). It was a big call from a big man who - let's face it - has not much left to prove.

Still, IMHO, the best there's been (pace Fangio and Clark).

[ReWind]

Originally posted by Mal9444
Is it permissable to start a new thread to wish Sir Stirling Moss 'Happy Birthday' tomorrow, 17th September? I tried to do so on the thread called Happy Birthday, which seemed a logical place to do so, but that now seems to be reserved for people born in years ending with 0 or 5, a subtlety that had escaped a bear of so little brain as I.

Come on, Malcolm, you must be kidding!
That's not what I said in the "Happy Birthday" thread.
You asked referring to my lists of "round" dates and I explained the reason behind them to you*.
Of course you can wish anyone a "Happy Birthday" on that thread regardless of his age.

* They don't list people born in years ending with 0 or 5 but people whose age ends with 0 or 5
(which means currently people are listed who were born in years ending with 1 or 6 )

EDIT #1: The "definite list of motor sport birthdays" resp. one twelfth of it INCLUDING STIRLING MOSS is here.
EDIT #2: Two years ago there was this thread when he had turned 75.

[Mal9444]

I am Soooo thick....

[Wolf]

Originally posted by Mal9444
I am Soooo thick....

Actually, thanks for that. I would have missed it otherwise, and SCM is my favourite driver.

Many Happy Returns, Golden Boy

[D-Type]

Many happy returns to the man who has always been "Mr Motor Racing" to me.

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Mal9444

SCM is 77. Given the importance to him of the number 7, this will thus be a particularly special birthday.

I accidentally passed SCM's house in London the other week -- the "Cooper, Herbert Johnson helmet, and No. 7" motif on the upstairs balcony is a bit of a giveaway ;) (It being Goodwood weekend, the Young Maestro was clearly not in ;))

Happy birthday to one of the greatest sportsmen this country has ever produced.

[Gary C]

Happy Birthday Sir Stirling!

[Frank S]

Sincere best wishes on passing this significant milestone.

--
Frank S

[Arturo Pereira]

Happy birthday Sir Stirling !!!!

[Mal9444]

Arturo
Please tell us more about that great picture.


Thanks for posting it.

[Arturo Pereira]

Originally posted by Mal9444
Arturo
Please tell us more about that great picture.


Thanks for posting it.

It Sir Stirling Moss driving a Maserati 250F in 1954 at Bremgarten. The name of the picture is wrong.

[Roger Clark]

Originally posted by Arturo Pereira


It Sir Stirling Moss driving a Maserati 250F in 1954 at Bremgarten. The name of the picture is wrong.

Are you sure?

[Arturo Pereira]

Originally posted by Roger Clark

Are you sure?

Not exactly, but he used #32 in the 1954 race. He did not race in 1953 there.

[Barry Boor]

In May 1954 Stirling had his first race win in 250.F 2508 at Aintree. It was clothed in the classic early 250.F bodyshell.

I cannot imagine that it was re-bodied to look like the above picture for the Swiss race in August.

But 'tis a lovely picture...

....but I REALLY would like to know where and when.

[Milan Fistonic]

I can only echo D-Type's sentiments.


Many happy returns to the man who has always been "Mr Motor Racing" to me.

[philhitchings]

He's the guy my father used to wax lyrical about when I was just a wee JYS fan. I got to see him race a goodwood a few years back and My dad was right, beautiful to watch

[RTH]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could get him to contribute to this forum .

[Arturo Pereira]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
In May 1954 Stirling had his first race win in 250.F 2508 at Aintree. It was clothed in the classic early 250.F bodyshell.

I cannot imagine that it was re-bodied to look like the above picture for the Swiss race in August.

But 'tis a lovely picture...

....but I REALLY would like to know where and when.

Yes, you are right. I have found other picture of #32 maserati driven by Moss at Bremgarten and, even if the number looks the same, the car certainly not. Looks like a A6GCM, maybe a non points event, I don´t know atm.

[Gary Davies]

Is this the answer?



Fangio and Bonetto shared a Maserati at Bremgarten in 1953, carrying race number 32. Clearly, the driver in the above pic, lifted from due deference from Mike Lang's book, is not Fangio, so it has to be Bonetto doing a passable Moss imitation.

[Arturo Pereira]

Originally posted by Vanwall
Is this the answer?



Fangio and Bonetto shared a Maserati at Bremgarten in 1953, carrying race number 32. Clearly, the driver in the above pic, lifted from due deference from Mike Lang's book, is not Fangio, so it has to be Bonetto doing a passable Moss imitation.

I think so !! Thanks for the clarification !!

[Barry Boor]

I guess this must be the explanation - BUT - it looks so much like SCM, both facially and with the extended arms driving style.

And where's the pipe?

[Gary Davies]

Well! 80 today. May I wish my only ever sporting hero a very, very happy birthday. Such a gentleman, such an inspiration. All the very best to Stirl and Susie.

- Gary D.

[Coral]

Happy 80th birthday Sir Stirling...a real living legend.

[Ralf Pickel]

Happy Birthday Sir Stirling from Dog Terrier Moss and his pit crew !

[Andrew Kitson]

Happy Birthday Sir Stirling.

Goodwood's own Happy 80th Birthday tribute movie:

http://www.goodwood....hday-Movie.aspx

[Giraffe]

Congratulations Sir Stirling! The very first name I ever knew in motor racing an I drove my pedal car wearing a plastic peaked helmet with a BP badge on the front and a replica of Stirling's autograph above it purchased from Woolworths. We only have one of these two national institutions left to celebrate now!
We tend to over-use the term "National Treasure", but not in Sir Stirling's case, in my very humble opinion.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Fondest Best Wishes to a Hero of the Ages.

[retriever]

Happy birthday Sir Stirling Moss, enjoy the day.

[D-Type]

Many happy returns to the man who has always been "Mr Motor Racing" to me.

Doubly so on the occasion of the great man's 80th.

[Kingsleyrob]

Happy Birthday Sir Stirling - a true living legend!

See you at Goodwood

Rob

[Mal9444]

Thanks to those who revisited/ revived this thread. As an unreconstructed Moss fan I of course add my own good wishes and am looking forward to seeing him in action on Saturday and again on Sunday.

It had occurred to me that he might use this occasion to announce retirement (again): happily that seems not to be the case since a) he has only recently bought (albeit in partnership with someone else) that OSCA and b) I read in a recent interview somewhere that he intends to retire only when he feels that he is 'slowing other people up'. Given recent perfomances, that day appears some time away.

[Pedro 917]

Happy Birthday Sir Stirling, many happy returns !!

[oldtransamdriver]

This is a Stirling story - in the fall of 1959 some friends and I wanted to go Watkins Glen to see the great man in that famous formula libre race. None of us owned a car at that time, so I managed to borrow $50 and bought an older Chevy sedan. Had no idea if it would get us there and back - about a 300 mile round trip from St. Catharines Ontario.

As soon as we were underway we found that the front doors would swing open every time we went around a turn, so had to tie them to the centre post somewhow. That old Chev carried us there and back and we were a happy group to have seen Stirling race, in I think a Lotus 18. I got lucky and sold that old Chev for $125 a few weeks later.

At Monterey 2 years ago I managed to have a few words in downtown Carmel where Sir Stirling was signing autographs by the Mercedez transporter that carried the famous Mille Miglia 300 that he and Jenks drove. He remembered that race instantly and remarked on the horrible weather that weekend.

My congratulation also to a racing icon.

Robert Barg

Edited by oldtransamdriver, 18 September 2009 - 03:32.

[Tim Murray]

There's just been a nice item on Sir Stirling on BBC's Broadcasting House programme on Radio 4. An interview (including his thoughts on the current F1 scandal) plus some period radio clips including Raymond Baxter describing the finish of the '55 British GP. Good stuff - thanks Beeb.

[Tony Matthews]

As he was rather rudely side-swiped at Madgwick Corner yesterday he might consider self-preservation is important - to us as much as him.

[jeze]

Congratulations Stirling, not many racecar drivers of your time became 80 years old!

[Redheat57]

Happy Birthday, Stirling. True racer, true gentleman and an inspiration.

[Flat Black 84]

Belated happy birthday to Stirling, perhaps the greatest driver of all time.

[Rocky2]

82 today. Happy Birthday, Sir Stirling!

[Giraffe]

Rolex gave Sir Stirling a birthday present of a new watch at Goodwood yesterday. Here he is pictured comparing watches with Sir Jackie to his considerable amusement!


By giraffe138 at 2011-09-17