The world of motorsports has recently just lost one it’s most iconic heroes. Racing legend John Surtees passed away yesterday at the age of 83. Rather than mourn his passing, we’ve decided to celebrate his incredible life instead, by giving you an overview of his greatest achievements. Everyone with a passing interest in motor racing will be well aware that John Surtees was the first man to ever win World Championship titles for two-wheeled and four-wheeled machines. A remarkable feat.
John Surtees: 1934 – 2017
Born in 1934, Surtees was raised surrounded by motorcycles. His father was a bike dealer, and his mother was an avid rider. At age 14 he entered his first competitive motorcycle race as the second half of a sidecar duo, and won it – though the victory was later disqualified after race organizers became aware that the young Surtees was underage! Undeterred, Surtees waited until he was a year older and entered solo- grass track races, riding an Excelsior-JAP, before graduating to asphalt courses, riding an old Triumph 250. Surtees rode a wide range of motorcycles, including old Vincents and a Featherbed Norton until he was selected to ride in the Ulster Grand Prix of 1952. He finished in sixth place.
Surtees On Two Wheels
A year later, Surtees was invited to race in the Manx TT but crashed out. By 1955, however, Surtees was riding a factory Norton and won an incredible 65 out of 72 races – claiming the accolade of Britain’s number one rider in the process. Sadly, Norton were to face financial trouble. Fortunately, MV Agusta decided to take a chance on the young Londoner. In his debut year with MV Agusta, Surtees claimed his first World Championship title in the 500cc class. He continued to dominate the 350cc and 500cc classes for the remainder of the decade, claiming the 350cc titles in ’58, ’59 and ’60, and the 500cc title in ’56, ’58, ’59, and ’60. He was only 26 years old by this point.
Surtees On Four Wheels
In 1960, Surtees decided to take a turn at racing cars, and in his debut race at Goodwood, he managed to secure second place. A few months later he raced for Lotus, and once again secured a second place at the British Grand Prix. Three years later, Surtees signed with Ferarri, and he celebrated his new signing with style by winning the 1963 Formula One World Championship, and becoming the first man to win premier class titles on two and four wheels. An incredible feat, especially when you consider that John Surtees was the only person to ever win three consecutive Isle of Man Senior TTs too.
Ferarri and Surtees parted way a few years later after Surtees suffered a major injury, but his racing legacy lives on. His son Henry also felt the call of the track and was one of Britain’s rising talents, before he was tragically killed in a race in 2009, aged 18.
Accolades
John Surtees also became one of the most decorated racers of all time, both on and off the track. Despite winning championships in two very different disciplines, he was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree in engineering from the Oxford Brookes University, received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), before being upgraded to a full on CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2016.
The Surtees family reported that John had passed away at the St. George’s Hospital in London of respiratory failure. He was aged 83. Along with the rest of the motorsport community, we offer our condolences to the family, and urge you all to celebrate the life of one of the greatest racers in history.