1964 Formula One World Champion John Surtees was honored at a charity dinner held near Northampton, England on June 29. Tributes were paid to Surtees’ unique accomplishment of being the only person ever to win world titles on two and four wheels, as over 400 fans and fellow drivers and riders attended the event which benefited NARA, the British ‘breathing charity’.
On hand to help in the celebrations were former drivers Tony Brooks, Roy Salvadori, Richard Attwood, Cliff Allison, Jack Sears, Roy Pike, BRM team manager Tim Parnell, former motorcycle champion Phil Read, and Bruce McLaren’s widow Pat McLaren Bricket, as well a host of team members, mechanics, sponsors and associates. Daimler-Chrysler presented a new version of the Alfred Neubauer Trophy, which Surtees had received many years ago to acknowledge his continuing contribution to the industry. Surtees still drives a pre-war Mercedes at historic events.
VRJ’s European Editor Ed McDonough emceed the event at Sywell Aerodrome, where 25 racecars and motorcycles connected with Surtees’ career were on display. A full size model of his 1964 World Championship Ferrari 158 was commissioned and unveiled, much to Surtees’ amazement, and this will be sold to benefit the charity. Surtees had driven the original car owned by American George Barber at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a few days before. Other tributes came from Chris Amon, Dan Gurney, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Frank Williams, Luca Montezemola, Phil Hill, and many other racing stars. Gurney and Amon provided forewords for the book launched at the event-John Surtees: Friends and Rivals, a photographic account of Surtees’ races and the other great drivers of his period, assembled by photographer Nick Loudon and Ed McDonough.
By Ed McDonough
