Sir Stirling Moss, 81, came in from practice for the Le Mans Legends race on June 8, and said, “That is the last time I will be in a racing car.”
Moss was out in his own Porsche RS 61, which he had previously crashed at Laguna Seca last August. He was testing the car recently at Silverstone and was concerned about the car, though in fact he drove in his usual smooth and efficient manner. The car had been totally rebuilt after its California crash, but Moss did not seem at ease with getting back into it, working hard at getting the gear changes just right.
Moss had always said that he would stop the moment he either frightened himself or was getting in the way of others, and that moment appears to have come at Le Mans, a circuit he never particularly enjoyed anyway. He started racing at the age of 18, and had an enormously successful career, which ended with a serious crash at Goodwood in 1962. He eventually returned to racing, and for many years has been a very active participant in historic events.
He has been so active in recent years that his retirement, even though he is 81, will come as a surprise to many, though he will undoubtedly remain active on the historic racing scene. Vintage Racecar, for whom he has been a correspondent, wishes him a happy retirement.
By Ed McDonough
