As the 34th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show approaches, with the man himself as the special guest of honour, we celebrate John’s storied career with superb images from our archive, and we document some of the most defining moments of an incredible career…
This year is the 50th anni
versary of John winning his four-wheeled world title and we’ve arranged for a 1964 Formula One Ferrari to be on the main stand, where it accompanies an MV four of the type John used to clinch his two-wheeled world titles.
The fascinating parallels between the two concerns which John represented – MV Agusta and Ferrari – are striking, especially when it came to the fact both companies had an identifiable, world-famous figurehead leading them, in the forms of Count Agusta and Enzo Ferrari. So John was employed by two of the most important figures in 20th century motorsport.
John also ran his own car racing team too, where he employed none other than Mike Hailwood as a driver. Add that John was an apprentice at Vincent, was employed by Joe Craig to ride works Nortons, dominated short circuit racing in Britain and ran his own dealership, as well as restoring and resurrecting a bevy of classic beauties, and the sheer magnitude of the man’s actions and experiences become evident.
John Surtees is our guest of honour at The 34th Carole Nash International Motorcycle show, held over April 26-27.
Key achievements
• 1934 Takes grid position in human race
• 1947 Starts riding motorcycles
• 1948 Passengers father Jack to sprint win at Trent Park, London, disqualified for being under age
• 1949 First ride on Excelsior B14 at Eaton Bray grass track
• 1950 First Brands Hatch road race, apprenticed at Vincent
• 1952 Riding Vincent and sixth on Norton at Ulster GP – first world championship event
• 1954 First world championship race win, Ulster GP on a Vincent-loaned 250cc NSU
• 1956 Rides for MV Agusta – first world championship (500)
• 1958 350 and 500cc world championships
• 1959 350 and 500cc world championships, receives MBE among many accolades
• 1960 350 and 500cc world championships, begins racing on four wheels
• 1964 Driving for Ferrari, secures Formula 1 championship for two and four-wheel double
• 1965 Severe accident in Canadian sports car Grand Prix
• 1970 Team Surtees – racing car constructor
• 1980 Property interests and charity work
• 2008 Receives OBE
• 2014 New book published, celebrations to mark 80th birthday and 50 years since securing Formula 1 championship
