Surtees talked about working for Vincent where he earned £2-10s a week and his first race on a Triumph Tiger 70. Later, he bought his Vincent Grey Flash in pieces from Mike Hailwood’s father Stan. Success followed resulting in world championships in 1956 and 1958-60. It was Britain’s first F1 world champion Mike Hawthorn who suggested it was easier to stay on four wheels than two. He quit MV and raced a Cooper.
Driving for Ferrari in 1964 he became the only man to win both two and four wheel world championships in the premier league. His career culminated in creating a team carrying his own name. Fundraising on the day resulted in a £3440 haul for the Henry Surtees Foundation.
As well as the bewildering array of two and four wheel machinery usually to be seen, it was joined by John’s 500cc MV Agusta and the TS10 Formula 2 car he drove to a win in the 1972 Japanese Grand Prix.
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