Sir Stirling Moss Dies Aged 90 After A Long Illness.
In sad news today, Sir Stirling Moss dies aged 90 after a long illness. Stirling Moss the worlds greatest driver never to win a world championship was a houshold name across the world in both the 1950s and 60s.
Stirling’s abilities behind the wheel led to him having many victories in a variety of cars throughout his racing career.
After winning his first Grand Prix world championship race at Aintree beating Fangio he follwed up by winning the 1955 Mille Miglia. Driving the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR with journalist Dennis Jenkinson as co-driver. Jenkinson pioneered the use of pace notes helping Stirling avoid hazards on the route, where other drivers had local knowledge. The winning time of 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds at an average speed of 98.53 mph (159 km/h) for the 1000 miles, set an unbeaten record for the course.
Stirling Moss had further successes in sports cars, endurance racing and in Formula 1. Winning events such as the 12 hours of Sebring, Reims and a class win at Le Mans. It was in Formula 1 where Moss had multiple wins including the longest ever Grand Prix circuit to hold a race. The 16 mile (25km) Pescara circuit in Italy. Driving a Vanwall in 1957 Stirling set the fastest lap, which went unbeaten.
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A serious racing accident in 1962 at Goodwood saw Moss in a coma for a month and with paralysis of his left side for six months. After an outing testing a Lotus 19 he decided that he hadn’t the mastery of the car he once had and retired from professional motorsport.
However, Moss continued to race later on in the 1970s, in such events as Bathurst and the 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally.
But it was in 1980 that he returned to regular competition racing. Driving for GTI Engineering team Audi and then Audi themselves in the British Saloon Car championship alongside Martin Brundle.
Following this Moss made TV racing commentary and other appearances. But it was histoic racing that kept him on track right up until the age of 81. he declared he had scared himself at the Le Mans Legends race during qualifying at it was to be his last appearance.
Moss retired from public life two years ago due to deterioirating health, but had been very active up until this point.
Ex Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle paid tribute: “A mighty racer and gentleman. He had a press on style on the track and in life. Remarkable man. Survived the most dangerous era of motorsport and died today aged 90. He had such great stories to tell, and it was a privilege to know him.”
Johnny Herbert also added: “Sad sad news that legend Sir Stirling Moss has passed. World Champion in all our eyes.”
I was fortunate enough to watch Stirling race at the first Goodwood Revival meeting in 1998. Watching him beat younger drivers in younger machinery was something to behold. I wasn’t born when Stirling was at his peak, but the demonstration I saw hinted at the talent he posessed. It’s a sad day indeed, but his name and legend will sureley live on.
Simon
There are some great images on Sir Stirling Moss’s own website. You can have a look here: https://www.stirlingmoss.com/