John Surtees. The Legend has passed away.

As lifetime achievements go, being the only person to ever win World Championships on two wheels and four ranks extremely highly. In all of history it has happened only once. There has been no one since and perhaps nevermore. RIP Mr Surtees

John Surtees enjoyed his greatest success through the 50s and 60s, winning his 500cc bike World Championships in 1956, 1958, 1969 and 1960. He made his F1 debut at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix; his first podium came the race after, taking second at the British Grand Prix. He joined the Yeoman Credit Racing Team in 1961, then the Bowmaker Racing Team in 1962, before becoming a Ferrari driver in 1963. In 1964 he won the F1 Drivers’ Championship behind the wheel of a Ferrari 158.
He raced until 1972, also competing at Le Mans and in Can-Am, before retiring to run his own race team and, eventually, a bike shop and car dealership. As all-round racing talents go, he will rightly be remembered as one of the greats; “figlio del vento” was his nickname at MV Agusta, or son of the wind.

I had the pleasure of meeting him on several occasions, an absolute old school Gent (always) who was needle sharp.