Racing Legends: John Surtees

[Ian Wegg]

Just a reminder that the Racing Legends episode about John Surtees is on tonight (in place of the programme about royalty).

MOTORING: Racing Legends
On: BBC 2
Date: Sunday 11th January 2015 (starting this evening)
Time: 21:00 to 22:00 (1 hour long)

John Surtees. Episode 3.
In the final episode, Paul Hollywood meets one of his heroes, John Surtees - the only man to win world championships with both bike and car. To get an insight into the life and times of one of Britain's greatest living sportsman, Hollywood takes to the Isle of Man TT course to recreate some of Surtees's finest races. He learns how Surtees went from humble beginnings to working for the aristocrats of Italian racing, Ferrari and Agusta. Now in his 80th year, John Surtees looks back on a life filled with danger, glamour and intrigue. It is a life that has seen both triumph and devastating personal tragedy. With contributions from Surtees's wife and daughters as well as rivals and commentators, the programme gives an intimate and enthralling portrait of a complex man who survived and succeeded in an era when death and injury were an ever-present danger in racing.
(Stereo, Widescreen, Subtitles, Part 3, Audio Described, 5 Star)

[alsaautomotive]

Met John Surtees at last years' Silverstone BTCC event.
He spent a lot of time giving my daughter advice on all aspects of getting into the Ginetta Juniors, driving techniques, sponsorship guidance (which we're still struggling with!) ALL great advice. A thoroughly top gent.

[Bebee]

Cheers for that heads up, a great racing driver who never feared the greatness of Jim Clark. That he is not a Sir yet (80yrs old) is a travesty.

[FourWheelDrift]

looks like 10:15pm now. Darts over running

[Bebee]

Enjoyed that, he's done more than I thought, top bloke.
Must admit, the eyes watered when he talked about his son Henry.

[theshrew]

Just watched this and what a cracking program.

Why can't we have more TV like this.

[zeb]

Good programme.

still at a loss as to why he hasn't been knighted.

[Hugo a Gogo]

I saw the Sheene one, and recorded this - was there a 2nd one in between? I'me sure the guide said 3 of 3

[Shaw Tarse]

Hugo a Gogo said:

I saw the Sheene one, and recorded this - was there a 2nd one in between? I'me sure the guide said 3 of 3

Graham Hill
ETA http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by Shaw Tarse on Monday 12th January 11:56

[moffspeed]

Enjoyed it and thought it was the best of the 3 , last week felt like more of a platform for Jeremy Irons rather than memories of G.H.

Incidentally I'm amazed that Surtees won the WDC in 1964 - as the footage at one point showed Jimmy Clark equipped with a Lotus 49 that year !!

[rallycross]

moffspeed said:

Enjoyed it and thought it was the best of the 3 , last week felt like more of a platform for Jeremy Irons rather than memories of G.H.

Incidentally I'm amazed that Surtees won the WDC in 1964 - as the footage at one point showed Jimmy Clark equipped with a Lotus 49 that year !!

The Sheen program with Vic Reeves was pretty bad in comparison the Hill and Surtees programs, I thought Jeremy Irons and Paul Hollywood did a much better job.

[thiscocks]

rallycross said:

The Sheen program with Vic Reeves was pretty bad in comparison the Hill and Surtees programs, I thought Jeremy Irons and Paul Hollywood did a much better job.

I preferred Vic Reeves.

[FourWheelDrift]

And not many people are allowed to drive the Mercedes Museum pre-War silver arrows cars, let along smoke the rear tyres up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Zqj9AYR84w

[rubystone]

I've been lucky enough to spend some time with him and he's a lovely chap. So many stories too. When TV personalities get a gong for kiddy fiddling, I'm astounded this man wasn't knighted decades ago. Total travesty.

[skahigh]

Just got round to watching this having not previously known anything about him. Excellent programme and what a thoroughly nice man he seems to be.

[rscott]

rubystone said:

I've been lucky enough to spend some time with him and he's a lovely chap. So many stories too. When TV personalities get a gong for kiddy fiddling, I'm astounded this man wasn't knighted decades ago. Total travesty.

Just wondering - perhaps he was offered a title and refused it? Not uncommon.