RE: The Stirling Moss masterclass: Time For Tea
Thursday 25th January 2018
You will have probably heard this week that Sir Stirling Moss, one of the England's greatest racing drivers, has retired from public life. At the grand old age of 88, he's most certainly earned some rest. According to a statement on Sir Stirling's website from son Elliot, Moss "will finally retire, so that he and my mother can have some much-deserved rest and spend more time with each other and the rest of the family". Marvellous.
The Stirling Moss masterclass: Time For Tea?
As the F1 legend retires from public life, enjoy this vid of him being reunited with a Cooper Climax racer
While the world is patently aware of Moss's remarkable motorsport achievements, that seven top-three finishes in the Formula 1's Drivers' Championship was arguably not his greatest feat remains astonishing. That accolade most likely goes to his 1955 Mille Miglia triumph with Denis Jenkins in the Mercedes 300SLR, where they won at an average speed of 99mph - a record that would of course never be beaten. That's in addition to the Le Mans class successes, Nurburgring triumphs, speed records... The list goes on.
To mark the departure of Sir Stirling Moss from public life, a little video tribute is the very least that could be done. This one perhaps isn't an obvious choice, but that's what makes it interesting. Dropped back in the Cooper-Climax that brought him so much success, Moss explains just what made the car so good while also detailing the best way around Donington Park. It's two for the price of one, racing driver style.
This is not a frantic onboard clip, instead a chance to hear some wisdom from the great man, watch an iconic F1 car in action and perhaps learn a thing or two as well. At ten minutes long its perfect tea break duration - enjoy!
Image: LAT
Discussion
Well deserved & maybe a tad overdue. The last few times I saw him, which was at Goodwood & Bicester last year he looked exhausted despite the ministrations of Lady Susie & sundry hangers-on..
At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
Men like Sir Stirling truly earn their honours, over an extended period, setting an example and being an inspiration to the younger generation. Truly I hope there are more like him, but recent evidence suggests he is a breed with shoes that will be difficult to fill. I enjoy every article I read about him even though I grew up in the 80’s by which time he was long out of the cutting edge of competition.
WJNB said:
Well deserved & maybe a tad overdue. The last few times I saw him, which was at Goodwood & Bicester last year he looked exhausted despite the ministrations of Lady Susie & sundry hangers-on..
At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
Different generation, can't even compare a modern driver to that old generation. If diamond ear stud are vulgar to you, what about Moss appealing view on women... At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
E34-3.2 said:
WJNB said:
Well deserved & maybe a tad overdue. The last few times I saw him, which was at Goodwood & Bicester last year he looked exhausted despite the ministrations of Lady Susie & sundry hangers-on..
At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
Different generation, can't even compare a modern driver to that old generation. If diamond ear stud are vulgar to you, what about Moss appealing view on women... At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
. WJNB said:
Well deserved & maybe a tad overdue. The last few times I saw him, which was at Goodwood & Bicester last year he looked exhausted despite the ministrations of Lady Susie & sundry hangers-on..
At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
I agree with the first part of your comment here - any elderly person, especially one who has achieved much in life, deserves to take it easy and it's fair to say that's overdue in Stirling's case.At Goodwood where he was book signing the author & well known self-opinioned expert on Jaguar was all over him like a rash - no doubt thinking of a swelling bank balance. It was all a little tawdry & Sir Stirling was worthy of more respect rather than being treated as a cheque book.
Along with millions I greatly fear the day when he will not be with us. He is the last of the pure BRITISH greats who will forever overshadow modern self-obsessed F1 drivers with their diamond ear studs & vulgar celebrity lifestyles.
The latter part is odd - what makes Stirling Moss more British than, say, Lewis Hamilton (who I assume you are specifically referring to), or Britain's other living F1 World Champions Button, Hill, and Mansell? And while I'm no fan of the 'celebrity lifestyle' you mention, I'm pretty sure Stirling lived the 1950s and 60s version of a 'vulgar celebrity lifestyle' - he himself has said as much. The only difference between then and now is the media coverage and social-media driven publicity given to today's celebrities. I don't think you can blame Hamilton for behaving as you'd expect today's famous, charismatic, well-paid, good-looking racing drivers to behave, in the same way you can't blame Stirling Moss for holding views about gender, race and lifestyle which today seem a little archaic.
Stirling was in many ways the template for the modern GP driver and the idea of him being some paragon from a golden age does not show the full picture.
- he always quick to grasp any commercial opportunity (and , bless him he still is ). 'Craven A old ,man ? ' etc
- he was well into mind games; the signature wave of thanks to somebody he'd overtaken was just an elegant way of suggesting the move had been so easy that the guy overtaken had assisted the move
- as a driver he was formidable . I warmed less to the trademark 'fire up the Maser old man and let's find some crumpet ' schtick
- he always quick to grasp any commercial opportunity (and , bless him he still is ). 'Craven A old ,man ? ' etc
- he was well into mind games; the signature wave of thanks to somebody he'd overtaken was just an elegant way of suggesting the move had been so easy that the guy overtaken had assisted the move
- as a driver he was formidable . I warmed less to the trademark 'fire up the Maser old man and let's find some crumpet ' schtick
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