readers write

RIDING AT THE TIME OF GREATS

Fondness and flying lap times

Dear CR

Excellent and so very appropriate that CR #185 is devoted to the great John Surtees; it so fittingly acknowledges and presents this thoroughly typical English gentleman in the manner that only people like myself who grew up alongside, and took part in motorcycle racing at the same time, can absolutely appreciate.

Thank you most sincerely.

I vividly remember the year when John rode in 76 races and won 68 of them, as I spectated at many, including the Silverstone 500cc class when he beat Geoff Duke, riding his ‘ubeatable’ Gilera, fair and square on his Manx Norton. That was one of motorcycle racing’s most historic moments. The Silverstone spectator crowd rose as one man, climbed the trackside barriers and did everything on the three miles of track to acknowledge John’s spectacular win, except pick him up physically, bike as well, and carry him around the track.

It was probably the most emotional moment ever seen in this country to acknowledge