Surtees, Priaulx, honoured by Queen
Quote selected text Published by clive June 15th, 2008 in Formula 1
1964 world champion John Surtees has been awarded an OBE — one of the highest honours of chivalry of the British empire.
The 74-year-old was named in the Queens Birthday Honours List, for services to motor sport and charity.
Surtees won the 500cc championship in 1956, and several successive world motorcycle titles, but four years later, at the age of 26, he switched to four wheels with the famous F1 team Lotus.
The Briton made an immediate impact, finishing second in his second grand prix, scoring pole in his third, and winning the title with Ferrari in 1964.
In the 1970s, Surtees ran his own eponymous team.
Reigning world touring car champion Andy Priaulx, meanwhile, secured an MBE, the initial class of the Order of the British Empire.
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…let us rejoice to the event, but first, «sorry for
my ignorance» of now, Sir Priaulx…!
…but having being witness to many of his uniqueness
in all occasions, let me say happiness is tame to
describe my pleasure knowing, for a few weeks, we
now shall address John Surtees as «Sir»…just saying
he was a major comtributor to infect my whole self
with this terminal disease called «Motorracing»…is
of minor importance to you all but, let me say…
…I had the previledge to see him only once on two
wheels, but on many occasions in F-1, Sports Car and
Can-Am cars and as much at making things happening…
…to me he was the first to break in the interests
of Japanese car constructors in whom they recognize
and praise the superior knowledge, but maybe more
importantly his absolute commitment and dedication,
we can now measure all the impact on the sport and
beyond…
…hopefully he will be the feature of many biogra-
phical works soon, showing his more private commit-
ments but also revealing to the wortld how signifi-
cant he was to many of the actual players, descri-
bing how much fear he could spread on any grid he
was; still today, if you care to «enter» his name
on U-tube and watch…we even saw him involved in
the A-1 GP organisation’s infancy…
…I say it is possible to «word» endlessly about
this gentleman but I have to let you all be and
save space for you scribe, or, spend time reading
about a unique man…?
Great tribute to a great man, Basta - I agree wholeheartedly.