Post by BADGER on Jun 6, 2006 2:28:16 GMT
John Surtees MBE
(born February 11, 1934) is a British former motorcycle racer and Formula 1 driver. He remains the only person to have won World Championships in both disciplines.
John Surtees was the son of a London motorcycle and sidecar racing rider and salesman. By the age of 11 he was working part-time as a mechanic for his father, before going on to join the Vincent HRD company for an engineering apprenticeship.
By 1949 despite being under-age, he had started racing motorcycles. His first race was on a 500cc Excelsior B14, but he soon switched to a Triumph Tiger 70. Surtees motorcycle career included British Championships, 7 World Championships and 6 Tourist Trophy victories on the Isle of Man.
Born in Tatsfield, Surrey, Surtees won seven world titles in motorcycle racing, winning the 350cc championship from 1958 to 1960, and the 500cc championship in 1956 and 1958 through 1960. In the 1959 season, Surtees accomplished an impressive sweep by winning every race on the 350cc and 500cc calendar.
At age 26, Surtees switched from motorcycles to cars, full time in 1960 making his Formula 1 debut racing for Lotus in the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. He moved to Ferrari and won the world championship for the Italian team in 1964.
Surtees parted company with Ferrari during the 1966 season, citing excessive pressure as a factor, leaving Jack Brabham to take the Drivers' Championship.
He later formed his own race team, Surtees Racing Organization, which raced in Formula 1 during the 1970s.
In 1996, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Motorcycle Grand Prix Statistics
1955 250cc - 7th, (1 win)
1955 350cc - 6th
1956 350cc - 4th, (1 win)
1956 500cc - 1st, (3 wins)
1957 350cc - 10th
1957 500cc - 3rd, (1 win)
1958 350cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1958 500cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1959 350cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1959 500cc - 1st, (7 wins)
1960 350cc - 1st, (2 wins)
1960 500cc - 1st, (5 wins)
Formula One Grand Prix Statistics
Number of Grand Prix starts: 112
Number of Finishes: 52
Number of Finishes on podium: 24
Number of Finishes in points: 40
Number of Retirements: 60
Number of Wins: 6 (Germany 1963 and 1964, Italy 1964 and 1967, Belgium 1966 and Mexico 1966)
Number of Pole positions: 8
Number of Fastest laps: 11
Number of Doubles (Pole position & Win): 4
Number of Triples (Pole position, Win & Fastest lap): 3
Seasons: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972
Points: 180
Teams: Bowmaker-Yeoman Racing Team, Cooper Car Company, Honda Racing, North American Racing Team, Owen Racing Organisation, Rob Walker Team Surtees, Scuderia Ferrari, Team Lotus, Team Surtees and Yeoman Credit Racing Team.
(born February 11, 1934) is a British former motorcycle racer and Formula 1 driver. He remains the only person to have won World Championships in both disciplines.
John Surtees was the son of a London motorcycle and sidecar racing rider and salesman. By the age of 11 he was working part-time as a mechanic for his father, before going on to join the Vincent HRD company for an engineering apprenticeship.
By 1949 despite being under-age, he had started racing motorcycles. His first race was on a 500cc Excelsior B14, but he soon switched to a Triumph Tiger 70. Surtees motorcycle career included British Championships, 7 World Championships and 6 Tourist Trophy victories on the Isle of Man.
Born in Tatsfield, Surrey, Surtees won seven world titles in motorcycle racing, winning the 350cc championship from 1958 to 1960, and the 500cc championship in 1956 and 1958 through 1960. In the 1959 season, Surtees accomplished an impressive sweep by winning every race on the 350cc and 500cc calendar.
At age 26, Surtees switched from motorcycles to cars, full time in 1960 making his Formula 1 debut racing for Lotus in the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. He moved to Ferrari and won the world championship for the Italian team in 1964.
Surtees parted company with Ferrari during the 1966 season, citing excessive pressure as a factor, leaving Jack Brabham to take the Drivers' Championship.
He later formed his own race team, Surtees Racing Organization, which raced in Formula 1 during the 1970s.
In 1996, he was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Motorcycle Grand Prix Statistics
1955 250cc - 7th, (1 win)
1955 350cc - 6th
1956 350cc - 4th, (1 win)
1956 500cc - 1st, (3 wins)
1957 350cc - 10th
1957 500cc - 3rd, (1 win)
1958 350cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1958 500cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1959 350cc - 1st, (6 wins)
1959 500cc - 1st, (7 wins)
1960 350cc - 1st, (2 wins)
1960 500cc - 1st, (5 wins)
Formula One Grand Prix Statistics
Number of Grand Prix starts: 112
Number of Finishes: 52
Number of Finishes on podium: 24
Number of Finishes in points: 40
Number of Retirements: 60
Number of Wins: 6 (Germany 1963 and 1964, Italy 1964 and 1967, Belgium 1966 and Mexico 1966)
Number of Pole positions: 8
Number of Fastest laps: 11
Number of Doubles (Pole position & Win): 4
Number of Triples (Pole position, Win & Fastest lap): 3
Seasons: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972
Points: 180
Teams: Bowmaker-Yeoman Racing Team, Cooper Car Company, Honda Racing, North American Racing Team, Owen Racing Organisation, Rob Walker Team Surtees, Scuderia Ferrari, Team Lotus, Team Surtees and Yeoman Credit Racing Team.