We are all petrol heads at Adams Group, so were very saddened to hear Sir Stirling Moss had passed away on the weekend. He was a true Legend and I was lucky to have met him and raced with him over the years.
Sir Stirling above all things was a true gentlemen in a proper old school sense and a wonderful man in so many ways. He always had time for people and his sense of fair play is a shining beacon to the rest of us.
Even though he never won the F1 world championship he was runner up umpteen times and on one occasion he could have claimed the title from Mike Hawthorn who had a flag waved for a minor indiscretion whilst fighting for the title which Stirling could have then claimed the win and the championship he refused to accept it and insisted Mike Hawthorns result be reinstated. Now that’s true fair play and says so much about him.
I was lucky enough to race with him on the odd occasion including the 40th anniversary E-type race. Not too many people realised he raced an E type but he surely did in this prestigious race at Donington Park Circuit in 2001 . He was able to turn his hand to racing most things very competitively and indeed raced right up to the age of 81 I think. I still hold that race particularly dear in my memory as it’s not everyday you get to compete with a legend like Sir Stirling.
I remember meeting him years later at Bonhams auctioneers at their London office for a launch of Goodwood Revival or something similar. He came and sat next to me for fifteen minutes and we shared a few racing stories. I asked if he remembered the big E type race and sharp as a tack he came straight back “ Of course I do old boy “ and then went on to recall details of the race I had forgotten. He was about 80 at the time and when you think how many races he did over the years that he could recall minor details of the event all those years later. Quite remarkable!
I will always treasure my signed picture of him on my wall in the hall. He was a fabulous man and lived life to the full. God rest your soul Sir Stirling and we will all miss you especially your lovely wife and family. A remarkable man and a true Legend in his own life time. I feel very privileged to have known him.
Mike Adams