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76-519: The 500 Club, as it was then known, was founded in 1946. The club promoted racing in 500 c.c. single-seater racing cars, later known as Formula Three . Motor Sport reported in 1947: "The 500 Club's Patron is Earl Howe, its President S.C.H. Davis , and its Vice-Presidents Messrs. Findon, Mays and Pomeroy-which speaks for itself. A stall will be occupied by the Club at the next Shelsley Walsh hill-climb , and its magazine "Iota" will be on sale there." The name

152-533: A Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ), 1958 and 1959 (with an Aston Martin DBR1 ), and 1960 and 1961 (with a Ferrari 250 GT ). Enzo Ferrari , the founder of Ferrari , approached Moss and offered him a Formula Two car to drive at the 1951 Bari Grand Prix before a full-season in 1952. Moss and his father went to Apulia only to find out that the Ferrari car was to be driven by Piero Taruffi and were incensed. Also

228-563: A windscreen . In 2016, in an academic paper that reported a mathematical modelling study that assessed the relative influence of driver and machine, Moss was ranked the 29th best Formula One driver of all time. Following Moss's death, the Kinrara Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival meeting was renamed in his honour. It is a race for GT cars that competed before 1963. In 1957, Moss published an autobiography called In

304-610: A Mercedes-Benz but retired from the event in the Algerian Sahara. The Holden Torana he shared with Jack Brabham in the 1976 Bathurst 1000 was hit from behind on the grid and eventually retired with engine failure. Moss, at the wheel of the Torana when the Holden V8 ;engine let go, was criticised by other drivers for staying on the racing line for over 2/3 of the 6.172 km long circuit while returning to

380-719: A cheap point of entry for lesser funded teams and drivers. Formula Three cars are monocoque chassis , using slick racing tyres and wings . Currently, Dallara manufactures the overwhelming majority of F3 cars, though Mygale , Lola (formerly in partnership with Dome of Japan), Arttech , and SLC also have a limited output. In many smaller or amateur F3 racing series older cars are frequently seen. Usually these series are divided into two or more classes, to allow more participation. Engines in FIA Formula 3 are all 3.4- litre , 6-cylinder naturally aspirated spec engines. Engines in others Formula 3 series must be built from

456-661: A competent rally driver, Moss was one of three people to have won a Coupe d'Or for three consecutive penalty-free runs on the Alpine Rally . He finished second in the 1952 Monte Carlo Rally ; driving a Sunbeam-Talbot 90 with Desmond Scannell and John Cooper as his co-drivers. In 1954, he became the first non-American to win the 12 Hours of Sebring , sharing the Cunningham team's 1.5-litre O.S.C.A. MT4 with Bill Lloyd. In 1953, Mercedes-Benz racing boss Alfred Neubauer had spoken to Moss's manager, Ken Gregory, about

532-403: A heterosexual as he had spent his life "chasing crumpet and racing cars". Moss also believed that women lack the "mental aptitude" for Formula One. Moss's 80th birthday, on 17 September 2009, fell on the eve of the Goodwood Revival and Lord March celebrated with an 80-car parade on each of the three days. Moss drove a different car each day: a Mercedes-Benz W196 (an open-wheel variant),

608-462: A month, and for six months the left side of his body was paralysed. He recovered but retired from professional racing after a test session in a Lotus 19 the following year, when he lapped a few tenths of a second slower than before. He felt that he had not regained his instinctive command of the car after recovering from the coma. He had been runner-up in the Drivers' Championship four years in

684-732: A production model block ( stock block ), and often must be sealed by race or series organizers, so no private tuning can be carried out. Honda engines (prepared by Mugen ) have perennially been popular, as have engines produced by Volkswagen , Alfa Romeo , or Renault . Currently the HWA-tuned Mercedes and the Volkswagen engines dominate the British and European series, with Mugen, TOM'S – Toyota , Opel , and Fiat being used by some teams. Complete regulations: "fia.com" (PDF) .   (1213  kiB ) Until

760-411: A race he was also the first British driver to win. Leading a 1–2–3–4 finish for Mercedes, it was the first time he had beaten Fangio, his teammate, rival, friend and mentor. It has been suggested that Fangio allowed Moss to win in front of his home crowd. Moss himself asked Fangio this repeatedly, and Fangio would always reply with: "No. You were just better than me that day." The same year, Moss also won

836-647: A rear-engined F1 car, which became the common design by 1961. At Monza that year, he raced in the Maserati ;420M in the Race of Two Worlds , the first single-seater car in Europe to be sponsored by a non-racing brand – the Eldorado Ice Cream Company. This was the first case in Europe of contemporary sponsorship, with the ice-cream maker's colors replacing the ones assigned by

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912-545: A record 212 official races across several motorsport disciplines, including 16 Formula One Grands Prix . In endurance racing , Moss won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1954 , as well as the Mille Miglia in 1955 with Mercedes . Born and raised in London, Moss was the son of amateur racing driver Alfred Moss and the older brother of rally driver Pat . Aged nine, Alfred bought him an Austin 7 , which he raced around

988-487: A restricted air intake were introduced. The 1971–73 seasons were contested with these cars, as aerodynamics started to become important. Two-litre engine rules were introduced for 1974, still with restricted air intakes. Today engine regulations remain basically unchanged in F3, a remarkable case of stability in racing regulations. As the likes of Lotus and Brabham faded from F3 to concentrate on Formula One, F3 constructors of

1064-467: A row, from 1955 to 1958, and third from 1959 to 1961. At the Autodrome de Montlhéry , a steeply banked oval track near Paris, Moss and Leslie Johnson took turns at the wheel of the latter's Jaguar XK120 to average 107.46 mph (172.94 km/h) for 24 hours, including stops for fuel and tyres. Changing drivers every three hours, they covered a total of 2,579.16 miles (4,150.76 km). It

1140-403: A statistical point of view, Parker was the most successful F3 driver. Although coming to motor racing late in life (at age 41 in 1949), he won a total of 126 F3 races altogether, and was described by Motor Sport magazine (in his 1998 obituary) as "the most successful Formula 3 driver in history". Although Stirling Moss was already a star by 1953, Parker beat him more than any other driver, and

1216-454: A three-year life-cycle, with only minor annual updates. It was agreed however to extend the life-cycle of the current F308 to four years to assist teams; this chassis however, has been replaced in 2012 with the new F312 chassis, intended to be run until 2017. Most F3 championships, most notably the British series, offer a secondary class for cars from the previous life-cycle in order to provide

1292-514: A total of 16,851.73 mi (27,120.23 km). In August, Moss broke five International Class F records in the purpose-built MG EX181 at Bonneville Salt Flats . The streamlined, supercharged car's speed for the flying kilometre was 245.64 mph (395.32 km/h), which was the average of two runs in opposite directions. Away from driving, in 1962 he acted as a colour commentator for ABC's Wide World of Sports for Formula One and NASCAR races. He eventually left ABC in 1980. Moss narrated

1368-525: Is known for major non-championship races typically including entries from the national series, the best-known of which is the FIA Formula 3 World Cup (previously known as FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup) at Macau . The first Formula Three Grand Prix of Macau was held in 1983 and won by Ayrton Senna . Michael Schumacher , David Coulthard , Ralf Schumacher , and Takuma Sato have also won there. The Formula Three Grand Prix of Macau traditionally marks

1444-641: The 1951 Swiss Grand Prix with HWM , making several intermittent appearances before moving to Maserati in 1954 , achieving his maiden podium at the Belgian Grand Prix . Moss joined Mercedes in 1955 , taking his maiden win at the British Grand Prix as he finished runner-up in the championship to career rival Juan Manuel Fangio . Moss again finished runner-up to Fangio in 1956 and 1957 with Maserati and Vanwall , winning multiple Grands Prix across both seasons. He took four wins in

1520-604: The 1958 season, but lost out on the title again to Mike Hawthorn by one point. From 1959 to 1961 , Moss competed for Walker , taking multiple wins in each as he finished third in the World Drivers' Championship three times. Moss retired from motor racing in 1962, after an accident at the non-championship Glover Trophy left him in a coma for a month and temporarily paralysed. He achieved 16 wins , 16 pole positions , 19 fastest laps and 24 podiums in Formula One,

1596-586: The Ferrari ;156 with an all-new V6 engine . Moss's Climax-engined Lotus was comparatively underpowered, but he won the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix by 3.6 seconds, beating the Ferraris of Richie Ginther , Wolfgang von Trips , and Phil Hill , and he went on to win the 1961 German Grand Prix . In 1962, Moss crashed his Lotus in the Glover Trophy . The accident put him in a coma for

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1672-824: The Lotus ;18 in which he had won the 1961 Monaco GP, and an Aston Martin DBR1 . On 7 March 2010, Moss broke both ankles and four bones in a foot, and also chipped four vertebrae and suffered skin lesions, when he plunged down a lift shaft at his home. In December 2016, he was admitted to hospital in Singapore with a serious chest infection. As a result of this illness and a subsequent lengthy recovery period, Moss announced his retirement from public life in January 2018. Moss died of cardio-respiratory failure at his home in Mayfair , London, on 12 April 2020, aged 90, after

1748-666: The Monaco Grand Prix in Rob Walker 's Coventry-Climax -powered Lotus 18 . Seriously injured in an accident at the Burnenville curve during practice for the Belgian Grand Prix , he missed the next three races but recovered sufficiently to win the final one of the season, the United States Grand Prix . For the 1961 Formula One season, run under new 1.5-litre rules, Enzo Ferrari fielded

1824-637: The Second World War ; British motorsport after the war picked up slowly, partly due to petrol rationing which continued for a number of years and home-built 500 cc cars engines were intended to be accessible to the "impecunious enthusiast". The second post-war motor race in Britain was organised by the VSCC in July 1947 at RAF Gransden Lodge, 500cc cars being the only post-war class to run that day. Three of

1900-489: The 1964 film The Beauty Jungle and was one of several celebrities with cameo appearances in the 1967 version of the James Bond film Casino Royale . He played Evelyn Tremble's ( Peter Sellers ) driver. For many years during and after his career, the rhetorical phrase "Who do you think you are, Stirling Moss?" was supposedly the standard question all British policemen asked speeding motorists. Moss relates he himself

1976-433: The 1970s included Alpine , Lola , March, Modus , GRD , Ralt , and Ensign . By the start of the 1980s however, Formula Three had evolved well beyond its humble beginnings to something closely resembling the modern formula. It was seen as the main training ground for future Formula One drivers, many of them bypassing Formula Two to go straight into Grand Prix racing. The chassis became increasingly sophisticated, mirroring

2052-462: The 1981 season Moss stayed with Audi, as the team moved to Tom Walkinshaw Racing management, driving alongside Martin Brundle . Throughout his retirement he raced in events for historic cars, driving on behalf of and at the invitation of others, as well as campaigning his own OSCA FS 372 and other vehicles. In 2004, as part of its promotion for the new SLR, Mercedes-Benz reunited Moss with

2128-536: The 2005 Segrave Trophy . In 2006, Moss was awarded the FIA gold medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to motorsport. In December 2008, McLaren - Mercedes unveiled their final model of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren . The model was named in honour of Moss, hence, Mercedes McLaren SLR Stirling Moss , which has a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h) with wind deflectors instead of

2204-582: The 300 SLR "No. 722" in which he won the Mille Miglia nearly 50 years earlier. One reporter who rode with Moss that day noted that the 75-year-old driver was "so good ... that even old and crippled [he was] still better than nearly everyone else". On 9 June 2011 during qualifying for the Le Mans Legends race, Moss announced on Radio Le Mans that he had finally retired from racing, saying that he had scared himself that afternoon. He

2280-500: The British Formula 3 championship. Perhaps the most curious of all was the small All-Japan Formula Three Championship . Although few drivers spent a significant amount of time there, future stars such as Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve scored victories there. An Asian series was established in 2001 and grew to produce past A1 drivers for Indonesia and Australia. In addition to the many national series, Formula Three

2356-528: The FIA. Moss's sporting attitude cost him the 1958 Formula One World Championship. When rival Mike Hawthorn was threatened with a penalty after the Portuguese Grand Prix , Moss defended him. Hawthorn was accused of reversing on the track after spinning and stalling his car on an uphill section. Moss had shouted advice to Hawthorn to steer downhill, against traffic, to bump-start the car. Moss's quick thinking, and his defence of Hawthorn before

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2432-616: The Mercedes front runners several times and performed well in the races. He achieved his first Formula One victory when he won the Oulton Park International Gold Cup . In the Italian Grand Prix , Moss passed both drivers who were regarded as the best in Formula One at the time – Juan Manuel Fangio in his Mercedes and Alberto Ascari in his Ferrari – and took

2508-416: The Mille Miglia he added three consecutive wins from 1958 to 1960 in the 1000 km Nürburgring , the first two in an Aston Martin (in which he did most of the driving), and the third in a Maserati Tipo 61 , co-driving with Dan Gurney . The pair lost time when an oil hose blew off, but despite the wet-weather, they made up the time and took first place. In the 1960 Formula One season, Moss won

2584-636: The RAC Tourist Trophy, the Targa Florio (with Peter Collins ), and the Mille Miglia . In 1955 Moss won Italy's one-thousand-mile Mille Miglia road race, an achievement that Doug Nye described as the "most iconic single day's drive in motor racing history". His co-driver was motor racing journalist Denis Jenkinson , who prepared a set of pace notes for Moss, and the two completed the race in ten hours and seven minutes. Motor Trend headlined it as "The Most Epic Drive Ever". Before

2660-534: The Track Of Speed , first published by Muller, London. In 1963, motorsport author and commentator Ken Purdy published a biographical book entitled All But My Life about Moss (first published by William Kimber & Co, London), based on material gathered through interviews with Moss. In 2015, when he was aged 85, Moss published a second autobiography, entitled My Racing Life , written with motor sports writer Simon Taylor. In 2016, Philip Porter published

2736-448: The amnesia Moss suffered from as a result of head injuries sustained in the crash at Goodwood in 1962. Although there were complaints to the magazine about the cartoons, Moss telephoned Private Eye to ask whether he could use it as a Christmas card. Moss was one of the few drivers of his era to create a brand from his name for licensing purposes, which was launched when his website was revamped in 2009 with improved content. In 2004, Moss

2812-483: The bullying from his parents and used it as "motivation to succeed". Moss received his first car, an Austin 7 , from his father at the age of nine and drove it on the fields around Long White Cloud. He purchased his own car at age 15 after he obtained a driving licence. Moss raced from 1948 to 1962, winning 212 of the 529 races he entered, including 16 Formula One Grands Prix . He competed in as many as 62 races in one year and drove 84 different makes of car over

2888-635: The cars will be available for both road and race use, and Moss would personally be handing over each car. In 1990, Moss was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame . In the New Year Honours 2000 List, Moss was made a Knight Bachelor for services to motor racing. On 21 March 2000, he was knighted by Prince Charles , standing in for the Queen, who was on an official visit to Australia. He received

2964-452: The course of his career. He preferred to race British cars, stating: "It is better to lose honourably in a British car than to win in a foreign one." At Vanwall, he was instrumental in breaking the German and Italian stranglehold on F1. He kept his record of the most Formula One Grand Prix victories by an English driver until 1991, when Nigel Mansell overtook him. Moss began his career at

3040-591: The crew signaled "HAWT REC", meaning that Hawthorn had set a record lap. Moss read this as "HAWT REG" and thought that Hawthorn was making regular laps, so he did not try to set a fast lap. The crew was supposed to signal the time of the lap, so Moss would know what he had to beat. Moss was as gifted in sports cars as in Grand Prix cars. To his victories in the Tourist Trophy, the Sebring 12 Hours and

3116-683: The end of the Formula Three season, with drivers from almost every national series participating. Other major races include the Pau Grand Prix (from 1999 to 2006), the Masters of Formula 3 (traditionally held at Zandvoort ), and the Korea Super Prix at Changwon . These events give fans in locations not visited by other major series a way to experience major international racing. The Monaco F3 Grand Prix held until 1997

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3192-542: The field of the family's country house. Initially an equestrian , Moss used his winnings from horse riding competitions to purchase a Cooper 500 in 1948. He was immediately successful in motor racing, taking several wins in Formula Three at national and international levels, prior to his first major victory at the RAC Tourist Trophy in 1950, driving a Jaguar XK120 . Moss made his Formula One debut at

3268-460: The first volume of Stirling Moss – The Definitive Biography covering the period from birth up to the end of 1955, one of Moss's greatest years. During his driving career, Moss was one of the most recognised celebrities in Britain, leading to many media appearances. In March 1958, Moss was a guest challenger on the TV panel show What's My Line? (episode with Anita Ekberg ). In 1959 he

3344-637: The former of which remains the record for a non-World Champion . Moss was a three-time winner of the Monaco Grand Prix , four-time winner of the British Empire Trophy , and five-time winner of the International Gold Cup . In rallying, Moss finished runner-up at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1952. Throughout his career, he broke several land speed records across different categories. In British popular culture, Moss

3420-548: The income this generated enabled the company to develop into the senior categories. Other notable marques included Kieft , JBS and Emeryson in England, and Effyh, Monopoletta and Scampolo in Europe. John Cooper, along with most other 500 builders, decided to place the engine in the middle of the car, driving the rear wheels. This was mostly due to the practical limitations imposed by chain drive but it gave these cars exceptionally good handling characteristics which eventually led to

3496-573: The launch of the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2019, there has never been a World Championship for Formula Three. In the 1970s and into the 1980s the European Formula Three Championship and British Formula 3 Championship (once one series had emerged from the competing British series in the 1970s) were the most prominent, with a number of future Formula One champions coming from them. France, Germany, and Italy also had important Formula Three series, but interest in these

3572-407: The lead of the race. Ascari retired with engine problems, and Moss led until lap 68, when his engine also failed. Fangio took the victory, and Moss had to push his Maserati to the finish line. Neubauer, already impressed when Moss had tested a Mercedes-Benz W196 at Hockenheim , promptly signed him for the 1955 season. Moss's first World Championship victory came at the 1955 British Grand Prix ,

3648-412: The longest circuit ever to hold a Formula One Grand Prix, the 25 km (16 mi) Pescara Circuit , where, yet again, he demonstrated his mastery in long-distance racing. The event lasted three hours and Moss beat Fangio, who started from pole position , by approximately 3 minutes. In 1958, Moss's forward-thinking attitude made waves in the racing world. Moss won the first race of the season in

3724-453: The mid-1980s and the national series became correspondingly more important. For 2003, French and German F3 , both suffering from a lack of competitive entrants, merged to recreate the Formula 3 Euro Series . Brazil's SudAm Formula Three Championship , which now has the most powerful engine of all Formula Three series, was known for producing excellent drivers who polished their skills in

3800-458: The mid-1980s replacing traditional aluminium or steel monocoque structures. Dallara however, after an unsuccessful Formula One project, focussed their attention on the formula in the early nineties and obliterated all the other marques with their F393. Within a couple of years, the chassis was considered a prerequisite to competitiveness, and today Dallara chassis are ubiquitous to the formula. In order to keep costs down, their chassis have had

3876-418: The mid-engined revolution in single-seater racing. The 500cc formula was the usual route into motor racing through the early and mid-1950s (and stars like Stirling Moss continued to enter selected F3 events even during their GP careers). Other notable 500 cc Formula 3 drivers include Stuart Lewis-Evans , Ivor Bueb , Jim Russell , Peter Collins , Don Parker , Ken Tyrrell , and Bernie Ecclestone . From

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3952-502: The more senior formulae – ground effects were briefly used in the early 1980s but were banned, in line with other FIA single-seater formulae; carbon fibre chassis started to be introduced from the mid-1980s. Historically, March (up to 1981), Ralt (up to the early 1990s) and Reynard (1985–1992) had been the main chassis manufacturers in two-litre F3, with Martini fairly strong in France; Reynard pioneered use of carbon fibre in

4028-488: The national and international levels, and continued to compete in Formula Three , with Coopers and Kiefts , after he had progressed to more senior categories. His first major international race victory came on the eve of his 21st birthday at the wheel of a Jaguar XK120 in the 1950 RAC Tourist Trophy in Northern Ireland. He went on to win the race six more times, in 1951 (with a Jaguar C-Type ), 1955 (with

4104-799: The nominated organising body for these events until the year given. Formula Three Formula Three , also called Formula 3 , abbreviated as F3 , is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing . The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula Three (adopted by the FIA in 1950) evolved from postwar auto racing , with lightweight tube-frame chassis powered by 500 cc motorcycle engines (notably Nortons and JAP speedway). The 500 cc formula originally evolved in 1946 from low-cost "special" racing organised by enthusiasts in Bristol , England, just before

4180-471: The official 1988 Formula One season review along with Tony Jardine . Moss also narrated the popular children's series Roary the Racing Car , which stars Peter Kay . Although ostensibly retired from racing since 1962, Moss did make a number of one-off appearances in professional motorsport events in the following two decades. He also competed in the 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally in

4256-599: The pits as the car was dropping large amounts of oil onto the road. He also shared a Volkswagen Golf GTI with Denny Hulme in the 1979 Benson & Hedges 500 at Pukekohe Park Raceway in New Zealand. In 1980 he made a comeback to regular competition, in the British Saloon Car Championship with the works-backed GTi Engineering Audi team. For the 1980 season Moss was the team's number-two driver to team co-owner Richard Lloyd . For

4332-406: The possibility of Moss's joining Mercedes. Having seen him do well in a relatively noncompetitive car, and wanting to see how he would perform in a better one, Neubauer suggested that Moss buy a Maserati for the 1954 season. He bought a Maserati 250F , and although the car's unreliability prevented him from scoring high amounts of points in the 1954 Drivers' Championship , he qualified alongside

4408-490: The race, he had taken a pill given to him by Fangio, and he has commented that although he did not know what was in it: " Dexedrine and Benzedrine were commonly used in rallies. The object was simply to keep awake, like wartime bomber crews." After the win, he spent the night and the following day driving his girlfriend to Cologne. Moss won the Nassau Cup at the 1956 and 1957 Bahamas Speed Week . Also in 1957 he won on

4484-422: The seven entrants were non-starters, and, of the four runners, all but one retired on the first lap, leaving Eric Brandon in his Cooper Prototype (T2) trailing round to a virtual walk-over at an average speed of 55.79 mph (89.79 km/h), though his best lap (which was the fastest recorded for any 500) was 65.38 mph (105.22 km/h). Cooper came to dominate the formula with mass-produced cars, and

4560-404: The stewards, preserved Hawthorn's 6 points for finishing in second place. Hawthorn went on to beat Moss for the championship title by one point, even though he had won only one race that year to Moss's four. Moss's loss in the championship could also be attributed to an error in communication between his pit crew and the driver at one race. A point was given for the fastest lap in each race, and

4636-438: The wheel of a Singer Nine . Moss was a gifted horse rider, as was his younger sister, Pat Moss , who went on to become a successful rally driver . Moss was educated at several independent schools: Shrewsbury House School , Clewer Manor Junior School, and Haileybury and Imperial Service College . He disliked school and did not get good grades. At Haileybury, he was subjected to bullying due to his Jewish roots. He concealed

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4712-486: The wheel of his father's 328 BMW, DPX 653. Moss was one of the Cooper Car Company 's first customers, using winnings from competing in horse-riding events to pay the deposit on a Cooper 500 in 1948. He then persuaded his father, who opposed his son's racing career and wanted him to become a dentist, to let him buy it. He soon demonstrated his natural talent and ability with numerous wins at both

4788-751: Was 81. Lister Cars announced the building for sale of the Lister Knobbly Stirling Moss at the Royal Automobile Club in London in June 2016. The magnesium car is built to the exact specification of the 1958 model, and is the only car that was ever endorsed by Moss. Brian Lister invited Moss to drive for Lister on three separate occasions, at Goodwood in 1954, Silverstone in 1958 and at Sebring in 1959, and to celebrate these races, 10 special-edition lightweight Lister Knobbly cars are being built. The company announced that

4864-489: Was Formula 3 Champion in 1952, again in 1953, and in 1954 he only lost the title by a half-point. He took the title for a third time in 1959. 500cc Formula Three declined at an international level during the late 1950s, although it continued at a national level into the early 60s, being eclipsed by Formula Junior for 1000 or 1100 cc cars (on a sliding scale of weights). A one-litre Formula Three category for four-cylinder carburetted cars, with heavily tuned production engines,

4940-687: Was a supporter of the UK Independence Party . He was also a Mercedes-Benz Brand Ambassador, having kept a close relationship with the brand, and remained an enthusiast and collector of the brand, which includes the Mercedes-Benz W113 , Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss among others. Moss was married three times. His first wife was Katie Molson, an heir to the Canadian brewer Molson . They were married on 7 October 1957 and separated three years later. His second wife

5016-499: Was a widely recognised public figure, with his name becoming synonymous with speed in the mid-20th century. He made several media appearances , including in the James Bond film Casino Royale (1967), and was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1961. Upon retiring from motor racing, Moss established a career as a commentator and pundit for ABC . Moss was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990. Moss

5092-618: Was also a famous special race. It was restored in 2005 only, as a part of the F3 Euro Series. Stirling Moss Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE (17 September 1929 – 12 April 2020) was a British racing driver and broadcaster , who competed in Formula One from 1951 to 1961 . Widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers to never win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship , Moss won

5168-504: Was born in London to amateur racing drivers Alfred and Aileen Moss (née Craufurd). His grandfather was Jewish and from a family that changed their surname from Moses to Moss. He was brought up at Long White Cloud house on the south bank of the River Thames . His father was an amateur racing driver, who had come 16th in the 1924 Indianapolis 500 , and his mother had also been involved in motorsport, entering into hillclimbs at

5244-489: Was fined £50 and banned from driving for one year after an incident near Chetwynd, Shropshire , when he was test-driving a Mini . Moss was an accomplished woodworker and craftsman, and participated in the design and construction of several of his own homes. In 2013, Moss said that if a biopic were made about his life, he would want to be portrayed by “someone masculine – not a poofter or anything like that”. He stood by this comment, saying that he would have to be played by

5320-474: Was once stopped for speeding and asked just that; he reports the traffic officer had some difficulty believing him. Moss was the subject of a cartoon biography in the magazine Private Eye that said he was interested in cars, women and sex, in that order. The cartoon, drawn by Willie Rushton , showed him continually crashing, having his driving licence revoked and finally "hosting television programmes on subjects he knows nothing about". It also made reference to

5396-457: Was originally subsidiary to national formulae – Formula Renault in France and Formula Super Vee in Germany. These nations eventually drifted towards Formula Three. The Italian series tended to attract older drivers who moved straight across from karting whereas in other nations drivers typically graduated to F3 after a couple of years in minor categories. The European series died out in

5472-803: Was reintroduced in 1964 based on the Formula Junior rules and ran to 1970. These engines (a short-stroke unit based on the Ford Anglia with a special 2- valve Cosworth or Holbay OHV down-draught head , initially pioneered by Brian Hart, being by far the most efficient and popular) tended to rev very highly and were popularly known as "screamers"; F3 races tended to involve large packs of slipstreaming cars. The "screamer" years were dominated by Brabham , Lotus and Tecno , with March beginning in 1970. Early one-litre F3 chassis tended to descend from Formula Junior designs but quickly evolved. For 1971 new regulations allowing 1600 cc engines with

5548-637: Was subsequently changed to The Half Litre Club on becoming a limited liability Company. In 1954 Motor Sport reported: "The Half-Litre C.C. is contemplating changing its name to the British Racing and Sports-Car Club, in view of changed activities." In 1966 the BRSCC staged the seventh Racing Car Show, 19–29 January, at Olympia West Hall , London. By this time the club magazine was called Motor Racing . Note this card may be combined at larger festival weekends or split over multiple weekends. BRSCC were

5624-535: Was the American public-relations executive Elaine Barbarino. They were married on 25 June 1964 and divorced in 1968. Their daughter Allison was born in 1967. His third wife was the secretary Susie Paine, the daughter of an old friend. They were married from 1980 until his death in 2020. Their son Elliot was born in 1980. Paine died in March 2023, aged 69. In April 1960, Moss was found guilty of dangerous driving . He

5700-504: Was the first time a production car had averaged over 100 mph (160.93 km/h) for 24 hours. Revisiting Montlhéry, Moss was one of a four-driver team, led by Johnson, who drove a factory-owned Jaguar XK120 fixed-head coupé for 7 days and nights at the French track. Moss, Johnson, Bert Hadley, and Jack Fairman averaged 100.31 mph (161.43 km/h) to take four World records and five International Class C records, and covered

5776-472: Was the subject of the TV programme This Is Your Life . On 12 June the following year he was interviewed by John Freeman on Face to Face ; Freeman later said that he had thought before the interview that Moss was a playboy, but in their meeting he showed "cold, precise, clinical judgement ... a man who could live so close to the edge of death and danger, and trust entirely to his own judgement. This appealed to me". Moss also appeared as himself in

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