Aberdare meeting was the ‘most important’ for Surtees
JOHN SURTEES, who died last week at the age of 83, held a unique place in motor sport as the only man to have won world championships on both two and four wheels.
But he insisted that it was a race meeting at Aberdare Park 67 years ago, where he won for the first time, that was probably the most important of his career.
In a letter to a motor sport magazine just two months ago, Surtees recalled travelling with his parents to the meeting at Aberdare “in the back of a van” at the age of just 16.
He wrote that Aberdare and race organisers Marion and Dai Pryce “played a very special part” in his career and that he remembered with great fondness how helpful they were to him as a youngster.
Surtees wrote: “Aberdare was a long way to go, but I wanted to race... Marion and Dai Pryce were fantastic and found me a place to stay.
“It was probably the most important race meeting of my life as on race day I didn’t just ride the bike but actually became part of it as we got to know each other so well – something with machinery that has stood me in good stead for the rest of my life.
“That first win, going down to the start line for the presentation, and the crowd all breaking into song, left a lasting memory.
“I went back to Aberdare when I could... Aberdare and the Pryces were very special.”
Surtees was a four-time 500cc motorcycle world champion and three-time 350cc champion, and also won the Formula One world title with Ferrari in 1964.
He was the BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1959.