STIRLING’S MOSS Tribute paid to late the motor racing legend who was proud of being named after city of his mother’s birth
The region can add another name to its list of sporting greats following a tribute from a Fintry racing car enthusiast.
Sir Stirling Moss — a Formula One runner-up on four occasions between the late 1940s and early 1960s — is widely recognised as one of the sport’s favourite sons on British shores.
The racing icon passed away last month at the age of 90 – but was never shy to speak of the pride of his name, given to him by his mother Aileen Craufurd, who was born in the city in 1897.
His links to the area have been outlined by Joe Norman, a former organiser at the Strathendrick Rotary Club, who met Sir Stirling on several occasions.
In his own tribute to the star, Joe said: “As a longstanding admirer I feel lucky to have met Sir Stirling at Goodwood and the NEC and treasure the signed books and pictures I have obtained.
“Sir Stirling was not only one of the true greats of motorsport, he was a special ambassador for everything British and above all a gentleman of the sport.
“When I was a member of the Strathendrick Rotary Club in Stirlingshire I organised a fund raising charity Classic Car Tour for the annual Drive It Day.
“I approached Stirling Council who agreed to sponsor a Sir Stirling Moss Concours d’Elegance Award with the winner receiving a signed copy of a Stirling Moss scrapbook in recognition of his mother being a native of the city of Stirling – raising more than £60,000 for deserving charities.
“I recall on one occasion informing Sir Stirling that one of the winners, Ilene Redman, had suffered a major stroke.
“She now treasures the special card Sir Stirling sent her and this was a wonderful example of his kindness and generosity to all he came in contact with.”
Joe’s story was picked up by fellow villager
David Smith, who works as a learning officer in the Stirling Smith
Art Gallery and
Museum.
He said: “It’s just wonderful when you find these little local gems. I stumbled across this in a correctly distanced conversation this week with a local in my village of Fintry, Joe Norman,who met Sir Stirling many times.”
Sir Stirling raced between 1948 and 1962 and won a total of 212 out of the 529 races that he competed in, including 16 Formula One grands prix.
He would also compete in gruelling seasons, with Moss taking part in as many 62 races a year and he drove more than 84 different types of car during his career.
It was a very different era from the modern, hi-tech world of Formula One, lacking many of the safety features present in today’s cars and this point was illustrated by the abrupt end to Moss’ career at a Bank Holiday race meeting at the Goodwood circuit in 1962.
The racing icon was involved in a major accident in his Lotus 18, leaving him in a coma for a month and left paralysed on his left side for six months.
Despite a brief attempt to re-ignite his career, he was forced to give up racing, but was still a keen supporter and admirer of the British motor racing calendar.
Following his passing from a long illness on April 12, tributes flooded in from racing legends past and present.
Current Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said: “Today we say goodbye to Sir Stirling Moss, the racing legend.
“I certainly will miss our conversations. Sending my prayers and thoughts to his family. May he rest in peace.”
Former British F1 driver Damon Hill added: “He launched all the other careers of British racing drivers who went on to become world champions of which he sadly was denied, but I think no-one ever regarded him as anything less than one of the greats.”
“Sir Stirling was not only one of the true greats of motorsport, he was a special ambassador for everything British and above all a