SIR STIRLING MOSS
THE RIGHT MAN WHO: STEPHEN DOBIE, DEPUTY EDITOR TG.COM
An utterly joyous chat all about the success of his and Denis Jenkinson’s partnership on the Mille Miglia, with the trepidation of phoning a legend’s landline (despite Stirling famously being in the phonebook) alleviated by one of the loveliest interviews in memory. “Jenks fitted the bill so well. Many people would say ‘gosh, I’ll come with you’, but that’s not what I wanted.
I didn’t want a passenger! I wanted someone who could contribute as much as I did. His contribution to our success was as great as anything could be. And we had good fun doing it!”
PERFECT DINING COMPANION
WHO: ANDY FRANKLIN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR My parents-in-law entered a raffle and ended up winning a one-to-one dinner with Sir Stirling and Lady Susie. Apart from being incredibly friendly, charming and kind enough to listen to my motorsport-obsessed father-inlaw, Sir Stirling signed us all a napkin each, complete with coffee stains! I shall cherish it forever.
IN HIS TYRE TRACKS
WHO: CHARLIE TURNER, EDITOR
I was incredibly fortunate to have lunch with Sir Stirling and Lady Susie before the start of the 2012 Mille Miglia, in which I was competing in a Jaguar C-type. The stories of his drive in that event in 1955 brought into clear focus the challenge of the next few days’ driving, and made me feel positively inept to be doing it over three days when he and Jenks competed the course in 10hrs seven minutes and 48 seconds at an average of 99mph. Undoubtedly, the finest long-distance competition drive of all time... and an unrivalled privilege to spend time and share stories with such an incredible driver and raconteur.
LESSONS IN LOVE
WHO: OLLIE KEW, ROAD TEST EDITOR Privileged to meet him a couple of times. Once asked me if I had a girlfriend. “Not at the moment Sir Stirling.”
“I see. Have you ever driven a Facel Vega?” “Erm, can’t say I have, no.”
“Oh dear boy, you should. The greatest crumpet-catcher known to mankind.”
A TRUE ARTIST
WHO: VIJAY PATTNI, EDITOR TG.COM
A while back in this very magazine, we used to ask our interviewees to draw a car in a couple of minutes. After speaking to Sir Stirling at the RAC, I followed up with an email request for the sketch. His response still makes me chuckle. “I AM AN EXDRIVER NOT AN ARTIST!” he emailed back. Not wishing to upset an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, I began typing up a polite prompt when, moments later, another email pinged through, with the requested sketch, and a note wishing the entire TG team well. A gentleman through and through.