One of Britain’s greatest ever Grand Prix drivers, John Surtees, passed away last week at the age of 83. Venerated as the only man to win World Championships on two wheels and four, his varied career took him from the sidecar of his father’s Vincent through to fire-breathing Lola T70s of the Can-Am series, winning along the way a fistful of 500cc titles and the 1964 Formula One World Championship with Ferrari.
Surtees eventually made the transition to team owner, later devoting much of his time to charity fundraising following the death of his young son and racer Henry, who was struck by a wheel in an F2 race in 2009.
Here is a selection of evocative images from Big John’s motorsport career.
Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC