A tribute to Stirling Moss

Life seems to be beginning again at 50 for Stirling Moss. Not only has he restarted his professional racing career again, after a gap of 18 years, and married the charming Susie Paine, his third attempt at wedlock, now he has had a Tribute Day for him organised at Brands Hatch.

The principle is similar to that of a cricketer’s testimonial match, with part of the proceeds going to S.M. 

But for motor racing enthusiasts there will be much more to this day on May 5th. Sponsorship from Pace Petroleum, whose boss, Victor Gauntlett, is a well-known vintage Bentley exponent in his 4½, is enabling Fangio to be brought over for the occasion. Other personalities on hand will hopefully include Jackie Stewart, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees, Roy Salvadori, Innes Ireland, Rob Walker, Colin Chapman and many others connected with Moss’ racing era.

The basis of the tribute day is a normal Brands Hatch club meeting, including FF2000, Townsend Thoresen FF, Debenham’s Fiestas and modsports. There should also be a demonstration of 500 c.c. F3 cars, the formula in which Moss started his incredible career, and the highlight of the day will be a parade including the 1955 Mille Miglia winning Mercedes 300SLR (well . . . the spare car, actually), two Lister-Jaguars, C- and D-type Jaguars, Aston Martin DBR1 and DB3S, BMW 328, Rob Walker’s 300SL Gullwing Mercedes, a JCB Ferrari Dino (the genuine one, we would hope), a Vanwall, an HWM, the Donington Collection’s Lotus 18 and BRM P25, Vic Norman’s 250F and, hopefully, the Ferguson P99 in which Moss won the 1961 Oulton Gold Cup. — C.R.