July 2017 UPDATE

So much is going on there is less time to get a few words down on paper.

The Banbury Run

It was way back In May that I shot off to Banbury to do a bit for Old Bike Mart. This time I thought it would be good to get out on the road and see some of the bikes in their natural habitat. Here are a few shots that did not make the final cut.

John Surtees Tribute

Participants line up for the Photoshoot

In July I got the opportunity to see the Surtees Tribute at Mercedes Benz World in Surrey.

Triple World Champion rider Freddie Spencer, former Grand Prix Motorcycle rider, and Saloon Car driver Stuart Graham, Journalist and former TT Rider Mat Oxley and Norton Motorcycles CEO Stuart Garner took to the track at Mercedes Benz World on 11 July in a fitting tribute to John Surtees, who passed away in March this year.

Freddie Spencer led the pack round the MB World Track

Damon Hill 

On track later were a number of Surtees race cars driven by Damon Hill, Derek Bell, Alexander Simms, Scott Malvern and Oliver Turvey.

Mat Oxley

The tribute was part of the annual Henry Surtees Foundation Team Karting Challenge at the Mercedes-Benz World Circuit in Surrey.

Stuart Garner Norton CEO

Inside MB World was an exhibition featuring cars and bikes owned by John.

A Surtees owned Mercedes at MB World

Its been said before and it will hopefully will be said many times more “This man was an epic hero and true legend, the like of which are unlikely to ever be seen again”

I was lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions and he was so matter of fact about succeeding to the highest level on bikes and in cars. It would seem to me from speaking to some of his friends that he had a keen eye for bikes and was continuing to build his collection up until his death.

HS Foundation's Michael Digby Fires up the MV Augusta

 His legacy will of course be his own sporting achievements, but going forward these will be matched by the wonderful work of the Henry Surtees Foundation that was founded by John following the tragic death of his son Henry, killed aged just 18 years old whilst competing in Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch in 2009.

Their primary objectives are to assist people with brain or physical injuries caused by accident to return to community living by the provision of support for equipment and facilities. We also seek to provide education and training associated with motorsport-related programmes in technology, engineering, and road safety instruction for two and four wheels.

One last note. There are many who were pushing for a knighthood for John. However, the honours system is steeped in tradition and process and I personally believe that the reason he was not knighted, was that he got a foot on the ladder early on. Once in the system its seems to me that you have to work your way up, which he was doing with the more recent CBE.

To find out more about the Foundation visit www.henrysurteesfoundation.com