April 14, 2020
Posted By : Barrett-Jackson
Written By : Eric Becker

IN MEMORIAM: A tribute to the legendary Sir Stirling Moss

IN MEMORIAM: A tribute to the legendary Sir Stirling Moss

April 14, 2020
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by Eric Becker

Sir Stirling Moss made an appearance at the 2014 Scottsdale Auction, riding across the block with fellow British racecar driver Justin Bell in a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe - a nod to the victory Moss achieved in 1955 with co-pilot Denis Jenkinson in the Mille Miglia, the classic Italian endurance race, behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

Sir Stirling Moss made an appearance at the 2014 Scottsdale Auction, riding across the block with fellow British racecar driver Justin Bell in a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe – a nod to the victory Moss achieved in 1955 with co-pilot Denis Jenkinson in the Mille Miglia, the classic Italian endurance race, behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR.

On Sunday, April 12, Sir Stirling Moss passed away at the age of 90 in his London home. “It was one lap too many,” his wife Susie said. “He just closed his eyes.” Moss was an icon, transcending generations of racing drivers, gearheads and more. Upon news of his passing, tributes from all around the motoring world poured in. Racing drivers of all ages and disciplines, his former teams and rivals all tipped their hats to Great Britain’s greatest driver.

Sir Stirling Moss visited with fellow racecar drivers Arie Luyendyk and his son Arie Jr. during the 2014 Scottsdale Auction.

Sir Stirling Moss visited with fellow racecar drivers Arie Luyendyk and his son Arie Jr. during the 2014 Scottsdale Auction.

Moss created an enduring legacy, adding to the lexicon of the local constabulary. Those plucked for speeding in Britain would often be asked, “Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?” Once asked that question himself, the knighted Moss responded to the officer, “Sir Stirling, please.” His off-track escapades had more in common with actualized versions of Ian Fleming’s and Her Majesty’s favorite novelized scoundrel, James Bond. Once, Moss darted off, traveling several hundred miles to woo the newly crowned Miss Italy prior to the start of a race. Moss – Sir Stirling Moss – was a husband, father, businessman and racer. A man whose eloquence elevated the motor racing world.

Few people had such command over a racing car. He was called “the best driver never to win the ultimate crown” – a Formula One World Championship. Moss won 16 Grands Prix out of 66 starts, stood on the podium 40 times, achieved 16 pole positions, completed 24 quickest laps, and finished third or higher in the Drivers’ Championship for seven consecutive seasons. In all, Moss scored 212 career wins from 529 races across a staggering number of disciplines – 85 different classes and 107 different types of car. Sir Stirling Moss was unafraid of the yaw, pitch and skittering of a racing car. In his own words, “motion is tranquility.”

Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson with Sir Stirling Moss and Justin Bell during the 2014 Scottsdale Auction.

Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson with Sir Stirling Moss and Justin Bell during the 2014 Scottsdale Auction.

Moss is perhaps best known for his out-and-out dominance at the 1955 running of the Mille Miglia, a 992-mile road race crossing the winding public roads of Italy. Leaving at 7:22 in the morning, Moss and co-driver Denis Jenkinson piloted a Mercedes-Benz W196 300SLR to an all-time record, a still astonishing 10 hours and seven minutes – besting teammate and five-time Formula One world Champion Juan Manuel Fangio by 32 minutes. Moss would hail his and Jenkinson’s dominance at the Mille Miglia as his greatest achievement to this day, and the record remains unbroken. The duo’s “secret weapon” would lead to the rallying world’s first-ever use of pace notes. Written on an 18-foot long piece of paper – “the toilet roll” – Jenkinson and Moss sorted the corners on the 1,000-mile course as “saucy ones, dodgy ones and very dangerous ones.”

Barrett-Jackson remembers fondly the time Moss visited our 2014 Scottsdale Auction. Riding in the passenger seat of a beautiful 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL as it came up onto the block, Moss was met with an uproarious standing ovation from the thousands in attendance. “Sir Stirling Moss was automotive royalty,” Barrett-Jackson CEO and Chairman Craig Jackson said. “It was an honor to host him at our auction, and we send his loved ones our deepest condolences as we remember one of the all-time greats.”

Sir Stirling Moss is survived by his wife, Lady Susie, his daughter Allison Bradley and son Elliot Moss. The racing world is unlikely to ever see another talent like him.

Heritage Partners