John Norman Surtees CBE (February 11, 1934 – March 10, 2017) was an English Grand Prix motorcycle racer and Formula One driver. He remains the only person to have won premier class world championships on both two and four wheels, having won the F.I.M. 500cc Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix title in 1956, 1958, 1959, and 1960 with MV Agusta, and the 1964 Formula One World Championship with Scuderia Ferrari.
500cc Career
Surtees began his 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle career in 1952 on Norton machinery, which he would race with until the end of 1955 when he was signed by MV Agusta for the following season. Surtees promptly won the 500cc world championship in 1956, giving the manufacturer its first title in the premier class. 1957 was dominated by fellow Italian brand Gilera, which withdrew from Grand Prix competition at the end of the year. Surtees and MV Agusta went on to win the 500cc world title from 1958 to 1960.
F1 Career
While competing and eventually winning his final season of motorcycle racing in 1960, Surtees had already entered several Formula One races and finished second in that year’s British Grand Prix with Team Lotus. He spent 1961 and 1962 with Reg Parnell Racing before being signed by Scuderia Ferrari, who he won his F1 championship with in 1964. Surtees raced for the legendary Italian marque until a mid-season switch to Cooper in 1966. He also went on to drive for Honda Racing, BRM, and his own Surtees Racing team until his retirement after the 1972 season.
Henry Surtees Foundation
The 500cc and F1 world champion’s son Henry Surtees was killed in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch in 2009, and in response Surtees set up the Henry Surtees Foundation to assist victims of accidental brain injuries as well as promote safety in motorsport. John Surtees died on March 10, 2017 from respiratory failure.
Scalfaro
Scalfaro worked with Surtees to release the Scalfaro John Surtees Edition in 2014. Historic parts from Surtees’ championship-winning 1960 MV Agusta and 1964 Ferrari 158 machines have been integrated into the case. The sapphire crystal features both Surtees’ signature as well as the Henry Surtees Foundation logo, with the British racer’s championship-winning years on the display case back. The exclusive timepiece had a limited run of 300 pieces.
Omologato
British watch brand Omologato released The Surtees Chronograph in 2017. Surtees himself had agreed to the project, which was completed with his family after his passing. The dial features a blue ring and second hand, possibly a nod to the blue Ferrari cars that famously competed in the final two races of 1964 F1 season in which Surtees claimed his world title. Profits from sales went to the Henry Surtees Foundation.
Cadola Timepieces
Cadola Timepieces, owned by Dartmouth Brands, has also released a collection of Surtees Meca-quartz chronographs which are named after John Surtees. Dial color options include Grid Green, Hazard Yellow, Graphite Black, Deep Blue, and Diablo Red.
References
https://masterhorologer.com/scalfaro-watches/
https://masterhorologer.com/2015/01/26/scalfaro-john-surtees-watch-edition/
https://www.omologatowatches.com/the-surtees
https://www.autoevolution.com/news/omologato-introduces-limited-edition-watch-inspired-by-john-surtees-118220.html
https://www.autoaddicts.co.uk/john-surtees-watch-revealed/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/5866783/John-Surtees-son-Henry-killed-in-Formula-Two-accident.html
https://www.dartmouthbrands.co.uk/
https://cadola1946.com/collections/surtees