Mille Miglia-winning Sir Stirling Moss, whose death at the age of 90 was announced this morning, remarkably survived falling down the lift shaft of his Mayfair home in 2010. He also kept road traffic policemen in punchlines with the infamous and much quoted: “Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?”
Resilient and witty to the end, Sir Stirling himself famously came out with quips such as: “If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?” and “There are two things no man will admit he cannot do well: drive and make love.” When he got banned from driving in 1960, he took it with good spirit and reportedly even bravely allowed the late, great Marisa Masters – a lady certainly not known for her driving skills – to ferry him around. She often recounted how she “taught him about speed” as she motored round with him and a bottle of sambuca (to keep her going).
Two stories to keep beside you
Post Paused
Today, after 34 years in business, the ‘Racing Post’ has sadly stopped daily print production due to the coronavirus outbreak British horseracing’s premier publication, the Racing Post, printed its last edition this morning. Now “temporarily suspended” due to the impact of coronavirus on the sport, the publication will remain online, but sadly a number of […]
Calm Yourselves
Angry politicians should learn from the stoicism of the jockey James Doyle and the judge Baroness Hale when it comes to handling abuse suggests Matthew Steeples Whilst the British media have gone into uproar about the abusive language used in Parliament in the last couple of days, this morning The Guardian’s Chris Cook highlighted a […]
Sir Stirling hit “third time lucky” in marrying the loveliest of ladies, Susie Paine, in 1980 and together they had a son, Elliot. Even after taking ill with a serious chest infection in 2016 and subsequently retiring from public life, he remained jovial and as this British sporting legend motors off into the sky, I join those saluting this king of the fast lane.
Pictured top: Sir Stirling and Lady Moss.
Readers have their say
4 comments
Always friendly when I saw him at Goodwood – a legend gone
He was the best! Not like that weird Lewis Hamilton girl!
Nobody could be greater than the great Moss. The gentleman of the race track
Just found out that his wife is the sister of Tina Green (in whose name “Sir” Philip conveniently has everything, while she resides on a yacht in Monaco). Guess you can’t choose your family.