Racing legend Sir Stirling Moss OBE has retired from racing, closing the door on a competitive racing career that has spanned more than 60 years. During qualifying for the Le Mans Legends race at the wheel of his Porsche RS 61, Moss made the decision to retire from the sport he loves.
On his retirement Stirling said, “This afternoon I scared myself and I have always said that if I felt I was not up to it or that I was getting in the way of fellow competitors, then I would retire.”
Moss leaves motor racing as one of the most recognised racing drivers in the world, having raced from the age of 18, winning the British Grand Prix twice, the Monaco Grand Prix three times, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and the Tourist Trophy, as well as countless other races, during his professional career. He is regarded as one of the greatest motor racing drivers the sport has ever known, having raced successfully in all forms of motor sport and racing not only to win, but racing because he loved the racing itself.
As Stirling said, on the day of his retirement, “I love racing, but now it is time to stop.”
[Source: Stirlingmoss.com; photo credit: Mercedes-Benz]
Sir Stirling is truly a “man’s man” and his retirement from racing at the age of 81 is nothing short of phenomenal. All of us old farts and many young men have a role model to emulate for decades to come.
Not to be crass, but this does looks like “Breaking News from 1962.”
Does anyone know exactly how he scared himself?
If you have to say that you’re not being crass…well, that’s a good indicator that you are.
The man said he scared himself. What else do we need to know? Hasn’t he earned our respect enough that we don’t have to know any details? He simply could have said he had engine issues, pulled off and then quietly retired. No, he told the truth and that says a lot about him.
As Mr Galanos said, Stirling is a man’s man indeed.
Larry, the man is a race car driver. I admire his driving career, but he’s not God.
As far as being a role model for young or old men, read his autobiography. He was a fast race car driver, no moral hero. Unless you want your son or father to smoke, drink, and screw around – lots of each.
Met Stirling in 06 in Carmel…… what a nice guy .
I know Stirling and his family. I had the pleasure of being his teammate. He taught me very much (although he does everything wrong according to current race techniques) He is a very dedicated family man. I am sure this decision was made out of respect for his loved ones. Racing is 70% mind control and 30% physical ability. When your body can no longer react as quickly as your mind-it is time to retire.
I raced in the same races in historics as him (I don’t presume to say I raced him) and I also produced a limited edition print with him of his favourite race win, the 1961 Monaco Gran Prix and found him to be a very interesting raconteur. I once asked him what he considered ‘fast’ expecting some astronomical figure, his reply was, “31 mph round a 30 mph corner”. He really was a super guy.