Stirling Moss: If it had wheels he'd race it

Fame was forged by celebrated victories at the Nürburgring, Aintree, Monaco and elsewhere, not least the Mille Miglia, but Stirling had an extraordinary repertoire before, during and after his prime

Stirling Moss driving his fathers Frazer-Nash BMW in the 1947 poole Speed Trials

Lytchett Minster, 1947

Moss in action during one of his very first competitive events, driving his father Alfred’s Frazer-Nash BMW in the Poole Speed Trials, just a few days short of his 18th birthday. Motor Sport’s period report mentioned him only in passing


Stirling Moss shakes hands with Erik Carlsson

London, 1965

Moss and Erik Carlsson shake hands over the bonnet of a Saab 96, after the former had agreed to co-drive for his rally superstar brother-in-law on the East African Safari later that year. They would retire from the event after a crash


Stirling Moss in an Audi 80 at Oulton Park racing in the 1981 British Saloon Car Championship

Oulton Park, 1981

Moss made a full-time return to racing in a TWR-prepared Audi 80, contesting the British Saloon Car Championship in 1980 and ’81. He was never fully comfortable on slick tyres, however, and looked back on the venture as a mistake


Stirling Moss at the Prescott Hillclimb in 1948

Prescott, 1948

Moss had hoped to make his hillclimb debut at Shelsley Walsh earlier in the year, but the 500cc F3 class was oversubscribed and he had to wait until Prescott, on May 9. Driving his Cooper MkII-JAP, he finished fourth in a field of 12


Stirling Moss drives a Jaguar XK120 out of the nose of a cargo plane

Blackbushe Airport, 1952

Moss emerges from a Silver City cargo plane in a Jaguar XK120 that he’d been loaned for personal use. He also entered it for the 1952 Daily Express Rally, a 1000-mile event that took crews around the UK


Stirling Moss in the MG EX181 on the Bonneville Salt Flats

Bonneville Salt Flats, 1957

On August 23, Moss set a new international land-speed record in class F (1100-1500cc), setting a benchmark of 245mph in MG’s EX181. The car was powered by a supercharged version of the MGA twin-cam engine.


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