I wonder how many words have been written about Sir Jackie Stewart, or ‘Uncle Jackie’, as I have come to regard him, unofficially? To imply that Graham Hill and Jackie Stewart were brothers would be stretching it a bit. But JYS has told me himself how much of a role model – or even mentor – my father was to him in the early days at BRM. Jackie says Graham even taught him about getting fitted up for Savile Row suits. So they were close enough to go shopping together, if you can call that shopping. But to suggest that Jackie was anything other than his own creation would be to totally misunderstand him.

Jackie had something special right from the beginning, and he knew it. But he was smart enough and humble enough to learn from the best, whatever he was doing. And like a canny salmon fisherman, he always snapped his fly precisely at the right time, sometimes landing two fish at once!

John Coombs used to like to tell the story of how Jackie came for a test somewhere and drove a couple of cars for various entrants. Coming all the way from Scotland he obviously required some reasonable travel expenses. It was only later, when chatting to the other entrants, that John realised that they had also been stung for the very same travel expenses. It wasn’t about the money. It was the principle! Jackie had grown up in a garage. He knew all about car dealers. The message was clear; Jackie could look after himself just fine.

One of the defining things about great drivers is they seem to know their worth before they deliver the results. Their confidence radiates all around them. People can feel it. And like all great racing drivers, Jackie redefined what it meant to be a professional Formula 1 driver. In the past, you accepted risks. A lot of risks. And sickeningly high casualty rates. When things were going well and you had everyone eating out of the palm of your hand, why would you put all that on the line and take a stand against the powers who would, without question, try to make an example of you? But as anyone who has been around Jackie for any small amount of time will tell you, if you try to invade Scotland, you will come up against ‘Hadrian’s Wall’, and it’s made up of the word ‘Noo!’ And not just one either – ‘Noo, noo, noo!’ is what you are likely to be met with. A wall of ‘Noos’… So good luck with that!

If Jackie has been unsuccessful at anything he has attempted, I’d love to know what it is, because I’ve never seen him fail at anything.

He also is a great, giving human being. He gives back in truck loads, with his energy and enthusiasm and time, spending most of his energy nowadays on Race Against Dementia, his charity against the condition that has so sadly affected the Stewart family.

He’s done alright, JYS. But he’s grafted every day of his life. And to some people, his success is hard to accept. Because it shows them up. He shows us all up. He’s a man for whom winning is just the beginning.

There cannot be enough words written about him. Enjoy this tribute to Sir Jackie Stewart. And see if you can learn a thing or two from the one of the best of all time. Not just about racing, but about life itself.

Damon Hill, OBE
F1 world champion, 1996