Full Throttle

You know what they say, kids are the most honest beings on the planet.

At anything under the age of 5 or 6 they haven’t learned the art of The White Lie. When dear old Grand Momma shows up a new platinum blond the six year old is more than likely to say; “BUWAHAHAHA, did you see a ghost,” rather than The White Lie, “Grand Momma you look more like Marilyn Monroe with each passing day!”

The second most honest beings on the planet are the octogenarian set. By that time they’ve seen and done everything, formulated and cast aside every type of White Lie imagined and frankly, just don’t give a damn any longer.

At the age of 77 legendary F1 driver Sir Stirling Moss is three years short of becoming a part of the octogenarian set but that hasn’t prevented him from “speaking truth to power” as the current vernacular goes.

Moss, four-times runner-up in the world championship, will be at Scotland’s Knockhill Racing Circuit on Sunday racing a 1958 Vanwall at the annual Classic SpeedFair.

But he hasn’t lost sight of the fact two of his United Kingdom compatriots are competing in Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

And the outspoken legend has strong views on his two fellow Brits:

“DC has done a good job during his time in Formula One but he was never going to be a world champion and there’s no way he’s going to be world champ now,” Moss said.

“He’s always done a good, professional job with all the teams he’s been at, but he’s never had what it takes to be world champ. Lewis, however, is totally different. He’s the special one.”

“Since he came into the sport he has rewritten the record books and immediately proved that he has everything it takes to be crowned world champion. No one who has seen Lewis race will contradict that view.”

And Sir Stirling didn’t hold back on the Vanwall he will drive Sunday (pictured above)

“What I do know is the Vanwall I’ll be driving, and which won the world title in 1958, is a lovely looking car, but a real beast to drive. I’m certainly looking forward to driving it at Knockhill.”

Oh no you didn’t! A “Beast” Sir Stirling? With such flowing aerodynamic lines and he calls it a “Beast!”

On the other hand the brakes of the time were near nonexistent, the steering took the strength of “3 men, a small boy and a medium sized gorillia” to wrestle them through the corners. So yeah, they were beasts.

Vanwall became the first team to win the Constructors Championship, held for the first time in 1958. However, Moss (4 wins Vanwall) lost out to Mike Hawthorn (1 win, 5 seconds Ferrari) in the drivers’ championship by a single point.

The ‘58 season was one of the most tragic in F1 history.

Hawthorn retired with the championship, but died in a road accident in early 1959. Luigi Musso died in the French Grand Prix, Peter Collins a month later in the German Grand Prix and Stuart Lewis-Evans in the last event of the season.

Maria Teresa de Filippis became the first woman to drive in a world championship event although she scored no points.

SIDE NOTE: Can anyone explain why 35 U.S. born drivers are listed as taking part in the 1958 F1 Championship including NASCAR star Paul Goldsmith?

Peter, you’re excluded, you know too much.