Racing legend: Today's F1 cars 'staggering'
Sir Stirling Moss at the Concours d'Elegance
(Credit: Nathan Lang)Formula 1 has long been considered the pinnacle of automotive and motorsport technology. Many advancements on road cars, including paddle shifters, traction control and improved tire technology, have come out of the development of these engineering marvels.
Sir Stirling Moss, who drove in 66 Grand Prix races between 1955 and 1961, was an honorary judge at this year's Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach. While he was carefully studying the lines and mechanics of this year's competitors, we had a chance to ask Moss, now 77, a few questions about his role in racing and how today's cars have changed.
For one, the sheer number of races in a season was far greater when Sir Moss was racing. In the 1955 season, there were 7 races that counted toward the world championship title, and 16 non-championship races. In Moss' final year, there were 8 championship and 36 non-championship races. Today, F1 drivers only have to compete in 17 races per season.
"Back then we had many more races a year," Moss said. "And we still had time to chase pretty girls."
Current Formula 1 cars are some of the fastest in the world. The 2.4 liter, naturally-aspirated V8 engines are mandated to rev at 19,000 rpm (although they're capable of more) and can reach speeds of nearly 220 miles per hour. But being on the forefront of technology doesn't come cheap. Today's teams spend between $57 million and nearly $420 million on the sport annually.
So what does Moss think of these contemporary carbon-fiber speed demons?
"I think they're just staggering," Sir Moss said. "In the old days, you'd just buckle yourself in. It's quite different now."
Laura Burstein is a freelance automotive and technology journalist, covering news and events ranging from auto shows to Formula One races. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. 
"Grand Prix Wins: 66"
"Grand Prix Wins: 66"
Also, the Motorsports HoF says that Moss won 16 or 66 GP starts:
http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/1990/Stirling_Moss_main.htm
Also, the Motorsports HoF says that Moss won 16 or 66 GP starts:
http://www.motorsportshalloffame.com/halloffame/1990/Stirling_Moss_main.htm
- 'Grand Prix' not always = F1
- by lburstein August 24, 2007 9:28 AM PDT
- Thanks for the feedback. My lack of doubt of the 66 win statistic was in part due to the fact that most drivers race in other series throughout their careers, and also, "grand prix" is not a term that applies exclusively to Formula 1. So, it's entirely possible for one to win 66 grands prix, even if a significantly smaller number of those are F1 wins. However, in this case, it looks like a typo on Sir Moss' website. But I'm not going to be the one to tell him. ;)
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