he is not a publicity seeking ego maniac like a certain beckham who as never won anything for england.the fact is in this country we would rather have a good loser or celeb. types rather than geniune champions.
Very few - in fact, almost none whatsoever - sportspeople and celebrities ever were given honours prior to 1966 and the Beatles being gonged. Surtees' achievement, if done today, would land him an MBE at the very least, but in his own time, it wasn't noteworthy enough to qualify.
Hi Buller Boy. No I dont know why he has never been Knighted or why Mick Jagger was. I was born in Kent and watched John ride at Brands Hatch where he was the King. He also rode as his fathers partner in the sidecar events. Yes a true Champion. My Father and Mother were both born in Sheffield viz Attercliffe and Loxely. My mother was a supporter of Sheffield Wensday, so I have an affinity with Sheffield. I am now 73 but in my young days when I came to visit I used to follow Sheffield Speedway in the days of Tommy Allott and Bruce Semmens.