SIR JOHN YOUNG
"JACKIE" STEWART
b. June 11, 1939
JACKIE STEWART
THE WINNER
AT THE 1972
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.
U.S. GRAND PRIX
Published in Women's Wear Daily, October 11, 1972
"Jackie Stewart Retires," The Glasgow Herald announced on October 15, 1973. "The Flying Scotsman" was thirty-four. His "extrovert manner and trendy dress did not please everyone," the paper continued, "but no one could ever doubt his virtuosity as a driver and his sportsmanship." An editorial in the same issue glowed with pride: "The domination of Scots in world racing circuits during the past ten years has been phenomenal in this exclusive sport. Stewart is arguably the most successful driver in history. Having won the world championship three times and holding a world record of 27 Grand Prix wins out of 99 races, this supremely skilful Scot has left a void which will be hard to fill."
But it was not just Stewart's "brilliant driving" which was noteworthy: "Neither will anyone fail to respect the prodigious efforts he put into motor racing to make it safer not only for drivers but also for spectators." So that aspect of his accomplishments has been on the record for decades.
Just this past month the 1972 Roman Polanski film "Weekend of a Champion" (Stewart at Monte Carlo) was re-released at Cannes, with additional material by Polanski and Stewart now; some background and commentary can be found here and here and here (including a contemporary photograph).
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