Michael Satterfield - 12/16/2022
I was invited out to the Formula 1 race in Austin this year to enjoy the hospitality of Rolex, let me tell you, Formula 1 with Rolex is a very different experience, so I have to extend a big thank you to my local Rolex & Tudor Authorized Dealer David Gardner's Jewelry for inviting me out. After exploring the pits and watching some practice runs we had been ushered back to the suite for lunch when a man in a tartan cap came to join us in the Rolex hospitality area, that man was none other than Sir Jackie Stewart. Sir Jackie has been a brand ambassador for Rolex since 1968, so I was a little surprised that most of the Rolex guests didn't know who he was, while I simply stood in awe of a living legend, most people asked him what watch he was wearing. Sir Jackie was as gracious and personable as I had always heard he was, and simply made jokes about all those old Daytonas he had laying around.
I thought I would share a short primer on the legendary driver, should you happen to ever randomly run into the Flying Scot at a luncheon; here is everything you need to know before you meet Sir Jackie Stewart.
Sir Jackie Stewart was born on June 11, 1939, in Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, Stewart began his racing career in 1964 and quickly established himself as a talented and competitive driver winning the Formula 3 championship his first year. Stewart's first season of Formula 3 was so impressive that after just two races, Cooper offered him a seat in Formula 1, but Stewart opted to stay in Formula 3 to gain more experience. Nicknamed the "Flying Scot" thanks to his success on the track. Stewart was known for his smooth, precise driving style, which allowed him to conserve his tires and brakes and maintain control of his car even at high speeds.
Stewart would move to Formula 1 in 1965, finishing his rookie season with a win, three seconds, a third, a fifth, and a sixth, giving him third place in the World Drivers' Championship. That year, he also piloted Tyrrell's unsuccessful F2 Cooper T75-BRM and drove the Rover turbine car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside teammate Graham Hill.
1966 would see Stewart compete in Formula 1, British and French Formula 2, Can-Am, USAC Championship Car, and the Tasman Series. He would come in 7th overall in Formula 1 in 1966 but did win the Tasman Series championship. Between races, Stewart drove in place of actor Brian Debford for the John Frankenheimer film Grand Prix.1967 would be disappointing, with no 9th overall in Formula 1 and 2nd place in the Tasman Series. Stewart also made two appearances at the Indianapolis 500, in 1966 and 1967, both ending prematurely due to mechanical issues. The 1968 season would see Stewart focused fully on Formula 1, the results of which brought home second overall in the championship with three wins.
In 1969, Stewart won his first Formula 1 Championship race, over his career he would go on to win a total of 27 Grand Prix races, making him the second-most successful driver in the history of the sport at the time of his retirement. In addition to his victories, Stewart also finished on the podium 49 times and claimed 17 pole positions. 1970 would see Sir Jackie bring home four podiums, but only enough points for a 5th place finish.
Stewart's most successful season came in 1971, with 6 wins in the Elf Team Tyrrell car and his second Formula 1 Championship. It was after this championship that the Queen named Stewart an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He also managed to bring home a 3rd place overall in Can-Am for Carl Haas Racing. 1972 would see a 2nd place in the race for the championship, but Stewart followed this up with another championship win in 1973, making him the first driver to win multiple championships with the Tyrrell Racing team a feat that earned Stewart Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" the only racing driver to ever earn that title. That same year the BBC named him "Sports Personality of the Year" and ABC's Wide World of Sports named Jackie"Athlete of the Year" a title he shared that year with O.J. Simpson.
After retiring from racing in 1973, Stewart remained involved in the world of motorsports. He worked as a commentator and analyst for various television networks, and also served as a spokesperson for several major companies. In addition, he continued to work as an advocate for safety in the sport and was involved in the establishment of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
In addition to his success on the track, Stewart was also known for his work off the track. He was a vocal advocate for safety in the sport and worked tirelessly to improve the safety standards at racetracks around the world. This included efforts to improve the design of racetracks, the construction of safer cars, and the implementation of stricter safety regulations. Stewart's efforts were instrumental in reducing the number of fatalities in the sport. He is widely credited with playing a major role in making Formula 1 a safer and more enjoyable spectacle for drivers and fans.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport of racing, Stewart was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. He was also inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
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| Sir Jackie and Lady Stewart, Italian Grand Prix, Monza Italy, 2009 via |
In 2018, he set up the charity Race Against Dementia, in honor of his wife and childhood sweetheart, Helen McGregor Stewart, who was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic with frontotemporal dementia in 2016. As of 2018, she has limited short-term memory and impaired mobility and requires round-the-clock care support. Race Against Dementia Fellowship Programme partners with researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's Research, and Dementia Australia Research Foundation to drive collaboration across disciplines and institutions to help fast-track their progress
Today, Stewart is considered one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport, and his impact on the world of racing continues to be felt. While retired from professional racing, he still can be found behind the wheel at events like Goodwood, Motoring Festival Scotland, and the Ollon-Villars Classic. He remains an active figure in the world of motorsports and continues to be a respected and influential voice in the industry.
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