IN the high-octane world of Formula One, Britain's Lewis Hamilton currently rules the roost, hot favourite to land his seventh world title. It is safe to say he is not universally liked – unlike Britain's great driving heroes of the past.
As you'll see from an item in our On This Day feature at the foot of the facing page, on October 6, 1968, Brits took the first three places in the US Grand Prix: Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees, a well-loved trio. We may be biased, but to this newspaper the greatest of these was the man now known as Sir Jackie. Not just for his achievements behind the wheel, but for the work he has done in his "civilian" life.
Sir Jackie, knighted in 2001, competed in Formula One from 1965 to 1973, winning three World Drivers' Championships, and twice finishing as runner-up. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport.
He was – and is – much loved on his home soil. Huge crowds greeted him in Dumbarton in 1975 when he was afforded a civic reception (main picture); he was born in Milton in 1939 and went to Hartfield Primary in Dumbarton, then Dumbarton Academy, where he is pictured reminiscing (above) in one of his old classrooms when he went back to present the prizes, again in 1975.
Sir Jackie had a difficult time at school due to the then-misunderstood condition of dyslexia. He was formally diagnosed in 1980, and has campaigned tirelessly for support for those similarly affected.
He has now thrown himself into another cause – in 2018 he set up the charity Race Against Dementia, after wife Lady Helen had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia. He believes technology and innovative thinking should be brought to bear in the struggle against the disease. Here's hoping it's another race he will win.
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