1955 November
By Stirling’s standards, this was a quiet month during which he spent a lot of time weighing up the pros and cons of driving for a British car company or Maserati in 1956. There was intense press speculation about his future plans after Mercedes announced, at the end of October, that they were pulling out of motor racing altogether.
During the month, he was presented with the first B.A.R.C. gold medal. The Club had already decided to award this medal after his wins in the Mille Miglia and British Grand Prix, but then he had gone on to take the laurels at both the T.T. and the Targa Florio. Stirling made a speech of thanks and it was noted that “he was very nearly as competent a speaker as he is a racing driver”.
Stirling flew to Nassau in the Bahamas on 26 November and, according to Ken Gregory, as he and Stirling flew out, Alfred Moss and Felix Nabarro arrived back from Modena with a Maserati contract for 1956.
It was a real dilemma for Stirling, having to choose between the Italian Maserati, where he would be No 1 in the team or the BRM or Vanwall – both British cars. He had great respect for the British cars but the Maserati was an old love of his “It behaves as near perfectly as any driver could wish. But,” he said, “I’d never forgive myself if I chose a Maserati and won and a British car chased me home.”
Stirling had the brilliant idea of consulting the press and he presented the pros and cons of each car to 17 journalists after a splendid meal in the chandeliered Mall room of the Royal Automobile Club. Cleverly Stirling had made the journalists feel very involved and, as the interface between him and the great British public, they could hardly criticise his decision. (Provided they came to the right decision!)
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