Honda
Honda gained one of the best test drivers and competitors in the world when they hired John in 1967. They respected his technical input enormously and have turned to him on numerous occasions since for professional advice and assistance.
One of the first jobs he was asked to undertake was to find, buy and restore on behalf of the then President, Nobuhiko Kawamoto, a 500cc Manx double knocker-engined Cooper Formula 3 car of the type raced by Stirling Moss. The tiny Cooper was responsible for kindling Kawamoto's interest in motor racing.
Kawamoto was a development and design engineer on the Formula 1 programme when John raced for Honda and the two became friends. The Cooper is now on display in Honda's museum in Tokyo along with a 1954 twin overhead camshaft 125cc MV Agusta and a 1955 250cc NSU Sportsmax - both of which were acquired and restored on the company's behalf by John Surtees Ltd.
 John has also carried out many demonstration rides and drives for Honda, most notably on the ex-Mike Hailwood four-cylinder, 500cc Honda Grand Prix bike and in the Honda RA300 and RA301 F1 cars. He drove the cars at Honda's 50th anniversary celebrations at Montegi and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
<t;em>Picture: Demonstrating the Honda RA273 at Goodwood
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