I only saw him live on a bike once, at Oliver's Mount at Scarborough. His style was immaculate and smooth, he was just way quicker out of the corner then came along the short straight where we were quicker than anyone else and braked into the following corner later that anyone else.
We also saw him racing in the Dutch GP when he came in third; we watched at one of the corners for quite a few laps, every lap Surtees clipped the apex as shown by a puff of sand as he went through. We were also present at a couple of German GPs at the Nurburgring, his driving was as smooth as ever, both were wet races with him getting a fifth and a second.
It must have been devastating for him when his son was killed but he used it to found and run the Henry Surtees Foundation for support and care for young racers.
He was still known to the current drivers, in particular there is a tweet from Nico Rosberg:
Very sad, can't believe it John. You had been so supportive of me all along!
My thoughts are with your family. REST IN PEACE
#johnsurtees