How doing the right thing cost Sir Stirling Moss his greatest victory

Today marks the 85th birthday of Sir Stirling Moss, the British driver generally considered one of the greatest racers of any era. Moss not only survived the open-car era of post-World War II that claimed the lives of so many others, he thrived in competition with other greats like Juan Manuel Fangio. And unlike modern drivers, Moss raced and won in a panoply of cars and series, from sprints and hill climbs to Formula 1 and Italy's grueling Mille Miglia, a race so dangerous it's no longer run.

Yet one title eluded Moss in his professional career: the overall F1 driver's championship. Moss himself answers to the title of the greatest driver to never win the championship. Yet on this day, it's worth noting that Moss lost not because he was slow, but because in one race he chose sportsmanship over competition.

The 1958 F1 season began with Moss as the favorite; after the retirement of Fangio, Moss was the most talented driver in the field, with a wickedly fast Vanwall car. His chief competition was another Brit, Mike Hawthorn, who wore a bow tie while racing and whose James Hunt-like playboy lifestyle on Saturdays occasionally interfered with his racing on Sundays.