I was watching coverage of the F1 race yesterday and prior to the race they did a nice tribute to Jim Clark, noting that today (Monday, April 7, 2008) is the 40th anniversary of his death in a crash during a Formula 2 race at the Hockenheimring, in Germany.
The two-time World Champion is still considered one of the best of all time. During Sunday's race broadcast, they showed how Clark's career figures would have stood up again Michael Schumacher's, if Clark had continued at the same rate of success and for as long as Schumi. The results were very similar.
UPDATE: I received the following from Inside Track contributor Ed Moody (Thanks Ed!!). Please feel free to chime in with your own memories of Clark...
"Forty years ago today the racing community lost one of the finest drivers ever to visit Mosport. He appeard in sport cars in 1965 and re-appeard in the first F1 race in 67.
Jimmy Clark immediately became a crowd favorite at Mosport and is also the first F1 driver to crash at Mosport when he failed to complete Corner 1 and went up the bank. He was an Indy winner in 1965 and was World Champion in '63 and '65.
I have included two previously never used photos from my collection. Practice day in '67 he is seen discussing the tricky Mosport course with his teammate Graham Hill. In the other photo Jimmy is seen enjoying a good laugh prior to the sports car race.
RIP Jimmy, the legend lives on.
Mr. Ed
Jimmy Clark immediately became a crowd favorite at Mosport and is also the first F1 driver to crash at Mosport when he failed to complete Corner 1 and went up the bank. He was an Indy winner in 1965 and was World Champion in '63 and '65.
I have included two previously never used photos from my collection. Practice day in '67 he is seen discussing the tricky Mosport course with his teammate Graham Hill. In the other photo Jimmy is seen enjoying a good laugh prior to the sports car race.
RIP Jimmy, the legend lives on.
Mr. Ed
***
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2 comments:
I was surfing the web for anything on J. Clark and just watched some in car footage - the footage illustrated just how good Clark was. Did he ever use opposite lock , in these vids he magically arrived at the apex with the correct steering lock and just powered has way out the corner no drama and effortless.. Amazing.
Being a Scot it’s sad to see so little press coverage of Clarks life and achievements.
I discovered J.Clark and his legend through a driving simulation called Grand Prix Legends about 7-8 years ago.
Thanks for the pics.
RIP Jim
When I was in Germany in the military in 1964, I may have inadvertently witnessed Clark's greatest race. It was a non-championship race for F-1 cars at the Soliude circuit. Clark started from the pole (naturally) but chose to use rain tires as the track was wet. His competitors used dry tires realizing the track would soon dry out. Clark apparently hoped to get such a lead that when he came in to change to dry tires he would still be ahead. He did get the desired lead but when changing to dry tires he was delayed in the pits and re-entered the race a half lap or so behind the leader. Then calmly, methodically he used his superior skill to pass in turn each car in front of him as the laps wound down and won the race pulling way. It was a performance that left me breathless. No championship points were awarded but he became my personal champion that day. It was the greatest single performance in sports I have ever witnessed. Thank you, Jim.
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