A different ERA - Jim Clark, Rouen, 1964.
Discussion
I’ve recounted the story on PH before - but having stumbled on the original race report this morning I thought I’d post it up as a reminder of “how it was” before the lights go out in Melbourne in a fortnight’s time.
The French GP at Rouen in 1964. Jim Clark puts his Lotus Climax on pole by half a second from his great friend Dan Gurney in his Brabham. The rest of the field qualified between 1.5 and 14 (!) secs adrift of Jimmy.
Competing in that weekend’s Historic race Patrick Lindsay’s ex Prince Bira ERA R5B caught Clark’s eye in the paddock. He fancied giving it a go….
Rouen was, as you probably know, like a mini-‘Ring, hilly, flat-out tree-lined sections and not a good place to have an accident. The ERA was/remains a difficult car to master. Agricultural chassis, peaky “blown” engine and a pre-selector ‘box.
R5B pictured after winning at Rouen.
Lindsay was a very experienced and competent Historic racer and had owned and gained much experience in the car since he handed over £695 for it in 1959.
How did Clark get on ?
Imagine Lando stepping into an FW08 (or similar) at the Silverstone GP weekend this summer ?
The French GP at Rouen in 1964. Jim Clark puts his Lotus Climax on pole by half a second from his great friend Dan Gurney in his Brabham. The rest of the field qualified between 1.5 and 14 (!) secs adrift of Jimmy.
Competing in that weekend’s Historic race Patrick Lindsay’s ex Prince Bira ERA R5B caught Clark’s eye in the paddock. He fancied giving it a go….
Rouen was, as you probably know, like a mini-‘Ring, hilly, flat-out tree-lined sections and not a good place to have an accident. The ERA was/remains a difficult car to master. Agricultural chassis, peaky “blown” engine and a pre-selector ‘box.
R5B pictured after winning at Rouen.
Lindsay was a very experienced and competent Historic racer and had owned and gained much experience in the car since he handed over £695 for it in 1959.
How did Clark get on ?
Imagine Lando stepping into an FW08 (or similar) at the Silverstone GP weekend this summer ?
Edited by moffspeed on Monday 3rd March 21:36
Wonderful beast , the ERA . I remember my first encounter as a teenage hillclimb start line marshal - helluva noise and and an eye watering reek.
Jimmy Somervail who died in 2011 was a distant relative who raced ERA R12B . Lovely man who bought the ERA when it was 'just' an old racing car , like the D-Type he later raced .
I think Lando or Lewis would enjoy the novelty of the pre- selector gearbox . Lance ? Maybe not so much ..too complex
Jimmy Somervail who died in 2011 was a distant relative who raced ERA R12B . Lovely man who bought the ERA when it was 'just' an old racing car , like the D-Type he later raced .
I think Lando or Lewis would enjoy the novelty of the pre- selector gearbox . Lance ? Maybe not so much ..too complex
coppice said:
Wonderful beast , the ERA . I remember my first encounter as a teenage hillclimb start line marshal - helluva noise and and an eye watering reek.
Jimmy Somervail who died in 2011 was a distant relative who raced ERA R12B . Lovely man who bought the ERA when it was 'just' an old racing car , like the D-Type he later raced .
Jimmy Somervail was in the Border Reivers with Clark. I think the D-Type was bought for both of them to drive, but Jimmy retired from racing partly because he knew he couldn't match Clark's talent.Jimmy Somervail who died in 2011 was a distant relative who raced ERA R12B . Lovely man who bought the ERA when it was 'just' an old racing car , like the D-Type he later raced .
Jimmy raced for fun, he wasn't a pro , and he was the first to acknowledge he wasn't as quick as many of his peers. On his living room wall he had a picture of his D Type leading Stirling Moss at Silverstone - but as he said - 'I was about to be lapped !" .
He knew the Stewart family well, Jimmy especially and every time I met him he was full of stories , such as the time he hosted Jabby Crombac for a week between races , and having been asked to show Jabby something very British , took him to a pony club event !
I once asked if he felt lucky to have survived the era " Not at all , I was CAREFUL, and I always drove with 5% in reserve "
A lovely man , and I miss our chats
He knew the Stewart family well, Jimmy especially and every time I met him he was full of stories , such as the time he hosted Jabby Crombac for a week between races , and having been asked to show Jabby something very British , took him to a pony club event !
I once asked if he felt lucky to have survived the era " Not at all , I was CAREFUL, and I always drove with 5% in reserve "
A lovely man , and I miss our chats
My uncle Montague was actually present at Rouen for this very race meeting in '64. He had developed quite the passion for motorsport after a rather chance meeting with Stirling Moss at a charity function in '57, and became something of a regular at European events thereafter.
Uncle Monty spoke about this Clark moment until his dying day. He described watching Jimmy climb into Lindsay's ERA with what he called "the casual confidence of a man getting into his own bathwater." According to him, the paddock absolutely stopped when word spread that Clark was taking the ERA out. Mechanics, drivers, even marshals... all paused to witness it.
The ERA, as many of you know, was an absolute beast - that supercharged pre-war engine delivered its power like a gentleman offering a handshake and then unexpectedly punching you in the face. Yet Clark, according to Uncle Monty, drove it as though he'd owned it for years.
The rough section of the circuit, one surmises with reasonable certainty, be the particularly challenging Virage de Nouveau Monde hairpin—a section distinguished by its rather quaint yet mechanically provocative cobblestone construction, as opposed to the more conventional bituminous surfacing found elsewhere on the course.
What I wouldn't give to have witnessed this casual demonstration of mastery myself. Thank you tremendously for sharing this report and bringing back such wonderful memories!
Regards,
Algernon F. C.
Uncle Monty spoke about this Clark moment until his dying day. He described watching Jimmy climb into Lindsay's ERA with what he called "the casual confidence of a man getting into his own bathwater." According to him, the paddock absolutely stopped when word spread that Clark was taking the ERA out. Mechanics, drivers, even marshals... all paused to witness it.
The ERA, as many of you know, was an absolute beast - that supercharged pre-war engine delivered its power like a gentleman offering a handshake and then unexpectedly punching you in the face. Yet Clark, according to Uncle Monty, drove it as though he'd owned it for years.
The rough section of the circuit, one surmises with reasonable certainty, be the particularly challenging Virage de Nouveau Monde hairpin—a section distinguished by its rather quaint yet mechanically provocative cobblestone construction, as opposed to the more conventional bituminous surfacing found elsewhere on the course.
What I wouldn't give to have witnessed this casual demonstration of mastery myself. Thank you tremendously for sharing this report and bringing back such wonderful memories!
Regards,
Algernon F. C.
moffspeed said:
All that effort for something so crushingly unfunny.
the pleasure to be found in that effort outweighs tenfold any to be found in contributions such as this(your first post - the OP - was interesting, nice, I enjoyed reading it, I appreciated it, thanks)
Edited by Algernon_C_F on Thursday 6th March 08:31
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