Discussion
For those of us of a "certain age" April 7th will always be a rather sad and notable date. Was he the greatest racing driver of all time (and his skills were spread across many disciplines rather than just F1) - to my mind yes, I'm sure he would make the top 3 of anyone's list.
So, 54 years on from that miserable Hockenheim day, RIP Jimmy.
So, 54 years on from that miserable Hockenheim day, RIP Jimmy.
I’ve just read his wiki page to refresh my memory of his achievements. What a remarkably talented driver he was. And to think he was only 32 when he died.
He’s definitely very high on my list of all time greats, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with anyone who puts him at the very top.
Pure class.
He’s definitely very high on my list of all time greats, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with anyone who puts him at the very top.
Pure class.
I saw him at the British in 66, Brands. Very focussed. Drove a slow car magnificently.
I knew him most from sports cars and saloons, with the occasional F2/3 race. The most memorable drive was in a 7-litre Ford, Galaxie I think. This day there was a bit of a storm and the circuit was flooded. Clark went into the lead at the start and went off into the GP circuit well in the lead. He came out from under the bridge and into Clearways, onto the Top Straight, through Paddock and was on the climb into Druids before the next car appeared. He was in a class of his own. He slowed later, and the field caught up, but he wasn't in trouble. The commentator reckoned he was lonely. I saw him in the same car, possibly, when he qualified poorly - second place - and he was in the lead by Druids, although the other driver didn't let him go. Clark was quite forceful. There were 3-litre Jags trailing him, but some distance.
I saw him in a Lotus Elite (the pretty, early one) sliding through Clearways passing much bigger-engined cars. Then at Crystal Palace - that long ago - in a Lotus Cortina against Sir Gwaine Bailey in a 4.7 Mustang. The latter won but Clark was up behind him on all corners, trying to spook him into a mistake.
At the end of saloon car races, Clark would hang the back out at corners so photographers got an action shot with lots of tyre smoke.
I have no idea how he would fare nowadays in F1 as to him it was obviously a sport. Everyone who saw him reckon he was the fastest in his day.
I knew him most from sports cars and saloons, with the occasional F2/3 race. The most memorable drive was in a 7-litre Ford, Galaxie I think. This day there was a bit of a storm and the circuit was flooded. Clark went into the lead at the start and went off into the GP circuit well in the lead. He came out from under the bridge and into Clearways, onto the Top Straight, through Paddock and was on the climb into Druids before the next car appeared. He was in a class of his own. He slowed later, and the field caught up, but he wasn't in trouble. The commentator reckoned he was lonely. I saw him in the same car, possibly, when he qualified poorly - second place - and he was in the lead by Druids, although the other driver didn't let him go. Clark was quite forceful. There were 3-litre Jags trailing him, but some distance.
I saw him in a Lotus Elite (the pretty, early one) sliding through Clearways passing much bigger-engined cars. Then at Crystal Palace - that long ago - in a Lotus Cortina against Sir Gwaine Bailey in a 4.7 Mustang. The latter won but Clark was up behind him on all corners, trying to spook him into a mistake.
At the end of saloon car races, Clark would hang the back out at corners so photographers got an action shot with lots of tyre smoke.
I have no idea how he would fare nowadays in F1 as to him it was obviously a sport. Everyone who saw him reckon he was the fastest in his day.
Saw him at Oulton a few times, he would drive the Lotus 25 in the F1 race, a Lotus Cortina in the saloon race and an Elan in the sportscar race --all at the same meeting.
One time also at Oulton, he was in the Sportsracing category in a 19 or 23b (can't remember which), it broke down prior to warm up lap so he borrowed a similar car from a guy who had qualified on the last row, went and won the race.
One time also at Oulton, he was in the Sportsracing category in a 19 or 23b (can't remember which), it broke down prior to warm up lap so he borrowed a similar car from a guy who had qualified on the last row, went and won the race.
Derek Smith said:
I saw him at the British in 66, Brands. Very focussed. Drove a slow car magnificently.
I knew him most from sports cars and saloons, with the occasional F2/3 race. The most memorable drive was in a 7-litre Ford, Galaxie I think. This day there was a bit of a storm and the circuit was flooded. Clark went into the lead at the start and went off into the GP circuit well in the lead. He came out from under the bridge and into Clearways, onto the Top Straight, through Paddock and was on the climb into Druids before the next car appeared. He was in a class of his own. He slowed later, and the field caught up, but he wasn't in trouble. The commentator reckoned he was lonely. I saw him in the same car, possibly, when he qualified poorly - second place - and he was in the lead by Druids, although the other driver didn't let him go. Clark was quite forceful. There were 3-litre Jags trailing him, but some distance.
I saw him in a Lotus Elite (the pretty, early one) sliding through Clearways passing much bigger-engined cars. Then at Crystal Palace - that long ago - in a Lotus Cortina against Sir Gwaine Bailey in a 4.7 Mustang. The latter won but Clark was up behind him on all corners, trying to spook him into a mistake.
At the end of saloon car races, Clark would hang the back out at corners so photographers got an action shot with lots of tyre smoke.
I have no idea how he would fare nowadays in F1 as to him it was obviously a sport. Everyone who saw him reckon he was the fastest in his day.
I never got to see him drive, but would argue for him to be in anyone's top 5.I knew him most from sports cars and saloons, with the occasional F2/3 race. The most memorable drive was in a 7-litre Ford, Galaxie I think. This day there was a bit of a storm and the circuit was flooded. Clark went into the lead at the start and went off into the GP circuit well in the lead. He came out from under the bridge and into Clearways, onto the Top Straight, through Paddock and was on the climb into Druids before the next car appeared. He was in a class of his own. He slowed later, and the field caught up, but he wasn't in trouble. The commentator reckoned he was lonely. I saw him in the same car, possibly, when he qualified poorly - second place - and he was in the lead by Druids, although the other driver didn't let him go. Clark was quite forceful. There were 3-litre Jags trailing him, but some distance.
I saw him in a Lotus Elite (the pretty, early one) sliding through Clearways passing much bigger-engined cars. Then at Crystal Palace - that long ago - in a Lotus Cortina against Sir Gwaine Bailey in a 4.7 Mustang. The latter won but Clark was up behind him on all corners, trying to spook him into a mistake.
At the end of saloon car races, Clark would hang the back out at corners so photographers got an action shot with lots of tyre smoke.
I have no idea how he would fare nowadays in F1 as to him it was obviously a sport. Everyone who saw him reckon he was the fastest in his day.
Sublime adaptability...
moffspeed said:
So, apart from brilliance the word versatile comes to mind…
Unlike some of his peers Clark raced because it was out of the sheer love of racing, trying to take any machinery to its limits to win, rather than just a means to boost one's bank account in an era when foreign promoters outside of F1 could pay out better prize money.Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff