The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Clark, the man and his machines, 50yrs on

- By Paul Drury

HE was one of Scotland’s greatest racing drivers – but lost his life in a high-speed crash at only 32.

This weekend, exactly 50 years since he died at the wheel, the short but stellar career of Jim Clark is being remembered in the town he made his home.

Car enthusiast­s and locals thronged Duns in Berwickshi­re yesterday to remember his achievemen­ts.

The farmer from Fife, who later settled in the Borders town, won two Formula 1 World Championsh­ips in 1963 and 1965. He died on April 7, 1968, after his car left the track at Hockenheim in West Germany and crashed into trees.

Family members, fans and senior figures from the world of motor racing yesterday took part in a series of events to mark the 50th anniversar­y of his death.

This included an anniversar­y dinner last night, plus a commemorat­ive church service and a ground-breaking ceremony to mark constructi­on work on a £1.6 million extension to the Jim Clark Museum in Duns.

The new building is expected to provide a showcase for one of the cars associated with the ‘Prince of Speed’.

Here, The Scottish Mail on Sunday looks at five of the vehicles put on public display yesterday, and examine the role they played in his extraordin­ary career...

 ??  ?? BORN WINNER: Clark in his Lotus 43BRM at the US Grand Prix in 1966 and, right, the car yesterday. His other cars, below, were also on show this weekend
HEAVYWEIGH­T BRUISER WOWED U.S.
Lotus 43-BRM: The classic Formula 1 car in which Clark won the...
BORN WINNER: Clark in his Lotus 43BRM at the US Grand Prix in 1966 and, right, the car yesterday. His other cars, below, were also on show this weekend HEAVYWEIGH­T BRUISER WOWED U.S. Lotus 43-BRM: The classic Formula 1 car in which Clark won the...
 ??  ?? TAILOR-MADE FOR A LEGEND
Lotus 25: Launched in the 1962 Formula 1 season. Brainchild of design legend Colin Chapman, the car was built around Clark’s measuremen­ts. He won 14 World Championsh­ip Grand Prix and the 1963 World Championsh­ip title. Last win...
TAILOR-MADE FOR A LEGEND Lotus 25: Launched in the 1962 Formula 1 season. Brainchild of design legend Colin Chapman, the car was built around Clark’s measuremen­ts. He won 14 World Championsh­ip Grand Prix and the 1963 World Championsh­ip title. Last win...
 ??  ?? ‘ORDINARY’ CAR ANYTHING BUT
Lotus Cortina: Clark drove the Lotus Cortina to lift the 1964 British Saloon Car Championsh­ip against other ‘ordinary’ cars including Minis and Ford Anglias. Footage shows Clark’s car careering around the circuit separated...
‘ORDINARY’ CAR ANYTHING BUT Lotus Cortina: Clark drove the Lotus Cortina to lift the 1964 British Saloon Car Championsh­ip against other ‘ordinary’ cars including Minis and Ford Anglias. Footage shows Clark’s car careering around the circuit separated...
 ??  ?? ‘HI-TECH’ ... WITH A TAPE DECK!
Lotus Elan: Clark’s left-hand drive road car, while living as a tax exile in Paris. A 1967 S3 Coupe carried the latest technology, including a cassette tape player, with ‘stereophon­ic’ speakers.
‘HI-TECH’ ... WITH A TAPE DECK! Lotus Elan: Clark’s left-hand drive road car, while living as a tax exile in Paris. A 1967 S3 Coupe carried the latest technology, including a cassette tape player, with ‘stereophon­ic’ speakers.
 ??  ?? STICKY TAPE FIX SAVED DAY
Lotus Elan: Reg 997 NUR – one of the first built. Clark had to tape the hood on as it didn’t fit properly.The car was loaned to him by Lotus in 1966.
STICKY TAPE FIX SAVED DAY Lotus Elan: Reg 997 NUR – one of the first built. Clark had to tape the hood on as it didn’t fit properly.The car was loaned to him by Lotus in 1966.

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