|
1962 Belgium
1962 Great Britain
1962 United States
1963 Belgium
1963 France
1963 Great Britain
1963 Holland
1963 Italy
1963 Mexico
1963 South Africa
1964 Belgium
1964 Great Britain
1964 Holland
1965 Belgium
1965 France
1965 Great Britain
1965 Germany
1965 Holland
1965 South Africa
1966 United States
1967 Great Britain
1967 Holland
1967 Mexico
1967 United States
1968 South Africa
Buy from Alibris
Buy from Alibris
Buy from Alibris
Buy from Alibris
|
  was born in Kilmany, in the county of Fife to a Scottish farming family, roots
that would stay with him for the rest of his life. He was the only son in a family of four
daughters. His early racing exploits were initially met by family
disapproval, not the sort of activity suitable for someone expected to take over the family farm. Clark, undeterred continued to race in rallies and other local races under the guidance of his close friend
Ian Scott-Watson. Later he joined a team run by Jock McBain known as the Border Reivers named after raiders who plagued the border regions between Scotland and England during the 13th-16th centuries. According to fellow Border Reiver Ian Scott Watson,  "Jim drove so fast that most people were scared stiff to sit next to him." In one of these races Clark drove a Lotus Elite against none other than Colin Chapman who was a fair driver in his own right.
Chapman was very impressed by the young Scotsman and he would keep an eye on this young
lad.Ironically in 1959 the Border Reivers planned to buy a single-seater Formula 2 Lotus
for Clark but after watching Graham Hill lose a wheel in a
similar car, Clark decided that the Lotus cars were not safe and that he would stick to
sports cars for the time being. Eventually he graduated to an Aston Martin which brought
him to the attention of Reg Parnell, the factory team manager. Aston Martin was planning
on entering Formula 1 and after a test he signed the young Scotsman. Clark had also by
this time signed a Formula 2 contract with Colin Chapman's Lotus team. Aston Martin's
Formula 1 car was a disaster and the factory decided to abandon its efforts. In Formula 2
Clark enjoyed immediate success and when the Aston Martin drive failed to materialize,
Clark signed on with Lotus for their Formula 1 efforts as well.
His first race for Lotus was at the Dutch Grand Prix in 1960, where he raced in
place of John Surtees who was still racing motorcycles at the time. His race was pretty
uneventful as he worked his way up to fifth place before he had to retire with a seized
gearbox. The next race was at Spa in Belgium. This was the most dangerous course in Grand Prix racing, a 9 mille monster and
in 1960 it took the lives of two drivers including Clark's teammate Alan Stacey. Yet in spite of this Clark would
manage to finish fifth in his second Grand Prix. The next year was met with limited
success and some controversy. At the Italian Grand Prix, Clark's Lotus came into contact
with the Ferrari of
Wolfgang von Trips. The Ferrari was propelled into the crowed killing several spectators
as well as the German driver, Germany's best hope in decades. Lost in the tragedy, this was the last Grand Prix won by a front-engined car when Phil Hill's Ferrari crossed the finish line. Phil Hill would go on to become America's first World Champion that year.
 1962 had to be better, and
it was. In those days the calendar was sprinkled with non-championship Formula 1 races and
this season began with two which Clark promptly won. Looking forward to the championship
season opener in Holland his hopes were dashed by another broken gearbox. A week later at
Monaco, a race that he would never win he was again betrayed by his machinery, but this
time it was an engine failure. The race won by Bruce Mclaren was overshadowed by the death of a corner marshal.
After the year began with so much promise Lotus was
struggling to find some reliability. The Lotus 25 was a beautiful race car if only it
could finish a race that counted. The answer came in Belgium at the track that Clark liked
the least. Storming to victory Clark would win this race four times running. Denis
Jenkinson, the legendary journalist, discussing his disdain for the World Championship and
its bias towards reliability over wins, declared that only one race should count, that
race being Spa and whoever won it should be declared the World Champion. Clark after a
season long battle lost the championship to Graham Hill when his car broke down while
leading the final race in South Africa. Hill would go on to win the race claiming BRM's first and last World Championship. |
 |
| |
| |
During a break in action Lotus took the Grand Prix
car to Indianapolis and tested it on the famous speedway while the track was closed. He
soon had the car lapping at 140 mph. The Americans who were in attendance that day were catching a glimpse
of the future. In 1963 Clark dominated the World Championship winning an amazing 7 out of
10 races, garnering 7 poles in the process. At his first race at Indianapolis he finished
second to Parnelli Jones. The next year was an up and down year with the championship
being fought between Graham Hill, Surtees and Clark. The final and deciding race in Mexico
saw Hill out due to a controversial collision with Surtees teammate Bandini. Clark was
leading the race until the last lap when his engine seized and the title fell to Surtees
and Ferrari. The championship in 1965 was again a duel between Clark, Hill and Surtees,
but a fourth driver rose to the challenge the leading trio. His name was Jackie Stewart and the fellow Scot served notice that he would be
a force to reckon with in the future. This year it was Clark's turn at the top rung and he
included a win at Indianapolis for good measure. Leading the race for 190 laps out of 200
he left a lasting impression on his American rivals. |
The new 3-litre Formula introduced in 1966 led to a down year
for Lotus as they did not have an engine that was competitive. It was not till the arrival
of the Ford Cosworth DFV in 1967 that brought Lotus back to the fore. Clark won at Zandvoort in the legendary engine's
first start yet it was too late in the season and Clark had to settle for 3rd place in the
World Championship. 1968 started with a win in South Africa, which allowed Clark to
surpass Juan-Manuel Fangio in Grand Prix victories.
Sadly this was to be his last win for he was killed in a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim that
year. A shy unassuming man his legend lives on as one of the very best and places him
amongst the giants of the sport Nuvolari, Fangio and Senna.
|
|
|
