Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Discuss anything non Z4 related here
Online
User avatar
patriot66
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3467
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:59 am
Location: Mawdesley, Lancashire

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by patriot66 » Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:12 am

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... ehs0l3.jpg[/IMG]

I have been a huge motorsport fan since I was a boy and my personal, favourite driver and racing hero is the late, great Jim Clark.

I think this interest ( Alison says 'obsession' !) started one Christmas when I was perhaps 4 or 5 years old and I received as a present a Revell F1 Slot Car Set with Graham Hill BRM and Jim Clark Lotus cars. I also think the fact that he was recently deceased must have contributed to the romance and 'legend' of Jim Clark in my young mind. The seed was sown.
As a result I have always loved that era of cars and competition in the 50's and 60's, the characters and personalities, the chivalry and sporting camaraderie. So, for many years now I have wanted to go to his hometown of Duns in the Scottish Borders and visit The Jim Clark Room, pay my respects at his grave in nearby Chirnside and take a look at Edington Mains, his family sheep farm.
A couple of weeks ago on the 7th of April it was the 49th anniversary of his death and fittingly as Alison and I were driving up to Scotland last Saturday to join the Galloway/Dumfries Run on Sunday, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take a 'slight' diversion and to at long last make my homage.

We left the M6 at Carlisle and journeyed on up the A7 through Hawick and Kelso, and finally to Duns.
The roads are wonderful in the rolling Border countryside and it was obviously on these that the young Jim Clark must have honed his skills :driving:
As it was approaching 1pm and The Jim Clark Room closes for lunch between 1pm and 2pm we decided to park up outside and then take a short walk into the town square for some lunch.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... cwcu3b.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... lnuqq8.jpg[/IMG]

Suitably refreshed we walked back and spent an hour or so looking at the displays of trophies, photographs and memorabilia on display and the short documentary film of his life which plays on rotation. If your not a fan you may possibly be a little underwhelmed but if you are and if like me your a middle-aged, sentimental old fart then you may find it a humbling and quite emotional experience.
Next we drove a few minutes east to Chirnside, a small village a couple of miles or so from his family farm. On the corner of the lane that leads down to the village church is a memorial clock erected in his honor.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... n0oezs.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... rnw1w5.jpg[/IMG]

As well as the clock and a memorial plaque it bears on top a silhouette of his 1963 Championship winning Lotus 25 and on its side a Border Reivers logo, a local team he raced for from 1957 until he joined Team Lotus in 1960.

And so down to the church and his final resting place. He lies alongside his parents in a modest grave and apart from the inscription you would never know. A beautiful spot on a south facing hillside looking to the distant Cheviot Hills.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... 1saxq7.jpg[/IMG]

Respects made we drove a couple of miles to his farm, Edington Mains. In 1942 when he was 6 years old the family moved from a farm in Kilmany, Fife to this farm in Berwickshire.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... 053htv.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... gxbfs4.jpg[/IMG]

As we headed off on the coastal A1 bound for Edinburgh, Glasgow and eventually our overnight stay at Kilmarnock, I had some wonderful imagery and memories of the great man going round in my mind. So glad to have finally made the trip and to have fulfilled a long held ambition. :D

This is quite a famous photo of Jim Clark, and also my favourite. In his Lotus 49 at the British G.P, Silverstone 1967.
[IMG]http://i1174.photobucket.com/albums/r60 ... yfotjp.jpg[/IMG]
Full tilt, four wheel drift, an armful of opposite lock, on Firestone treads, with no seat belts, no aerodynamics, with steel brakes, a manual gearbox, and a Cosworth DFV V8 hanging out the back....just poetry in motion !

For me, he is simply the best racing driver of all time. Saloon cars, rally cars, GT cars, Sports cars, and single seaters including F1....he won in them all.
Some facts and figures : Jim Clark, OBE 1936-1968
72 F1 Starts, 25 Wins, 32 Podiums, 33 Pole Positions, 28 Fastest Laps, F1 World Champion 1963 and 1965,
Indianapolis 500 Winner 1965.
A man cut down at the peak of his powers....I wonder what might have been ?
Sterling Grey '03 2.5i SE / Infinitas Supercharger / S.M.G / Hardtop / Gloss Black 162s / Bilstein B4s / 3.0i Brakes / DLV De-Cat & Silencer / Rebuilt VANOS / Sonar 2Xcite Lights / Carbon & Alcantara Trim / M-Sport Seats / ...& Side Covers !

User avatar
sw4nny
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1713
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 12:14 pm
Location: Barnsley

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by sw4nny » Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:20 am

All I can say is well said :driving:
E85 3.oi titan silver,Maldives blue E85 3.0i gone but not forgotten

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Smartbear » Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:33 am

Nice post, I remember the lotus boys from seloc arranging for the village clock to be refurbished a few years back-I think there used to be an annual pilgrimage to the place by them as well :thumbsup:
https://arc.seloc.org/viewthread.php?ti ... pid6158988
Rob
Image

e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

User avatar
Grumpyowl
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3438
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:00 pm
Location: North East Derbyshire

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Grumpyowl » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:41 am

Enjoyed reading that :thumbsup:

User avatar
elevensies
Member
Member
Posts: 387
Joined: Mon Feb 29, 2016 11:38 pm

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by elevensies » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:49 am

nice :thumbsup:
support our paras
"Utrinque Paratus"
https://www.justgiving.com/paracharity

User avatar
Kingfisher
Member
Member
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:04 pm
Location: South of France.

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Kingfisher » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:36 am

My hero too ... I have many happy memories of seeing him at Goodwood and can picture him now four wheel drifting a Lotus Cortina through Woodcote, inch perfect every lap and waggling a front wheel in the air. This after driving both a Formula One car and a sports car during the meeting. Always my hero ... still is. The greatest part of his story is that he didn't really appreciate that he had a world beating talent. Thanks for a great post.
Dec 2014 ... E89 35is sDrive M DCT ... Red ... :driving:

User avatar
AlfaScozzesi
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1311
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:36 pm
Location: Spean Bridge, Highlands

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by AlfaScozzesi » Wed Apr 26, 2017 12:18 pm

Was a great read so thanks for posting :thumbsup:

User avatar
Marlon
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10899
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
Location: Lancs.
Contact:

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Marlon » Wed Apr 26, 2017 1:09 pm

Great read - thanks. Wonder what he'd have made of your car.
Image
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S

User avatar
SeanConnor
Member
Member
Posts: 451
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:07 pm
Location: South West (Swindon)

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by SeanConnor » Wed Apr 26, 2017 2:09 pm

Well penned :thumbsup: Clark was by all accounts a real gentleman and a man of sublime talents.
2008 Sport Coupe Automatic with lots of extras.

Image

Now with cruise control and Mediabridge :driving: Gold wheels HAVE BEEN SACKED.

User avatar
gemeit
Member
Member
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2017 9:04 am
Location: Edinburgh

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by gemeit » Wed Apr 26, 2017 2:20 pm

Grumpyowl wrote: Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:41 am Enjoyed reading that :thumbsup:
+1

User avatar
Smartbear
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 13685
Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
Location: a barn in Somerset

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Smartbear » Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:58 pm

Few images from the seloc post if the link doesn't work for people not registered
IMG_0782.JPG
IMG_0782.JPG (134.03 KiB) Viewed 1518 times
IMG_0781.JPG
IMG_0781.JPG (150.54 KiB) Viewed 1518 times
IMG_0780.JPG
IMG_0780.JPG (237.3 KiB) Viewed 1518 times
Rob
Image

e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

User avatar
AlfaScozzesi
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1311
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2015 5:36 pm
Location: Spean Bridge, Highlands

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by AlfaScozzesi » Wed Apr 26, 2017 4:20 pm

Lovely pictures. Lotus must have good clubs as well although this was a special trip.

Quite often see groups of them through Fort Wiliam.

Z4M-2006
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7020
Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2012 7:53 am
Location: High Peak,Derbyshire.

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Z4M-2006 » Wed Apr 26, 2017 5:35 pm

Great write up and pics..


Great homage to probably the best racing driver there ever was..


Been to the Jim Clark rally in Duns a few times,sadly not to be run this year..

paulgs1000
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 5597
Joined: Wed May 02, 2012 5:48 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by paulgs1000 » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:50 pm

Excellent piece :thumbsup:
My brother in Law came up to make a pilgrimage with us last year - lots of momentos taken back for his Father, who also being a farmer, was a big fan of Jim Clark.
Great to highlight his achievements patriot66 :thumbsup:

[IMG]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz18 ... C_2020.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz18 ... C_2003.jpg[/IMG]
Now Porsche flat 6 experience, 986S & 981S.
2006 Z4MR Imola Red/Imola Red, 2008 3.0si Sport Stratus Grey/Piano black, 2006 2.0I Sport Silver Grey Facelift. MX5, TVR Chimaera, many motorbikes.

Bottom
Member
Member
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Mar 19, 2013 1:16 pm

My Jim Clark Homage to Duns and Chirnside 22.04.17

Post by Bottom » Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:54 pm

My hero when I was a wee boy, I cried for hours when he was killed. :cry:

There's supposed to be a big revamp of the museum in Duns, not sure how that's going on. Some fabulous driving roads in that area, well worth a wee diversion if you're heading anywhere near Duns.

Post Reply