What I respect about Clark is that he was a farmer, with little to no youthful experience driving anything but a tractor. But when he got into a friend's race car, he was immediately fast. Every driver of his era called him the greatest. Almost all drivers today start kart racing at 5. Different times. As a natural talent, I don't think you can top Clark.
With the greatest respect to Jim Clark, being a farmer hardly disqualified him from being naturally quick, you assume only city-dwellers drive on the roads.
@@jamesreynolds2867 Being quick in instinct to be out danger in blink of a eye from mean bulls, wild horses, things falling from barns, sheds, grain bins, pto shafts, gears of a combine..The metrosexuals dont even have a freaking clue..
@@jamesreynolds2867 - I must have missed the part where I said being a farmer disqualified someone from graduation to race driver. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to me and indicative of natural talent. Each to his own.
I can assure you that here in Scotland, Jim Clark is still very fondly remembered, and sadly missed. April 7th marks the 40th anniversary of his tragic death and I shall join many people on that day to pay my respects at his graveside in his home town of Chirnside. Jim will never be forgotten!
Well here it is 14 years after your comment. So I guess 54 years this April 7th, 2022. Elizabeth, I hope you are doing well, don in New Hampshire, USA.
I doubt it as it is literally in the middle of the forest and almost impossible to find since the track reconfiguration...it took us three days 8 years ago.. likely you saw... Today, motorsport nuts of all ages still pay their respects at the granite memorial behind turn two of the Hockenheimring. But this is not where Clark died. If you want to find the actual spot you have to do some serious hiking... The woods at Hockenheim used to be the circuit's trademark
Greg .. I saw a video on you-tube about 2 years ago . It was a guy filming his visit to where Jim crashed . There is long lane up to the area from a small car park and all the cards & things were there. I know the track has changed over the years and the guy said that to get to Jims site you have to be out side the circuit now .. not sure ? I tried to find the video , I could not . Regards .
*Lizeazu* Yeah, in 1988, while attending the German GP, I located the stone marker (back then about 50yds from _Clark Kurve.)_ I left a small bottle of Moët champagne next to it. RIP Dear Great Gladiator.
I was there on that fateful day. Can't believe it was that long ago. I still have the official program, my ticket stub, a copy of "Stars and Stripes" from the next day, and some photographs from the stands. I sat across the track from the area where the team trucks were parked. I can still recall my emotions and that of the crowd when Clark did not reappear.
@@yoshuaposhua25 Bruce McLaren for me. Great driver, engineer, and team manager. A load of skills for only one man. He shined brightest in Can Am, but was also a top tier driver in Formula One and LeMans cars.
I have been a fan of F1 all my life. I was 10 yrs old when Clark was killed. This is the first time I have seen this video. What really sticks out for me is Graham Hill who was Clark's friend and teammate. And there he is right after the accident that killed his friend and F1 Lotus teamate picking up the pieces of the mangled F2 race car Clark was killed in. So you know Hill saw the blood. And yet the following weekend got back in a racecar himself. That is a whole other level of courage and determination. Hill would go on to win the World Championship a year later in '68.
Depends on how you see what natural talent is. Graham Hill did not even know how to drive a car on public roads but started racing F1 already. He ended up having to get a driver license between the 58 to 59 off season. I thick he was a mechanic, and it is not unusual that Chapman sometimes would have a mechanic or an engineer racing a third car. So, we are talking about one person who only knew how to drive a tractor, vs another one who does not even know how to drive AND with no driving license.
The thing which made Jimmy Clark such a great driver and what really makes a great driver of any sort is smoothness. Firestone measured tyre wear on Clark's wars after races and they found that almost every tyre after every race the wear was equal, which was very difficult to achieve when those cars were sliding around. Graham Hill was another smooth driver who was gentle on the car (they needed to be because the Lotuses were fragile t the best of times), but Clark was a master craftsman.
A Lotus mechanic once said that he couldn't hear the engine on Clark's car as it went round Woodcote Corner at Silverstone. The mechanic thought that Clark was going to retire but he kept seeing the car at Woodcote but again and again he could not hear it. Clark won the race. The confused mechanic told him that he could not hear the car at Woodcote corner and Clark replied that he kept switching the engine off as it was losing oil pressure on right hand corners but that it was OK on the straights! Who else but Jim Clark would think to do that?
@@georgejacob3162 well, I reckon it is unfortunately a myth, because F1 cars at that time had a dry sump - a oil lubrication system that maintain a high oil pressure even in really fast corners.
I watched in the Lotus 49. Sandown Park,Melbourne, Aust, late Thurs afternoon at the end of Feb 1978..The noise of the Cosworth’s V8s exhaust bouncing of advertising board was incedible.Jimmy was out alone there for over half an hour. He was power sliding that car through the last corner onto the main straight . It was a kink rather than a corner.He was the only driver I ever saw do that. He was wonderful to us 16 year olds at these practise sessions, treating us as equals. I saw him with Sally once, he stopped at the paddock gate let us through. No pretence, no arrogance just a friendly guy. With crowds on Sunday he went behind the ropes, still signed autographs but was much quieter.
I once saw the memorial plaque at Hockenheim as a teenager. After being reduced to solemn silence, my Dad explained at some length what he had previously seen of Jim Clark, finishing by saying he was the greatest ever driver.
I was there that day. Clark's car did not pass the grandstand and people thought maybe he had car trouble. A bit later, we saw a truck pull into the pits and there was something covered up. Shortly after this the race ended, and an announcement was made over the PA system. I heard some 85,000 gasp as one when the announcement was made. I was there with a friend and we were both in shock. A year later, I returned to the track. After the day's racing was over, the track was opened to the public. I stood at the place where Clark died. One story in the new was that a couple of kids ran across the track and Clark swerved to miss them. A very tragic day in auto racing.
I was 12 when Clark was killed, and I still remember it to this day. I was utterly shocked. Jim Clark was so good that he had this immortal quality about him. I never thought anything bad would happen to him.
Neither did the other drivers. They used to tell themselves it wouldn’t happen to them, but after Jim Clark died many realized if it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone.
I have met him once as my father worked with him on a sport line (mostly shoes) they were supposed to launch together. My father went through this as one of the saddest losses he encountered in his life as Jim was the epitome of a kind and humble person / besides being the best driver of his time.
@@Mardonosky I was very young, around 7 years old. I remember my father going to the zoo of Vincennes to negotiate the temporary loan of a tiger cub. Why? Because Esso was a lotus sponsor at the time and their advertisement in France was: “Mettez un tigre dans votre moteur” (put a tiger in your engine). The project was to take a photography with Jim holding the tiger cub next to his F1 car engine while wearing the Jim Clark apparel and shoes (new line). It failed as the zoo refused the request.
It's always sad to lose competitors. Even more so when it's a person of this caliber. Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart and others like them are proof that rivals can still be a gentleman.
I was going to make a similar comment... Eery even that both father and son not only lost teammates, but both were of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen.
@@housesports000 Senna’s idol was Fangio. Up to the point that when he died they didn’t tell Fangio himself, being afraid that the Argentinian who had this great bond with Senna might have had a problem.
@@dirtydave2691 some balls ? How about balls the size of your head . These guys are legends and should be treated as such . I can't see Hamilton, spin spin vettel or say other driver in the past 5 years on the same level as Jim Clarke
Graham Hill showed great bravery not just to race the car that killed the greatest driver at the time, but to win the championship too. Outstanding achievement
the saddest thing was, he wasn't even supposed to be driving in that race... Jimmy will be sourly missed. R.I.P Jim Clark, the greatest and most talented racing driver of all time...
I was at Brands Hatch that day, when we got back to London a chap on the Station told us he had been killed. We didn't and couldn't believe him. Was it a failure of the car or tyre, the tyre company were vilified at the time although many believed it was a car failure. So many amazing races I watched, one outstanding one was the Boxing Day meeting at Brands when he was driving the 4 wheel drive Felday after it had been snowing, he just drove off several seconds a lap faster than anyone else. Still the greatest.
It's terrible to see Grahm taking away the rest of Jim'car. Grahm and Jimmy were great friends; I remember some photographs where Jimmy is taking the little Damon on his arms. I was born some days later this terrible accident. I think Jimmy was one of the gratest drivers of ever, toghether with the great Ayrton. With the same sad destiny.
I'd say Clark, Fangio, Stewart and Prost. Senna was brilliant- a genius - but not great- too reckless, rather like Schumacher. Moss was possibly the greatest all-rounder. Lauda was the greatest, if you consider bravery above all else. It's an opinion, really.
My dad,who was a welding inspector,went to Lotus in the sixties for an interview,l always remember him saying 'l don't think I've got the job,as l told them l wasn't very impressed with their workmanship!'
There really should be a movie made about Jim. He was a fascinating man who accomplished so much in such a short time. On practice days and qualifying days the crowd would go nuts when they pulled his car from the garage area and into the pits at Indy. He was a classy man and viewed as racing royalty there. I believe he ran Indy five times with a first in 65 and two seconds in 63 and 66.
Nigel mansell drove Jimmy’s car at Goodwood festival of speed only last week and was blown away as to how incredibly difficult it was to control. These guys had balls of steel! All of them legends. No CPUs controlling anything other than the CPU between their ears!
I met Clark & Chapman at the 1964 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Both were real gentlemen that evening. I was in the army in 1967 when I heard about Clark's death, I was very shaken up by the news. RIP
I remember my Dad talking about him when I was a kid, he bought me a Scalextric set with a BRM and a Cooper Cars I think that’s what they were, BRM was red and the Cooper blue, correct me if I’ve got the names wrong I was about 10 years old, long time ago I’m 66 now, we raced the cars against each other and he was always Jim Clark, happy memories, my Dad is no longer with us but that sticks in my mind.
I'm only 62, but I well remember my Mum saying to my Dad, "Who do you think you are? Jim Clark?", as my Dad drove us too fast round a bend back in the 60's.
I was at this race, it was the first motor race I ever attended. I didn't speak German, and I don't know if they announced the death at the track, but I didn't learn until the drive home from the American Forces Network radio. I had followed F1 for a couple of years prior to this. I think of Jim Clark every April the 7th. I still have the ticket and the program from the race. RIP Jim.
The Wikipedia entry of Formula I deaths neglects to mention Jim Clark. I remember going to F1 race in Nurburgring in the 60s. I was rooting for Dan Gurney. His car wouldn't start and he got on the track late. Jimmy Stewart took that one. I was a fan of Graham Hill and Pedro Rodriguez. Some of the drivers drove and parked their personal supercars to the event. We got to see Rodriguez' Maserati, among others. Before the start, the F1 engines were whining that high pitch unique to them. It sent chills through your body, and the hair on your arms stood on end as if electrified. Unforgettable.
I began watching F1 as child of the sixties and Jim Clark was my hero , I remember watching this race at the time and I was devastated by his death, such a tragic loss he was one of the greatest drivers and nice guy. RIP Jim Clark.
I was only 11 at the time, But the name Jim Clarke has stuck with me all my life, I'm 63 now, But I have often thought, this genial chap from the Scottish Highlands would have just got better and better, Such a shame we never saw him become a true racing legend of the world, because I think he would have done , He was so talented , and fearless, two special requirements in this sport.R I P J C.
Jim Clark was probably the greatest driver ever. In 1963 and 1965, Clark equaled Alberto Ascari's record for Highest percentage of possible championship points in a season (100%). Leading 71.47% of the laps in 1963, Jim Clark holds the record for highest percentage of laps in the lead in a season. He also holds the record for most Grand Slams, taking pole, fastest lap, race win and leading every lap of the race in 8 Grand Prix. He won in sports cars and Indy cars, too. All in a short career.
Graham Hill was a rock, the most senior Lotus man at the event, after Jim Clark died, it fell to him, the sad duty to get the car home, it must be remembered that he held the Lotus team together in the 1968 season, coincidentally as his son Damon did at Williams years later after the death of another great Ayrton Senna, those Hill men never ran from a challenge.
What's the figurative version of that? I can't wait until this constantly misused fad word "literally" goes the way of "Not!" that took decades to finally die.
I remember hearing this on my Mom's car radio as we were backing out of the driveway of my aunt and uncles' house in 1968. Very sad day for Jim Clark's Family and the racing world. RIP Jim 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
@@Kilas73 I beg to differ. Senna was on another level, true, but it did require a great car, sneakiness, and aggression. Fangio drove very short seasons with less competition, but was just plain OP, managed the car impeccably and did some incredible things. Clark is, hands down, the best overall driver that ever was... Racecraft, smoothness, reliability, versatility. These cars were absolute coffins: very high top speeds with rudimentary handling (not to mention Lotus' infamous reliability issues that killed quite a few drivers.)
@@nistabezvegete Plus Clark could and did race and win in British Touring Car Championship, and Indy (2nd in '63 as a rookie oil spewing car ahead of him could've been black flagged; dominating win in '65.)
@@carlcushmanhybels8159 I believe he would have won the next 5 championships with a little luck in regards to reliability and performance. I'd have put 6, but I believe Jackie would've snatched one off him. Can't say the same about Hill, Fitti and Rindt, though.
Well I've always seen Stirling Moss as one of the best driver in all racing classes. For one he won 197 of the 494 races he competed in 1948-1962 in all classes. That's a 40 percent win ratio. His 1955 Mille Miglia still is the record. He had a 100mph average speed for a 1000miles on narrow italian public roads back in 1955! He drove flat out for 10 hours! In F1 he pulled of miracle wins in underpowered cars. Sadly a crash in 1962 ended his racing career, but at least he's alive today.
Americans felt bad about this accident too as he came here and won the 1965 Indy 500. I saw it on TV. Much better race than the fatality-ridden race the year before.
Only a true friend would over-come his loss and grief …..to assist in the painful clearing of a crash site that was indeed a final outcome of such tragedy. Respect.
Yes, I agree - watching him gloving up and getting in when you know that is the actual race he's about to grid up for is pretty chilling, let alone the aftermath scene .
Jim's life was cut so short after a terrible accident he was one of the greatest racing driver that ever lived and he will always be remembered in our thoughts and prayers forever and ever RIP Jim.
Boa noite !!!! Um dos melhores da história da Fórmula 1, sem dúvidas. Dia muito triste para o automobilismo. Só saudades...... Muito obrigado pelo vídeo e parabéns pelo canal. Abraço do Brasil.......
At that time i was nearly 10 years old and a great fan of motorracing. Sadly i lost all my scrapbooks about motorracing. Jimmy was my hero and i was in deep shock that very sad day in august '68. Jimmy was the best in his generation.
Yes nice one Hammond!-many probably had not even heard of Jim-but for the cognoscenti it was some recognition for the many who believed he was the best in times that your mortality was a real part of the sport. Did I detect a tear in he eye of Jezza?
Late reply, but Ur point is very significant. Many compare Senna's death to this. & say "it wasn't as big a shock as Senna" Many are young Senna fans of course & don't really know. The significant thing is that Clark was a household name when F1 was not half as well known to the general public & not even on TV ! He really was elevated that far above the sport. We got the news in the foyer of my folks' hotel & everyone - guests, staff, visitors old & young just went into jaw hanging silence.
I was 7 years old and had just emigrated to New Zealand, and Jim Clark was my first boyhood idol. I remember my dad telling me the news and I went straight to my room and took down all my pictures of him and never took an interest in cars again until I was about 17...(I am happy to say that I am now a fully fledged petrol head). I am currently reading a book written by Calrk just after his first World Title and he mentions that in a Junior race in 61 his car broke down.....cont...
Well, before you berate someone else for their lack of research, perhaps you should make sure that yours isn't also equally lacking. Hunt had no role in the Lauda incident. He was the one who extricated Ronnie from the lotus in '78. Merzario and Edwards attended and assisted at the Lauda crash. It would have been the stuff of F1 legend indeed for James to stop, assist Niki, then glove up, return to the battle and win the race.
I can hardly compare F1 drivers. To win regularly, you have to be an excellent pilot, but times are so different, cars are so different and tracks are not comparable any more (with some exceptions like Monaco). Race conditions and security are so different. Who would kill himself in a wood bordering a circuit on these days ? That would be exceptionnal, but it can still happen. Would Fangio or Stirling Moss be world champion on an actual Renault or Mercedes or Ferrari full of electronics ? Think of Spa Francorchamps now, which has nothing to do with the circuit in Clark's days (he hated that track as much as Jackie Stewart did). In these days, there were every year two top racing drivers who died in the middle of the flames of their car which were ''bombs''. Jacky Ickx has escaped miraculously to the fire of his Ferrari in Madrid. What has happened to Jim Clark on the humid track ? A mistake, a failure, an uncontrolled skidding ? It is strange and surprising that no spectator and no driver saw what happened. The car was destroyed. I think the race has not been stopped, has it ?
Pitou F...Interesting observations, I think drivers were more respectful on the circuit in those days, given the consequences of an accident/error were a lot higher, I also think they were braver for the same reason. Mechanical failure must have played a bigger part too, no computer simulation, metallurgy wasn't as advanced etc.
Jim Clark! Truly one of the greatest ever. I don't much care for arguments about the differences in NASCAR and F1. Each to his own. For me personally, as an Englishman, F1 is just the greatest racing on the planet. Schumacher is probably the best ever, though Vettel looks like he could be the same. For me, I love the maverick one-offs --- James Hunt - a real charmer who didn't give a toss - once was enough for James. Today though, its a little too pure, whitewashed (I am not talking about the safety here - safety is good) But what with computer telemetry, paddle gear change, and no clutch as such - not really DRIVING in my opinion - lets get back to "conventional" cars (without the danger of course).
Schumacher and Vettel need the best car on the grid to win, therefore not the greatest drivers ever. Google a fella named Ayrton Senna and learn my friend, the best drivers can win with any car in any conditions.
I always imagine a racing series where all the drivers drive identical cars with crash gearboxes that need double clutching for shifting to be done and absolutely no power steering, no launch control, no ABS, no traction control and absolutely, no aerodynamic components. But I'm a Formula One hardcore fan and I always see F1 as a medium for breakthrough in technology so I hope to see more freedom in design of F1 cars so they be more like a Formula Libre than a spec racing, but I wish there could be another series that focus solely on the helmsmen skills.
***** Senna died dumbly that makes no sense at all you say Senna was trying to escape Schumacher yes Schumacher had won the first 2 races didn't mean Senna was finished he clearly still had the speed to put it on pole no one really knows what happened at Imola u made such a stupid comment like you knew the guy
***** ok i have no idea how you thought Ayrton killed himself, his steering column broke that is how he hit the wall and brainless? he knew most of the formula 1 rules fully and if you where in the cars he was driving you would be obsessed to win wouldn't you? you clearly don't know what you are talking about. lmcaleer8 Chris Watkins Ayrton was a great driver guys but you have to be serous lmcaleer in a Caterham against a Merc i am a fan of him and even i have to say he wouldn't stand a chance thats basically saying if you put him in a reliant robin against Koenigsegg one 1 he will win be serous dude
Shortly before his death, Clark had a suspension failure in F2 which had sent him off the track at high speed. He wasn't injured, but when Chapman arrived at the scene, Clark quite uncharacteristically said ( without hiding it from the attending marshals ) "Look, Colin - lets get something straight. If U're going to keep building them like this U can start driving them Urself again too". Many more drivers were lucky to survive their time at Lotus. Innes Ireland and Jackie Oliver to name two.
Jim Clark was my hero when I was a lad. My Scalextrix when I was five came with a leaflet in the box with picture of him, some inspirational words about racing, and his "autograph". I was gutted when I learned that he had been killed. It felt so wrong to me that such a good driver should die like that; but in the years to come, several other top-level drivers left this mortal coil in similarly tragic circumstances. R.I.P. to them all.
Jimmy's still my idol even after all these years, I've been researching the circumstances of his death and maybe for fellow Clark fans the following points will be of interest. 1. Graham Hill was left to complete the heat before being told of the accident, which happened about 10 minutes into the race. 2. Jim Endruweit of Lotus identified his body in hospital and said he 'wasn't 'marked' to any great extent - he was killed by neck and skull fractures. There are contradictory reports about whether Graham saw his body as well. 3. From the words of the marshal who said Jim's car snaked for 'about 300m' before going into the trees, I calculate he had 5 seconds, possibly a little less, between the problem appearing (tyre or misfire, this will never be known now I think) and the car leaving the track and killing him, very probably instantly. 5 seconds !! These words, long known, suggest strongly that the crash had nothing at all to do with the upcoming gentle right hand bend. 4 There's an intriguing article on the net - search using the words 'Jim Clark Mystery Lingers'. In it a photographer claims he took pictures of the scene, including Jimmy's body, but his film was confiscated by some sort of official and never seen again. He took more photos after Jimmy was removed.The article says that the photographer, first on the scene just before the first marshal, found him lying face down having been thrown from the car except for the lower parts of his legs. He said that the marshal turned Jimmy over and he looked 'asleep'. He (the photographer) was astonished when he eventually discovered Jim was dead. (The article's wrong about something, Jimmy wasn't wearing a seatbelt.) 5 The above article refers to the car sliding off the track at about a 45 degree angle, through a fence, over an 'embankment', then hitting small trees before being stopped by a thick one which killed Jimmy. I've read elsewhere some time ago that the marks on the tree were high up, this combined with the 'embankment' mention seems to me to confirm that where the car ended up was lower down than the track itself - in other words that there was a dip between the track and the trees. This means that the car didn't somehow somersault high into the air as at least one newspaper reported, it slid sideways, stayed high because if its speed, then of course fell to earth on impact with the big tree. The film and photos of the scene suggest but don't 100 % confirm this - there's one of a group of people, clearly much higher up, looking down at the wreckage, but they're looking at the back of the car, not the front - the back somehow ended up much further from the point of exit from the track than the front. Therefore these people are looking down from the 'other side' , not from where the car went off, but other shots do support my contention. 6. In those seconds Jimmy didn't brake - or at any rate the car didn't decelerate from, it would appear, between 130 and 150 mph. 7. Jimmy's shoes were still in the car. I suggest this indicates that, in a last second attempt somehow to protect himself, he wedged his feet against the bottom of the car. I hope my comment is of interest. I find it astonishing that, still, so little is clear about what actually happened. Please comment - especially if you think something I've written is nonsense !
ysgol3 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and research... I don’t think any of it was “nonsense” and it sounds quite reasonable, well evidenced, and logically presented. What surprised me in this video to which you’ve posted your comment, is the fact that Graham Hill was permitted - not only to rummage through the wreckage - but to actually remove a piece of it (which he presumably did because he felt it may have provided evidence of a structural failure to the Lotus?) Whatever his reasons, the death of Jim Clark, even in a motor racing accident, would have necessitated an inquest to try to properly determine the exact cause of his death, and therefore for Graham to have removed a piece of the wreckage in that way, could be construed as interfering with an important investigation and judicial process... 🤷🏻♂️ Do you know what Graham removed by any chance, and why he did so?
The5th Musketeer . I don't think he tried to hide anything. The Lotus guys were there to secure the wreck. Probably feared a dead Clark souvenir hunt if the wreck stayed there.
@@the5thmusketeer215 Hi, thank you for your kind comment, sorry for the delay in replying. From what I've read, Graham simply 'took over' once he accepted the fact that Clark was dead - he refused to believe it at first and demanded and got other confirmation. Having done so, and somebody needed to because the other team members present were in a terrible state, he demanded transport and simply drove to the site of the crash where they picked up everything they could find as quickly as possible. So it wasn't a matter, from what I've read, of being given permission by anyone, Graham, very strong personality that he was, simply took command and nobody stopped him ! I think Graham looks deep in shock here as he's gathering things up, but being a 'stiff upper lip' sort he just gets on with it. Chapman wasn't there, when he was told by phone he immediately drove from St Moritz and, so I've read, his first words when he arrived to Dave Sims, Jim's mechanic, were 'What have you done ?', which I find disgusting, though of course Chapman must have been in shock too. When the car was driven back in a lorry to the UK, customs officials, I believe in Belgium, demanded to see the wreckage when they were told what the lorry contained, and took pictures of it. But, again, nobody seems to have tried to stop the car being returned. BTW do you know that there's film here on UA-cam of Jim's crash in the same car the previous week in Spain - look for 'F2 Montjuich 1968' - the person who put it on here doesn't seem to realise its historical significance. I've commented on it - I can't believe how big the impact was, and therefore can't understand why the car wasn't then returned to the UK for a full check, missing Hockenheim if necessary.
JIM CLARK - By far the greatest driver ever - no doubt. He is and was the Best of the Best. No other driver in history until today was so superior as Clark. This man is the Olymp of driving - the Michelangelo of racing - a dynamic art at the highest level. So smooth, so precise, so fast....simply out of this world. One, who won in Spa by 5 minutes (!) in monsoon rain...One, who takes back a complete lap (!) in Monza and back into the lead... One, who took pole on the original 22,8 km Nürburgring track by 9 (!) seconds and more....One who won Indy by 2 whole (!) laps...For eternity and by lightyears unmatched in the sport. That`s just four examples of his mesmeric unique genius... 3
What I respect about Clark is that he was a farmer, with little to no youthful experience driving anything but a tractor. But when he got into a friend's race car, he was immediately fast. Every driver of his era called him the greatest. Almost all drivers today start kart racing at 5. Different times. As a natural talent, I don't think you can top Clark.
Farmers are smart and can do about anything..
@@davehughesfarm7983 I agree yet it's funny how many (mostly city folk) underestimate us.
With the greatest respect to Jim Clark, being a farmer hardly disqualified him from being naturally quick, you assume only city-dwellers drive on the roads.
@@jamesreynolds2867 Being quick in instinct to be out danger in blink of a eye from mean bulls, wild horses, things falling from barns, sheds, grain bins, pto shafts, gears of a combine..The metrosexuals dont even have a freaking clue..
@@jamesreynolds2867 - I must have missed the part where I said being a farmer disqualified someone from graduation to race driver. Nonetheless, it's still impressive to me and indicative of natural talent. Each to his own.
I can assure you that here in Scotland, Jim Clark is still very fondly remembered, and sadly missed. April 7th marks the 40th anniversary of his tragic death and I shall join many people on that day to pay my respects at his graveside in his home town of Chirnside. Jim will never be forgotten!
Well here it is 14 years after your comment. So I guess 54 years this April 7th, 2022. Elizabeth, I hope you are doing well, don in New Hampshire, USA.
Wow, I’ve never read a comment this old. I had to check the date when you said 40th anniversary cause it seemed like not much had passed.
Jim Clark, Juan Manuel Fangio and Ayrton Senna are greatest drivers forever. Top 3 all time...
Gabriel Pinho from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I was like "40 years? But it has been more than 50!"
And then I saw you commented 14 years ago lol
@@snydedon9636 Thanks for your comment, yes I am doing well, still watching F1 :)
thank you hammond for bringing us an amazing historical piece.
Yup
.
i visited the place he died in the forrest nowaday, there were still candles and fresh flowers.
I doubt it as it is literally in the middle of the forest and almost impossible to find since the track reconfiguration...it took us three days 8 years ago..
likely you saw...
Today, motorsport nuts of all ages still pay their respects at the granite memorial behind turn two of the Hockenheimring.
But this is not where Clark died.
If you want to find the actual spot you have to do some serious hiking...
The woods at Hockenheim used to be the circuit's trademark
Greg .. I saw a video on you-tube about 2 years ago .
It was a guy filming his visit to where Jim crashed .
There is long lane up to the area from a small car park and all the cards & things were there.
I know the track has changed over the years and the guy said that to get to Jims site
you have to be out side the circuit now .. not sure ?
I tried to find the video , I could not .
Regards .
@@Daracdor
I believe it may be the UA-camr, _'Circuits Of The Past'_ that you may be referring to.
*Lizeazu*
Yeah, in 1988, while attending the German GP, I located the stone marker (back then about 50yds from _Clark Kurve.)_ I left a small bottle of Moët champagne next to it. RIP Dear Great Gladiator.
Wish I had the chance to see him drive, anything he drove he won with few can say that. Jim Clark was special.
I was there on that fateful day. Can't believe it was that long ago. I still have the official program, my ticket stub, a copy of "Stars and Stripes" from the next day, and some photographs from the stands. I sat across the track from the area where the team trucks were parked. I can still recall my emotions and that of the crowd when Clark did not reappear.
bless
You want to sell those to me?
@@Weezy10580 I have a Bob Marley concert ticket from June 1980 if you're interested 😁
@@beaujoire hmmm 🤔
@@beaujoiretoo funny, lmao.😅
I have been a race fan since the early fifties and Jim Clark's death is still the one that hurts me the most.
+GL W . All time number 1, JIM CLARK. In my opinion the only other contender would be Fangio.
And senna in ‘94
@@yoshuaposhua25 Bruce McLaren for me. Great driver, engineer, and team manager. A load of skills for only one man. He shined brightest in Can Am, but was also a top tier driver in Formula One and LeMans cars.
How old are you
@@magnus1708 My birth certificate says 67. My knees say 90+. My teenage grand daughters think I'm older than that.
He led EVERY lap of EVERY race he won in his '65 championship season
Tom H GOAT
soupe2000 "of every race he won"
soupe2000
Analyze the comment before reacting
swardmusic Sorry I'm a bit stupid from time to time, my bad :p
swardmusic he still led a shit ton of laps
Fantastic piece by The Grand Tour on Jim Clark.
Any man that enjoys farming and being with his wife above all else has my unending admiration. RIP Sir.
Great comment on a highly competitive sport👍
He never married.
If Jim Clark had survived the crash he would’ve been 88 this year
I have been a fan of F1 all my life. I was 10 yrs old when Clark was killed. This is the first time I have seen this video. What really sticks out for me is Graham Hill who was Clark's friend and teammate. And there he is right after the accident that killed his friend and F1 Lotus teamate picking up the pieces of the mangled F2 race car Clark was killed in. So you know Hill saw the blood. And yet the following weekend got back in a racecar himself. That is a whole other level of courage and determination. Hill would go on to win the World Championship a year later in '68.
Graham Hill wouldn't be far behind. A shame Clark was the best and had won more races at the time of his death than any other.
would of been 5x champion
@@anthonywebber8152 like jm fangio
@@pc-sq7xg ye
Depends on how you see what natural talent is. Graham Hill did not even know how to drive a car on public roads but started racing F1 already. He ended up having to get a driver license between the 58 to 59 off season. I thick he was a mechanic, and it is not unusual that Chapman sometimes would have a mechanic or an engineer racing a third car. So, we are talking about one person who only knew how to drive a tractor, vs another one who does not even know how to drive AND with no driving license.
Formula One was the wild west back then. Never a good idea to have trees near a track either.
The thing which made Jimmy Clark such a great driver and what really makes a great driver of any sort is smoothness. Firestone measured tyre wear on Clark's wars after races and they found that almost every tyre after every race the wear was equal, which was very difficult to achieve when those cars were sliding around. Graham Hill was another smooth driver who was gentle on the car (they needed to be because the Lotuses were fragile t the best of times), but Clark was a master craftsman.
and hardly any wear on the brakes
A Lotus mechanic once said that he couldn't hear the engine on Clark's car as it went round Woodcote Corner at Silverstone. The mechanic thought that Clark was going to retire but he kept seeing the car at Woodcote but again and again he could not hear it. Clark won the race. The confused mechanic told him that he could not hear the car at Woodcote corner and Clark replied that he kept switching the engine off as it was losing oil pressure on right hand corners but that it was OK on the straights! Who else but Jim Clark would think to do that?
@@georgejacob3162
Good grief! That's incredible that he was fiddling around with all that while engaging a corner, let alone Woodcote.
@@georgejacob3162 well, I reckon it is unfortunately a myth, because F1 cars at that time had a dry sump - a oil lubrication system that maintain a high oil pressure even in really fast corners.
I watched in the Lotus 49. Sandown Park,Melbourne, Aust, late Thurs afternoon at the end of Feb 1978..The noise of the Cosworth’s V8s exhaust bouncing of advertising board was incedible.Jimmy was out alone there for over half an hour. He was power sliding that car through the last corner onto the main straight . It was a kink rather than a corner.He was the only driver I ever saw do that. He was wonderful to us 16 year olds at these practise sessions, treating us as equals. I saw him with Sally once, he stopped at the paddock gate let us through. No pretence, no arrogance just a friendly guy. With crowds on Sunday he went behind the ropes, still signed autographs but was much quieter.
Jim Clark, The fastest driver.
R.I.P.
You mean best? Lol
@@4lifebloods Who's the Best in Your Opinion?
@@onukkenin9154 senna
@@onukkenin9154 Senna
@@onukkenin9154 Ayrton Senna
That's an honour for me to speak to someone from Jimmy's family.
RIP Jim,RIP your mother.
I once saw the memorial plaque at Hockenheim as a teenager. After being reduced to solemn silence, my Dad explained at some length what he had previously seen of Jim Clark, finishing by saying he was the greatest ever driver.
I was there that day. Clark's car did not pass the grandstand and people thought maybe he had car trouble. A bit later, we saw a truck pull into the pits and there was something covered up. Shortly after this the race ended, and an announcement was made over the PA system. I heard some 85,000 gasp as one when the announcement was made. I was there with a friend and we were both in shock. A year later, I returned to the track. After the day's racing was over, the track was opened to the public. I stood at the place where Clark died. One story in the new was that a couple of kids ran across the track and Clark swerved to miss them. A very tragic day in auto racing.
Thanks for the history. Sad.
I was 12 when Clark was killed, and I still remember it to this day. I was utterly shocked. Jim Clark was so good that he had this immortal quality about him. I never thought anything bad would happen to him.
Hope all is well
I was also 12 when he was killed and couldn't believe it when it was announced on "Scotsport", a Sunday scottish sports programme.
Neither did the other drivers. They used to tell themselves it wouldn’t happen to them, but after Jim Clark died many realized if it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone.
I have met him once as my father worked with him on a sport line (mostly shoes) they were supposed to launch together.
My father went through this as one of the saddest losses he encountered in his life as Jim was the epitome of a kind and humble person / besides being the best driver of his time.
How old were you when you met him? That's an interesting story!
@@Mardonosky I was very young, around 7 years old. I remember my father going to the zoo of Vincennes to negotiate the temporary loan of a tiger cub. Why? Because Esso was a lotus sponsor at the time and their advertisement in France was: “Mettez un tigre dans votre moteur” (put a tiger in your engine). The project was to take a photography with Jim holding the tiger cub next to his F1 car engine while wearing the Jim Clark apparel and shoes (new line). It failed as the zoo refused the request.
Hammond, your piece was the pinnacle of human Motorsport filmmaking. Thank you.
I came here after I watched grand tour S3e5
Same😫
Same
same
We here🤪
Same lol
A name that will live on as one of the true greats of his sport, and also as a man of courage, decency and values.
It's always sad to lose competitors. Even more so when it's a person of this caliber. Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart and others like them are proof that rivals can still be a gentleman.
In the day.
Its so sad and Ironic that Both Graham and his Son Damon Hill both had to deal with the tragic death of a team mate during a motorace.
Like Phil Hill, like Denny Hulme, like Mario Andretti, like Jackie Stewart...the list is very long here
I was going to make a similar comment... Eery even that both father and son not only lost teammates, but both were of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen.
12 YEARS AGO!
even more ironic when you realize Jim Clark was Senna’s idol
@@housesports000 Senna’s idol was Fangio. Up to the point that when he died they didn’t tell Fangio himself, being afraid that the Argentinian who had this great bond with Senna might have had a problem.
I came here because of the grand tour. This is a very sad story.
R.I.P. Jim Clark
It is so sad that somebody so great had to die. My grandmother was childhood friends with Jim Clark as he was her neighbour, so I can relate to this.
Jim Clark was my hero as a boy, cried a lot that night. R.I.P. Jimmy
Anyone else tear up at the end of the Jim Clark grand tour segment?
Nawww he knew the risk 150 mph u wreck back then or even now yr dead
@@tomglorius5091
Ah, come on hardass. You know you did, or maybe you're not a real fan. Or maybe you don't have a soul.
@@tomglorius5091
And it was 170 mph. Yep, I knew it! I was right on both....
@They race me so hard you don't have a soul.
He was a quiet man who was incredibly fast in any car he drove, one of the best ever I would say
I always think about Jim Clark on April 7th. Truly one of the darkest days in automobile racing. God bless you, Jim.
When racers still had class and it wasn't all about money...
you didn't really need money when you had all the power and pussy you ever needed.
@@raymiller6351 oh daaaaamn
Back then just being a driver meant you had some balls. Today if an F-1 driver misses a session with his skin care trainer he is considered brave.
They don't make racers like Jim Clarke anymore
@@dirtydave2691 some balls ? How about balls the size of your head . These guys are legends and should be treated as such . I can't see Hamilton, spin spin vettel or say other driver in the past 5 years on the same level as Jim Clarke
This man led the way for other British drivers a true legend rip jim
Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks, Peter Collins, Graham Hill were there before Jim Clarck, so it's not Jim Clarck who led the way !
Graham Hill showed great bravery not just to race the car that killed the greatest driver at the time, but to win the championship too. Outstanding achievement
the saddest thing was, he wasn't even supposed to be driving in that race... Jimmy will be sourly missed. R.I.P Jim Clark, the greatest and most talented racing driver of all time...
I was at Brands Hatch that day, when we got back to London a chap on the Station told us he had been killed. We didn't and couldn't believe him. Was it a failure of the car or tyre, the tyre company were vilified at the time although many believed it was a car failure. So many amazing races I watched, one outstanding one was the Boxing Day meeting at Brands when he was driving the 4 wheel drive Felday after it had been snowing, he just drove off several seconds a lap faster than anyone else. Still the greatest.
It's terrible to see Grahm taking away the rest of Jim'car. Grahm and Jimmy were great friends; I remember some photographs where Jimmy is taking the little Damon on his arms. I was born some days later this terrible accident. I think Jimmy was one of the gratest drivers of ever, toghether with the great Ayrton. With the same sad destiny.
I say Jim and Ayrton are the two greatest as well.
I'd say Clark, Fangio, Stewart and Prost. Senna was brilliant- a genius - but not great- too reckless, rather like Schumacher. Moss was possibly the greatest all-rounder. Lauda was the greatest, if you consider bravery above all else. It's an opinion, really.
@@edwardwong654 have you seen how Senna pushes and bullies drivers off the track, because that's what he wants to do to win?
My dad,who was a welding inspector,went to Lotus in the sixties for an interview,l always remember him saying 'l don't think I've got the job,as l told them l wasn't very impressed with their workmanship!'
Lotus formula racing cars were dangerous.
I have never met a fabricator who was impressed with someone else's work but their own
He wasn't wrong. Lotus cars were fast but known to be deathtraps.
Never to be forgotten
R.I.P. Jim Clark.
There really should be a movie made about Jim. He was a fascinating man who accomplished so much in such a short time.
On practice days and qualifying days the crowd would go nuts when they pulled his car from the garage area and into the pits at Indy. He was a classy man and viewed as racing royalty there. I believe he ran Indy five times with a first in 65 and two seconds in 63 and 66.
Nigel mansell drove Jimmy’s car at Goodwood festival of speed only last week and was blown away as to how incredibly difficult it was to control. These guys had balls of steel! All of them legends. No CPUs controlling anything other than the CPU between their ears!
Beside Jim Clark being the greatest of all time, I see Graham Hill was a truly gentleman.
I met Clark & Chapman at the 1964 US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Both were real gentlemen that evening. I was in the army in 1967 when I heard about Clark's death, I was very shaken up by the news. RIP
I remember my Dad talking about him when I was a kid, he bought me a Scalextric set with a BRM and a Cooper Cars I think that’s what they were, BRM was red and the Cooper blue, correct me if I’ve got the names wrong I was about 10 years old, long time ago I’m 66 now, we raced the cars against each other and he was always Jim Clark, happy memories, my Dad is no longer with us but that sticks in my mind.
I'm only 62, but I well remember my Mum saying to my Dad, "Who do you think you are? Jim Clark?", as my Dad drove us too fast round a bend back in the 60's.
I was at this race, it was the first motor race I ever attended. I didn't speak German, and I don't know if they announced the death at the track, but I didn't learn until the drive home from the American Forces Network radio. I had followed F1 for a couple of years prior to this. I think of Jim Clark every April the 7th. I still have the ticket and the program from the race. RIP Jim.
Still can't imagine, how could that happen to him! One of the greatest of all time!
Think the car had just too much added lightness.
That video is so sad. I am Scottish and Jim Clark is my hero. R.I.P. Jimmy, you will never be forgotten.
I saw Clark win Indy as a little kid in 1965
Me too!
The fact that this appeared after Grosjean's crash is really something...
The Wikipedia entry of Formula I deaths neglects to mention Jim Clark. I remember going to F1 race in Nurburgring in the 60s. I was rooting for Dan Gurney. His car wouldn't start and he got on the track late. Jimmy Stewart took that one. I was a fan of Graham Hill and Pedro Rodriguez. Some of the drivers drove and parked their personal supercars to the event. We got to see Rodriguez' Maserati, among others. Before the start, the F1 engines were whining that high pitch unique to them. It sent chills through your body, and the hair on your arms stood on end as if electrified. Unforgettable.
robotnik77 the reason is he died in a Formula 2 race, not Formula 1.
@@lukaku20wba Yes, but Clark was primarily an F1 driver, and renowned, so should have been included.
I began watching F1 as child of the sixties and Jim Clark was my hero , I remember watching this race at the time and I was devastated by his death, such a tragic loss he was one of the greatest drivers and nice guy. RIP Jim Clark.
The percentage of Clark’s win ratio is crazy
If you factor in the ( regular ) car failures it is quite unbelievable. He generally won every race unless the car let him down.
I was only 11 at the time, But the name Jim Clarke has stuck with me all my life, I'm 63 now, But I have often thought, this genial chap from the Scottish Highlands would have just got better and better, Such a shame we never saw him become a true racing legend of the world, because I think he would have done , He was so talented , and fearless, two special requirements in this sport.R I P J C.
Clark was from Chirnside near Duns in the Scottish Borders, not the Highlands. He was born in Kilmaney in Fife
@@northern_lights9333 Forgive my geographical inaccuracy, Thanks for putting me right,
When you die doing the thing you're one of the best at R.I.P. Jim Clarck
Jim Clark is the greatest F1 driver ever. Period. I have been watching the sport since 1982 and have viewed documentaries of the 50s 60s and 70s
Graham Hill carried the Lotus Team on his shoulders and won the 1968 F1 Championship.
Jim Clark was probably the greatest driver ever. In 1963 and 1965, Clark equaled Alberto Ascari's record for Highest percentage of possible championship points in a season (100%). Leading 71.47% of the laps in 1963, Jim Clark holds the record for highest percentage of laps in the lead in a season. He also holds the record for most Grand Slams, taking pole, fastest lap, race win and leading every lap of the race in 8 Grand Prix. He won in sports cars and Indy cars, too. All in a short career.
How Graham Hill kept his composure...
Literally helping the engineers remove the carcass of Jim Clark’s car.
Graham Hill was a rock, the most senior Lotus man at the event, after Jim Clark died, it fell to him, the sad duty to get the car home, it must be remembered that he held the Lotus team together in the 1968 season, coincidentally as his son Damon did at Williams years later after the death of another great Ayrton Senna, those Hill men never ran from a challenge.
What's the figurative version of that? I can't wait until this constantly misused fad word "literally" goes the way of "Not!" that took decades to finally die.
Other than Brabham, Hill was the most hands-on in a technical sense from that era, had been a mechanic etc etc
The most naturally gifted racing driver of all time. Senna and Lewis are not far behind. Can't wait for this season to begin. Rog.
I remember hearing this on my Mom's car radio as we were backing out of the driveway of my aunt and uncles' house in 1968. Very sad day for Jim Clark's Family and the racing world.
RIP Jim 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
One of the greatest drivers of all time! sad loss..
U cant say that, because he cant mess with drivers of today.
@@real_JNH today's drivers only know videogames if youn compare to the cars at that time
simply the best F1 driver of all time...even Fangio said so himself.
If a certain brazilian god of the tracks never existed, i could agree with that, but the reality tells a quiet different story
@@Kilas73 I beg to differ. Senna was on another level, true, but it did require a great car, sneakiness, and aggression. Fangio drove very short seasons with less competition, but was just plain OP, managed the car impeccably and did some incredible things. Clark is, hands down, the best overall driver that ever was... Racecraft, smoothness, reliability, versatility. These cars were absolute coffins: very high top speeds with rudimentary handling (not to mention Lotus' infamous reliability issues that killed quite a few drivers.)
@@nistabezvegete Plus Clark could and did race and win in British Touring Car Championship, and Indy (2nd in '63 as a rookie oil spewing car ahead of him could've been black flagged; dominating win in '65.)
@@carlcushmanhybels8159 I believe he would have won the next 5 championships with a little luck in regards to reliability and performance. I'd have put 6, but I believe Jackie would've snatched one off him. Can't say the same about Hill, Fitti and Rindt, though.
Well I've always seen Stirling Moss as one of the best driver in all racing classes. For one he won 197 of the 494 races he competed in 1948-1962 in all classes. That's a 40 percent win ratio.
His 1955 Mille Miglia still is the record. He had a 100mph average speed for a 1000miles on narrow italian public roads back in 1955! He drove flat out for 10 hours! In F1 he pulled of miracle wins in underpowered cars. Sadly a crash in 1962 ended his racing career, but at least he's alive today.
Indeed. Moss was the greatest driver to never win a F1 title.
I saw Sterling Moss drive at Watkins Glen, back in the mid-'60s, Smooth like butter.
Always good to run into an articulate, respectful enthusiast. All the best for the new year !!!!
Rest In Peace you’re still remembered
It's really eerie how these vintage racing videos don't make as big a deal out of the death of a driver as they would today. The sports has come far.
No sadder day in the history of Motorsport. Grand Prix Racing died of a broken heart 💔😔
Americans felt bad about this accident too as he came here and won the 1965 Indy 500. I saw it on TV. Much better race than the fatality-ridden race the year before.
Flower of Scotland, will we see your like again?
I remember this day Jim.I was 5.It stunned me and my family.
Rest in peace Jim.
The cars, F1, Indy, even NASCAR... are appliances now. The cars of the 40's, 50's and 60's...thoroughbreds that did not care who they hurt.
I'd stretch that to the 80s. But remember also track safety changed too.
Only a true friend would over-come his loss and grief …..to assist in the painful clearing of a crash site that was indeed a final outcome of such tragedy. Respect.
Truly a legend, still to this day!
Yes, I agree - watching him gloving up and getting in when you know that is the actual race he's about to grid up for is pretty chilling, let alone the aftermath scene .
You're welcome.
40 years ago... :'(
Jim's life was cut so short after a terrible accident he was one of the greatest racing driver that ever lived and he will always be remembered in our thoughts and prayers forever and ever RIP Jim.
Greatest driver of all time.
Boa noite !!!!
Um dos melhores da história da Fórmula 1, sem dúvidas.
Dia muito triste para o automobilismo.
Só saudades......
Muito obrigado pelo vídeo e parabéns pelo canal.
Abraço do Brasil.......
At that time i was nearly 10 years old and a great fan of motorracing.
Sadly i lost all my scrapbooks about motorracing.
Jimmy was my hero and i was in deep shock that very sad day in august '68.
Jimmy was the best in his generation.
Yes nice one Hammond!-many probably had not even heard of Jim-but for the cognoscenti it was some recognition for the many who believed he was the best in times that your mortality was a real part of the sport. Did I detect a tear in he eye of Jezza?
Late reply, but Ur point is very significant. Many compare Senna's death to this. & say "it wasn't as big a shock as Senna" Many are young Senna fans of course & don't really know. The significant thing is that Clark was a household name when F1 was not half as well known to the general public & not even on TV ! He really was elevated that far above the sport. We got the news in the foyer of my folks' hotel & everyone - guests, staff, visitors old & young just went into jaw hanging silence.
40 years ago...
We miss you Jimmy!
I was 7 years old and had just emigrated to New Zealand, and Jim Clark was my first boyhood idol. I remember my dad telling me the news and I went straight to my room and took down all my pictures of him and never took an interest in cars again until I was about 17...(I am happy to say that I am now a fully fledged petrol head). I am currently reading a book written by Calrk just after his first World Title and he mentions that in a Junior race in 61 his car broke down.....cont...
Richard Hammond brought me here after that amazing piece on The Grand Tour
Well, before you berate someone else for their lack of research, perhaps you should make sure that yours isn't also equally lacking. Hunt had no role in the Lauda incident. He was the one who extricated Ronnie from the lotus in '78. Merzario and Edwards attended and assisted at the Lauda crash. It would have been the stuff of F1 legend indeed for James to stop, assist Niki, then glove up, return to the battle and win the race.
Amazing. Graham Hill helping to collect the wreckage. Woudn't happen today.
The wreckage of his race car shows what horrific crash he had, there was no way he was going to survive that. What a sad loss of incredible talent.
I can hardly compare F1 drivers. To win regularly, you have to be an excellent pilot, but times are so different, cars are so different and tracks are not comparable any more (with some exceptions like Monaco). Race conditions and security are so different. Who would kill himself in a wood bordering a circuit on these days ? That would be exceptionnal, but it can still happen. Would Fangio or Stirling Moss be world champion on an actual Renault or Mercedes or Ferrari full of electronics ? Think of Spa Francorchamps now, which has nothing to do with the circuit in Clark's days (he hated that track as much as Jackie Stewart did). In these days, there were every year two top racing drivers who died in the middle of the flames of their car which were ''bombs''. Jacky Ickx has escaped miraculously to the fire of his Ferrari in Madrid. What has happened to Jim Clark on the humid track ? A mistake, a failure, an uncontrolled skidding ? It is strange and surprising that no spectator and no driver saw what happened. The car was destroyed. I think the race has not been stopped, has it ?
Pitou F...Interesting observations, I think drivers were more respectful on the circuit in those days, given the consequences of an accident/error were a lot higher, I also think they were braver for the same reason. Mechanical failure must have played a bigger part too, no computer simulation, metallurgy wasn't as advanced etc.
Jimmy was the hero of all us, soon to be driving cars ourselves back in the 60s..... We were kids. Jimmy was a hero
The guys loading the wreckage away were team mates and fellow drivers..., what a funerary scene.
One of the greatest of all times...
R.I.P. Jim!!!!
I was 17 when I had heard of Jimmy's death. I am glad he came to America and raced here. RIP Jim
Well done Grand Tour....RIP Jim Clark.
Forty Five years today since the news came through. Still a legend. Visited his grave yesterday.
Jim Clark! Truly one of the greatest ever. I don't much care for arguments about the differences in NASCAR and F1. Each to his own. For me personally, as an Englishman, F1 is just the greatest racing on the planet. Schumacher is probably the best ever, though Vettel looks like he could be the same. For me, I love the maverick one-offs --- James Hunt - a real charmer who didn't give a toss - once was enough for James. Today though, its a little too pure, whitewashed (I am not talking about the safety here - safety is good) But what with computer telemetry, paddle gear change, and no clutch as such - not really DRIVING in my opinion - lets get back to "conventional" cars (without the danger of course).
Schumacher and Vettel need the best car on the grid to win, therefore not the greatest drivers ever. Google a fella named Ayrton Senna and learn my friend, the best drivers can win with any car in any conditions.
Chris Watkins lol Senna would have no chance...thanks I needed a laugh today
I always imagine a racing series where all the drivers drive identical cars with crash gearboxes that need double clutching for shifting to be done and absolutely no power steering, no launch control, no ABS, no traction control and absolutely, no aerodynamic components. But I'm a Formula One hardcore fan and I always see F1 as a medium for breakthrough in technology so I hope to see more freedom in design of F1 cars so they be more like a Formula Libre than a spec racing, but I wish there could be another series that focus solely on the helmsmen skills.
***** Senna died dumbly that makes no sense at all you say Senna was trying to escape Schumacher yes Schumacher had won the first 2 races didn't mean Senna was finished he clearly still had the speed to put it on pole no one really knows what happened at Imola u made such a stupid comment like you knew the guy
***** ok i have no idea how you thought Ayrton killed himself, his steering column broke that is how he hit the wall and brainless? he knew most of the formula 1 rules fully and if you where in the cars he was driving you would be obsessed to win wouldn't you? you clearly don't know what you are talking about.
lmcaleer8 Chris Watkins Ayrton was a great driver guys but you have to be serous lmcaleer in a Caterham against a Merc i am a fan of him and even i have to say he wouldn't stand a chance thats basically saying if you put him in a reliant robin against Koenigsegg one 1 he will win be serous dude
Shortly before his death, Clark had a suspension failure in F2 which had sent him off the track at high speed. He wasn't injured, but when Chapman arrived at the scene, Clark quite uncharacteristically said ( without hiding it from the attending marshals ) "Look, Colin - lets get something straight. If U're going to keep building them like this U can start driving them Urself again too". Many more drivers were lucky to survive their time at Lotus. Innes Ireland and Jackie Oliver to name two.
that was the amazing driver !!! :'( R.I.P
Jim Clark was my hero when I was a lad. My Scalextrix when I was five came with a leaflet in the box with picture of him, some inspirational words about racing, and his "autograph".
I was gutted when I learned that he had been killed. It felt so wrong to me that such a good driver should die like that; but in the years to come, several other top-level drivers left this mortal coil in similarly tragic circumstances.
R.I.P. to them all.
Jimmy's still my idol even after all these years, I've been researching the circumstances of his death and maybe for fellow Clark fans the following points will be of interest.
1. Graham Hill was left to complete the heat before being told of the accident, which happened about 10 minutes into the race.
2. Jim Endruweit of Lotus identified his body in hospital and said he 'wasn't 'marked' to any great extent - he was killed by neck and skull fractures. There are contradictory reports about whether Graham saw his body as well.
3. From the words of the marshal who said Jim's car snaked for 'about 300m' before going into the trees, I calculate he had 5 seconds, possibly a little less, between the problem appearing (tyre or misfire, this will never be known now I think) and the car leaving the track and killing him, very probably instantly. 5 seconds !! These words, long known, suggest strongly that the crash had nothing at all to do with the upcoming gentle right hand bend.
4 There's an intriguing article on the net - search using the words 'Jim Clark Mystery Lingers'. In it a photographer claims he took pictures of the scene, including Jimmy's body, but his film was confiscated by some sort of official and never seen again. He took more photos after Jimmy was removed.The article says that the photographer, first on the scene just before the first marshal, found him lying face down having been thrown from the car except for the lower parts of his legs. He said that the marshal turned Jimmy over and he looked 'asleep'. He (the photographer) was astonished when he eventually discovered Jim was dead. (The article's wrong about something, Jimmy wasn't wearing a seatbelt.)
5 The above article refers to the car sliding off the track at about a 45 degree angle, through a fence, over an 'embankment', then hitting small trees before being stopped by a thick one which killed Jimmy. I've read elsewhere some time ago that the marks on the tree were high up, this combined with the 'embankment' mention seems to me to confirm that where the car ended up was lower down than the track itself - in other words that there was a dip between the track and the trees. This means that the car didn't somehow somersault high into the air as at least one newspaper reported, it slid sideways, stayed high because if its speed, then of course fell to earth on impact with the big tree. The film and photos of the scene suggest but don't 100 % confirm this - there's one of a group of people, clearly much higher up, looking down at the wreckage, but they're looking at the back of the car, not the front - the back somehow ended up much further from the point of exit from the track than the front. Therefore these people are looking down from the 'other side' , not from where the car went off, but other shots do support my contention.
6. In those seconds Jimmy didn't brake - or at any rate the car didn't decelerate from, it would appear, between 130 and 150 mph.
7. Jimmy's shoes were still in the car. I suggest this indicates that, in a last second attempt somehow to protect himself, he wedged his feet against the bottom of the car.
I hope my comment is of interest. I find it astonishing that, still, so little is clear about what actually happened.
Please comment - especially if you think something I've written is nonsense !
ysgol3 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and research... I don’t think any of it was “nonsense” and it sounds quite reasonable, well evidenced, and logically presented.
What surprised me in this video to which you’ve posted your comment, is the fact that Graham Hill was permitted - not only to rummage through the wreckage - but to actually remove a piece of it (which he presumably did because he felt it may have provided evidence of a structural failure to the Lotus?) Whatever his reasons, the death of Jim Clark, even in a motor racing accident, would have necessitated an inquest to try to properly determine the exact cause of his death, and therefore for Graham to have removed a piece of the wreckage in that way, could be construed as interfering with an important investigation and judicial process... 🤷🏻♂️
Do you know what Graham removed by any chance, and why he did so?
The5th Musketeer . I don't think he tried to hide anything. The Lotus guys were there to secure the wreck. Probably feared a dead Clark souvenir hunt if the wreck stayed there.
@@the5thmusketeer215 what Graham hill removed looked like the bell housing from between the engine and the gearbox
@@the5thmusketeer215 Hi, thank you for your kind comment, sorry for the delay in replying.
From what I've read, Graham simply 'took over' once he accepted the fact that Clark was dead - he refused to believe it at first and demanded and got other confirmation.
Having done so, and somebody needed to because the other team members present were in a terrible state, he demanded transport and simply drove to the site of the crash where they picked up everything they could find as quickly as possible.
So it wasn't a matter, from what I've read, of being given permission by anyone, Graham, very strong personality that he was, simply took command and nobody stopped him !
I think Graham looks deep in shock here as he's gathering things up, but being a 'stiff upper lip' sort he just gets on with it.
Chapman wasn't there, when he was told by phone he immediately drove from St Moritz and, so I've read, his first words when he arrived to Dave Sims, Jim's mechanic, were 'What have you done ?', which I find disgusting, though of course Chapman must have been in shock too.
When the car was driven back in a lorry to the UK, customs officials, I believe in Belgium, demanded to see the wreckage when they were told what the lorry contained, and took pictures of it. But, again, nobody seems to have tried to stop the car being returned.
BTW do you know that there's film here on UA-cam of Jim's crash in the same car the previous week in Spain - look for 'F2 Montjuich 1968' - the person who put it on here doesn't seem to realise its historical significance. I've commented on it - I can't believe how big the impact was, and therefore can't understand why the car wasn't then returned to the UK for a full check, missing Hockenheim if necessary.
JIM CLARK - By far the greatest driver ever - no doubt. He is and was the Best of the Best. No other driver in history until today was so superior as Clark.
This man is the Olymp of driving - the Michelangelo of racing - a dynamic art at the highest level. So smooth, so precise, so fast....simply out of this world. One, who won in Spa by 5 minutes (!) in monsoon rain...One, who takes back a complete lap (!) in Monza and back into the lead... One, who took pole on the original 22,8 km Nürburgring track by 9 (!) seconds and more....One who won Indy by 2 whole (!) laps...For eternity and by lightyears unmatched in the sport. That`s just four examples of his mesmeric unique genius...
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Arguably the best racing driver ever, in his day he was untouchable like Lauda, Senna and Hamilton.
Hamilton has a technological advantage hardly anyone before him had and no solid rivalry. Do not associate him with the other legends mentioned.
Despite Hamilton's technical advantages he is still world class.
@@stephenclose9996 agreed in the current world we live in, but not at the same level as the others