April 7,1968

April 7,1968 , 36 years ago.The world lost one of the All Time Greats when Jim Clark died in a F2 race at Hockenhiem.

A very sad day. One of those that changes the sport forever. Not very often does motor racing lose its 'leader' at the peak of his powers. As Amon said "If this can happen to Jimmy, what chance do the rest of us have".

One of my favourite stats about Jim Clark was in F1.
Number of wins: 25.
Number of second places: One.

Of course Jim Clark did more than F1. He excelled in every facet of the sport (often at the same meeting!).

I wasn't around when Clark was driving, but of all the greats I have heard/read about, he is the one I am most interested in. He seemed to have a gift, not just a great talent.

Originally posted by Irv the Swerve
I wasn't around when Clark was driving, but of all the greats I have heard/read about, he is the one I am most interested in. He seemed to have a gift, not just a great talent.
same for me, i love reading about that era and especially Jim Clark

Another case of the sport losing one of their greats in his peak. I am not old enough to remember Jim Clark but from what i have read of the man & from what my father has told me about him he was certainly one of the best of his era.

Yes, he seems to be one of those rare people who were "born to race"...

i met him at watkins glen in 67 for the USGP and still have his autograph...photos that my father took of clark that weekend hang on the walls in my studio today......he was and always shall remain for me one of the if not THE best driver ever to take the wheel at a grand prix....like senna, it is still hard to believe that the 2 best drivers of their respective generations were so tragically lost to us....

I was around then and was at Indy when he took his Lotus/Ford to victory.

It is now small wonder that Senna looked up to him. Had JC lived and continued racing, it would no doubt be his records that MS is chasing. Jim Clark won 1/3 + of all of his 73 races in F1.

Senna had 162 starts in F1, 41 wins and 80 podium finishes.
Clark had 73 starts in F1, 25 wins and 32 podium finishes.

I don't know any other driver who was also the champion that Jim Clark was in other formuli, maybe there is.

Iwatched Jimmy in his last race in NZ, Teretonga Park, January 1968, only months before he died. His Lotus 49 didn't win, but his dominance and artistry was a delight to watch, particularly through the esses. A tragic loss at the hieght of his powers.... Just like Senna and Fangio, the most complete, most dominant driver of his era.

Never mind statistics. For me he was the best ever. Period.

The first meeting my father took me to was at Brands Hatch on August bank holiday 1965, guess who impressed me most...particularly in a Lotus Cortina, on two wheels at Clearways.

And so another year rolls round.

I was born ten years after Clark's death - but having learned of his achievements and visited the statue at his birthplace at Kilmany in Fife, it's clear he was one of the greatest ever.


RIP

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/7/newsid_2837000/2837559.stm