Jimmy Clark Anniversary

[cosworth151]

Tuesday, April 7th, is the 41st anniversary of the death of Jimmy Clark. Clark was killed in an F2 race at Hockenheim when a tire deflated on his Lotus in wet conditions. The tire came off the rim. The car left the track and struck a tree.

I remember I was watching Wide World of Sports when Jim McKay made the announcement. I was 14 at the time, and couldn't believe what I was hearing. In those days, it wasn't unusual for divers to be killed. But Clark seemed immune. He was the best, in a class by himself. He was also my favorite.

I'll always remember where I was when I heard about the deaths of President Kennedy, His brother Robert and Dr. King. The death of Jimmy Clark had that kind of effect on me.

[lkjohnson1950]

The best ever. Did you know that one of his greatest fears was that he would be killed in a racecar? He was considering retirement for that very reason at the time of his death. Try to imagine MS doing an A1GP race on an off weekend, or a track with a tree out where you could hit it. The same accident today would end in a trip into the tire barrier and a few bumps and bruises.

Lonny

[John S]

You are right guys, Jimmy was the best ever and it was a great loss to the whole of motorsport. On the point of dangers to cars going off the road the last place for high risk is now rallying, they still have pretty bad shunts in amongst trees and all sorts but it's no place for open wheel or sports cars. It has taken the lives of Clark and to many other good men to get the tracks to change.

[cosworth151]

You're absolutely right about that, John. We have a saying in aviation: New safety regulations are always written in blood. Sadly, it used to be the same way in motorsport.