New Jim Clark Museum in Duns - For Scottish Driving Hero
New Jim Clark Museum in Duns -
For Scottish Driving Hero
You have to be of a certain age, or a dyed in the wool petrol head to remember Jim Clark, a farmer but probably Scotland’s most naturally gifted racing driver ever. He won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965.Some say he was the world’s greatest ever racing driver, even greater than the legendary Ayrton Senna, whose driving win percentage Clark trounced.
From the Borders
The trust commemorating his life is planning to open a museum in his home of Duns in the Borders to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his death. It is using crowd funding to get the extra few bob needed to guarantee an opening next year. The trust president is fellow racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart.
A Demon Racer
Jim was a shy man, but a demon is a car – almost any kind of car. He came from a down to earth farming family in Duns in Berwickshire. The family certainly didn’t want him to drive in the days when the sport was inherently dangerous and every season saw fatalities. He started his racing career in 1958 and his ten year pursuit of excellence he won twenty five grand prix races and the insanely dangerous Indianapolis 500 race. His win rate was faster than anyone else in the modern era. He was a genuine Flying Scotsman. Jim was killed in 1968 on a nasty wet day in Hockenheim, Germany. He was racing in a Formula 2 event after the finish of the Formula 1 season. His death led to the start of the safety improvements we see in the sport today. Now we don’t have enough Scottish heroes to forget any of them and so I’ll raise a glass to this great man when the museum opens.
Special Occasion?
And if you have anyone special to remember then here at James Pirie we are here to serve. Why not check out our anniversaries and special occasion ideas. Quite a few are on special at the moment and as always there is free gift wrapping and free delivery on orders over £50. It’s Father’s Day soon, so I’ll be crossing your path with some stories and ideas about this grand occasion. As a father myself it is always a special day, when the young ones actually remember the day. So reminders coming soon.
