Remembering Jim Clark & the Lotus 43 | DriveTribe In Detail - Episode 03 

This is how a racecar should sound.

I think its worth noting the correlation between Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna. The place in this video, along with the museum, has actually been visited by Senna, his name is on the check in list. Reverence was indeed Ayrtons perspective of Clark, and in a somewhat unusual display of modesty, he spoke of Jim as "the best of the best." Senna actually commissioned a famous Mexican artist to create a painting of the grid at Monaco, with all of Formula 1 histories greatest champions lining the grid.... the order didn't matter, however Senna had specifically stipulated that Jim Clark occupy pole. Sadly, both the circumstances around their deaths would be eerily similar. Both of them were in their early 30s, both suddenly and mysteriously careening off the track at high speed for no apparent reason, both known for their immense natural talent being tragically cut short.... Even more odd, the teammate for Clark in the 1968 season was Graham Hill, who lifted the spirits of the team afterwards by proceeding to win the championship that year. 26 years later, Ayrtons teammate for the 1994 season? Grahams own son, Damon Hill, who would also proceed to win the championship, becoming the first ever father-son duo to accomplish the feat. May they rest in peace.

It's partly because of his driving style, mechanical smoothness and general lack of arrogance that lead to Jim Clark becoming my favourite driver in F1 history. Like Murray Walker said of him, "... Jimmy had no interest in being rich or famous, he just loved driving cars fast." My favourite thing about him was how humble he was about his ability. While club racing in Scotland, he asked his good friend Ian Scott-Watson, "why is everyone driving so slowly?" To which Scott-Watson replied, "Jim, it's not that they [the other drivers] are going so slowly, it's you going so damn fast!" He was so undramatic in his natural driving style, saying, "I don't drive any harder, I just concentrate harder, which makes me go faster." A true genius and a gentleman, a pity for me due to my aforementioned admiration of his ability and achievements that he'd been gone for over 20 years by the time I was born in 1989. At least his driving style and achievements have gone down in history and he's more than just a footnote

The greatest F1 driver of all time, not only for his unparalleled talent, but for his grace and character as well.

I was fortunate enough to witness Jim Clark's stunning victory at Watkins Glen in 1966. Better yet I stood about 25' away from him in the Tech Building and to this day I remember the quiet, modest aura he gave off. Like many others I have always doubted that driver error played a role in his fatal accident. Lotus Formula 1 cars owed much to cutting edge design but they were also fragile cars.

Jim Clark is one of the greatest drivers of all time he’s the king of the 60s

Juan Manuel Fangio say "Jim Clark is the best car racer"... Jimmy was one of the best. Regards from Argentina, nice video... that insane sound make my skin like a chicken skin!!! (sorry about my basic and dirty english), and the final pipes sound.... very nice end

I possibly saw Jim Clark win the last open-wheeler race of his career when one month before his death he competed in the last round of the Tasman Series at Longford in Tasmania. The race meeting was held over a long-weekend with practice on Friday, non-championship races on Saturday, day off on Sunday and then the championship round on Monday. From memory, Jim Clark won both the non-championship rounds on the Saturday driving a 49 with a 2.5 litre Ford V8. On Monday the heavens opened up and it rained, and rained and then rained some more. The Tasman championship was still a contest between Chris Amon and Jim Clark so the race went ahead. Piers Courage in a McLaren formula 2 car won in a canter being better able to put its power to the ground than the 2.5 litre cars. There is an interesting theory on Clark's fatal crash in the recent biography on Sir Jack Brabham. Brabham felt that Clark's legendary ability to drive around a problem masked his ability to understand that something was going wrong with the car. At Hockenheim, Brabham thought that Clark may have had a slow leak in one of his tyres but his ability to compensate allowed him to continue without realising the danger until the tyre exploded. He certainly felt that it wasn't a mistake on Clark's part that led to the crash.

In the history of F1 (or any form of Motorsport) facts and figures do have significance. Due to the accident of his birth and the era that Jim Clark actually raced in, there were fewer F1 races per year. Jim Clark's entire F1 career was just 72 Grands Prix. Equally the cars were much less safe and much less reliable than in today's era. Of the 72 Formula One Grands Prix that Jim Clark competed in, on 46 occasions something went wrong with the car and Jim Clark either retired from the race or was slowed down dramatically. Of the remaining 26 races, Jim Clark finished second on one occasion. Of the remaining 25 races, Jim Clark won the lot....... All 25 !! (NB This was whilst competing against Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill and John Surtees. Four men who won 9 World Championships between them). In the history of motor racing , it is not a matter of how you rate the drivers. There is Jim Clark................................. .......................................... and then there are the rest.

Beautifully done tribute. And it's all true. I saw Jim Clark in many races, from F1 to F2, Sportscars, and of course the iconic Lotus Cortinas. He was utterly brilliant in all of these different types. BTW if you discount the numerous mechanical failures of Lotus F1 after 1963, Clark won almost every single race he entered, giving him by far the highest win/race ratio of all time. No-one who saw him race a Cortina around paddock hill bend could ever forget they were witnessing most gifted driver ever. Did you know he also won THREE Tasman F1 series in four years? And the British Saloon Car Championship. No other driver in history was so consistently fast in a huge variety of different car types.

Undoubtedly THE greatest driver ever to have graced a Formula One grid.

Jim Clark was really someone special - not ashamed to write that I wept when he was killed. Thank you for this touching homage to a great man. JG

When I hear Jim Clark being called the greatest ever I feel justice being done. Forever my hero. Rest in peace the Champion of Champions.

Jim Clark an icon no other racing driver will ever come close to touching your driving skills , rest in the knowing you are the best and always be the best racing driver ever !!!!! (AKA HONEST HUMBLE AND TRUE)

Even before I was really an F1 fan, I knew of Jim Clark. A true great.

In the 1.5 liter era, Lotus used a Coventry-Climax engine, not a BRM. The BRM engine was only used for one year until the Cosworth was ready.

This almost brought tears to my eyes. A great video to commemorate an extraordinary man!

Mike Fernie you should be extremely proud, this video is top shelf excellent!!! Thumbs up from Ohio.

As a young Scots lad born in 1960, Jim Clark was my idol, when he died I obviously couldn't quite comprehend it, I just felt sad. My Dad who is a mechanic to trade & a superb driver on motor cars & motor bikes said to me in my twenties of Jim Clark, aye he was smooth son. It is only in my later years that I realised what Dad meant, that Jim left his cars after a race virtually pristine. Hey Jim, you are loved & I am so proud that you are a Scot. but more importantly, a lovely human being. You are loved 💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Jim Clark was my fathers favorite driver.

As a Brazilian who accompanies F1 for well over 50 years and who has seen so many great drivers race in front of my eyes like Hill, Stewart, Fittipaldi, Lauda, Piquet, Prost, Villeneuve, Senna, Hakkinen, Schumacher, Alonso, and Hamilton, I am confident, and certain that the greatest of all time was Jim Clark, and had he not been killed he would have won the 1968, 1970, and 1972 championships for Lotus, and would be, as I write this, driving a high tech tractor in on his farm in Scotlant every day.

Nice tribute. Jimmy will always be the undisputed no 1. Only Tazio Nuvolari in the same league...

That was an amazing tribute Mike thank you for that.

What a car! What a driver! Thank you for this!

Yes, by all accounts probably the greatest racingdriver ever. Thanks for making this video!

Great video. These stories about the great racing legends are always fascinating. Keep up the good work Drivetribe.

As an 8 year old lad and motor racing fan, JIm Clark was already my favourite driver. when he was killed. I was very upset at the time and even now it still saddens me that he got taken so soon. Not only that, but look at those cars. Definitely the 60's had the most beautiful cars in the history of the sort as far as I am concerned

I've been chucking this thing around the Feldbergring all afternoon and it is pure ecstasy, I'm telling you.

Good god, that engine is ridiculous!!

Such a beautiful video. A terrific tribute to the great Jim Clark. Thank you so much.

This video nearly made me cry 😢

Team Lotus used Coventry Climax engines in the 1.5 ltr era. It was only CC's decision not to make a 3.0L engine that prompted Lotus to use the BRM H-16 (as well as a stretched 2 ltr Climax V8)

What an interesting and lovely film, well done.

Beautiful video, thank you guys!

that picture of Jim Clark sitting on car with kilt on my dad has autographed as he worked with lotus and Jim Clark

Jim Clark IS the GOAT, no doubt about it. His statistics speak volumes. Not only that, he was the Greatest Champion- humble, down to earth, modest and he always raced cleanly and fairly- he never resorted to ramming an opponent off the track like Senna or Schumacher did. Jim Clark could drive the wheels off anything, he was and is THE MASTER. The Yoda of motorsport!

The predominant thought that comes to mind about that BRM H-16 engine: *What a beast!*

The GREATEST ! As a pilot and as a Man! What else?

Awesome 👏🏻 Great Tribute to a Great Man

It may have been useless, but in my opinion the Lotus 43 is one of the most gorgeous and aggressive looking of all Grand Prix racing cars. And of course driven by unquestionably the greatest driver.

My old boss joke Russell from west calder r.i.p had this car in his garage in bits with all intentions of rebuilding it but obviously never did. He was more of a buyer not a seller. It must of broke his heart to sell it on glad he did to see it now is amazing would love to see it in the flesh fully restored. Maybe one day i will.

2:30 Jesus Hector Christ. That sound instantly makes me think of Steve McQueen and the Dave Clark Five, love it!

Beautiful tribute mate.

Thanks for another great video Jim Clark WON the 1966 USGP at Watkins Glen NY in the LOTUS 43 BRM H-16 The ONLY WIN for that WILD BRM H-16

A wonderful presentation of a great car, a great engine and a great driver. I also enjoyed the anecdote by Mr. Hansen. What food for thought. Good piping. I am a piper myself but I don't the name of the tune you played. Please comment. Thanx again for this superb and informational video.

Congratulations on reminding this Scottish legend, you also could, remember the rally legend: Colin McRae! Still this year we saw the tributes written on stones and on the asphalt of the classification of "fafe-lameirinha" in the rally of Portugal! See you soon Colin Mcrae, "king of Fafe".

Denny was one of my favourite drivers.

Great item many thanks

Nicely done guys 😎

If my memory serves me right, BRM brought out the 1.5 liter flat eight in 65 with some success. Then the formula changed for 66 and BRM simply put one engine on top of the other to form the H-16. This proved to be extremely unreliable. Brabham went on to win the championship with the Repco ( Olds ) powered car. I cried when I learned of Jimmy’ s crash. May his memory live forever. He was and always will be the best.

No question about it Jim n Ayrton where the best two drivers of ALL times the two drivers that thrilled the public the most with their amazing skills n daring bravery, who I love the most? the truth when I see Clark racing at that moment he Is the best when I see Senna driving at that moment he is the best, so here we have it TWO number 1 drivers of ALL times, No disrespect to other real great drivers like Jackie Steward Nelson Pique M Schumacher n few others they where all Great 99% of perfection But we will always have the 2 greatest each on 100% thank you Jim thank you Ayrton

Nice music credit man!

H-16 engine requirement for Formula One in 2021 FIA. Make it happen.

Un vero corridore, una classe insuperabile questo era Jim Clark

That outro was special.

Thank you😉

Between 1962 and his death in 1968, Jim Clark won every race where he wasn't delayed by mechanical or tyre problems, and indeed he won many races nursing major mechanical issues such as the debut win of the Lotus 49 (glazed brakes and a faulty clutch). No driver before or since has come close to that. A few corrections to this video. In 1965 Team Lotus used Coventry Climax engines, not BRM. Lotus only ever intended to use the BRM H16 as an interim until the new Cosworth V8, then under design, was ready. Oddly, Colin Chapman turned down Jack Brabham's offer of the Repco V8, which would have guaranteed many victories and probably the world championship. The first car with the engine as a fully stressed member was the Ferarri 158 of 1964, designed by Vittoria Jano. Jano had previously used a V8 engine as a part of the chassis of the Lancia D50 of 1954, augmented by two frame tubes.

Great review of the Lotus 43. As discussed here, JIm's touch with a racing car was incredible. If something wasn't working just right with the car, Clark could adjust his driving style to compensate for the car's behaviour. If someone with Jim's talent drove a modern F1 car with its much greater reliability, real-time engineering feedback to the driver, etc, I'm sure that his winning percentage would be over 50 percent.

Never knew Mike could play the bagpipes

Saw Jim Win-All Car Types As Kid-Kid Now(Me)Says: Jim=All-Around Top Driver!

Proud to own a car with a LOTUS badge.

The man died 5 months before i was born. Too many greats went this way

gran piloto made in ARGENTINA

nice racecar

What happened to ep 2?

1959 Le Mans 2nd IN CLASS, 10th overall. His best finish was a year later, 3rd overall in an Aston martin DBR1.

3:47 isn't the Lancia D50 the first F1 car to use a stressed member chassis? Unless I was misled by an article I read a couple of weeks ago.

Could anyone be so kind as to tell me what the name of the tune is at the end of this video? Thank you.

Can we get the Top Gear band back together with Mike on bagpipes? 😃

Lotus was apparently concerned when the BRM engine showed up because it took 5 men to get it off of the truck.

And the 60th running of the Daytona 500 and the 102nd running of the Indy 500

R I P

The '60s had the absolute best sounding f1 cars and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

The BRM H16 was about as reliable as a fifty cent watch.

Lotus was so great back then . What happened to it now .

bruh can you imagine jim driving that with 8 turbos?

Most of the car is original. Rear paint wish bones calipers etc. The owner got also rims and original tyres . The time when man and machines were at their best and writing history. Manuel Fangio said he was the best.

Flatening a V-8 won't make it a Boxer-8 like it is said here ! 3:15

Wow, judging from the bagpipes at the end he must have really disliked Jim Clark.

I love this 3.0 cars, but I think they are abomination. 1.5 engines were reasonable for this era/chassis type. Obviously they weren't safe at all, but the power was spot on. With 3.0 and no aero, this cars became something out of this world. Meat grinding machines.

They don't make them like this anymore.

'Passing' ?, the man died.

imho wings destroyed F1

According to Chris Amon the Ferrari wasn't that powerful, nearer to 350 HP than 420.

I wouldn’t say he is the best of all time. Senna is who I believe is the best of all time. Clark is definitely one the greatest drivers. But not better than Senna

Great video but horrible narration

Back then formula 1 was not as restricted . That is how innovations happened .But now its just shit .

Was an Jim Clark racists

interesting,but he's below Senna on my top 10.