Racing at Winfield & Charterhall Airfield Circuits 1950 to 1964 + other events
and
driven by Jim Clark O.B.E.
and
driven by Jim Clark O.B.E.
Illustration without the intention of infringement is the spirit of the site so content should NOT be copied.
Thank you for visiting, hopefully you will trace in this archive resource the people and machines of interest to you. You will see a lot more than Winfield and Charterhall events as many competitors travelled north and south to compete well beyond 1964.
Generally pages are easier read in landscape but it's quicker scrolling down the countless images by phone in portrait.
Most images are jpeg reduced to monochrome of around 500kb or less but frustratingly they can take time to display.
My mistakes are inevitable but hopefully we can rely on the period printed words.
From 1st January 2020 all Winfield and Charterhall car and motorcycle race programmes can be found in the respective year by fingering the hamburger menu and/or MORE. . . . or going to the Page Index (see below). Sadly Winfield Sprint progs are rare.
The PAGE INDEX has quick links to pages however the abbreviated content does not fully reflect everything.
Pages are always in the process of being rewritten from the information I find or already have. Typing the results and finding late entrants or non starters needs quite a bit time and effort but I will try to fill in the gaps from reports and results.
Chronologically inserted when possible are many other mainly northern events entered by regulars during the Charterhall period and later. I am always looking for report and programme scans of these events, please do email David
Throughout you will see MlinkS to the MotorSport magazine archive material, however please be aware that unless you subscribe your access will be temporarily curtailed once you have reached the limit, currently 10 free articles per month as I write (December 2017).
Here is an example of a MotorSport link MlinkS dating back to 1975 which is a "Scottish Journey" undertaken by Denis Jenkinson reminiscing back to the period of Winfield and Charterhall. Obviously external LINKS regularly change without my knowledge so they will be corrected or removed as I notice them.
The aim is just to add a local perspective as I catalog some of the already published 50s and 60s history into one place. There is no commercial gain as I don't trade in books, photos, video or information so be careful not to be taken in by scam sites or pages. Other than Weebly branding you should see no advertising.
Generally pages are easier read in landscape but it's quicker scrolling down the countless images by phone in portrait.
Most images are jpeg reduced to monochrome of around 500kb or less but frustratingly they can take time to display.
My mistakes are inevitable but hopefully we can rely on the period printed words.
From 1st January 2020 all Winfield and Charterhall car and motorcycle race programmes can be found in the respective year by fingering the hamburger menu and/or MORE. . . . or going to the Page Index (see below). Sadly Winfield Sprint progs are rare.
The PAGE INDEX has quick links to pages however the abbreviated content does not fully reflect everything.
Pages are always in the process of being rewritten from the information I find or already have. Typing the results and finding late entrants or non starters needs quite a bit time and effort but I will try to fill in the gaps from reports and results.
Chronologically inserted when possible are many other mainly northern events entered by regulars during the Charterhall period and later. I am always looking for report and programme scans of these events, please do email David
Throughout you will see MlinkS to the MotorSport magazine archive material, however please be aware that unless you subscribe your access will be temporarily curtailed once you have reached the limit, currently 10 free articles per month as I write (December 2017).
Here is an example of a MotorSport link MlinkS dating back to 1975 which is a "Scottish Journey" undertaken by Denis Jenkinson reminiscing back to the period of Winfield and Charterhall. Obviously external LINKS regularly change without my knowledge so they will be corrected or removed as I notice them.
The aim is just to add a local perspective as I catalog some of the already published 50s and 60s history into one place. There is no commercial gain as I don't trade in books, photos, video or information so be careful not to be taken in by scam sites or pages. Other than Weebly branding you should see no advertising.
In need of some refreshment while you are in Duns? Then visit the new Jim Clark Café Bistro in the square where you can find free parking. Afterwards take a 2 min. walk west along the main thoroughfare and see the statue of Wojtek The Bear, stationed at Winfield Aerodrome after WW2. Unfortunately if you wish to see the Jim Clark Statue below (13th April 2018) you will have to drive north to Kilmany (KY15 4PT).
Since July 11th 2019 the much refurbished and extended Jim Clark Motorsport Museum
below is a great place to learn all about Jim, Lotus, his cars and Scottish Motorsport.
below is a great place to learn all about Jim, Lotus, his cars and Scottish Motorsport.
31st August 2019
Through the generosity of the owner letting a number of us sit behind the wheel here, it almost felt like I was at the GFoS on Saturday 10th July '21 when TKF 9 was taken up the hill by Gary Pearson followed by the Ecurie Ecosse C-Type JWS 353.
Through the generosity of the owner letting a number of us sit behind the wheel here, it almost felt like I was at the GFoS on Saturday 10th July '21 when TKF 9 was taken up the hill by Gary Pearson followed by the Ecurie Ecosse C-Type JWS 353.
from the Monteverde museum for 2023/24, the Border Reivers D-type is on display at the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum
Back in the summer of 2001 the following announcement appeared in the Vintage Sports-Car Club's "The Bulletin". Whilst circumstances have changed through the passage of time, the vision was thankfully not lost.
Scottish National Motorsport Collection (2001)
The Jim Clark exhibition in his home village of Duns has attracted admirers of this brilliant and self-effacing World Champion of 1963 and 1965, so it is the best of news that plans are afoot to develop the museum into a worthy tribute to the great Scottish tradition of motor sport and all the many outstanding drivers who have come from north of the Border.
Behind the venture are David Coulthard, Andrew Cowan, Jackie Stewart and Louise Aitken-Walker, as well as motor cycle champion Niall Mackenzie and a committee of local motor sport enthusiasts. Funding is being sought towards the overall budget of £1M from private individuals as well as corporate bodies, and an application for a Lottery grant is in hand.
Cars pledged for display include Jim Clark's Porsche 356, the car with which he set out on his career, Andrew Cowan's Hillman Hunter, victor of the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon, and Louise Aitken-Walker's 1990 Ladies' World Championship-winning RS2000 Ford Escort.
We are extremely lucky to still have residing in the locality successful and inspiring drivers including Louise Aitken-Walker MBE, John Cleland and Doug Niven, a cousin of our former racing champion Jim Clark. Competing more recently are Euan Thorburn of Duns who was Scottish Rally Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, Garry Pearson 2021 Scottish Rally Champion and John Cleland who is back in the 2022 Super Touring Car series. I cannot close this list of local people without mentioning our recently deceased Patron of the Jim Clark Trust Ian Scott-Watson who without question launched Jim on his way to becoming twice F1 World Champion. Ian's enthusiasm, skills and generosity will appear throughout these pages and I should mention that his 2016 memoirs "Black Sheep In the Fast Lane" is a page-turner available from the Jim Clark Trust! Having accompanied and also visited Ian on many occasions my lasting memory is of a very friendly impeccably mannered gentleman with a lot of time for me when recalling his encounters with such lasting enthusiasm and humour.
Scottish National Motorsport Collection (2001)
The Jim Clark exhibition in his home village of Duns has attracted admirers of this brilliant and self-effacing World Champion of 1963 and 1965, so it is the best of news that plans are afoot to develop the museum into a worthy tribute to the great Scottish tradition of motor sport and all the many outstanding drivers who have come from north of the Border.
Behind the venture are David Coulthard, Andrew Cowan, Jackie Stewart and Louise Aitken-Walker, as well as motor cycle champion Niall Mackenzie and a committee of local motor sport enthusiasts. Funding is being sought towards the overall budget of £1M from private individuals as well as corporate bodies, and an application for a Lottery grant is in hand.
Cars pledged for display include Jim Clark's Porsche 356, the car with which he set out on his career, Andrew Cowan's Hillman Hunter, victor of the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon, and Louise Aitken-Walker's 1990 Ladies' World Championship-winning RS2000 Ford Escort.
We are extremely lucky to still have residing in the locality successful and inspiring drivers including Louise Aitken-Walker MBE, John Cleland and Doug Niven, a cousin of our former racing champion Jim Clark. Competing more recently are Euan Thorburn of Duns who was Scottish Rally Champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, Garry Pearson 2021 Scottish Rally Champion and John Cleland who is back in the 2022 Super Touring Car series. I cannot close this list of local people without mentioning our recently deceased Patron of the Jim Clark Trust Ian Scott-Watson who without question launched Jim on his way to becoming twice F1 World Champion. Ian's enthusiasm, skills and generosity will appear throughout these pages and I should mention that his 2016 memoirs "Black Sheep In the Fast Lane" is a page-turner available from the Jim Clark Trust! Having accompanied and also visited Ian on many occasions my lasting memory is of a very friendly impeccably mannered gentleman with a lot of time for me when recalling his encounters with such lasting enthusiasm and humour.
Euan Thorburn locally on the 2012 Reivers Rally and successfully back in 2022, 2023 and 2024
recently deceased Patron Andrew Cowan, Louise Aitken-Walker and Doug Niven at the first day of the Chirnside 50th Anniversary Event
Andrew in his 1965 ex-works Hillman Imp FRW 304C at the start of the 2009 Jim Clark Rally in Duns.
The car history and current owner Richard Claydon featured in Motorsport News October 6th 2022 "Down The Workshop" Historics weekly feature.
The car history and current owner Richard Claydon featured in Motorsport News October 6th 2022 "Down The Workshop" Historics weekly feature.
Class 42 "Giants of Modern Rallying" at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Above twice British Touring Car Champion John Cleland at the 50th Anniversary Event outside the Jim Clark Room. John was racing in May '22 at Knockhill's Super Touring Car Trophy race for the David Leslie Trophy which he won.
Below with Ben Smith ex-chairman of the Jim Clark Trust at Thirlestane Castle 2022. In his Event Programme, Edward Maitland-Carew explained how The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic came to life. His mindset was saying 'If you're going to make something, make it as big and great as you can'. So, with that in mind he reached out to Ben Smith through whom things really developed.
ITV Border aired the special edition Border Life programme of this Race Against Dementia event - Catch up on Border Life 24th July 2022.
Below with Ben Smith ex-chairman of the Jim Clark Trust at Thirlestane Castle 2022. In his Event Programme, Edward Maitland-Carew explained how The Sir Jackie Stewart Classic came to life. His mindset was saying 'If you're going to make something, make it as big and great as you can'. So, with that in mind he reached out to Ben Smith through whom things really developed.
ITV Border aired the special edition Border Life programme of this Race Against Dementia event - Catch up on Border Life 24th July 2022.
In 1950 on the 3rd August it was reported in the weekly Berwick Advertiser that if ambitious plans of Berwick and District Motor Club (BDMC) materialised, the now disused runways of Winfield Aerodrome may become a new Border racing track. A deputation from the club had visited Winfield and inspected the derequisitioned 'drome. The outcome of their proposals were to be submitted to the R.A.C. who were expected to send investigators north within a few weeks. A member of the BDMC told reporters on 2nd August "It may be that the R.A.C. will demand more improvements than we can afford, but the proposition is certainly well worth 'a go', the tarmac is pretty rough at present but we could soon put that right." Altogether the club envisaged using a circuit of about two miles for sports and racing cars and it was believed that Scottish Clubs would support the project. At that time the nearest track to Berwick was said to be at Croft near Darlington.
The BDMC held a meeting on the 5th September to finalise plans and two days later , under a granted R.A.C. Closed Invitation Permit, a race meeting for cars on 7th October was being announced by the three motor car clubs which had banded together.
By 28th September 45 entries had been received and nine races for both sports and racing cars were proposed with no more than 15 cars at one time allowed on the track, a drawing of which appeared that day in the Berwick Journal. On Thursday 5th October trial runs were made by David Murray of Edinburgh in a Maserati and W.E. Wilkinson, also of Edinburgh, in an E.R.A. Having lapped the course at 78 m.p.h. in dry conditions, David Murray expressed the opinion that it was a good track, although inclined to be bumpy in places. Practice took place on Friday 6th October which was missed by a disappointed Reg Parnell who was held up by radiator trouble at Berwick in the borrowed Bentley. A twin-engined monoplane landed with a spare part and took off just before the meeting started to the wonderment of the crowd.
The BDMC held a meeting on the 5th September to finalise plans and two days later , under a granted R.A.C. Closed Invitation Permit, a race meeting for cars on 7th October was being announced by the three motor car clubs which had banded together.
By 28th September 45 entries had been received and nine races for both sports and racing cars were proposed with no more than 15 cars at one time allowed on the track, a drawing of which appeared that day in the Berwick Journal. On Thursday 5th October trial runs were made by David Murray of Edinburgh in a Maserati and W.E. Wilkinson, also of Edinburgh, in an E.R.A. Having lapped the course at 78 m.p.h. in dry conditions, David Murray expressed the opinion that it was a good track, although inclined to be bumpy in places. Practice took place on Friday 6th October which was missed by a disappointed Reg Parnell who was held up by radiator trouble at Berwick in the borrowed Bentley. A twin-engined monoplane landed with a spare part and took off just before the meeting started to the wonderment of the crowd.
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It is not surprising that local reporting varied on the 15,000 or 20,000 crowd who rewarded the Clubs' enterprise at this meeting which commenced at 2.30pm on Saturday October 7th 1950. There was no charge for admittance for pedestrians although parking charges on the day were 2s 6d for motor-cycles, 10s for cars and "buses charged 1s per seat". It was presented by the Berwick and District Motor Club, Lothian Car Club (Edinburgh) Ltd. and the Hawick and Border Car and M.C. Club. The twelve men of the three clubs came to be known as the Winfield Joint Committee (WJC).
The circuit was two miles long and racing took place by kind permission of John Scott Esq. and Matthew Fleming Esq. The granted R.A.C Permit was B/545 and the meeting was held under the International Sporting Code of the F.I.A. and the General Competition of the R.A.C.
The honour of being the first to start racing went to the Class 2 Sports Cars up to 1200cc supercharged and 1500cc unsupercharged and was won, appropriately, by local BDMC driver J.R. McBain (No.24) in a 1087cc MG. The race, also reported in Gregor Grant's weekly Autosport of October 13th, was 10 miles long and won in 9 mins 2.2 secs (66.4 mph).
Subsequent car racing meetings at the circuit took place on Saturday July 21st 1951 and Saturday October 13th 1951. Winfield continued to be used for smaller events including sprints and tests. These three meetings will be covered on the 1950 and 1951 pages.
At the BDMC dinner on 5th December in the Rum Puncheon Restaurant, David Murray naturally said "Winfield, of course, is my favourite circuit" but also reflected "The first thing that struck me, about a fortnight before the meeting, was what an awful circuit it was".
He then complemented the BDMC members and Hawick men for their marvelous job in preparing the track.
The circuit was two miles long and racing took place by kind permission of John Scott Esq. and Matthew Fleming Esq. The granted R.A.C Permit was B/545 and the meeting was held under the International Sporting Code of the F.I.A. and the General Competition of the R.A.C.
The honour of being the first to start racing went to the Class 2 Sports Cars up to 1200cc supercharged and 1500cc unsupercharged and was won, appropriately, by local BDMC driver J.R. McBain (No.24) in a 1087cc MG. The race, also reported in Gregor Grant's weekly Autosport of October 13th, was 10 miles long and won in 9 mins 2.2 secs (66.4 mph).
Subsequent car racing meetings at the circuit took place on Saturday July 21st 1951 and Saturday October 13th 1951. Winfield continued to be used for smaller events including sprints and tests. These three meetings will be covered on the 1950 and 1951 pages.
At the BDMC dinner on 5th December in the Rum Puncheon Restaurant, David Murray naturally said "Winfield, of course, is my favourite circuit" but also reflected "The first thing that struck me, about a fortnight before the meeting, was what an awful circuit it was".
He then complemented the BDMC members and Hawick men for their marvelous job in preparing the track.
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Near the end of 1951 the Winfield Joint Committee were advised against making Winfield their permanent home and were soon seeking a more permanent venue. They found Charterhall Airfield, an abandoned R.A.F. fighter drome, and it too had a fine two-mile circuit easily traced over its network of runways. The owner Maj. Henry Redvers Trotter, 4th of Charterhall [1902-1962] and the Mayor sportingly agreed to their holding race meetings on the 'drome. Charterhall's entrance is signposted just off the B6460 which joins the A697 between Coldstream and (closer to) Greenlaw. Maj. Alexander Richard Trotter, 5th of Charterhall, CVO was born in 1939 and died 3rd August 2022, he was 83.
At the entrance to Charterhall (signposted) stands a memorial dedicated to Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary RAFVR and Sergeant Kenneth Wilfrid Young Fison RAFVR who were killed when their Blenheim V crashed at Crunklaw very early on 8 January 1943.
One of the best known books about flying in the war is “The Last Enemy” by Richard Hillary first published in 1942 just seven months before his untimely death in a second crash. In another book “The Fatal Englishman, 3 Short Lives” by Sebastian Faulks one of the three biographies is of Richard Hillary and it closes with the short period he spent at Charterhall until the tragic accident.
At the entrance to Charterhall (signposted) stands a memorial dedicated to Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary RAFVR and Sergeant Kenneth Wilfrid Young Fison RAFVR who were killed when their Blenheim V crashed at Crunklaw very early on 8 January 1943.
One of the best known books about flying in the war is “The Last Enemy” by Richard Hillary first published in 1942 just seven months before his untimely death in a second crash. In another book “The Fatal Englishman, 3 Short Lives” by Sebastian Faulks one of the three biographies is of Richard Hillary and it closes with the short period he spent at Charterhall until the tragic accident.
There is an interesting 15 minute video by Mark Nichol "tragedy at RAF Charterhall" LINK
The first Charterhall meeting held on Sunday April 6th 1952 was a closed event (with only Club Member spectators) as required by the R.A.C. rules for new circuits. The meeting, as reported in Autosport April 11th 1952, opened with a 10 lap race for Formula 3 half-litre class and was won by Alec McGlashan in a Cooper-J.A.P. The second race was the three-hour relay race for teams of three cars, racing or sports-type of any description. Race 3 was a 10 lap Formula Libre event. This meeting will be covered on the 1952 page.
a genuine BMRC badge procured from Ian Scott-Watson
A significant event in the history of Charterhall was the formation of the Border Motor Racing Club (BMRC), and this "Club Chatter" page which appeared in the April 1956 Vol, 1 : No, 1 issue of the BMRC Bulletin (the Journal of the Border Motor Racing Club) explains how it happened.
The Editor of this Bulletin was Ian Scott-Watson.
The Border Motor Racing Club was formed in the middle of February as the result of a circular sent out by that well-known figure in Scottish motor racing "Jock" McBain of the Border Reivers. Although the weather could scarcely have been kinder to us, a fair representation of enthusiasts turned up on the 14th February, and the committee whose names appear on page 2 were duly elected. Since then, the Committee has not let the grass grow under its feet. Reg. Parnell, one of the most consistent competitors at both Winfield and Charterhall, has accepted our invitation to become President. A. K. Stevenson, secretary of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, one of the doyens of Scottish motor sport, W. J. Smith, secretary of the Scottish Auto Cycle Union and a figure already well known at our race meetings, and Tom Cowe from the North-East of England and also a keen motorcyclist, have all been invited to become Vice-Presidents. Thus you will see that the Club is patronised by names very well-known in both motor and motor-cycle racing fields. Our Committee represents interests over a very wide area, and at the last Committee Meeting John Garden arrived all the way from Inverurie - 16 miles north of Aberdeen - just to attend the meeting, and drove back again that night! " Brig " Morris, from Glasgow, is perhaps better known in the Rallying World, but one sees him at just about every kind of motor sport event. He is a Director of the Scottish Sporting Car Club. Charlie Fairburn and Les Stockhill are both keen members of the Newcastle Motor Club, Charlie being President, and both. although now car-mounted, motor cyclists at heart. Bill Martin, the Treasurer, needs no introduction whatsoever to anyone who has known Winfield or Charterhall since its inception, for it was he who was the original secretary and he, who along with our Chairman, really responsible for starting racing in Scotland. During the past year or so, both Ian Scott Watson and John Somervail, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, have competed regularly at Charterhall, and the latter has also done much rallying in Scotland and the North of England. Jim McCaig, maker of the very successful F.M.C. Specials which have appeared recently at Charterhall, is the last but not least of our Committee members and hails from Edinburgh. One thing which will strike the spectator at the first meeting is the amount of ground under cultivation this year. All the central area and the outside of the track from Paddock Bend to Tofts Turn have been ploughed since last year and this will prevent meanwhile the erection of a large refreshment tent. At this first meeting Jack and Willie Stoddarts' Canteen Van will be in attendance in the Paddock. We are indebted to the "Motor World" for the photographs in this edition. The Club has at present over 50 members, and more are joining in a steady trickle every day. Do you know of anyone who might be interested? If so, ask the secretary to send him a form of Application for Membership. Have you enjoyed this little Bulletin? It will be a monthly publication. If you don't like it write and tell us what you would like. Don't be shy!
The Editor of this Bulletin was Ian Scott-Watson.
The Border Motor Racing Club was formed in the middle of February as the result of a circular sent out by that well-known figure in Scottish motor racing "Jock" McBain of the Border Reivers. Although the weather could scarcely have been kinder to us, a fair representation of enthusiasts turned up on the 14th February, and the committee whose names appear on page 2 were duly elected. Since then, the Committee has not let the grass grow under its feet. Reg. Parnell, one of the most consistent competitors at both Winfield and Charterhall, has accepted our invitation to become President. A. K. Stevenson, secretary of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, one of the doyens of Scottish motor sport, W. J. Smith, secretary of the Scottish Auto Cycle Union and a figure already well known at our race meetings, and Tom Cowe from the North-East of England and also a keen motorcyclist, have all been invited to become Vice-Presidents. Thus you will see that the Club is patronised by names very well-known in both motor and motor-cycle racing fields. Our Committee represents interests over a very wide area, and at the last Committee Meeting John Garden arrived all the way from Inverurie - 16 miles north of Aberdeen - just to attend the meeting, and drove back again that night! " Brig " Morris, from Glasgow, is perhaps better known in the Rallying World, but one sees him at just about every kind of motor sport event. He is a Director of the Scottish Sporting Car Club. Charlie Fairburn and Les Stockhill are both keen members of the Newcastle Motor Club, Charlie being President, and both. although now car-mounted, motor cyclists at heart. Bill Martin, the Treasurer, needs no introduction whatsoever to anyone who has known Winfield or Charterhall since its inception, for it was he who was the original secretary and he, who along with our Chairman, really responsible for starting racing in Scotland. During the past year or so, both Ian Scott Watson and John Somervail, Secretary and Assistant Secretary, have competed regularly at Charterhall, and the latter has also done much rallying in Scotland and the North of England. Jim McCaig, maker of the very successful F.M.C. Specials which have appeared recently at Charterhall, is the last but not least of our Committee members and hails from Edinburgh. One thing which will strike the spectator at the first meeting is the amount of ground under cultivation this year. All the central area and the outside of the track from Paddock Bend to Tofts Turn have been ploughed since last year and this will prevent meanwhile the erection of a large refreshment tent. At this first meeting Jack and Willie Stoddarts' Canteen Van will be in attendance in the Paddock. We are indebted to the "Motor World" for the photographs in this edition. The Club has at present over 50 members, and more are joining in a steady trickle every day. Do you know of anyone who might be interested? If so, ask the secretary to send him a form of Application for Membership. Have you enjoyed this little Bulletin? It will be a monthly publication. If you don't like it write and tell us what you would like. Don't be shy!
Around six years after the B.M.R.C. was formed and with various ongoing concerns at Charterhall, the following news items appeared in Scottish Clubman between June and October 1962.
The circuit went on to hold meetings, including International events as well as motor cycle racing, until Sunday October 4th 1964 which was a Scottish Motor Racing Club (SMRC) Members Meeting. The amalgamation of the BMRC with the SMRC is best described by the following PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE which appeared in the April 1964 Vol, 1 : No, 1 "wheelspin" Journal of the Scottish Motor Racing Club.
Polkemmet as a circuit did not materialise as explained in this MlinkS
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
It was with great pleasure that I heard the two items of news which will undoubtedly make a very great difference to motor racing in Scotland. The news that at long last Scotland is to have its own motor racing circuit, situated in the heart of the country and from what I have seen of the site what will obviously be a particularly fine road circuit at that. I think that when it is ready we will find that it has been worth waiting for; there are too few true road circuits in Britain and Polkemmet certainly has the makings of becoming one of the best of them all.
It was with equally great pleasure that I heard that the Border Motor Racing Club and the Scottish Motor Racing Club Ltd. have amalgamated, for I think that nothing but good can come from any move to co-ordinate the efforts that have been made to foster and encourage motor racing in Scotland through the past years. Having been closely associated with the Border Motor Racing Club since its inception (and having enjoyed serving on the Committee from then until its members did me the honour of electing me as its President), I do feel that we must all have regrets at the passing of the name " Border " from the Club, but I think that even our Founder, Jock McBain, had he been with us, would have approved, and I am sure that under its new name the Club will gain stature to match the enthusiasm of its members.
All of us in the Scottish Motor Racing Club, whether car or motorcycle competitors or those who have joined just for the pleasure of being a member, must rally round our enthusiastic committee and help to put Scottish Motor Racing on the map. We must all be prepared to do our best to help to build up a really strong club.
This will be a most testing year for all concerned, but I am sure that the Scottish Motor Racing Club will go from strength to strength, and I will be watching its progress with much more than a passing interest.
JIM CLARK.
Polkemmet as a circuit did not materialise as explained in this MlinkS
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
It was with great pleasure that I heard the two items of news which will undoubtedly make a very great difference to motor racing in Scotland. The news that at long last Scotland is to have its own motor racing circuit, situated in the heart of the country and from what I have seen of the site what will obviously be a particularly fine road circuit at that. I think that when it is ready we will find that it has been worth waiting for; there are too few true road circuits in Britain and Polkemmet certainly has the makings of becoming one of the best of them all.
It was with equally great pleasure that I heard that the Border Motor Racing Club and the Scottish Motor Racing Club Ltd. have amalgamated, for I think that nothing but good can come from any move to co-ordinate the efforts that have been made to foster and encourage motor racing in Scotland through the past years. Having been closely associated with the Border Motor Racing Club since its inception (and having enjoyed serving on the Committee from then until its members did me the honour of electing me as its President), I do feel that we must all have regrets at the passing of the name " Border " from the Club, but I think that even our Founder, Jock McBain, had he been with us, would have approved, and I am sure that under its new name the Club will gain stature to match the enthusiasm of its members.
All of us in the Scottish Motor Racing Club, whether car or motorcycle competitors or those who have joined just for the pleasure of being a member, must rally round our enthusiastic committee and help to put Scottish Motor Racing on the map. We must all be prepared to do our best to help to build up a really strong club.
This will be a most testing year for all concerned, but I am sure that the Scottish Motor Racing Club will go from strength to strength, and I will be watching its progress with much more than a passing interest.
JIM CLARK.
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On 14th October 2023 a pre-launch event was held in the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum for the Scalextric Triple Pack - Jim Clark Limited Edition which can be purchased through the Jim Clark Trust.
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By the time Jim Clark left school in 1952 at the age of sixteen to work on the farm he already had a good knowledge of their tractors, and in late 1963 he recalled driving a 1936 Austin 10 in a field on his father's farm when he was only 10 but not inspired with any form of speed bug as a result. Jim's father also owned an Alvis which lay in the garage unused for most of the war. Just as there are conflicting stories of the Austin being a Seven and a 10, the Alvis is also shrouded in mystery. For sure both the Seven and 10 were produced in 1936 but the Alvis identification may have been subject to an unintended stroke of artistic licence. The painting of the car at Loretto School in the 1950s is well known the world over but to steal a phrase it's a "borderline case" insofar as the model and registration number were concerned. When the Registration Card for AFS 505 was located it was believed proven that the real plate related to another make altogether. So there was a conundrum in that AFS 504 was a Silver Eagle SG last licenced in 1963 but also ASF 505 was a Crested Eagle having last known whereabouts in Caithness with both these cars having been initially delivered to Edinburgh. Advertisement below from November 1936.
Whilst Kellogg's cereals no doubt appeared on the breakfast table at Edington Mains and a model car or two were still in his bedroom, there is no way Jim would have thought he could be launching the new Crispy Wheat or approving a Scalextric Model Slot Car Motor Racing Set some fifteen years later. In our house on Tyneside the Sunday Post with Oor Wullie, The Broons and some interesting puzzles was a weekly event I remember and I'm sure the newspaper was to be found in Kilmany and Chirnside with never a thought that Jim would be appearing in any Annual. By 1965, with two World Championships driving for Colin Chapman's Team Lotus and a win with a Ford V8 engined Lotus in the Indianapolis 500 to his credit, Jim was pictured on a Ford 4000 tractor at Edington Mains in a marketing print by Ford Motor Company Ltd, not exactly what he would be thinking about as he drove around the farm as a boy.
In his book Jim Clark At The Wheel he talks about cycling with friends one evening over to Winfield having heard Ecurie Ecosse were going to be testing. I can only imagine that this may have been just prior to the inaugural Closed Meeting held at Charterhall in April 1952 when they entered the three XK120 Jaguars of Bill Dobson, Ian Stewart and, to give him his full name and 1935 title, Sir James Louis Fitzroy Scott Douglas, 6th Baronet. The first motor race in Scotland which Jim wrote that he watched was the International Charterhall meeting on 11th October 1952, again not so far from his home in Chirnside.
On Wednesday 4th March 1953 Jim reached the age of seventeen and marched into the local Taxation Office to collect the application forms for a Provisional Driving Licence. Within six weeks he had passed his test and was at last allowed to drive unaccompanied on the open roads. At that time it is said his father had already bought a new Rover, his first and one of a succession, which remained garaged until the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 MkII had recorded 12,000 miles on the clock at which time it was handed over to Jim. Another recollection is that the MkII was his Uncle's car which was with Edington Mains Farm.
It seemingly didn't take Jim long to show his potential behind the wheel in the odd local event. Accompanying Alec Calder and Oswald Brewis at Winfield in early July is no other than a competitive J. Clark who was at this stage understandably not the best at doing it blindfolded.
On Wednesday 4th March 1953 Jim reached the age of seventeen and marched into the local Taxation Office to collect the application forms for a Provisional Driving Licence. Within six weeks he had passed his test and was at last allowed to drive unaccompanied on the open roads. At that time it is said his father had already bought a new Rover, his first and one of a succession, which remained garaged until the Sunbeam-Talbot 90 MkII had recorded 12,000 miles on the clock at which time it was handed over to Jim. Another recollection is that the MkII was his Uncle's car which was with Edington Mains Farm.
It seemingly didn't take Jim long to show his potential behind the wheel in the odd local event. Accompanying Alec Calder and Oswald Brewis at Winfield in early July is no other than a competitive J. Clark who was at this stage understandably not the best at doing it blindfolded.
below from a feature by Robert Coucher in the Feb 2001 Classic Cars magazine
"his first taste of competition saw him sprinting in a dark green Sunbeam Talbot MkIII in 1956."
below from Peter Miller's book Men at the Wheel published in 1963
"by taking part in rallies around the Border country in his Sunbeam Talbot MKII"
Model by Alan Redpath in period Sunbeam green. Jim's first was a MkII registration unknown and he soon had tastes of competition at a Gymkhana in early July 1953 (see above press cutting), a Sprint and the Berwick and District MC Border Rally in 1955.
In March 2024 I'd the privilege of having a Winfield photograph sent from Tasmania and the driver is said to be Jim successfully competing at a Winfield Gymkhana in a Sunbeam drophead coupe, possibly a borrowed Alpine. In a later incident with his car a well known passenger remarked to me that he knew it had a sunroof because his clothing was covered in mud!
"his first taste of competition saw him sprinting in a dark green Sunbeam Talbot MkIII in 1956."
below from Peter Miller's book Men at the Wheel published in 1963
"by taking part in rallies around the Border country in his Sunbeam Talbot MKII"
Model by Alan Redpath in period Sunbeam green. Jim's first was a MkII registration unknown and he soon had tastes of competition at a Gymkhana in early July 1953 (see above press cutting), a Sprint and the Berwick and District MC Border Rally in 1955.
In March 2024 I'd the privilege of having a Winfield photograph sent from Tasmania and the driver is said to be Jim successfully competing at a Winfield Gymkhana in a Sunbeam drophead coupe, possibly a borrowed Alpine. In a later incident with his car a well known passenger remarked to me that he knew it had a sunroof because his clothing was covered in mud!
In 1984 I bought my 6 yr old Alfetta GTV Strada for the same price as a 6 yr old Sunbeam Talbot 90 was selling in 1958
This was 1953 but it is purely coincidental to note that in October 1950 the New Sunbeam-Talbot 90 (MkII) was being advertised by local Rootes Group dealer The Coldstream Garage as being Smooth, Speedy, Safe, Supreme, Streamlined for Performance and Beauty. I am sure by the time Jim was given the Sunbeam-Talbot, perhaps it came with the farm, he would have been quietly encouraged by its pedigree. I understand that it was the Coldstream Garage (formerly Proudlock's below) on the river side of the High Street where Jim's Sunbeam MkIII was purchased as a demonstrator.
Perhaps as recognition to his affection for the Sunbeam-Talbot or was it the Esso petrol and oil used by Team Lotus, Jim purchased the Northern Garage at Tweedmouth, Berwick upon Tweed in 1966.
in 1957 some names familiar to Jim had also championed the Esso brand
On the farm
There are quite a few agricultural and commercial vehicles associated with Jim and I will try to find direct links to photographs if I cannot use them personally on my site. One vehicle, his "old farm lorry", was intended for taking the Border Reivers D-Type to Full Sutton in 1958. I have shown this lorry and the story on the 1958 page.
Jim at home on the farm is often as much spoken about as his cars and racing, below a display on Doug Niven's Elite in 2019 at Bo'ness.
"Come on dog, we're going to the sheep"
Premiered on the same weekend as the 2022 Jim Clark Rally this show will have come as a surprise to many like myself. It was a sell-out and in hindsight I'm sure everyone involved has now wished that a longer run had been arranged. Whether many visitors up for the Rally were lucky enough to buy tickets I don't know but there will be many outwith the area who were disappointed to miss it. It was an attention grabber from start to finish, not overdone with sets well suited to the chapters being told. I think Jim would have approved also.
The Musical was so well attended and created so much interest that it was repeated with a tweaked script and simplified scene changes between June 7th - 10th 2023. Ian gave valuable advice and support on the original script and stage production and was naturally remembered with appreciation and fondness at this production in the month following his passing away. During rehearsals for the show Susan Calman visited during an episode of her Grand Day Out which was aired on Channel 5 on 27th October '23.
Below is the 1941 Case DC41 tractor which in the early fifties was retired from farm duties and spent the next few years powering a saw bench at the mill. Restoration by Graham Campbell from 1980 stalled due to other work but in 2016 it recommenced. The story appears in the September 2016 magazine Old Glory. It is seen here (upper) at the Kelso Showground and (lower) more recently at the 2022 Sir Jackie Stewart Classic in aid of Race Against Dementia. The tractor reappeared in front of the beautiful Duns Castle for the Jim Clark 60th Anniversary weekend on June 24th and 25th 2023.
How Jim and Ian met at the Ednam Young Farmer's meetings was well told in the Musical.
Below is a 1964 Membership Card. Jim was scheduled to give a talk for the Winter Programme on January 21st 1964.
Many thanks to Sandy Hamilton for bringing his Membership Cards to Duns in 2023.
Below is a 1964 Membership Card. Jim was scheduled to give a talk for the Winter Programme on January 21st 1964.
Many thanks to Sandy Hamilton for bringing his Membership Cards to Duns in 2023.
Being members of the Ednam and District Young Farmer's Club and becoming great friends took Ian (correspondent) and Jimmy (photographer) along with John Sutherland to witness the Ecurie Ecosse victory at Le Mans in 1957. On this occasion they travelled in the DKW. Ian's full report can be found on the 1957 page.
Hopefully I may be able to photograph the complete two page spread myself in 2024 and update the image.
to be expanded . . . . . . . . .
David Spry 2024
David Spry 2024
