1961 racing at Charterhall Airfield Circuit
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driven by Jim Clark
and
driven by Jim Clark
This page covering both racing at Charterhall and known vehicles driven by Jim in 1961 is not fully populated at present
1956 ASTON MARTIN DBR1/1 designed to win at Le Mans
Following Aston Martin's withdrawal from competition in August 1959, DBR1/1 was raced by Essex Racing Stables in the 1961 Nürburgring 1000 KM, with Jim Clark/Bruce McLaren retiring from 4th when a con-rod failed at 500 KM
Following Aston Martin's withdrawal from competition in August 1959, DBR1/1 was raced by Essex Racing Stables in the 1961 Nürburgring 1000 KM, with Jim Clark/Bruce McLaren retiring from 4th when a con-rod failed at 500 KM
1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato '2 VEV'
The Ex-Le Mans 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato sold on the 13th July 2018 for £ 10,081,500 inc. premium LINK
Driven by Jim in 1961 and 1962, 2 VEV was seriously damaged in 1962 during a crash at Spa and was replaced by a new car built at the factory to another specification, with the same registration number and incorporating many modifications. Another accident in 1993 except this time on the road returned the car to Works Service at the factory which returned it to 1962 specification.
Read this interesting article LINK containing photos of Jim posted in 2015. And another great read LINK by Doug Nye.
The Ex-Le Mans 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato sold on the 13th July 2018 for £ 10,081,500 inc. premium LINK
Driven by Jim in 1961 and 1962, 2 VEV was seriously damaged in 1962 during a crash at Spa and was replaced by a new car built at the factory to another specification, with the same registration number and incorporating many modifications. Another accident in 1993 except this time on the road returned the car to Works Service at the factory which returned it to 1962 specification.
Read this interesting article LINK containing photos of Jim posted in 2015. And another great read LINK by Doug Nye.
Fifty five years plus is a lengthy time when trying to piece together information and this "Lotus Anglia" is no exception. The starting point has to be Jim's book "Jim Clark At The Wheel" in which he tells us that in the winter of 1961 he found himself with Colin Chapman at the factory without a road car. Colin insisted Jim took this no ordinary Anglia back to Scotland so off he went and in true Jim Clark style caught up a Jaguar and passed him at well over 100 m.p.h. Other information suggests this car, with a very hush-hush experimental twin-cam Lotus cylinder head on a 1500 block, was a Belgium Embassy sourced left hand drive 106E. Similarly it has been suggested that Chassis 106Exxxxx2 was registered BKC 213, colour orange and an "old-timer" in Belgium first registered 28th March 1962. Jim could have just meant it was the '61 winter without being specific. Whatever the dates and numbers are there is no doubt that the car existed for at the 2015 Jim Clark weekend I stood alongside a stranger who at Edington Mains declined an offer from Jim to drive the fast Anglia. I wish I had the sense to ask his name and perhaps likewise he later wished he'd accepted. I can only hope that the car does still exist and can be restored back to its wolf in sheep's clothing spec even though the original twin-cam and it's unique development bits would be hard to include. The 1963 advert below suggests that this is the later 1558cc engine which followed on from the prototype and approx 100 b.h.p. 1498cc unit fitted to early road going Elans and various Lotus cars for racing. There is no indication that the advertised LHD Anglia was the only and very same car driven by Jim and others but it is nice to think so for the record. Miles Wilkins in his book "Lotus Twin-Cam Engine" pins it down to 18th January 1962 for the Anglia being prepared, LHD so that the master cylinder would not interfere with the rear Weber. There is a bit more information on the car if you wish to buy the book which confirms the registration number 335 AXY as seen below at a race meeting.
Once the world's largest grand prix collection, the Donington Museum closed on November 5th 2018. The history of the Donington Collection, where you will find the photograph below, can be read via this LINK to the Classic & Sports Car story by Lizzie Pope. The car is Jim's Lotus 21 (believed to be chassis #934) which was impounded for many years by the Italian authorities following the 1961 Italian GP in Monza on 10th September where Wolfgang von Trips was launched off the rear wheel of the Lotus and was killed, along with 15 spectators. Released it is said by the Italian authorities after seven years, Colin Chapman told Tom Wheatcroft of the Donington GP Collection that he could have it if he collected it from Italy. The full story of the car from the current owner John Delane can be read in this 24th October 2018 Motor Sport News LINK.
Chassis #933, which was driven by Jim at Modena one week before the Italian GP, was sold in 2003 at the Goodwood Revival for £155,500 inc. premium. The history of this 1961 Innes Ireland United States Grand Prix-winning car can be read here LINK. It is interesting that when Lotus sold the car it came into the hands of Charterhall racer Ray Fielding of Forres who competed with favorable results at many hill climbs including Bo'ness and Rest-and-be-Thankful.
