|
|
Post by charleselan on Nov 4, 2017 11:34:39 GMT
Carl,
You are undoubtably correct on that matter about Jim and the camera.
I have heard the tale of his debut and his concern at how slow the other competitors were driving. In fact on UK TV the other evening they had a re-run of the film made by Jackie Stewart's son (he did a series) called "Jim Clark - The Quiet Champion". A very moving film. particularly the end, but the most for me was Dan Gurney when he told of Jim's passing, the great man was near to tears all these years afterwards. His quote "things were never the same after that" are very telling.
John Charles
|
|
|
|
Post by Carl on Nov 4, 2017 20:48:15 GMT
Carl,
You are undoubtably correct on that matter about Jim and the camera.
I have heard the tale of his debut and his concern at how slow the other competitors were driving. In fact on UK TV the other evening they had a re-run of the film made by Jackie Stewart's son (he did a series) called "Jim Clark - The Quiet Champion". A very moving film. particularly the end, but the most for me was Dan Gurney when he told of Jim's passing, the great man was near to tears all these years afterwards. His quote "things were never the same after that" are very telling.
John Charles John Charles, Well said as always. Clark and Gurney were good friends and close collaborators with Colin Chapman's early Indianapolis ventures. At his funeral, Clark's father took Gurney aside and revealed that Jimmy had once told him Dan was the only driver he feared close in his mirrors. They had several bonds between them. As pioneers in dramatic revolution at Indy, as superb talents and as unusually decent men. Gurney's sadness after so many years was as for a lost brother. I witnessed Clay Regazzoni's terrible accident at Long Beach when his brake pedal snapped at 190 mph approaching the second hairpin. Involved with race management, Gurney happened to be standing inside the barriers at the apex and immediately sprinted across the wide expanse of track and into the inadequate escape road. He was the first to reach the Ensign. After the race, my friend and I saw him near the infield race headquarters and asked about Clay Regazzoni. He was downcast and could only honestly answer with uncertainty, as he did. But he was as nice about answering our clear concerns with his own as anyone could be. An usually decent man indeed. Like Jim Clark. -Carl |
|
|
|
Post by charleselan on Nov 4, 2017 21:22:36 GMT
Carl,
Above all else Dan is a great man, and it maybe coincidence that he was also a truly great racing driver. There are those who today would look at his Grand prix record and suggest otherwise, because there were but few overall wins. However we both know that there was far more than that; for he could and did win in all types of racing. When Jimmy said that he "feared Dan the most" that was his greatest accolade.
There is a wonderful bit of film forage, which I am sure you will have seen, where there is a group containing Dan & Jimmy in the pits at Rouen for the 1962 French GP. They are all in a lighthearted mood and Jim & Dan obviously having some fun interaction when Jimmy reaches out and tweaks Dan's nose as only true friends would do. Both then burst out laughing.
I have said it before and will again; wonderful times, but Oh! so cruel.
John Charles
|
|
