RE: Jim Clark at Spa: Pic Of The Week
Friday 4th April 2014
PH is taking a Lotus to Spa next week, which we're looking forward to a great deal. And led to an inevitable dive into LAT's archives to go digging out some suitably evocative images.
Clark and Dan Gurney chat after the 1964 Spa GPAdd Lotus to Spa and it's hard to escape the great Jim Clark, who won here four years on the trot from 1962. Clark's dominance of the Belgian circuit in this period was bittersweet, having witnessed the carnage of 1960 which included the death of Alan Stacey and career ending crash of Mike Taylor, both in Lotuses, and the horrific fatal accident involving Chris Bristow's Cooper. Whatever demons Spa may have held for Clark were well and truly buried though, the steeliness required to go on and dominate at the Belgian circuit in the following years a measure of his talent and determination.
Jim Clark at Spa: Pic Of The Week
We're taking a Lotus to Spa next week; time to get in the mood
Clark and Dan Gurney chat after the 1964 Spa GP
Choosing one shot from LAT's archive to illustrate this dominant period for Lotus and Clark was tricky but we've gone for this one from 1965, his Lotus 33 in typically moody Ardennes conditions. The location for this photo isn't disclosed in LAT's captioning information but we're going to take a stab on that being Blanchimont in the background - any Spa spotters ready to set us right on that can do so in the comments thread below!
Traditional (4:3)
Computer widescreen (16:10)
TV widescreen (16:9)
Portrait (smartphone, etc)
Photos: LAT Photo
Discussion
Ah! So there were no buildings on the run up to La Source where the current pits are then? I'd first thought this must have been a chicane where the current one is near the pit entrance but on reflection thought such things weren't very 60s Spa. Unless they have a friterie at the apex and are taken at 190mph, as per Masta!
Thanks for clarifying!
Dan
Thanks for clarifying!
Dan
Jim is just turning into La Source. If you look at old photos of Spa you'll see that it was all on public roads with signposts and kilometre stones beside the road.
If you watch "Grand Prix" you'll see John Surtees in the 1966 Belgian GP in the rain-scary stuff.
Jim Clark was successful at Spa, but he hated the place
If you watch "Grand Prix" you'll see John Surtees in the 1966 Belgian GP in the rain-scary stuff.
Jim Clark was successful at Spa, but he hated the place
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Spa_1950.jpg
I think this is the correct track layout for the period. Looks like the OP is correct. There doesn't appear to be another tightish right hander on the track that is preceded by a left hander.
I think this is the correct track layout for the period. Looks like the OP is correct. There doesn't appear to be another tightish right hander on the track that is preceded by a left hander.
WowGAjon said:
Shambler said:
IMO the greatest F1 driver of all time.
Indeed, they were going on last week about Lewis Hamilton matching his number of pole positions, but didn't mention JC did his 33 poles from 72 starts.JC is top of my list of greatest F1 drivers, just fractionally ahead of The Old Man, and it's a measure of Clark that it's taken almost half a century for another Briton to equal his number of poles.
Dan Trent said:
Ah! So there were no buildings on the run up to La Source where the current pits are then? I'd first thought this must have been a chicane where the current one is near the pit entrance but on reflection thought such things weren't very 60s Spa. Unless they have a friterie at the apex and are taken at 190mph, as per Masta!
Thanks for clarifying!
Dan
No, just all trees and grass banks! I think on the outside of Blanchimont it was a high grass bank much like you can see in the picture on the right. Thanks for clarifying!
Dan
Would love to see the current F1 grid on the old Spa. Id suspect either a certain Finish or Spanish driver would win!
My favourite F1 racer of all time.
Maybe, the Rainman was the GOAT while Fahhio, Prost and Michael have more achievements, but the natural smooth style of Clark and his dominance over the era are astonishing! Indeed, I've read somewhere that when the car did not break, he finished all the races in the Top-2.
And that chemistry between him and Lotus...he is the most important driver for my favourite sportscar manufacturer, so that is why he is so important for me as well)))
Maybe, the Rainman was the GOAT while Fahhio, Prost and Michael have more achievements, but the natural smooth style of Clark and his dominance over the era are astonishing! Indeed, I've read somewhere that when the car did not break, he finished all the races in the Top-2.
And that chemistry between him and Lotus...he is the most important driver for my favourite sportscar manufacturer, so that is why he is so important for me as well)))
Dan Trent said:
andy_s said:
What Lotus are you taking down there next week Dan? V6? Or is it a surprise?
An Elise S Club Racer in an attempt to do the plucky British underdogs thing on a track day full of supercar high rollers. Wish us luck!Dan
There is one of the Clark victories at SPA (on the old, full-length circuit, of course) where Jim had car trouble in practice, thus started about 10th on the grid. And then drove through the field in the rain. And won. By a margin of 5 minutes.
I'll just say that again: by 5 whole minutes. I would love to have witnessed that feat. What must it have done to the morale of everybody else? It is these sorts of drives that make so many of us rate him as the best - ever.
I'll just say that again: by 5 whole minutes. I would love to have witnessed that feat. What must it have done to the morale of everybody else? It is these sorts of drives that make so many of us rate him as the best - ever.
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