31 replies to this topic

[Lotus53B]

 

 
As mentioned here I was discussing with Andy35 on IRC memorials to racing drivers, and how I'd found that there was a memorial to Jim in his birth town of Kilmany, about 46 miles away from my home in Edinburgh.  I was going to cycle there, but Scotrail prices made it far cheaper to drive, so today I did... The statue is incredibly detailled, even the embroidered sponsor badges on his overalls are clearly visible, and today, the lighting was just perfect.

 

I wonder what Jim would have thought of this sign for his hometown...

 

https://goo.gl/maps/ATCEWG9FXg32
 
Whilst reading about Jim I discovered he attended two extremely prestigious schools near Edinburgh - cycled past one yesterday, but couldn't get close enough to get a photo (middle aged men in lycra hanging round schools taking photos are viewed with suspicion..).  Jim was always proud of being a farmer, but some farmers are horny handed sons of toil who till the ground and raise the kine, and some farmers pay horny handed sons of..yada yada...  I think Jim's family must have been the latter.
 

I hope to continue this post next week, by getting the train to Berwick and cycling back to Edinburgh, stopping off in Chirnside, to pay my repects.

Edited by Lotus53B, 29 March 2016 - 13:49.

[Jimisgod]

The face looks a little off, like a cross between Prince Charles and Tony Blair.

[Sisyphus]

Well, the statue certainly has a somber look!  Not the way I think of him--he had a nice smile in photos and newsreels of him after a win or just hanging out with his fellow drivers.  The crow's feet around his eyes don't help.

[RS2000]

Well, didn't Tony Blair go to the same school?

[Mistron]

No, Tony Blair went to Fetes, Jim went to Loretto.

[Andy35]

 

 
As mentioned here I was discussing with Andy35 on IRC memorials to racing drivers, and how I'd found that there was a memorial to Jim in his birth town of Kilmany, about 46 miles away from my home in Edinburgh.  I was going to cycle there, but Scotrail prices made it far cheaper to drive, so today I did... The statue is incredibly detailled, even the embroidered sponsor badges on his overalls are clearly visible, and today, the lighting was just perfect.

 

I wonder what Jim would have thought of this sign for his hometown...

 

https://goo.gl/maps/ATCEWG9FXg32
 
Whilst reading about Jim I discovered he attended two extremely prestigious schools near Edinburgh - cycled past one yesterday, but couldn't get close enough to get a photo (middle aged men in lycra hanging round schools taking photos are viewed with suspicion..).  Jim was always proud of being a farmer, but some farmers are horny handed sons of toil who till the ground and raise the kine, and some farmers pay horny handed sons of..yada yada...  I think Jim's family must have been the latter.
 

I hope to continue this post next week, by getting the train to Berwick and cycling back to Edinburgh, stopping off in Chirnside, to pay my repects.

 

 

Thanks for posting  Lotus, it certainly is a striking statue.  I wonder how that will fair over time with Scottish weather ?  Looks like a lovely day though for your train, hmm car,  taking  some of the strain.  

 

Speak to you this weekend for the next GP, a location a bit a lifetime, timezone  and geography away from the old days. 

 

Andy

Edited by Andy35, 30 March 2016 - 18:17.

[D-Type]

When I was near Kilmany a couple of years ago, we couldn't get there to see the monument as the road was completely closed for repairs .and my host reckoned the detour would take us too long.  

Edited by D-Type, 30 March 2016 - 19:51.

[Lotus53B]

Thanks for posting  Lotus, it certainly is a striking statue.  I wonder how that will fair over time with Scottish weather ?  Looks like a lovely day though for your train, hmm car,  taking  some of the strain.  

 

Speak to you this weekend for the next GP, a location a bit a lifetime, timezone  and geography away from the old days. 

 

Andy

Cheers Andy, in context, which I should have posted, it's more striking...

 

 

Next week, already booked, the train and Genesis will take the strain...

[Alan Cox]

The statue was unveiled in 1997 and was produced by local sculptor, David Annand, and there is also one of the same at Mallory Park. They were commissioned by St Andrews Motor Club, Chris Meek and Ford. David also produced the others which are at Mallory Park (Hailwood, Chapman, Surtees, Moss and Roger Clark) as well as the Hawthorn/Lofty England one at Goodwood and Roger Williamson at Donington

[Lotus53B]

I think David did a damn fine job.

[Glengavel]

David Annand also did the sculpture of Sir Jimmy Shand a few miles along the road at Auchtermuchty.

 

According to Wikipedia "Being a keen motorcyclist, Shand was also an enthusiastic supporter and spectator at the annual Isle of Man TT races. Jimmy also sponsored a motorcycle road racer from Errol, Perthshire called Jack Gow, a multiple Scottish Motorcycle Racing champion and later a motor cycle dealer in Dundee."

[Lotus53B]

Just to finish off what I started, and since tomorrow is the anniversary of the sad day at Hockenheim, I went to Chirnside today.  The center is a very tradtional village - I half expected Miss McMarple to wander down the high street.

 

I hadn't known till today that Jim's parents were interred alongside him, and I found it incredibly sweet that someone has left a minature steering wheel - you can see it between the flowers.  I laid a small bunch of various narcissi, snowdrops and bluebells between the stones. 

 

In the background, you can just about see my velocipede which carried me - the wind nearly killed me.

[P0wderf1nger]

Cheers Andy, in context, which I should have posted, it's more striking...

 

 

Next week, already booked, the train and Genesis will take the strain...

Isn't it based on a photograph of him walking down the pit lane at Spa? 

Edited by P0wderf1nger, 06 April 2016 - 17:22.

[uffen]

I for one think it is just right.

[Lotus53B]

Me too

[DMB81]

Paying a visit to Kilmany on my way home from work, tomorrow, the 7th.

Great photo Lotus 53B. Not been to Chirnside for a long time, will have to make the effort.

Steering wheel, nice touch

[Glengavel]

Isn't it based on a photograph of him walking down the pit lane at Spa? 

 

Yes, I read somewhere that it's his mother's favourite photo of him.

[DMB81]

Visited Kilmany at 7.30 am to pay my respects. Not a soul around and so quiet and still,

just the sound of the wee burn that runs behind.

Somebody had been recently and placed flowers under one arm.

Such a nice spot if you stand away and look front on.

 

Darren

[cedricselzer]

Today is the 7th of April. Jim Rest in Peace.

[JohnB]

David Annand also did the sculpture of Sir Jimmy Shand a few miles along the road at Auchtermuchty.

 

And - off topic - he also did the great statue of Rory Gallagher at Ballyshannon, Donegal.

 

Back on topic, here's a link to his portfolio motorsport section:-

http://www.davidanna...sport/index.htm

 

Good to see that in these days of modern 'art' (some bits of bent metal or random splashes of paint) there are still some people who do things properly.

[D-Type]

The link suggests there sre two statues - one at Kilmany and one at Mallory Park.  Is that right?

[E1pix]

Thanks 53B, I also think it's perfectly rendered just as it is... a serious and somewhat somber look fits the tale.

RIP, Hero.

[Tim Murray]

The link suggests there sre two statues - one at Kilmany and one at Mallory Park.  Is that right?

Yes indeed - the statue at Mallory Park was unveiled a couple of months before the one at Kilmany:

http://www.offbeat.g...Clark_Jim_1.htm

http://www.offbeat.g...Clark_Jim_2.htm

ETA: As Alan Cox also posted above.

Edited by Tim Murray, 09 April 2016 - 19:34.

[Andy35]

 

Just to finish off what I started, and since tomorrow is the anniversary of the sad day at Hockenheim, I went to Chirnside today.  The center is a very tradtional village - I half expected Miss McMarple to wander down the high street.

 

I hadn't known till today that Jim's parents were interred alongside him, and I found it incredibly sweet that someone has left a minature steering wheel - you can see it between the flowers.  I laid a small bunch of various narcissi, snowdrops and bluebells between the stones. 

 

In the background, you can just about see my velocipede which carried me - the wind nearly killed me.

 

Really good thread Lotus.

 

Great pictures and especially the photo of the statue against a typical Scottish background in early Spring. 

 

And you peddled for this to . Peddling in Scotland is rather for the brave with gradients and winds. 

 

Andy

Edited by Andy35, 09 April 2016 - 21:07.

[M Needforspeed]

A Certain South African GP .. It was FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY !!!... without ever forgotting his 25 th Trophy, as Juan Manual Fangio was certainly the first to acclaim

 

 Who is here ?

Edited by M Needforspeed, 01 January 2018 - 20:28.

[D-Type]

Fifty years ago! 
Where have all the years gone?

[M Needforspeed]

Fifty years ago! 
Where have all the years gone?

   I Hope some of the members will have some memories of what they did that day .. There wasn't certinly much fuss about Jim scoring one more than genteleman Juan Manuel Fangio , but ......

 

 Thank you tho share here , even vague rememberings

[Tim Murray]

IIRC I only got to find out that Clark had won by reading the next day’s newspapers. In the UK in those days motor racing was definitely classed as a minority sport, and I don’t recall any mention of the GP in the TV and radio news bulletins. As a Clark fan I was overjoyed, and it seemed that the 1968 championship was pretty much a foregone conclusion ...

[JohnH]

A Certain South African GP .. It was FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY !!!... without ever forgotting his 25 th Trophy, as Juan Manual Fangio was certainly the first to acclaim
 
 Who is here ?

Remembered well today and posted pics and this on my FB.

http://bleacherrepor...-formula-1-race

I think this was also the last Lotus race before the red colors came in also . Also was Mike Spence’s last race.

[Tim Murray]

I think this was also the last Lotus race before the red colors came in also . Also was Mike Spence’s last race.

The last World Championship Grand Prix in both cases, but not the last race.

[opplock]

The last World Championship Grand Prix in both cases, but not the last race.

 

Indeed not. I was there for the last race but no-one outside Lotus knew about the change of livery. Levin, 13th January. It caused rather a stir when the fag packet turned up at Wigram a week later. 

Edited by opplock, 02 January 2018 - 11:00.

[Tim Murray]

As JohnH has pointed out in the Sandown Park thread, today (25th February) marks the 50th anniversary of Jim Clark’s last race win, in the Australian GP at Sandown.