72 replies to this topic

[Phil Rainford]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97bo0EDayc

I remember this incident appeared on the introduction to BBC's Grandstand for some time

Kind regards

Phil

[Mallory Dan]

In the B38, Phil, with Serra following. They made 'em tough in Bolton in those days, the cars too! After this he got the B43 Mark pictured above.

[B Squared]

photos: Mark McComb

Jim Crawford's Bernstein Lola - Buick at Indianapolis, May, 1989. Jim qualified, what is shown in my source as, this 2) year old T8700 4th. He finished 19th after drive train failure on lap 135 of the 200 lap race.

A (Edit:1994) photo of Jim as he approaches fans to sign autographs.



Brian

[kevthedrummer]

Hello everyone. I've been following this thread with some interest, as I hail from the same area as Jim. As a youngster I always followed his Indy exploits with interest, yet was amazed that no-one else from around here had heard of him. It appears that this is still the case, which prompted me to write to the local paper with an article proposition. The paper's sports editor has agreed to me writing a feature length article, which I am doing for no fee as I simply wish to see Jim receive more recognition locally for his achievements. There have already been some fascinating anecdotes posted on this thread, and I will be sending some PMs in the near future ;) I don't want the article to be a dry biography of Jim's life, but rather a celebration of his fighting spirit and love of the sport. At the moment I attempting to track down information relating to Jim's early life and school days.

[MCS]

Originally posted by Phil Rainford
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97bo0EDayc

I remember this incident appeared on the introduction to BBC's Grandstand for some time

Kind regards

Phil

I will always remember him marching back through the Paddock after the race with his overalls covered in mud.

I didn't know why he hadn't finished, so simply asked him "what happened?"

He stopped and - clearly still quite astonished - said "I rolled it. Arse over tit. I don't know what we are going to do now!"

Of course has Dan has said, the B43 was commissioned...

[wdm]

Originally posted by kevthedrummer
[...] The paper's sports editor has agreed to me writing a feature length article [...]

Nothing particularly salient to add, other than well done for taking the initiative, and good luck in the endeavour!

[Bauble]

I remember an international F2 race at Silverstone with all of the top drivers in action, but when it rained Jim using an old set of Goodyear (?) rain tyres took the lead, and lead comfortably until the rain stopped, but it was a glorious sight while it lasted. This was in the Plygrange car if only the rain had persisted it would have been a famous victory.

One of those 'if only' moments.

[ghinzani]

Originally posted by Bauble
I remember an international F2 race at Silverstone with all of the top drivers in action, but when it rained Jim using an old set of Goodyear (?) rain tyres took the lead, and lead comfortably until the rain stopped, but it was a glorious sight while it lasted. This was in the Plygrange car if only the rain had persisted it would have been a famous victory.

One of those 'if only' moments.

81? He didnt lead but started from the pitlane on Goodyear wets because the Pirelli wets were not good enough. He ended up 4th I believe, not bad from the back. I dont think he still had the Toleman in 82? They had moved on to the Ensign F1 car.

The guy who did lead that 81 F2 race was a Swiss guy, Jurg Leinhard perhaps? He stayed on Goodyear wets and ended up leading most of the race until his battery gave out. Thackwell was catching him though.

[Frank S]

Riverside 1984:

[Direct Drive]

Jim Crawford was a rock star. Fast, brave, and although he turned his ankles into mush he continued on in fine fashion. He was running a strong second to winner Rick Mears the year after his accident and only a late race puncture stopped a 2nd place finish.
Good friend, miss him to this day.

[Buford]

One year early 90s I met Jim at the salad bar at the Steak and Ale on 38th Street. He was alone. I was with another guy and 4 snakepit girls. They cleaned up real well but they were Hoosier girls so total civilized behavior was not possible for them. Their idea of going out to dinner was Long John Silvers so this was like going to the Polo Lounge in Beverly Hills for them. We invited Jim to join our "party."

They were trying to be on their best behavior but they still couldn't avoid obscenity laced descriptions of nearly everything and I never got over being amused by Hoosier girls innocent proclivity for revealing the seemingly most intimate sexual secrets of their lives right in the middle of a sentence and continue as if they hadn't just delivered a total bombshell. They were oblivious to any normal form of "respectability" which in addition to their not yet spoiled youthful beauty, made them absolutely sexy hilarious. Needless to say this quiet Scotsman was somewhat taken back by 100% full metal jacket Hoosier girls in action and much laughter and mirth ensued throughout dinner and after.

Well anyway the Snakepit girls were impressed by me because I had been a race driver and I (with partners) made the "official" underground snakepit videos much coveted among the race teams and track regulars. I tried to explain to them that Jim was a real driver, not a small timer like me. He was in the Indy 500 and I was shooting pics of naked girls. That made him much cooler than me... get it? Eventually they did and as we parted company that night Jim left with two of my snakepit girls leaving me and my friend with only one each.

Well anyway I know many of you on this thread held Jim Crawford in high regard, and that was the only time I met him. But I am pretty sure - like 99% sure I got him laid real good. Can anybody top that?

[Prototype]

Buford,

You are a class act...........

[Paul Hurdsfield]

Originally posted by Buford

Well anyway I know many of you on this thread held Jim Crawford in high regard, and that was the only time I met him. But I am pretty sure - like 99% sure I got him laid real good. Can anybody top that?

[Buford]

Originally posted by Prototype
Buford,

You are a class act...........

Not sure if that is sarcastic or... Ok it is lol. All I can say is come on, boys will be boys, racers will be racers, and Hoosier Girls will definitely be Hoosier Girls. It is kind of destiny, or it was in those days when going to the track was cool for Indiana young people. Today it is very uncool to go to the track, thanks to the gestapo tactics of Tony George and the $1 a year Marion County Depuity thugs.

A generation of Midwest youngsters have grown up now without the decades long tradition of going to the track in May to party. They have replaced Indy with the Kentucky Derby whose organizers have embraced them and their infield party and not run them off Like the Lucky Sperm did, And now the clown after running off their dads and older siblings is trying to get them back with carb day concerts. Hasn't worked the May tradition of going to the track every day is broken among the young. There used to be more people in the Snakepit for a Wednesday practice day and every day during the month than is in the whole grounds for pole day for the past 13 years since Tony George fixed everything. It didn't make it safer for nice families and corporate fat cats as was the goal. It made it safer for absolutely nobody who now come to replace the once all month infield party. It made it safer to have nobody come at all than it was when people actually came of course so mission accomplished.

[kevthedrummer]

Today would have been Jim's 61st birthday. He was born at 10.40pm just a few miles from here. I'll be raising a glass to him later.

[MCS]

I found these a while back and forgot to put them on here.

http://www.tonytodd....imCrawfPlus.jpg

http://www.tonytodd....JimCrawHalf.jpg

Croft Formula Libre race 1973, but who can identify the other cars in the first of Tony Todd's pictures?

[Mallory Dan]

Looks like an F3 Ensign at the back Mark, then a Brabham and a 722 maybe? Drivers, I'm struggling with.

[Chris Townsend]

I found these a while back and forgot to put them on here.

http://www.tonytodd....imCrawfPlus.jpg

http://www.tonytodd....JimCrawHalf.jpg

Croft Formula Libre race 1973, but who can identify the other cars in the first of Tony Todd's pictures?

As a complete guess

Mike Mather in the March 722, Jim Charnock in the Brabham and John Littler in the Ensign

[arttidesco]

Despite avidly following Jim's career in Autosport I believe this is the only time I saw him race when I had a camera to hand.

[MCS]

As a complete guess

Mike Mather in the March 722, Jim Charnock in the Brabham and John Littler in the Ensign

I reckon the white car is a Brabham BT38 - but would it be Chris Meek in 1973?

[Chris Townsend]

I reckon the white car is a Brabham BT38 - but would it be Chris Meek in 1973?

No, but Bobby Howlings drove his car in a libre race at Croft in 1973...
I never can tell the BT38 and 722 apart

[Mallory Dan]

No, but Bobby Howlings drove his car in a libre race at Croft in 1973...
I never can tell the BT38 and 722 apart

Agree on those latter Chris, very similar for those not too technically minded. And I thought the Brabham looked a bit like a B18 at first, there's a part of Crawford's wing (I think) that seems to be a part of the Brabham nose...

[MCS]

No, but Bobby Howlings drove his car in a libre race at Croft in 1973...

I think you're there Chris! It's the Meek car, I'm sure (Brabham badge, STP sticker where it is).