Overview of James (Jim) Clark

Motor racing driver. Born in Kilmany (Fife) into a farming family. The family moved to Edington Mains near Chirnside (Scottish Borders) when Clark was six. He was educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh. In 1959, for the second year running, Clark became the Scottish National Speed Champion and by 1963 had won seven Grand Prix for Lotus Cars. Twice world champion racing driver (1963 and 1965), he won seven Grand Prix races in a row, twenty-five in all, breaking the previous record of twenty-four held by the Argentinian Juan Fangio. In 1965, he became the first non-American since 1916 to win the Indianapolis 500. Clark died in a car crash during a Formula 2 race on the Hockenheim Circuit in Germany at the age of 32. He lies buried in the kirkyard of Chirnside Parish Church in the Scottish Borders.

The Jim Clark Room in nearby Duns is a museum dedicated to his life, containing a number of his trophies and memorabilia. There is also a memorial clock at Chirnside and a statue in Kilmany.

Clark was awarded an OBE and, in 2001, was inducted as one of the first members of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame.