O dia 7 de Abril de 1968 foi, seguramente, um dos mais tristes da minha vida: naquela fatídica tarde de chuva, Jim Clark perdeu a vida em Hockenheim, numa corrida de Fórmula 2.
Uns anos mais tarde, na passagem do 25º aniversário do seu desaparecimento, o jornalista Graham Gauld, também ele escocês e seu amigo de infância, resolveu organizar uma homenagem, a que chamou “Jim Clark Remembered”. Como devem calcular, era uma oportunidade única para ficar a conhecer um pouco mais sobre o lendário piloto da Lotus, por isso meti-me num avião e desloquei-me propositadamente a Edimburgo. Deixo-vos com algumas fotografias desse fim-de-semana memorável, tiradas em 1993.
Junto à campa de Jim Clark no cemitério de Duns.
Alguns dos pilotos que competiram com Jim Clark. Do lado esquerdo aparece o famoso jornalista francês Gerard Crombaque. Jackie Stewart atrasou-se, mas esteve no almoço.
À entrada para a casa-museu, denominada “Jim Clark Room”.
O “parque fechado”, onde estavam expostos alguns dos Lotus que Jim Clark pilotou.
Junto ao Lotus Esprit S4 que a fábrica disponibilizou para quem estivesse interessado num test-drive.
Na sala dos troféus, ao lado de Graham Arnold, fundador e presidente do Club Lotus (ex. director de vendas da Lotus nos anos 60).
Os mecânicos de Jim Clark, no momento em que empurravam o Lotus 25 com que se sagrou campeão do mundo de Fórmula 1 pela primeira vez (1963).
Vejam este vídeo.
3 comentários:
Parabéns pelo excelente texto cuja leitura foi um gosto !
Uma vez mais, alguém que tem a Lotus no coração nos surpreende por fazer parte do coração da Lotus.
Bem-haja Pedro Aroso!
Já agora, para aqueles com interesse nas histórias e politiquices destas coisas, ficam as novidades do Jim Clark Revival.
This event has previously taken place at the Hockenheim circuit where Jim Clark lost his life, and includes important rounds in certain historic racing championships. The reason for the move to Lausitz is complicated and we are grateful to Historic Motor Racing News for this explanation.
The Story of the Jim Clark Revival Meeting
Traditionally one of the first big meetings of the year, the Jim Clark Revival meeting has been through a lot lately. First it had to be rescheduled from its April date to 14-17 May due to the DTM (the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe) wanting their slot at Hockenheim. Negotiations even took place with the organisers of the RMU (the Royal Motor Union of Liege) Classic at Spa, who moved their date to make sure the two meetings did not clash.
Organised by Ronny Bredhauer, who also organises the GTC-TC (the International Race Series for Historic GT and Touring Cars), the Jim Clark Revival then had to be cancelled altogether, again because of a conflict with the DTM series. The DTM then moved their date to May and wanted to give the original April date back, but alas, it was too late, as many of the Revival's regular series had made other plans.
Bredhauer said it was hard to describe, "How a person feels when five years of intensive work is destroyed with such a 'surprise coup'". Undaunted, he looked for another venue and has been successful in securing the EuroSpeedway Lausitz. (near Dresden in the state of Brandenburg in Eastern Germany, near the borders to Poland and the Czech Replublic) for the May 14-17 date, with as much of the original meeting content as possible still on the programme, including the clubs and enthusiasts that try every year for the Guinness Book of Records attempt, the vendors and the thousands of people involved in many aspects of the meeting.
Meanwhile Hockenheim circuit has issue a press release announcing the "Hockenheim Historic - in memory of Jim Clark" meeting on the original April date! They say, "The traditional event honouring the Scottish driver, who won the Formula 1 World Championship twice, will take place from the 24th-26th April 2009 for the fifth time at the Hockenheimring"
They say the name change came about because, "Ronny G. Bredhauer has transferred the traditional Hockenheim event with its old name to another circuit, which has no connection with the history of Jim Clark".
http://historiclotusregister.co.uk/calendar/upcoming.htm#lausitz
http://www.jimclark-revival.com/index.php?id=15&L=1
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