Jim Clark 50th Anniversary, 7-8 April 2018

[Scott J]

Mark, how is the weather and are the roads salty?

We plan to be in Duns by 9am, then afterwards taking Minda to Eyemouth for Cod n chips lunch and a walk round the harbour .

[John_W]

We are currently at Chateau Rambeau.
The snow has gone and the roads are clear, although there is quite a bit of meltwater running down them in places and forming puddles. There is some remaining salt, but I think most of it has been washed away.

The weather is dry with hazy sun (well not right now, obviously, it’s night).

See you tomorrow.
John

[John_W]

LEC was at the turf-cutting ceremony for the new Jim Clark museum. Rambo, ab2cv and I had three of the ten Elan M100s at the event and Scott J brought his lovely S2 Elise. There was a good turn out of Lotuses of all shapes and sizes and it was good to see old friends again. There weren’t as many cars or people as there were at the event three years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of JC’s achievement of being the only driver in history to win the Indy 500 and the Formula One World Championship in the same year, but the weather this year was a little more inclement than 3 years ago.

There was one car from Belgium and a large contingent of cars from Holland, including one poor guy who owned an immaculate black M100 which got T-boned by a hire-car on the way to the event today. The poor guy is going to have to drive back to Holland without a driver’s window and then sort all the damage.

JC’s sister did the symbolic equivalent of turf-cutting by waving a checquered flag to close the old Trophy Room, and a green flag to mark the inauguration of work on the Museum. (As a concession to the lady’s years, they didn’t give her a shovel!)

We all wandered up and down looking at the cars, retreated to a cafe to warm up occasionally, had a last look round the old Trophy Room, and left just after 2 when it started raining and we had to get back to the cars to put the hoods up (Elan drivers always carry a towel).

Tomorrow the events are in Chirnside, but I’ll be heading back to Aberdeen.

SUNDAY 8 APRIL
10.00-16.00: Chirnside:
Jim Clark Anniversary Exhibition, Chirnside Community Centre
Jim Clark race cars static display alongside classic and modern sports cars with Classic Team Lotus and Club Lotus
Bonhams Jim Clark memorabilia valuation.

10.00-16.30: Duns:
Jim Clark Museum, Duns

[Scott J]

Good write up John and good catching up with everyone . I wondered why that black Elan was so filthy, i was thinking he must have tried the JC rally in it .

[Saltire]

Thanks fo th pictures; I couldn’t go, so that was the next best thing

[John_W]

It was a good day, even though conditions were not perfect. The roads were very greasy - I got wheelspin every time I tried to accelerate hard, so corners were treated carefully. After Scott left with the contingent going to the memorial, it started to rain, so we had to hurry back from the cafe to put the hoods up.

Did you get your fish suppers in Eyemouth, Scott. We drove back to Edinburgh and met Alan for a curry. I think Mark spent the evening in the pub avoiding Sticky Vicky.

Here are a few more pictures.

[Scott J]

Had a greasy over rated Eyemouth chippy. Headed back to Duns, planned Glasgow via Peebles but roads very slippy so headed up A68 to Edinburgh and home via M8. Then torrential rain and I feared aquaplaning so inside lane at 59 mph. Did a 720 degree spin at Knockhill one and only time I took Elise out so tread warily . Not as easy to drive as an Elan.

[Rambo]

I preferred the event 3 years ago when they drove JC's race cars up and down the street, blipping the throttles. I can still hear the deafening sounds reverberating off the walls of Duns main street. Fantastic

This time it was all too static for me. And cold too ! Still, good to catch up with friends, old and new.

I went for another thrash in the Berwickshire countryside today. Sun out, dry roads and a much better day than yesterday. There really are some great roads in the Borders. I also found the roads very greasy yesterday and once or twice a bit twitchy on corners. It was as if oil or diesel had been spilled en route Anyway John, that was my excuse from backing off from the white transit van

PS Sticky Vicky drank too much pink wine last night and was desperately hungover this morning. Even my Irn Bru smoothie didn't hit the spot

[GeoffSmith]

Trust swivel-hips to park in the disabled bay.

[John_W]

Keen eyes spotting the disabled bays! Anyhow Rambo’s allowed - he’s bionic! And I had my fogeycard with me (I got the bus to the curry for free!)

[Rambo]

Trust swivel-hips to park in the disabled bay.

The yellow line matched the car and as I was trying to be colour coordinated .......

But did you spot our attempt at trying to get the colour coordination of our LEC banner at the top RHS of the home page. It would have worked but for Alan and John

[markv]

LEC was at the turf-cutting ceremony for the new Jim Clark museum. Rambo, ab2cv and I had three of the ten Elan M100s at the event and Scott J brought his lovely S2 Elise. There was a good turn out of Lotuses of all shapes and sizes and it was good to see old friends again. There weren’t as many cars or people as there were at the event three years ago to mark the 50th anniversary of JC’s achievement of being the only driver in history to win the Indy 500 and the Formula One World Championship in the same year, but the weather this year was a little more inclement than 3 years ago......

Thanks for the report John, excellent read!