By 1967 Jim Clark had nothing left to prove. His record spoke for itself. Two Formula 1 World Championships, a British Saloon Car title and winner of the 1965 Indianapolis 500. The quiet spoken Scot was a consummate all-rounder, able to turn his hand to any form of racing. His enthusiasm for driving anything different from his normal mount led him to accept an offer to compete in a NASCAR event.
Clark’s stock had risen considerably in the states following his performances at Indianapolis. At the Brickyard he had also experienced the efficiency of NASCAR’s famous Wood Brothers pit crew, who were recruited to help out the Lotus mechanics.
An indication of Clark’s status in the motor racing world by 1967 was that the offer came from no less a person than Bill France, NASCAR’s founding father. He suggested entering a car owned by the Holman Moody team in the Rockingham 500, to be held on October 29th, Clark being paired with his countryman Jackie Stewart.
Stewart, still in the early stages of his career, was not keen on the idea of racing the large American car and declined the offer. He was replaced by Jochen Rindt who, like Clark, had a passion for driving anything. Another member of the European Formula 1 contingent was also present that weekend. Ludovico Scarfiotti was entered in a Plymouth owned by Tommy Friedkin, but did not start.
Clark’s qualifying attempt was hampered by the loss of a wheel but, nonetheless, he managed 24th position on the grid, out of 44 starters. In the race the Ford Fairlane’s engine gave up just after quarter distance but he had already worked his way up to 12th. The premature retirement meant that Rindt did not get the opportunity to drive the number 66 machine.
The race would be Clark’s one and only NASCAR start but the unassuming Scotsman left a good impression on his American rivals. In the May 2008 issue of Motor Sport magazine AJ Foyt offered his opinion:
“Like I said, when he came to our smaller tracks and even tried stock cars once, that showed me a lot about his character. I enjoyed getting to know him and he was a helluva driver, one of the best.”
The days of drivers competing in several different racing classes during a season are now long gone, but Clark is remembered as one of the very best at operating outside of his comfort zone. Within three years of the Rockingham race Clark, Rindt and Scarfiotti were all dead, victims of a deadly period in motor racing history.
SOURCES:
Motor Sport
The Nostalgia Forum
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