JIM CLARK
Algy’s friend, Mark, sent through this excellent documentary about the late World Champion Formula One driver Jimmy Clark. I seem to have inherited some petrol head genes, and thought many of my readers would enjoy this BBC 4 Documentary. Algy did a bit of racing himself and was a contemporary of Jimmy’s of whom he was extremely fond. Jimmy was a sheep farmer from Berwickshire, Scotland, he was as at home at the farm, as he was in the seat of a racing car. The other complications of “normal” life seemed to bemuse him.
You may wonder why I would post such a story, which seems to have very little to do with my usual deliberations. I find it interesting for many reasons. Algy tells me that Jimmy was a shy, quiet, modest man of immense talent. He left this world early in an accident, the reason for which is still not agreed upon. This monkey reckons that the reason is not the obvious one given – he hit a tree at high speed at Hockenheimring, Germany. But the real reason was – he was unable to leave a sport which had become the controlling element of his life.
Who are we to judge this? Algy tends to think this is the danger you all run when something becomes an “idol” controlling your life – as the Bible would describe it. Juan Manuel Fangio, another immensely talented driver, who survived the sport, said “to race is to live, the rest is just waiting”. Like Fangio, Jackie Stewart was also one of the other few survivors, who knew when to stop. Something for us, who remain, to ponder – where did these two men draw their wisdom from?
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
The Historical Chimp
by a Tractor after a GP win at Silverstone in the 1960’s.
He stood with a lone piper playing this moving song.
4 thoughts on “JIM CLARK”
How interesting that these top racing car drivers, and probably many top performers in any field in life, are guilty of “idolatry”.
We can infer from the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 that our Heavenly Father is very aware of the inclination of His beloved humanity towards the temptation of idolatry….and He doesn’t like it at all, not at all. The very first 2 Commandments describe how idolatry takes away the love and respect we should have for God to misplace our affections on something else. That’s wonderful that God is “jealous” for our affection….it shows how much He loves us and He has the sole right as our Maker and Sustainer to receive our undivided affection.
It certainly is food for thought Paul, thanks for writing in! Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
How often we chase after elusive dreams that are far from reality.
Yes, love your comments Betty, that is true. But the reality for Jim Clark surely was that he was gifted enough to fulfill his dreams, but did not know when to stop. This is a kind of simplified, monkey philosophy. The dream turned into a nightmare that killed him prematurely. Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
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