Bringing it home... 49's first race at Zandvoort 1967

[Lou Drozdowski]

Let's not forget the engine that would rewrite F1 history. The Cosworth DFV would help Lotus capture the first of 176 victories in it's 18 year run. Not bad...for a development investment of $100 thousand from Ford.

The team knew they had something special, the poke from behind had pushed the 49 some six seconds clear from the previous lap record.

Hill gets the jump at the start, while Clark starting from the third row settles in... 

[Lou Drozdowski]

If you have the chance...for all of us on this side of the pond, the Goodwood festival of speed is this weekend. I have made it a point to get up early and catch all the fun live via stream. The action got underway yesterday and will continue thru Sunday.

There will be four type 49's, along with a gaggle of race cars from just about every class of world wide motorsport and  motor bike. A must watch and worthy bucket list visit, if you so desire.

The meeting has always delivered the tonic needed for us gear heads!     (website or you tube)   

[Lou Drozdowski]

Amazing, that these special race cars are still around to be appreciated.

 The race winning # 5 Zandvoort car of Jim Clark heads the display at this year's Goodwood Festival of speed.

[BDA]

Nice collection! I was happy to catch #5 by chance this year.
 

[Bainford]

Wow! What a great looking display.

I agree that it is amazing so many of these cars are still around when one considers how little respect old and obsolete race cars get. I am also very glad that old race cars have been removed from the museum pedestals and placed on the race tracks again to compete in anger. Thanks for the fine photo, Lou.

[Lou Drozdowski]

As mentioned in an earlier post, Clark had been living in Paris to avoid the British tax laws. His first encounter with the new 49 came the weekend of the Zandvoort meeting.

The following photos were from Sunday's race...In the first shot, there are signs of consternation as the pre race jitters are clearly etched on all faces in the paddock...

A short time later...all smiles!...mission accomplished!   

[Lou Drozdowski]

 There has been talk in Formula one circles of bringing back some of the classic venues of years past. Next year... the French Grand Prix marks it's return to the calendar. Is Zandvoort next?  speculation of another Dutch race is in the works.

It would be very special to see the circus back at the seaside dunes, although the cars wont be as lovely to look at.

[BDA]

Agreed! Today's F1 cars aren't nearly as nice to look at.

[Gary t]

Nor as fun to watch

[Certified Lotus]

I know this is sacraligious, but I stopped watching "modern" F1 racing. Gone are the days when ingenious Motorsport inventors and team race owners developed technology each year that pushed the edge of aerodynamics and engine design.

Equally important, the fans are kept far away from the cars, drivers, mechanics and the pits. Unless you are very rich or Motorsport royalty you will never be able to interact prior to or after races.

I was fortunate enough to be a big F1 fan in the late 60's and 70's when you could walk through pits, meet the drivers, watch up close all the repair work being done. And the racing, at best you were behind a guard rail, not 20 foot high fencing. Ever year you couldn't wait to see what had been developed over the end of the last season.

Sorry, but there are other forms of Motorsport racing that is far more interesting than F1 these days.

[4129R]

I used to go the the British GP every year, but Bernie got too greedy, and the ticket prices went sky high.

He needs the money.

When they changed to the current turbo engines, the thrill of the noise just disappeared.

[BDA]

Oh, for the good old days of CanAm, TransAm, F1 and even USAC were all on at the same time!

[Lou Drozdowski]

Amazing!...50 years later and photos are still popping up that I have not seen before. These rare shots have surfaced today via the Jim Clark memorabilia page on Facebook. A wonderful shot of the entire team in their pit box at Zandvoort, and the second shows Jim on his first exploratory lap in the new 49.
 As a footnote, that's Jochen Rindt climbing into the Cooper Maserati as Clark passes by.

[4129R]

Looks like Graham Hill on the right sitting on the wall in the top photo.

[Lou Drozdowski]

Keith Duckworth...Like an OB doctor who has just delivered his first new born. Well done, and many more to come!