The Jim Clark Trust has announced that an impressive £53,000 was raised by donations at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, with funds set to go towards the development and completion of the Jim Clark Museum based in the motorsport legend’s hometown of Duns in the Scottish borders.
This year’s Festival of Speed event saw the trust as its official charity, honouring the 50th anniversary of Clark’s tragic accident during a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim in 1968. As part of the fundraising, individuals entered a competition to win the 100,000th factory-produced Lotus – a Jim Clark special edition Lotus Evora GT410 Sport inspired by Jim’s famous 1960’s Elan and created by Lotus Exclusive. Special features include a Scottish tartan interior, classic wooden gear knob, Jim Clark signature logos and a discreet interior plaque. You can still enter the competition at www.jimclarklotus.com – entry costs £20 and the winner will be announced during the museum’s grand opening in 2019.
The new, expanded museum is being constructed to permanently house two of Clark’s legendary racing cars and a collection of memorabilia. Costing £1.6million, it’s being funded by a partnership between the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Borders Council and The Jim Clark Trust. The trust is committed to £300,000 funding towards the project, and is now seeking additional revenue to increase the number of cars on display in the future. In recent years fundraising has included events, grants and crowdfunding, plus special edition memorabilia such as driving gloves and a commemorative whisky.
Over the course of the Goodwood event, the trust welcomed visitors to its stand with an exhibition featuring the life of Jim Clark as a racing driver and farmer in the Scottish Borders. The trust’s Honorary President Sir Jackie Stewart commemorated the 50th anniversary of Clark’s tragedy by driving Jim’s Lotus 25 up the hill, with Doug Niven, Jim’s cousin and family trustee, in a Lotus Cortina. Plans for the new museum also received the support of FIA President Jean Todt, who was announced as a new patron of the trust.
Commentating on the presentation of the funds raised, Ben Smith, Secretary of the Jim Clark Trust, said: “The support of Goodwood and donations raised by the thousands of visitors to this year’s Festival of Speed visitors is tremendous and we are extremely grateful. A sincere thank you must go to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, the army of bucket collectors and volunteers who helped to support the fundraising over four memorable days at this year’s event. We were greatly encouraged by the genuine interest in our plans and affection for Jim Clark and we look forward to welcoming visitors to the new museum in the future.”
