I had never seen or heard this before…

[alwaysindy]

The great Jim Clark on the gas at Riverside Raceway in 1967 for the Rex Mays 300, driving Rolla Vollstedt's creation. Vollstedt heard that Clark was in the States, without a ride for the 300. On a whim, he offered Clark a few hundred dollars to drive for his low-budget team. Clark accepted. Normally a middle-of-the-pack car, Clark qualified it on the front row next to pole sitter, Dan Gurney. The two battled fiercely. Clark grabbed the lead at one point, only to break a valve on the 24th lap when he missed a shift. A few days after the race, Volstedt received mail from Clark. Knowing Volstedt had little finances, Clark returned the retainer. Note the very early attempt at a wing on the exhaust pipes. Photo by Dave Parker from Dick Wallen's book, "Riverside Palace of Speed."


Jim Clark: one of the all time greats!
Tim

[Chris K. Hale]

Cool Story Tim, Very Cool.. Chris

[Bernard Kron]

Great story, both for what it says about Jim Clark as a sportsman and for the picture it paints of this Golden Age of American motor racing. Thanks!

[expatriate]

[gorf]

The last image is for real?Where is the car located?
Steve

[tatocorvette]

Hello,

  Mike McKinney owns the car now.  Or at least he did back in 2016.



Thanks,
Ismael

[Joel_W]

Jim Clark at his best just being Jim Clark. My all time favorite driver.

joel

[gorf]

Ismael,Thanks for the link!!