Just 10 miles from Coldstream, the new and award-winning Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Duns is a must for all motor racing fans and a great day out for the whole family. The experience is enhanced with a stunning driving tour which celebrates the life of Jim Clark OBE, Scottish Borders Farmer and Formula One Racing Legend.
Berwickshire is a very special part of the country, an area where the River Tweed forms a natural boundary between Scotland and England. The Jim Clark Trail takes you on a journey through Jim Clark’s Berwickshire, the scenic driving tour takes you along many of the same country roads which the World Champion Motor Racing Driver would have driven on all those years ago.
‘The Quiet Champion’
To many, Jim Clark was the greatest racing driver of all time. But he was also a quiet farmer from the Scottish Borders.
Jim Clark dominated world motor racing like no one before or since due to his success in all types of motor sport. But alongside his remarkable natural ability as a racing driver and winning partnership with Lotus, he was also much admired for his sportsmanship as a gentleman.
Nearly invincible in the car, he seemed vulnerable out of it and a reluctant hero but few champions were so dominant and fewer still are remembered so fondly even today. The sport was shocked by the death of its shining star at just 32 years of age and now more than 50 years later, his memory and inspiration lives on and is cherished by many to this day.
The Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, Duns
Jim Clark was Scotland’s first, and double, Formula One World Champion, Indy 500 winner and one of the greatest racing drivers of all time. The new Jim Clark Motorsport Museum is a-must for motor racing fans and anyone looking for a great day out. Celebrate his life and inspiring racing career with an interactive experience. Explore his incredible career within the motor racing world and his life beyond farming in the Scottish Borders. Discover Jim’s cars and trophies, watch him race in films from the time, while the simulator will allow you to jump into the driving seat.
44 Newtown Street, Duns, TD11 3BY
For opening hours visit www.jcmm.org.uk
OPEN until November. Advanced booking ONLY. Limited opening times: MONDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY 10:00-16:00 (closed 12:15-13:15) & SUNDAY 13:00-16:00 due to coronavirus.
The Jim Clark Trail – Scenic Driving Tour
As you leave Duns, the Jim Clark Trail takes you on a journey through Jim Clark’s Berwickshire, where you will discover the places and stories behind this ‘Quiet Champion’.
The place that Jim Clark called “Home”
CHIRNSIDE
Jim Clark’s home village and his final resting place
The son of a farmer, Jim Clark was born on 4th March 1936 in Kilmany, Fife. When he was six, the family moved to Berwickshire when Jim’s father took over Edington Mains Farm near Chirnside.
Chirnside Parish Church commands a spectacular uninterrupted view looking south to the Cheviot Hills and it is here in the kirkyard that you will find Jim Clark’s final resting place.
The reaction in Berwickshire to his tragic death, where huge crowds had turned out to welcome him home after his world title victories, was one of shock and disbelief.
His gravestone gives another indication of the modesty of the man, ‘Farmer, Edington Mains’ comes before any mention of his motor racing achievements.
The same can be said about the special Memorial Clock and plaque in the village which was designed by his friend Ian Scott-Watson. Above the clock there is a simple wireframe 49 Lotus, a typically understated memorial to this, the most modest of sporting superstars.
What Jim Clark achieved, and the manner in which he did so, explains why he is still held in such high regard more than 50 years later.
EDINGTON MAINS
The family home of Jim Clark the farmer
The family moved to Edington Mains Farm in May 1942, the only son of James and Helen, he had four sisters, Mattie, Susan, Isobel and Betty. Jim had been driving on the family farms since he was nine, his first tractor driving job, for sixpence an hour at harvest time, was when he was aged just ten.
At every opportunity he was behind the wheel of a vehicle. His father owned a 1930 Alvis Speed Twenty and once it was seen apparently driverless on the farm. Jim’s father told the visitors that it was Jim, completely invisible behind the wheel.
Now a private home, we would ask you to respect the privacy of the current owners of Edington Mains.
BERWICK UPON TWEED
The Club where Jim Clark’s motorsport career began
Introduced to Berwick & District Motor Club by his friend Ian Scott-Watson, Jim’s career started at the club with basic driving tests and club races through to the Border Reivers years.
Ian Scott-Watson is widely regarded as the person responsible for Jim Clark’s early racing career, competing in saloon, sports cars and rallies, with both young farmers living close to the Charterhall and Winfield racing circuits.
WINFIELD AIRFIELD
Home of the first ever official Scottish motor race meeting
In 1950, three locals were looking for somewhere to practice before taking part in English motor racing events. The three, Alec Calder (Jim’s brother in law), David Swan and Jock McBain used Winfield, a neighbouring wartime aerodrome.
The track was laid out using a part of the runway and much hard work and preparation was put in before Winfield held the first ever official race meeting in Scotland on Saturday 7th October 1950. Over the next 18 months Winfield played host to many motor car and motorcycle race meetings and even welcomed Stirling Moss as an up and coming driver. These race meetings at Winfield would attract an incredible 40,000 to 50,000 spectators!
CHARTERHALL AIRFIELD
Where Jim Clark saw his first motor race in Scotland
Today only a few military buildings survive at this former wartime aerodrome, now on a private road, the Richard Hillary Memorial is a fitting point at which to stop close by.
After the war, Charterhall was only used by farmers, but the aerodrome was a natural location for a race-track. The first Charterhall race meeting was held on Saturday 31st May 1952, it was the longest lasting of the early circuits in Scotland and was in operation until the early 1960’s. With its wide three-quarter mile straight it could easily accommodate the most powerful cars of the day. An entry list for the International meeting in August 1955 read like a ‘Who’s Who’ of motor racing at that time: the venue saw Moss, Hawthorn, Farina, Abecassis and Parnell competing there.
The first motor race that Jim Clark saw in Scotland was at Charterhall in October 1952, of course, Jim would go on to regularly compete at Charterhall early in his career.
Charterhall is not accessible to the public.
JIM CLARK CAFÉ & BISTRO
17 Market Street. Duns. TD11 3BY
Enjoy breakfast, Lunch, Coffees, Teas and delicious home baked scones and cakes – the perfect place to make a pitstop as you start or finish the Jim Clark Trail.
DONATE TO THE TRAIL AND TRUST
The Jim Clark Trail is free to enhance the experience of visitors to the museum and promote tourism and culture in the Scottish Borders. To support the charity, www.justgiving.com/jimclarktrust