Jim Clark at the Wheel: The World's Greatest Motor Racing Champion Tells His Own Supercharged Success Story

by Jim Clark

Genres: Nonfiction

210 pages, hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-read of a very old book for me. It is an early autobiography of Jim Clark, my first racing hero. It covers his racing story from club events in 1956 through sedan racing, GT cars to Formula 1. This was certainly a different era. He talks about drivers being lucky they were ejected from their car during a crash, their chance of survival being better although many drivers of this time were killed or badly injured. He talks about doing four Grand Prixs on one set of tires in 1963!

Clark was always a favourite because he was so humble. Writing in 1965, he was looking forward to the day when he could retire to his family farm in Scotland and maybe get back into a bit of club racing.

Sadly he was killed in a motor race just a couple of years after the book was written. One of the greats!

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Clark is a legend in Formula 1 and motor racing in general and this autobiography is written four years before his untimely death and just after winning the first of his two world championships - the youngest driver to do so at the time.
Despite his success he comes across as an ordinary down-to-earth person that just happens to have an amazing ability to drive any car in a quick and controlled way. His description of the races is completely matter-of-fact and he doesn't try to elaborate or glamorise events. Because of this it shows a real insight into a racers mind and the risks he was willing to take. He also takes time to explain his side of the tragic events surrounding his crash with Wolfgang von Trips, which obviously had
a major effect on his early racing career. It was a tragedy he died so young as it would have been a pleasure to hear his views on the sport and his own career if he ever had a chance to reach retirement.
My five star rating may be biased as a life-long motor racing fan and you do need at least some interest in the sport for you to gain enjoyment from this book.

[Mark Dill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a child because Jim Clark was my hero. Nonetheless, this is certainly no children's book. It is an autobiography covering his earliest days to his world championships and Indy 500 victory up to the 1966 Indy 500. Essentially, you hear Clark's voice as he describes his successes and challenges during a very dangerous era. If you want to submit yourself as having any expertise of 1960s Formula One history, it is essential for you to read this book.

[Brettsinclair70 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time capsule racing memoir made more poignant by subsequent events..

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful autobiography. Jim Clark was a very down to earth and humble man and it shows as he lists his racing life.