AN AWARD-WINNING Borders museum celebrating the life of a motorsport legend has reopened with one of his most iconic cars now on display.

Jim Clark dominated motorsport in the 1960s, winning two Formula One world championships (1963 and 1965) in addition to claiming the 1965 Indianapolis 500.

He is still the only driver to win a F1 championship and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year. 

In a career spanning slightly more than a decade, he won 25 grand prix races with 33 pole positions from 72 starts.

Clark was killed in a Formula Two racing accident in April 1968 in Hockenheimring in West Germany.

The Borders-raised sporting legend is buried in Chirnside.

The award-winning Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Newtown Street, Duns, reopened its doors on March 1 for its sixth season.

Operated by local charity Live Borders, the museum celebrates Clark’s life and career in both motorsport and farming through an interactive experience.

The museum’s assistant curator Andrew Tulloch said: “We are very excited to open with Joe Honda’s exhibition, and Jim Clark’s Lotus 38 on loan from its owner Nick Fennel. One of Jim’s most iconic cars, he raced revamped Lotus 38 Indy cars in the Indianapolis 500 in 1966 and 1967.

“His Lotus 38 joins two more cars, the Lotus Cortina and Jim’s D-Type Jaguar TKF9, which was the first proper racing car Jim drove, and also the first car he used in continental competition.”

The museum offers impressive attractions, including the Jim Clark Story, cinema area and trophy room.

New for this season is a photographic exhibition ‘Remembering Japan’s Temple of Speed’ by photographer Joe Honda, which tells the story of the Indy 200 exhibition race at the Fuji Speedway International 1966 in which Jim Clark and other international drivers raced in Asia for the first time.

During the year the museum will be hosting a full program of family events.
Learning and engagement officer Kenny Mclean said: “We are planning a full range of fun activities for the season and our family ticket is great value for a day out. Our free ‘Lap of the Museum’ children’s trail is ready, as well as lots of hands-on inter-actives.

“It is an exciting year ahead and the team is looking forward to welcoming visitors back. We are committed to sharing the inspiring story of Jim Clark’s record-breaking career and hope that visitors will enjoy our offer for 2024.”