Jim Clark driving down a bobsled run - photo

[Hank29]

When Ford introduced the new Cortina they got Jim Clark to drive one down the Olympic bobsled run at Cortina D'Ampezzo. Apparently it was the inspiration for the same stunt in a later James Bond movie. It's in this profile of Walter Hayes, who ran Ford motorsport:

http://www.theworldmotorsportmarketplace.com/News/Vintage-Racecar/Walter-Hayes.htm

[D-Type]

Yes, it was the 'Cortina salute to Cortina champions' in November 1964 and featured Clark, who I think won the BTCC in a Cortina Lotus, Peter Hughes who had won the Safari in a Cortina GT plus various other Cortina winners.

The importance historically is that Jimmy injured his back in a snowball fight with Ford executives and pressmen. So Jackie Stewart substituted for him and made his Formula 1 debut Lotus in the non-championship Rand Grand Prix at Kyalami two or three weeks before he started the South African GP in a BRM.

[GJD]

http://www.users.on.net/~garyd/Snowfight.jpg