Jim Russell

Jim Russell was born and lived most of his life in Downham Market, Norfolk. After serving with the RAF, he became a garage owner aided by his brother Peter. Jim came to motorsport fairly late in life, at the age of 32, when a friend invited him to go to Snetterton and he immediately made plans to join in. He began in 1952 with a Cooper Mk VI JAP which was subsequently fitted with a Norton engine. Steve Lancefield eventually became convinced of Jim's talent and agreed to build engines for him and from that moment, Jim began to win regularly. For 1954, Jim acquired a Cooper Mk VIII and from 1955 he received works support and a Mk IX, although he generally built and maintained his own cars at the Downham Market garage.

Chasing Leston through the Bomb Hole in '54.

Jim and Ivor discuss their Norton engine with a Cooper mechanic (if you know who, please let us know).

Jim and Ivor work on Mk9 1955.jpg (37905 bytes)

A portrait of Jim, by Ian Frost, taken on the grid at Brands Hatch in 1955.

Jim's team mate and best friend for much of his career was Ivor Bueb but he raced against, and mostly beat, the best including Don Parker and Stuart Lewis Evans.

Jim became one of the finest exponents of 500cc Formula 3,winning the British Championship in 1955, 56 and 57. Between 1953 and 1959 he won 64 Formula 3, 11 Formula 2 and 6 sports car races. He also took 22 second places and 19 third places resulting in an overall record of 121 top three places out of 135 starts. Jim set over 50 fastest laps and 20 lap records.

At Montlhéry in October 1955, Jim also set new class G records for 50, 100 and 200 km, 50 and 100 miles and 1 hour, all in an 1,100cc Cooper Climax.

Jim Russell's career in the cockpit was effectively over in 1959 when his Cooper Monaco crashed at Le Mans. He returned briefly to the cockpit in 1961 and, after proving that he could still match the youngsters, quit.

In 1956, Jim set up the first motor racing school at Snetterton, his local circuit. It was a huge success and the Jim Russell Racing Driver Schools have played a major role in the development of many young drivers including World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, Indianapolis 500 Winner, Danny Sullivan and TV personality Tiff Needell. The School was also responsible for fostering the career of Ralph Firman and his Van Diemen concern. Ralph was a school mechanic and Jim's brother in law. The Jim Russell Racing Driver School was the first major customer for Van Diemen cars.

In 1966, Jim and his crew was responsible for the cars and much of the action in John Frankenheimer's film, Grand Prix, starring Yves Montand and James Garner. The team followed the real Formula 1 circus for the season using modified Formula Juniors made to look like Formula 1 cars. The result was a successful film which has become a classic.