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Escort Mexico in racing and rallying, 1971-74


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#1 Andyw

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Posted 18 April 2014 - 07:28

I am currently doing research into the Shellsport Mexico's that raced as support races at events around the UK in 1973/74. These cars was raced by Racing drivers and Celebrities as a type of fun race at events across the year.
The information Iam after is

Reg Numbers of the cars raced
Who drove them in 1973/74 races be it celebrities or Race drivers
The colours of the cars
There race numbers

This is the information I already have:
Reg Number....Colour Lower/Upper....Race Number....Driver
XNO 268L...................................................5
XNO 269L
XNO 270L...........WHITE/YELLOW............4.................Noel Edmonds
XNO 271L...........RED/YELLOW................6.................Chris Witty
XNO 272L...........GREEN/YELLOW...........2.................Tony Lanfranchi
XNO 273L
XNO 274L
XNO 275L........WHITE/GREEN.................3
XNO 276L..................................................4
XNO 277L...........YELLOW/BLUE..............1.................Tony Pryce
XNO 278L...................................................4
XNO 279L
XNO 280L..................................................11................Greg Lake
XNO 281L...........GREEN/RED..................7.................Keith Emerson
XNO 282L.......DKBLUE/GREEN...............10
XNO 283L
XNO 284L..........WHITE/LTGREEN..........16
XNO 285L...................................................6................Ronnie scott
RHK 901M...........WHITE............................1................David Purley
RHK 902M...........LT BLUE/WHITE............9
RHK 903M
RHK 904M...........YELLOW/RED................4...............Tony Prince
RHK 905M............YELLOW/WHITE...........5...............Jeremy Lloyd
RHK 906M............YELLOW........................6
RHK 907M
RHK 908M
RHK 909M...........LT BLUE.........................9................Dave Morgan/Fred Frankenhout
RHK 910M
RHK 911M
RHK 912M...........LT BLUE........................12...............Lella Lombardi
RHK 913M...........WHITE...........................9/3
RHK 914M...................................................4................Colin Vandervell
RHK 915M
RHK 917M

I have seen the bonus footage on the ELP DVD and was able to get lots of info but being in black and white the colours of the cars are hard to make out
So if anybody has any information which could be used to fill in the blanks or any colour photo's it would be most welcome.

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#2 Tim Murray

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Posted 18 April 2014 - 07:48

You're probably aware of these earlier threads, Andy, but just in case:

 

Celebrity [Ford] Escorts - where are they now?

 

Celebrity races


Edited by Tim Murray, 18 April 2014 - 07:56.


#3 Vitesse2

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Posted 18 April 2014 - 12:11

This is one that passed me by - even at the time, but I think I may have been at Thruxton that day - and doesn't seem to have been mentioned before. It's a relay race at Brands, featuring six of the Shellsport Mexicos, all with lady drivers, six distance runners (all looking like they're auditioning for a 118 118 advert) and six racing cyclists. Unfortunately, the quality is so poor that I doubt the individual cars are identifiable: http://www.movietone...&assetno=127386



#4 bradbury west

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Posted 18 April 2014 - 19:05

Google Stuart McCrudden Associates. Stuart was actively involved with them I believe on behalf of Ford IIRC. 

Roger Lund



#5 arttidesco

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Posted 18 April 2014 - 20:30

02_DSCN3691sc.jpg

 

Most fascinating factoid about XNO272L is that Mr & Mrs Webb, who founded the series, apparently used it on thier wedding day.



#6 Rupertlt1

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Posted 23 December 2019 - 16:11

Motoring News, Thursday, December 7, 1972

Half page advertisement:

RACE A SHELLSPORT MEXICO

with the BRSCC

A competition to win a sponsored drive in the Mexico Challenge for 1973 .

Judges:

Peter Browning (BRSCC)

Stuart Turner (Ford)

Ray Cunningham (Shell)

Dick Jeffrey (Dunlop)

Jim Russell (JRRDS)

Les Leston (race kit)

Andy Rouse (winner of the 1972 Mexico Challenge)

See the car at the Racing Car Show

 

Obvious questions - what was the Mexico Challenge, who won the prize drive and how did they fare?

 

Call this an Xmas quiz if you like?

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 25 December 2019 - 12:27.


#7 Rupertlt1

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Posted 25 December 2019 - 12:28

Castrol Mexico Challenge, BRSCC, 1972 (scored 9-6-4-3-2-1, all results to count)

Rnd 1: April 1, Rufforth, 10 laps - R. Mansfield, A. Boyd, C. Vandervell, N.R. Weir 

Rnd 2: April 3, Croft, 25 laps - M. Young, B. Williams, G. Fortescue-Thomas, M. Chittenden, S. Taylor, R. Mansfield    

Rnd 3: April 23, Thruxton, 8 laps - B. Williams, Rouse, Vandervell, G. Fortescue-Thomas (R. Mansfield DQ) 

Rnd 4: May 7, Brands Hatch, 10 laps - Rouse, Vandervell, Chittenden  

Rnd 5: May 28, Brands Hatch, Fordsport Speed Day, 10 laps - Rouse, Chittenden, N. Brittan, McCrudden, Boyd, Williams  

Rnd 6: July 8, Oulton Park, 10 laps - Vandervell, M. Daghorn, Rouse, Chittenden, Williams, Boyd

Rnd 7: July 15, An Escort Mexico Challenge round was the closing event at the British Grand Prix meeting, Brands Hatch, starting at 17:00, 10 laps:

1. B. Williams, 2. A. Rouse, 3. R. Mansfield, 4. M. Freeman, 5. T. Dron, 6. C. Vandervell, 7. McCrudden, 8. Chittenden 

Rnd 8: Aug 6, Silverstone,  10 laps - Rouse, F. Gardner, M. Young, Mansfield, M. Freeman, N.R. Weir

Aug 12, Crystal Palace - listed at the start of the year but cancelled.

Rnd 9: Aug 27, Mallory Park, 10 laps - Rouse, Vandervell, Mansfield, Chittenden, J. Waterman, May, McCrudden
Rnd 10: Sep 10, Cadwell Park, 10 laps - R. Mansfield, Rouse, McCrudden, Chittenden  

Rnd 11: Sep 24, Llandow, 20 laps - Vandervell, Rouse, T. Dron, B. Williams, Mansfield, R. Woodward   

Rnd 12: Oct 8, Snetterton, 10 laps - Vandervell, M. Freeman, A. Wilkinson, McCrudden, T. Dron, B. Williams, Mansfield, Chittenden, M. Young

 

There were two televised events held at Zolder, Belgium, sponsored by Coca-Cola and Levi jeans.

Andy Rouse finished second in both heats of this Invitation race, April 30. Gilbert Staepelaere appeared with a twin-cam engined car and dominated.

There was a Mexico support race at the Rothmans 50,000, Aug 28, 1972 announced in the press, perhaps they meant this:  a Women's Ford Consul race. 

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 December 2019 - 17:24.


#8 BRG

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Posted 25 December 2019 - 17:08

Castrol Mexico Challenge,

 

Gilbert Staepelaere appeared with a twin-cam engined car and dominated

Isn't that cheating?   :drunk:

 

I can't find the 1973 results anywhere, but I am fairly sure that George Polley (of hot rod fame) won at Brands and someone called da Costa (not the coffee baron, I think) won another round.  As to who won the competition,I don't know but if Stuart Turner was on the judging panel, we can suppose that it would have been someone from Finland.


Edited by BRG, 25 December 2019 - 17:09.


#9 Rupertlt1

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Posted 25 December 2019 - 17:12

Dave da Costa. The Zolder race was 'staged' for a movie I think - see Autosport, 11 May 1972. What happened at Crystal Palace 1972?

 

Ford advertised the Escort Mexico in 1972 with the slogan "The sports car doctors prefer" with a photograph of REV 326L parked in Harley Street.

 

RGDS RLT 


Edited by Rupertlt1, 27 December 2019 - 17:33.


#10 BRG

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Posted 26 December 2019 - 16:47

What happened at Crystal Palace 1972?

This was very close to the end of racing at the Palace, so perhaps it fell by the wayside?  I remember going to a kart meeting there a week after what had been billed as 'the final race meeting at Crystal Palace' in September 1972.  All a crying shame, obviously racing there wouldn't have survived into this century but there was no real reason for it to stop when it did.


Edited by BRG, 26 December 2019 - 16:48.


#11 Rupertlt1

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Posted 02 January 2020 - 19:06

There was a Castrol Escort Mexico Challenge racing series in 1971:

 

Rufforth, BRSCC, 10 April 1971, Round 1

1. Barrie Williams

2. Alan Keef

3. R. Martin-Hurst

4. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Martin-Hurst, 1m34.0s, (65.11 mph), establishes record

DNS: Jody Scheckter, Steve Neal, Mike Young 

 

Snetterton, BRSCC East Anglia, 2 May 1971, Round 2

1. Gerry Marshall

2. R. Mansfield (Luton Motor Group Ltd.)

3. Barrie Williams (British Vita Racing and Tuning Ltd.)

4. R. Bell (Motor magazine)

5. A. Keefe

6. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Williams 1m 59.8s (81.44 mph)

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 31 May 1971

1. Barrie Williams

2. Mike Butler

3. G. Marshall

4. N. Brittan

5. A. Keefe

6. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

7. S. Clark

 

Butler was second

Many thanks for your excel-

lent report on our Bank Holi-

day Llandow meeting, which

unfortunately contains an

error which cannot go uncor-

rected. After the Mexico Chal-

lenge Race we did have pro-

tests, but they were not upheld.

Therefore the Bower Engineer-

ing car, driven by Mike Butler,

was second and did establish

a new record at 43.6s (82.19

mph).
- Howard Strawford,

Secretary of the Meeting.

MN, June 10, 1971, Page 3 

 

Oulton Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 June 1971, Round 4

1. Gerry Marshall

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Roger Bell

4. Chris Sclater (Withers of Winsford, KOO 654J)

5. Barrie Williams

6. Rod Mansfield 

Fastest lap: Marshall 2m 06.4, 78.64 m.p.h. New record.

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 11 July 1971, 15 cars started

1. Jody Scheckter

2. Mrs G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. N. Weir

6. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, Weir, Bell, Mansfield, 1m03.0s (70.86 mph) establishes class record    

 

Mallory Park, Lombank Championship Car Races, BRSCC  Midland Centre, 10-laps, 25 July 1971

1. Keith Holland, 10m 23.4, 77.96 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Philip Barlow

4. Stan Clark

Fastest lap: Holland, 60.6s (80.2 mph) establishes class record

 

Crystal Palace, Daily Express Trophy Meeting, BRSCC, 10-laps, 7 August 1971

1. #26 Keith Holland, (Bower Engineering) 11m 41.2s, 71.36 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. R. Mansfield (LMG)

4. R. Bell

Fastest lap: Holland 1m8.6s (72.94 mph)

 

Castle Combe, BRSCC, 10-laps, 30 August 1971

1. G. Marshall, 15m00.8s (73.57mph)

2. B. Williams

3. R. Bell

4. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

Fastest lap: Williams 1m28.4 (74.93 mph) 

 

Cadwell Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 September 1971

1. Jody Scheckter

2. R. Mansfield

3. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

4. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, 1m56.2s (69.71 mph)

Scheckter was driving the car of Stuart McCrudden (Reid Rallye Sport of Torquay)

from the back of the grid, after his own car blew up in practice.

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 26 September 1971, 9 cars started

1. R. Mansfield (LMG - Lumo)

2. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. B. Williams

4. G. Marshall

5. R. Bell

6. Jody Scheckter (Lucky Strike)

Fastest lap: Mansfield, Mrs. Fortescue-Thomas, Williams, Bell, Scheckter, 44.0s, (81.82 mph)

According to Motoring News: "This round replaced the Silverstone qualifier cancelled owing to sponsorship confliction."

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 31 October 1971

"The meeting also sees the final 10-lap round of the 1971 Mexico Challenge series, in which Gerry Marshall will be trying to cut back a narrow 2-point lead held by South African Jody Scheckter."  

"Gerry Marshall scored a convincing win in the Escort Mexico race and in doing so won the National Castrol Mexico Challenge."

1. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 10m 30.2s, 70.84.mph

2. N. Brittan

3. Jody Scheckter

4. R. Bell

5. Keith Holland

6. S. McCrudden

7. Williams

8. Fortescue-Thomas

9. Colin Vandervell

10. Philip Barlow 

Fastest lap: Marshall, 1m01.8s (72.23 mph) record

 

Roger Bell was a journalist at The Motor - another source of coverage?

Gerry Marshall won the series, with Jody Scheckter runner-up.

 

RGDS RLT  


Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 January 2020 - 17:44.


#12 Kneifzange

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Posted 03 January 2020 - 00:01

sorry, that I "misuse" this thread.

I have found in Havanna! an old photographer´s magazin

In this mag there is an advert from Ilford showing this scenery:

 

 

m1v9-f-3fbf.jpg

 

Any information about the venue and the "result" of this action ?

 

 

Saludos!

Maikel


Edited by Kneifzange, 03 January 2020 - 00:18.


#13 Gregor Marshall

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Posted 03 January 2020 - 16:40

There was a Castrol Escort Mexico Challenge racing series in 1971:

 

Rufforth, BRSCC, 10 April 1971, Round 1

1. Barrie Williams

2. Alan Keef

3. R. Martin-Hurst

4. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Martin-Hurst, 1m34.0s, (65.11 mph), establishes record

DNS: Jody Scheckter, Steve Neal, Mike Young 

 

Snetterton, BRSCC East Anglia, 2 May 1971, Round 2

1. Gerry Marshall

2. R. Mansfield (Luton Motor Group Ltd.)

3. Barrie Williams (British Vita Racing and Tuning Ltd.)

4. R. Bell (Motor magazine)

5. A. Keefe

6. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Williams 1m 59.8s (81.44 mph)

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 31 May 1971

1. Barrie Williams

2. Mike Butler

3. G. Marshall

4. N. Brittan

5. A. Keefe

6. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

7. S. Clark

 

Butler was second

Many thanks for your excel-

lent report on our Bank Holi-

day Llandow meeting, which

unfortunately contains an

error which cannot go uncor-

rected. After the Mexico Chal-

lenge Race we did have pro-

tests, but they were not upheld.

Therefore the Bower Engineer-

ing car, driven by Mike Butler,

was second and did establish

a new record at 43.6s (82.19

mph).
- Howard Strawford,

Secretary of the Meeting.

MN, June 10, 1971, Page 3 

 

Oulton Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 June 1971, Round 4

1. Gerry Marshall

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Roger Bell

4. Chris Sclater (Withers of Winsford, KOO 654J)

5. Barrie Williams

6. Rod Mansfield 

Fastest lap: Marshall 2m 06.4, 78.64 m.p.h. New record.

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 11 July 1971, 15 cars started

1. Jody Scheckter

2. Mrs G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. N. Weir

6. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, Weir, Bell, Mansfield, 1m03.0s (70.86 mph) establishes class record    

 

Mallory Park, Lombank Championship Car Races, BRSCC  Midland Centre, 10-laps, 25 July 1971

1. Keith Holland, 10m 23.4, 77.96 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Philip Barlow

4. Stan Clark

Fastest lap: Holland, 60.6s (80.2 mph) establishes class record 

 

Cadwell Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 September 1971

1. Jody Scheckter

2. R. Mansfield

3. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

4. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, 1m56.2s (69.71 mph)

Scheckter was driving the car of Stuart McCrudden (Reid Rallye Sport of Torquay)

from the back of the grid, after his own car blew up in practice.

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 26 September 1971, 9 cars started

1. R. Mansfield (LMG - Lumo)

2. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. B. Williams

4. G. Marshall

5. R. Bell

6. Jody Scheckter (Lucky Strike)

Fastest lap: Mansfield, Mrs. Fortescue-Thomas, Williams, Bell, Scheckter, 44.0s, (81.82 mph)

According to Motoring News: "This round replaced the Silverstone qualifier cancelled owing to sponsorship confliction."

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 31 October 1971

"The meeting also sees the final 10-lap round of the 1971 Mexico Challenge series, in which Gerry Marshall will be trying to cut back a narrow 2-point lead held by South African Jody Scheckter."  

"Gerry Marshall scored a convincing win in the Escort Mexico race and in doing so won the National Castrol Mexico Challenge."

1. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 10m 30.2s, 70.84.mph

2. N. Brittan

3. Jody Scheckter

4. R. Bell

5. Keith Holland

6. S. McCrudden

7. Williams

8. Fortescue-Thomas

9. Colin Vandervell

10. Philip Barlow 

Fastest lap: Marshall, 1m01.8s (72.23 mph) record

 

Roger Bell was a journalist at The Motor - another source of coverage?

Gerry Marshall won the series, with Jody Scheckter runner-up.

 

RGDS RLT  

 

 

A couple of rounds missing and to add some context to a couple of the races for my late Dad (in italics):-
 

25th July Mallory Park – pushed off on last lap by Gillian FS

7th August Crystal Palace – last lap, was in 2nd place, but gearbox went and retired – some footage of race at 2.27

30th August Castle Combe – 4th with puncture

3rd October Croft – 2nd


For whatever reason my Dad didn't collect the champonship tophy, my Mum did and I still have it today.



#14 Rupertlt1

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Posted 03 January 2020 - 19:15

I put Crystal Palace and Castle Combe above.

 

Croft, BRSCC, 10-laps, 3 October 1971

1. Jody Scheckter 14m 57.0s, 70.23mph

2. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. B. Williams

6. S. Clark

Fastest lap: Scheckter 1m28.2s (71.43mph)

 

(I'll patch it all together i.d.c. - ploughing through Motoring News without a calendar somewhat problematic.

Do you have a points table?)

 

RGDS RLT  


Edited by Rupertlt1, 03 January 2020 - 19:16.


#15 Rupertlt1

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 00:10

There was a Castrol Escort Mexico Challenge racing series in 1971:

(Here are all the results in one post.)

 

Rufforth, BRSCC, 10 April 1971, Round 1

1. Barrie Williams

2. Alan Keef

3. R. Martin-Hurst

4. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Martin-Hurst, 1m34.0s, (65.11 mph), establishes record

DNS: Jody Scheckter, Steve Neal, Mike Young 

 

Snetterton, BRSCC East Anglia, 2 May 1971, Round 2

1. Gerry Marshall

2. R. Mansfield (Luton Motor Group Ltd.)

3. Barrie Williams (British Vita Racing and Tuning Ltd.)

4. R. Bell (Motor magazine)

5. A. Keefe

6. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Williams 1m 59.8s (81.44 mph)

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 31 May 1971

1. Barrie Williams

2. Mike Butler

3. G. Marshall

4. N. Brittan

5. A. Keefe

6. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

7. S. Clark

 

● Butler was second

Many thanks for your excel-

lent report on our Bank Holi-

day Llandow meeting, which

unfortunately contains an

error which cannot go uncor-

rected. After the Mexico Chal-

lenge Race we did have pro-

tests, but they were not upheld.

Therefore the Bower Engineer-

ing car, driven by Mike Butler,

was second and did establish

a new record at 43.6s (82.19

mph).

- Howard Strawford,

Secretary of the Meeting.

MN, June 10, 1971, Page 3 

 

Oulton Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 June 1971, Round 4

1. Gerry Marshall

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Roger Bell

4. Chris Sclater (Withers of Winsford, KOO 654J)

5. Barrie Williams

6. Rod Mansfield 

Fastest lap: Marshall 2m 06.4, 78.64 m.p.h. New record.

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 11 July 1971, 15 cars started

1. Jody Scheckter

2. Mrs G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. N. Weir

6. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, Weir, Bell, Mansfield, 1m03.0s (70.86 mph) establishes class record    

 

Mallory Park, Lombank Championship Car Races, BRSCC  Midland Centre, 10-laps, 25 July 1971

1. Keith Holland, 10m 23.4, 77.96 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Philip Barlow

4. Stan Clark

Fastest lap: Holland, 60.6s (80.2 mph) establishes class record

 

Crystal Palace, Daily Express Trophy Meeting, BRSCC, 10-laps, 7 August 1971

1. #26 Keith Holland, (Bower Engineering) 11m 41.2s, 71.36 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. R. Mansfield (LMG)

4. R. Bell

Fastest lap: Holland 1m8.6s (72.94 mph)

 

Castle Combe, BRSCC, 10-laps, 30 August 1971

1. G. Marshall, 15m00.8s (73.57mph)

2. B. Williams

3. R. Bell

4. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

Fastest lap: Williams 1m28.4 (74.93 mph) 

 

Cadwell Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 September 1971

1. Jody Scheckter

2. R. Mansfield

3. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

4. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, 1m56.2s (69.71 mph)

Scheckter was driving the car of Stuart McCrudden (Reid Rallye Sport of Torquay)

from the back of the grid, after his own car blew up in practice.

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 26 September 1971, 9 cars started

1. R. Mansfield (LMG - Lumo)

2. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. B. Williams

4. G. Marshall

5. R. Bell

6. Jody Scheckter (Lucky Strike)

Fastest lap: Mansfield, Mrs. Fortescue-Thomas, Williams, Bell, Scheckter, 44.0s, (81.82 mph)

According to Motoring News: "This round replaced the Silverstone qualifier cancelled owing to sponsorship confliction."

 

Croft, BRSCC, 10-laps, 3 October 1971

1. Jody Scheckter 14m 57.0s, 70.23mph

2. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. B. Williams

6. S. Clark

Fastest lap: Scheckter 1m28.2s (71.43mph)

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 31 October 1971

"The meeting also sees the final 10-lap round of the 1971 Mexico Challenge series, in which Gerry Marshall will be trying to cut back a narrow 2-point lead held by South African Jody Scheckter."  

"Gerry Marshall scored a convincing win in the Escort Mexico race and in doing so won the National Castrol Mexico Challenge."

1. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 10m 30.2s, 70.84.mph

2. N. Brittan

3. Jody Scheckter

4. R. Bell

5. Keith Holland

6. S. McCrudden

7. Williams

8. Fortescue-Thomas

9. Colin Vandervell

10. Philip Barlow 

Fastest lap: Marshall, 1m01.8s (72.23 mph) record

 

Roger Bell was a journalist at The Motor - another source of coverage?

Gerry Marshall won the series, with Jody Scheckter runner-up.

 

RGDS RLT  


Edited by Rupertlt1, 15 January 2020 - 00:42.


#16 moffspeed

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 11:09

There was a Castrol Escort Mexico Challenge racing series in 1971:

(Here are all the results in one post.)

 

Rufforth, BRSCC, 10 April 1971, Round 1

1. Barrie Williams

2. Alan Keef

3. R. Martin-Hurst

4. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Martin-Hurst, 1m34.0s, (65.11 mph), establishes record

DNS: Jody Scheckter, Steve Neal, Mike Young 

 

Snetterton, BRSCC East Anglia, 2 May 1971, Round 2

1. Gerry Marshall

2. R. Mansfield (Luton Motor Group Ltd.)

3. Barrie Williams (British Vita Racing and Tuning Ltd.)

4. R. Bell (Motor magazine)

5. A. Keefe

6. N. Weir

Fastest lap: Williams 1m 59.8s (81.44 mph)

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 31 May 1971

1. Barrie Williams

2. Mike Butler

3. G. Marshall

4. N. Brittan

5. A. Keefe

6. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

7. S. Clark

 

● Butler was second

Many thanks for your excel-

lent report on our Bank Holi-

day Llandow meeting, which

unfortunately contains an

error which cannot go uncor-

rected. After the Mexico Chal-

lenge Race we did have pro-

tests, but they were not upheld.

Therefore the Bower Engineer-

ing car, driven by Mike Butler,

was second and did establish

a new record at 43.6s (82.19

mph).

- Howard Strawford,

Secretary of the Meeting.

MN, June 10, 1971, Page 3 

 

Oulton Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 June 1971, Round 4

1. Gerry Marshall

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Roger Bell

4. Chris Sclater (Withers of Winsford, KOO 654J)

5. Barrie Williams

6. Rod Mansfield 

Fastest lap: Marshall 2m 06.4, 78.64 m.p.h. New record.

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 11 July 1971, 15 cars started

1. Jody Scheckter

2. Mrs G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. N. Weir

6. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, Weir, Bell, Mansfield, 1m03.0s (70.86 mph) establishes class record    

 

Mallory Park, Lombank Championship Car Races, BRSCC  Midland Centre, 10-laps, 25 July 1971

1. Keith Holland, 10m 23.4, 77.96 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. Philip Barlow

4. Stan Clark

Fastest lap: Holland, 60.6s (80.2 mph) establishes class record

 

Crystal Palace, Daily Express Trophy Meeting, BRSCC, 10-laps, 7 August 1971

1. #26 Keith Holland, (Bower Engineering) 11m 41.2s, 71.36 m.p.h

2. Jody Scheckter

3. R. Mansfield (LMG)

4. R. Bell

Fastest lap: Holland 1m8.6s (72.94 mph)

 

Castle Combe, BRSCC, 10-laps, 30 August 1971

1. G. Marshall, 15m00.8s (73.57mph)

2. B. Williams

3. R. Bell

4. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

Fastest lap: Williams 1m28.4 (74.93 mph) 

 

Cadwell Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 September 1971

1. Jody Scheckter

2. R. Mansfield

3. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

4. G. Marshall

Fastest lap: Scheckter, 1m56.2s (69.71 mph)

Scheckter was driving the car of Stuart McCrudden (Reid Rallye Sport of Torquay)

from the back of the grid, after his own car blew up in practice.

 

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 26 September 1971, 9 cars started

1. R. Mansfield (LMG - Lumo)

2. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas

3. B. Williams

4. G. Marshall

5. R. Bell

6. Jody Scheckter (Lucky Strike)

Fastest lap: Mansfield, Mrs. Fortescue-Thomas, Williams, Bell, Scheckter, 44.0s, (81.82 mph)

According to Motoring News: "This round replaced the Silverstone qualifier cancelled owing to sponsorship confliction."

 

Croft, BRSCC, 10-laps, 3 October 1971

1. Jody Scheckter 14m 57.0s, 70.23mph

2. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 

3. R. Mansfield

4. R. Bell

5. B. Williams

6. S. Clark

Fastest lap: Scheckter 1m28.2s (71.43mph)

 

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 31 October 1971

"The meeting also sees the final 10-lap round of the 1971 Mexico Challenge series, in which Gerry Marshall will be trying to cut back a narrow 2-point lead held by South African Jody Scheckter."  

"Gerry Marshall scored a convincing win in the Escort Mexico race and in doing so won the National Castrol Mexico Challenge."

1. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 10m 30.2s, 70.84.mph

2. N. Brittan

3. Jody Scheckter

4. R. Bell

5. Keith Holland

6. S. McCrudden

7. Williams

8. Fortescue-Thomas

9. Colin Vandervell

10. Philip Barlow 

Fastest lap: Marshall, 1m01.8s (72.23 mph) record

 

Roger Bell was a journalist at The Motor - another source of coverage?

Gerry Marshall won the series, with Jody Scheckter runner-up.

 

RGDS RLT  

I think it was during one of the 2 Llandow meetings in 1971 that Jody Scheckter put his Mexico on its roof - from memory this was probably during practice rather than the race.

 

As MN reporters for the day Jody sought us out in the paddock and pleaded for us not to make a big issue of this in our report, after all he was hoping to have a great racing career ahead of him and didn't need any bad publicity.

 

Apparently he went on to do OK, drove for some Italian team I think.


Edited by moffspeed, 15 January 2020 - 12:32.


#17 Rupertlt1

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 12:35

moffspeed: Yes I read that - I'll see if I can find a quote. Scheckter seems to have succeeded as this series had been lost to history until I blundered into it. I guess visiting such fashionable locations as Rufforth, Croft and Llandow didn't help the cause. There were serious prizes with the overall winner to receive a Ford RS1600 or equivalent in cash. Much muttering about the legality of the cars. We still lack a points table?

I'll have to get to grips with 1974 - a Motorcraft series features somewhere? More celebrity racing?

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 January 2020 - 05:27.


#18 Tim Murray

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 14:26

I’ve been through Autosport and found a few more placings, which I’ve added to Rupert’s results in bold:

There was a Castrol Escort Mexico Challenge racing series in 1971:
(Here are all the results in one post.)

Rufforth, BRSCC, 10 April 1971, Round 1
1. Barrie Williams
2. Alan Keef
3. R. Martin-Hurst
4. N. Weir
Fastest lap: Martin-Hurst, 1m34.0s, (65.11 mph), establishes record
DNS: Jody Scheckter, Steve Neal, Mike Young

Snetterton, BRSCC East Anglia, 2 May 1971, Round 2
1. Gerry Marshall
2. R. Mansfield (Luton Motor Group Ltd.)
3. Barrie Williams (British Vita Racing and Tuning Ltd.)
4. R. Bell (Motor magazine)
5. A. Keefe
6. N. Weir
Fastest lap: Williams 1m 59.8s (81.44 mph)

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 31 May 1971
1. Barrie Williams
2. Mike Butler
3. G. Marshall
4. N. Brittan
5. A. Keefe
6. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas
7. S. Clark

● Butler was second
Many thanks for your excel-
lent report on our Bank Holi-
day Llandow meeting, which
unfortunately contains an
error which cannot go uncor-
rected. After the Mexico Chal-
lenge Race we did have pro-
tests, but they were not upheld.
Therefore the Bower Engineer-
ing car, driven by Mike Butler,
was second and did establish
a new record at 43.6s (82.19
mph).
- Howard Strawford,
Secretary of the Meeting.
MN, June 10, 1971, Page 3

Oulton Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 June 1971, Round 4
1. Gerry Marshall
2. Jody Scheckter
3. Roger Bell
4. Chris Sclater (Withers of Winsford, KOO 654J)
5. Barrie Williams
6. Rod Mansfield
Fastest lap: Marshall 2m 06.4, 78.64 m.p.h. New record.

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 11 July 1971, 15 cars started
1. Jody Scheckter
2. Mrs G. Fortescue-Thomas
3. R. Mansfield
4. R. Bell
5. N. Weir
6. G. Marshall
Fastest lap: Scheckter, Weir, Bell, Mansfield, 1m03.0s (70.86 mph) establishes class record

Mallory Park, Lombank Championship Car Races, BRSCC Midland Centre, 10-laps, 25 July 1971
1. Keith Holland, 10m 23.4, 77.96 m.p.h
2. Jody Scheckter
3. Philip Barlow
4. Stan Clark
5. D. Smith
6. C. Osborne

Fastest lap: Holland, 60.6s (80.2 mph) establishes class record

Crystal Palace, Daily Express Trophy Meeting, BRSCC, 10-laps, 7 August 1971
1. #26 Keith Holland, (Bower Engineering) 11m 41.2s, 71.36 m.p.h
2. Jody Scheckter
3. R. Mansfield (LMG)
4. R. Bell
5. P. Barlow
6. S. Clark

Fastest lap: Holland 1m8.6s (72.94 mph)

Castle Combe, BRSCC, 10-laps, 30 August 1971
1. G. Marshall, 15m00.8s (73.57mph)
2. B. Williams
3. R. Bell
4. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas
5. S. Clark
Fastest lap: Williams 1m28.4 (74.93 mph)

Cadwell Park, BRSCC, 10-laps, 12 September 1971
1. Jody Scheckter
2. R. Mansfield
3. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas
4. G. Marshall
5. N. Weir
6. P. Barlow

Fastest lap: Scheckter, 1m56.2s (69.71 mph)
Scheckter was driving the car of Stuart McCrudden (Reid Rallye Sport of Torquay)
from the back of the grid, after his own car blew up in practice.

Llandow, BRSCC SW Centre, 26 September 1971, 9 cars started
1. R. Mansfield (LMG - Lumo)
2. Mrs. G. Fortescue-Thomas
3. B. Williams
4. G. Marshall
5. R. Bell
6. Jody Scheckter (Lucky Strike)
Fastest lap: Mansfield, Mrs. Fortescue-Thomas, Williams, Bell, Scheckter, 44.0s, (81.82 mph)
According to Motoring News: "This round replaced the Silverstone qualifier cancelled owing to sponsorship confliction."

Croft, BRSCC, 10-laps, 3 October 1971
1. Jody Scheckter 14m 57.0s, 70.23mph
2. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre),
3. R. Mansfield
4. R. Bell
5. B. Williams
6. S. Clark
Fastest lap: Scheckter 1m28.2s (71.43mph)

Brands Hatch, BRSCC, 10-laps, 31 October 1971
"The meeting also sees the final 10-lap round of the 1971 Mexico Challenge series, in which Gerry Marshall will be trying to cut back a narrow 2-point lead held by South African Jody Scheckter."
"Gerry Marshall scored a convincing win in the Escort Mexico race and in doing so won the National Castrol Mexico Challenge."
1. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre), 10m 30.2s, 70.84.mph
2. N. Brittan
3. Jody Scheckter
4. R. Bell
5. Keith Holland
6. S. McCrudden
7. Williams
8. Fortescue-Thomas
9. Colin Vandervell
10. Philip Barlow
Fastest lap: Marshall, 1m01.8s (72.23 mph) record

Roger Bell was a journalist at The Motor - another source of coverage?
Gerry Marshall won the series, with Jody Scheckter runner-up.

RGDS RLT


The top 6 championship positions were published in Autosport for 11th November:

1. Gerry Marshall 53 points
2. Jody Scheckter 50
3. Barrie Williams 36
4. Rod Mansfield 34
5. Roger Bell 25
6. Gillian Fortescue-Thomas 22

Without the top 6 finishing positions from all the rounds it’s impossible to compile a full points table, as I had hoped to do.

#19 BRG

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 16:58

Much muttering about the legality of the cars. 

I remember George Polley commenting that he was always at least one cheat behind the front -runners.  It was why he only ran in the series for one year.



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#20 Gregor Marshall

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Posted 15 January 2020 - 18:27

moffspeed: Yes I read that - I'll see if I can find a quote. Scheckter seems to have succeeded as this series had been lost to history until I blundered into it. I guess visiting such fashionable locations as Rufforth, Croft and Llandow didn't help the cause. There were serious prizes with the overall winner to receive a Ford RS1600 or equivalent in cash. Much muttering about the legality of the cars. We still lack a points table?

I'll have to get to grips with 1972 - a Motorcraft series features somewhere? More celebrity racing?

 

RGDS RLT

 

I wouldn't necessarily agree it had been lost to history, my late Dad always felt it was very important to his career and I believe Andy Rouse said the same also (he won the second championship in 1972) and a lot of "names" raced in the championship in the first two years at least.
For Dad, as a Castrol backed Vauxhall driver (Roger Willis would not help him out with the Mexico due to Jody being their supported driver), winning the championship, even though he didn't take part in the first round (as Bill McGovern decided not to race, so the car's owner Larry Sevitt, an old friend, did and then got Dad to test the car and decided he was much faster), to then win in a Esso sponsored Ford went down well with Vauxhall and Castrol, actually, it made them sign him to a proper annual contract with both Vauxhall and Castrol!!
Dad actually swapped his prize, which should've been an RS1600, for a Zodiac Executive - I'll see if I can dig the trophies out from storage and take a photo.
I think there were legality issues (like all one make championships) and in the very early 1970s Llandow and Croft were actually very popular tracks, with a lot of championships visiting them and Croft still being on the BTCC Calendar now.
I think what killed it off was the rise of "celebrity" Escort races and the release of the Mk2 Escort, mixing the two together, plus the advent of Group 1 racing in 1972, before becoming part of the British Saloon Car Championship (BTCC) in 1974.
If it helps, Dad also raced in the Mexico Championship at Rufforth on the 1st April 1972, driving Jeff Uren's car, but retired due to a faulty distributor/coil and I don't have any other Escort Championship races for him after that.



#21 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 04:06

I wouldn't necessarily agree it had been lost to history, my late Dad always felt it was very important to his career and I believe Andy Rouse said the same also (he won the second championship in 1972) and a lot of "names" raced in the championship in the first two years at least.
For Dad, as a Castrol backed Vauxhall driver (Roger Willis would not help him out with the Mexico due to Jody being their supported driver), winning the championship, even though he didn't take part in the first round (as Bill McGovern decided not to race, so the car's owner Larry Sevitt, an old friend, did and then got Dad to test the car and decided he was much faster), to then win in a Esso sponsored Ford went down well with Vauxhall and Castrol, actually, it made them sign him to a proper annual contract with both Vauxhall and Castrol!!
Dad actually swapped his prize, which should've been an RS1600, for a Zodiac Executive - I'll see if I can dig the trophies out from storage and take a photo.
I think there were legality issues (like all one make championships) and in the very early 1970s Llandow and Croft were actually very popular tracks, with a lot of championships visiting them and Croft still being on the BTCC Calendar now.
I think what killed it off was the rise of "celebrity" Escort races and the release of the Mk2 Escort, mixing the two together, plus the advent of Group 1 racing in 1972, before becoming part of the British Saloon Car Championship (BTCC) in 1974.
If it helps, Dad also raced in the Mexico Championship at Rufforth on the 1st April 1972, driving Jeff Uren's car, but retired due to a faulty distributor/coil and I don't have any other Escort Championship races for him after that.

Jeff Uren? There is a English bloke with that name running a repair shop here in Adelaide. Since the late 70s

Same bloke?



#22 Tim Murray

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 04:51

I don’t think so. Jeff Uren was British Saloon Car Champion in 1959 driving a Ford Zephyr. He worked for many years with John Willment before setting up his own ‘Race Proved’ business in Hanwell building larger-engined Ford road cars such as the Cortina Savage. He relocated to Ashburton in Devon in the 1970s before giving up car building in the 1980s and setting up an interior design company. He died in 2007 aged 81.

http://www.classicam...race-proved.pdf

#23 john aston

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 07:32

moffspeed: Yes I read that - I'll see if I can find a quote. Scheckter seems to have succeeded as this series had been lost to history until I blundered into it. I guess visiting such fashionable locations as Rufforth, Croft and Llandow didn't help the cause.

RGDS RLT

 

I wouldn't sneer too much at venues like Croft and Rufforth. (and I am sure Llandow - but it's a circuit I haven't visited ). They may have seemed near the Arctic Circle to those who rarely ventured north of Tooting but both circuits - Croft especially- boasted crowds  you will rarely see now except at BTCC rounds . Having seen the likes of James Hunt race at Rufforth and Pace, Hamilton and ,Raikkonen  at Croft I certainly wouldn't deprecate the importance of circuits in the ..err. provinces.... , either now or then .
 



#24 Rupertlt1

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 12:15

I wouldn't sneer too much at venues like Croft and Rufforth. (and I am sure Llandow - but it's a circuit I haven't visited ). They may have seemed near the Arctic Circle to those who rarely ventured north of Tooting but both circuits - Croft especially- boasted crowds  you will rarely see now except at BTCC rounds . Having seen the likes of James Hunt race at Rufforth and Pace, Hamilton and ,Raikkonen  at Croft I certainly wouldn't deprecate the importance of circuits in the ..err. provinces.... , either now or then .
 

 

I'm not sneering at anything - I was at Croft in the 70s for 'Indylantic' and Rallycross. It had that distinct ex-RAF feel with mud. Having been raised on Crystal Palace, Goodwood, and Brands Hatch it did not seem like an 'A' list venue. Rufforth was a temporary circuit with all that that implies. Opening a national series there was hardly likely to go with a bang.

I went to Pembrey a number of times for F3, but not Llandow. (The Mexicos visited Llandow twice, because they were not welcome at Silverstone.) I did not confine myself to the south. Hamsterley Forest on the R.A.C., Mintex Rally in Yorkshire. Folk on here will know that I specialise in the obscure. Try this:

 

https://forums.autos...n/#entry8972030

 

I could find out virtually nothing on the Mexico series from 1971 - no calendar - surprising given the involvement of Jody Scheckter. I found a pic of Chris Sclater which I guessed was at Crystal Palace - there was no alternative to plowing through a years worth of Motoring News. I would estimate two days of effort. Now you know all about it, bar a complete set of points winners.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 16 January 2020 - 12:38.


#25 john aston

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 18:02

Sorry to sound chippy Yorkshireman and all that, but what passed for creature comforts at Croft in period were no worse (and , in the case of the ;toilets , significantly better )than Silverstone . Like every old aerodrome - Goodwood included - it was not immune to mud when it was wet . Come to think of it, I have encountered plenty of mud at 21st Century Goodwood ...

 

Rufforth was indeed a pop up circuit - so a bit like Crystal Palace then ...

 

Croft was good enough for Bruce McLaren in the 60s and so it was - and still is  certainly good enough for me   



#26 Rupertlt1

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 18:53

Croft, BRSCC, 10-laps, 3 October 1971
1. Jody Scheckter 14m 57.0s, 70.23mph
2. G. Marshall (Tiran-Auto Centre),
3. R. Mansfield
4. R. Bell
5. B. Williams
6. S. Clark
Fastest lap: Scheckter 1m28.2s (71.43mph)

This event attracted eleven entries. Thin stuff.
7th Stuart McCrudden
8th Nick Weir
9th Colin Wild (Withers of Winsford)
10th Cedric Osborne
DNF Gillian Fortescue-Thomas, puncture

RGDS RLT

#27 moffspeed

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Posted 16 January 2020 - 20:00

I wouldn't sneer too much at venues like Croft and Rufforth. (and I am sure Llandow - but it's a circuit I haven't visited ). 

 

It pains me to say it - the Welsh oval was the epicentre of my motor racing world from puberty until that bloody Inter City 125 whisked me off on a one-way ticket to Paddington in the late '70s - but Llandow was the back end of beyond by anyone's standards. The facilities were the wrong side of basic but it was the agricultural nature of the track which concentrated the racers' minds. The local lads knew how to navigate the pot holes, avoid the biggest bumps and find the bits of the old runways that were least damaged and afforded the best traction. So if you were Vernon Davies in his Mallock, Dave McCloy or Joe Gregory in the smaller tin tops, John (father of Grant) Williams in the "Risca' Jaguar, one of the Port Talbot boys in the "Baglan Bay Minis" or Bob Miller in his F5000 Dulon you would do just fine. Add to this list Charlie Sgonina in the ex Jimmy Clark DBR-1 and Ken Wilson in his Lotus 30 / McLaren M1B.  Llandow was a special stage on the FRAM Welsh rally many years ago, one of the competitors told me that it was the roughest stage on the whole rally - maybe he was joking.

 

My wife says that I swear too much and I probably do. My defence is that I was at Llandow in the 70's when some reasonably prominent national racers arrived at the circuit and returned to the paddock after a few exploratory laps. The language was interesting, they then set to work dialling in East African Safari suspension settings or alternatively having a pint in the makeshift bar (adorned with sections of shattered race car bodywork) and then trailering up and heading home.

 

After Spa and Suzuka it's still my favourite circuit...



#28 Rupertlt1

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Posted 17 January 2020 - 03:40

Ford Escort Mexico

"Each Escort Mexico has a 1600 GT

engine uprated to 86 bhp at 5,500 rpm,

close ratio gearbox, stiffened and low-

ered suspension, servo assisted brakes,

5½ J wheels with radius arms, stone

deflector plate, heavy duty body, the

ability to reach 60 in 10.5 seconds and

100 easily.

A Ford Rallye Sport dealer will sell

you a Mexico for only £1179."

Motoring News, 18 November 1971

 

This copy appeared below a photograph of KOO 632K

One report says the car had a Type 49 heavy duty bodyshell (which it shared with the RS1600).

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 17 January 2020 - 03:41.


#29 barrykm

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Posted 17 January 2020 - 05:30

What a great car, thanks for the specs Rupert. 



#30 BRG

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Posted 17 January 2020 - 18:34

One report says the car had a Type 49 heavy duty bodyshell (which it shared with the RS1600).

The Mexico did indeed use the Type 49 shell, originally made for the Escort Twin Cam, and later used for the RS1600 and RS2000.



#31 Rupertlt1

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Posted 17 January 2020 - 20:05

The Mexico did indeed use the Type 49 shell, originally made for the Escort Twin Cam, and later used for the RS1600 and RS2000.

 

Ref the Torbay Rally 1972 MN reported "the only problem came on the tenth selective when the usual Gp 1 Escort failure of a broken rear cross-member resulted in a rapid re-build at the following time control."

 

RGDS RLT 



#32 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 14:48

Brands Hatch, club circuit, 24 October 1971, 10-laps

F1 team managers race, open exhaust, Dunlop road tyres

Qualifying

J. Brabham 65.0s

C. Chapman 65.4

J. Surtees 65.6

M. Mosley 66.0

Phil Kerr 66.4

Frank Williams 66.6

Mike Costin 66.8

Eric Broadley 67.0

J. Epstein 67.2

Tyrell & Nelson 67.4

Hardwick 67.8

Rees & Ian Williams 69.6

Parnell 74.8

 

Results:

1.— #2 Jack Brabham, 11m 09.6s, 66.77 mph, HLA 210K, red

2.— #7 John Surtees, 11m 11.2s, white

3.— #6 Colin Chapman, 11m 11.4s, HLA 208K

4.— #10 Frank Williams, 11m 16.2s, HLA 213K, yellow    

5.— Max Mosley, 11m 18s

6.— Phil Kerr, 11m 24.4s

7.— Mike Costin

8.— Jackie Epstein

9.— Doug Hardwick

10.— Edward Nelson

11.— Eric Broadley

12.— Ken Tyrell 

13.— Ian Williams

14.— Alan Rees

15.— Tim Parnell

Fastest lap: Chapman 1m 05.2s (68.47 mph)

 
RGDS RLT

Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 January 2020 - 13:12.


#33 DogEarred

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 14:56

Wasn't Chapman leading that until he had an 'off'?...

#34 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 15:02

Wasn't Chapman leading that until he had an 'off'?...

 

Yes, but not an 'off' — lost top gear at Clearways on last lap. Coasted across the line. Apparently the race was televised. (With thanks to M.G.D.)

 

RGDS RLT



#35 DogEarred

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 15:09

....and I was at Clearways.


Memory.......

#36 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 15:11

....and I was at Clearways.


Memory.......

 

Do you have programme then we can get race #s? (Be good to find the film.)

 

RGDS RLT



#37 DogEarred

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 15:29

Very possibly but it's in a box in transit at the mo.

Please remind me in March☺..

#38 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 15:38

Very possibly but it's in a box in transit at the mo.

Please remind me in March☺..

 

If I've heard "its in the loft" once...


Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 January 2020 - 15:42.


#39 BRG

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 16:08

Ref the Torbay Rally 1972 MN reported "the only problem came on the tenth selective when the usual Gp 1 Escort failure of a broken rear cross-member resulted in a rapid re-build at the following time control."

 

RGDS RLT 

Not sure what this means.  Escorts had a front cross-member - generally replaced by the stronger World Cup unit but I don't know what they would call a rear cross-member?  And the Torbay wasn't rough - provided you kept off the roadside banks, unlike us - so not sure what could break.  Nor how it could be repaired at a TC?



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#40 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 16:29

Not sure what this means.  Escorts had a front cross-member - generally replaced by the stronger World Cup unit but I don't know what they would call a rear cross-member?  And the Torbay wasn't rough - provided you kept off the roadside banks, unlike us - so not sure what could break.  Nor how it could be repaired at a TC?

 

I am glad you raised this — I marked it up in pencil in MN — the full quote is:

 

"the only crew to break this total dominance [of Morley/Bryant] being Rockey/White.  The Mexico was standing up to the strain really well, the only problem came on the tenth selective when the usual Gp 1 Escort failure of a broken rear cross-member resulted in a rapid re-build at the following time control."

 

You are too modest to mention what car you were driving, and what happened?

 

RGDS RLT



#41 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 16:42

Here we are at Brands Hatch:

 

https://www.youtube....eature=youtu.be

 

I've made some additions at post #32.

 

Does anybody have the Autosport for this event?

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 18 January 2020 - 17:47.


#42 BRG

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 17:19

 

You are too modest to mention what car you were driving, and what happened?

 

RGDS RLT

It was nothing to be modest about! 

 

I was navigating in a very early Escort GT fitted with a 1600cc motor and a few basic tweaks.  Getting towards the end of the rally, we just understeered wide on a mucky right hand bend and slammed into the bank.  The early Escorts used a compression strut front suspension and we bent the trailing link.  We were trailered to Torquay to Jum Ali Khan's garage where application of heat and hammer got the link straight enough for us to drive home. 

 

I did just two more MN events, missing out a good result in one by a stupid timing mistake, and finally winning the 'Masters' class on the Servais Rally in Norfolk (which meant best of the rest behind the MN regulars).

 

Still puzzled about the 'rear cross-member' reference though.  How could you repair something like that at a TC unless you were carrying welding gear, which seems unlikely!



#43 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 20:24

1972 Monte Carlo Rally: #37 Ford Escort Mexico, HLA 211K, with Chris Sclater and Monte historian Michael Frostick, sponsored by the BBC Wheelbase programme. DNF.

They made a programme — does any footage survive?

 

RGDS RLT



#44 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 21:31

1972 Swedish Rally, 16/21 February: #10 Ford Escort Mexico, HLA 205K, Adrian Boyd/Beatty Crawford, sponsored by R.E. Hamilton/Bowmaker. Finished "well down"  35th.

 

https://image.forumf.../1508138647.jpg

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 February 2020 - 01:03.


#45 Rupertlt1

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Posted 18 January 2020 - 21:43

Castrol Mexico Challenge, BRSCC, 1972

Rnd 4: May 7, Brands Hatch, 10 laps - Rouse, Vandervell, Chittenden

Colin Vandervell, HLA 204K, "ex-FAVO Mexico."

 

Also #132 Vandervell/Marriott on the R.A.C. Rally.

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 31 January 2020 - 17:10.


#46 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 02:40

Here is a mystery:

Motoring News, 22 June 1972, Page 5:

"HLA 217K was first driven in anger at the

famed Mexico race for Grand

Prix team managers and entrants

at Brands Hatch. At first we

thought it was the very same

car that Mr Colin Chapman

drove in his great dice with Jack

Brabham, but further enquiries

revealed this was not the case.

In fact, we have never been able

to find out who drove it!

After Brands the car was next

used by Ford on the Monte

Carlo Rally (probably where the

body damage came from).

In 1972 the Mexico was shared by Chris Sclater (for the Castrol Mexico race series), and competed in at least one club rally driven by MN staffer Mike Greasley.

 

So who drove it at Brands Hatch? Was it entered on the Monte? Will we ever find out after nearly fifty years?

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 January 2020 - 02:42.


#47 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 04:36

More Monte:

1972 Monte Carlo Rally: #37 Ford Escort Mexico, HLA 211K, with Chris Sclater and Monte historian Michael Frostick, sponsored by the BBC Wheelbase programme. DNF.

They made a programme — does any footage survive? Is there a can of film lurking in some BBC vault?

 

"Three other Mexicos had also

been kitted up at Boreham

to be entered by World op Wielen of

Holland. These were driven by

Rob Slotemaker/Fergus Van der

Geest, Gijs van Lennep/Johann

Klein and Cornelius van Grieken/

Rob Wiedenhoff."

 

#82 Gijs van Lennep/Johann Klein, Dutch registered, red/white stripes

All DNF. Rob Slotemaker, fire.

 

Private entry: Roy Pinder/Michael Pinder, Escort Mexico, DNF.  

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 07 February 2020 - 00:48.


#48 Tim Murray

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 07:54

Here’s an earlier thread on the team managers’ race at Brands:

The Jack Brabham Trophy Race October 24th 1971 Brands Hatch

Race numbers, from the programme:

1. Ken Tyrrell
2. (TBN)
3. Max Mosley
4. Alan Rees
5. Phil Kerr
6. Colin Chapman
7. John Surtees
8. Tim Parnell
10. Frank Williams
11. Mike Costin
12. Sid Taylor
15. Jackie Epstein
16. Eric Broadley
17. Doug Hardwick
18. Edward Nelson
19. (TBN)

As discussed in the earlier thread, Jack Brabham wasn’t listed - he drove #2 - and Sid Taylor didn’t appear, presumably replaced by Ian Williams.

The earlier thread also has a link to a thread on the Roaring Season site where the Motoring News event report appears. I’ve checked the Autosport report, but it doesn’t appear to add anything to what was in MN.

#49 Kneifzange

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 09:51

Dear Sirs, 

 

may I ask again, if anyone of you has information about this "happening" of parallel flying Escorts?

 

 

sorry, that I "misuse" this thread.

I have found in Havanna! an old photographer´s magazin

In this mag there is an advert from Ilford showing this scenery:

 

 

m1v9-f-3fbf.jpg

 

Any information about the venue and the "result" of this action ?

 

 

Saludos!

Maikel



#50 Rupertlt1

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Posted 19 January 2020 - 10:48

Dear Sirs, 

 

may I ask again, if anyone of you has information about this "happening" of parallel flying Escorts?

 

Could this be at Zolder in Belgium? See post #9.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=7dB3tXoIPeg

 

RGDS RLT


Edited by Rupertlt1, 19 January 2020 - 11:09.