17 replies to this topic

[cooper997]

A friend of mine is working on a new book and Ralph Broad plays a part. I suggested he try TNF to try and track his whereabouts or any personal tales you've had with Ralph. He has signed on as Radford, but is currently unable to ask his question to the forum. So what follows is his question, please feel free to add whatever you can to help.

Many thanks
Stephen


From Radford

I am a motoring author and I have been trying to make contact with
Ralph Broad (he of Broadspeed fame) but without success. His last known
residence was in the Algarve in Portugal. His former company, Fogo
Montanha, do not know his whereabouts, and the only email address I
have found, quoted from several years ago on the "Algarve Resident"
website, is no longer deliverable. Can anyone help me please?

Many thanks,

Radford

[Mistron]

You could try asking the same question on the Mk1 performance Mini forum

http://www.atfreefor...?mforum=mk1mark

[roundel]

You could try asking the same question on the Mk1 performance Mini forum

http://www.atfreefor...?mforum=mk1mark

Last I heard Ralph was in Portugal making wood burning stoves.
Alex

[cooper997]

Many thanks Mistron & Roundel for your suggestions. We may have finally tracked Ralph.

If anybody has any anecdotes about Ralph please feel free to share with everyone on TNF.


Stephen

[Morris S]

Some nice pics of Broadspeed Minis and explanatory info in the lastest issue of the Mini Cooper Register club magazine.

[cooper997]

Some nice pics of Broadspeed Minis and explanatory info in the lastest issue of the Mini Cooper Register club magazine.

Thanks Morris S, yes we have seen the MCR mag.

[Ralph Broad]

Hi There,
My name is Ralph Broad, I hear you have been trying to contact me.
My E.mail is (ralphbroad@live.com)
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Ralph Broad

[glyn parham]

Welcome to TNF Ralph, some of us had the pleasure of listening to Chris Craft reminising about his racing days last Saturday and watching film of the 1968 British Saloon Car Championship with the then new Mk1 Escorts.

I would be interested to know how highly you rated Chris, he seemed to be a very good driver from behind the spectator fence, one I admired very much back in the day.

glyn

[bradbury west]

My first sight of a "Broads of Birmingham" - as described to me- car was this Cooper Mini at the Yorkshire SCC Yorks Rally, 8/9 February 1963. It was in a metallic mid blue, and I was told it was to group 3 spec, twin carbs, with an air box , oversize valves etc. and was immaculate
http://www.postimage....php?v=aV1eyq9i][/url]
Photo copyright Roger Lund
RL

[sterling49]

Ralph's cars were always immaculate, the Minis were lovely, and the colour scheme of the Anglias and Escorts, just fantastic! Strange that this thread came up, just after we listened avidly to Cris Craft last week

[dirtysteve]

hi everyone, on the subject of broadspeed cars i've met a man who claims to have a broadspeed mk1 escort twin cam with a v6 with tripple webbers, obviously i want to buy it (as i have mk1's running through my vains!!) but its incomplete and apparently rough as a dog, if i'm lucky enough to get my hands on it i will need help with the spec to aid a full restoration, all i know is the v6 engine, zf gearbox and mustang axle??, i havnt got the reg yet but does this sound right as its a world away from my mexico, thanks, steve

[sterling49]

Hi Steve, I am not an authority on this, but was not aware that Broadspeed converted Escorts with V-6 Essex lumps, one team that did however, was Chris Craft's previous employer, Mike & John Young, who ran Superspeed form Ley Street in Ilford, Essex. These were marketed quite strongly around the time of the Escort launch, and a few motoring mags ran adverts for them. IIRC, they were pictured running on the then new fangled "Rostyle" steel wheels, like Cortina 1600Es of the time.

[bradbury west]

As did Jeff Uren, with his Cortina/Escort conversions as Savages and Cheetahs, IIRC
RL

[sterling49]

As did Jeff Uren, with his Cortina/Escort conversions as Savages and Cheetahs, IIRC
RL

Of course they did, I'd completely forgotten about Uren, as did crayford Conversions in Westerham, or were they just rag tops?

[RS2000]

What do you actually mean by a "Broadspeed car"? Perhaps RB can confirm but my understanding is that the Broadspeed race Escorts run for Ford had normal Ford "chasis" numbers but not all had registration numbers (although some did).

I never understood the attraction of putting the lump of heavy iron that the Esssex V6 was into an Escort. Like a Capri, for handling it needs extra heavy weight up front like it needs a hole in the head. If you have a genuine TC, I would think the best plan as regards maximising value would be to revert to TC spec?
I assume you do not believe it is one of the cars raced by Broadspeed (if so, please tell us more!) but was a TC with a Broadspeed engine or was otherwise worked on by them?
Mustang axle suggests it was an early car, before the "4HA" was used or the Atlas became commonly used? (otherwise it seems a strange choice, more usually linked with V8s in Capris).

Edited by RS2000, 14 August 2009 - 21:20.

[dirtysteve]

What do you actually mean by a "Broadspeed car"? Perhaps RB can confirm but my understanding is that the Broadspeed race Escorts run for Ford had normal Ford "chasis" numbers but not all had registration numbers (although some did).

I never understood the attraction of putting the lump of heavy iron that the Esssex V6 was into an Escort. Like a Capri, for handling it needs extra heavy weight up front like it needs a hole in the head. If you have a genuine TC, I would think the best plan as regards maximising value would be to revert to TC spec?
I assume you do not believe it is one of the cars raced by Broadspeed (if so, please tell us more!) but was a TC with a Broadspeed engine or was otherwise worked on by them?
Mustang axle suggests it was an early car, before the "4HA" was used or the Atlas became commonly used? (otherwise it seems a strange choice, more usually linked with V8s in Capris).

as yet you know as much about the car as i do, i hope to see him over the weekend and shed some light on this matter, he definately discribed it as a broadspeed twincam v6, god only knows what it is, he has the v5 so i'll try and get the reg, thanks for the input though, steve

[dirtysteve]

i dont know if anyone will still look at this but just to add it is a superspeed car not a broadspeed car, cheers, steve

[sterling49]

i dont know if anyone will still look at this but just to add it is a superspeed car not a broadspeed car, cheers, steve

Completely differnent animal Steve! Converted in their garage in Leys Street, Ilford, by Mike and John Young, a pair of real saloon racers from the '60s who had a driver in one of their Anglias by the name of Chris Craft. They sold these cars (IIRC) in 1968/69 and they were produced as fast, lazy road tourers, nothing like them available at the time,however they were not known for any competition success, I could be wrong though, and if I am, a TNF member will surely know.