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Posted
Jan 21 2012, 01:00 AM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 19 comment(s)
The Autosport show was a great way to remind ourselves just how good rallying was – and still is. Despite troubles behind the scenes, the WRC has kicked off with another classic Monte Carlo rally , and rallying as a sport is still a must-see event. Forget the politics: watch the stages. The main attraction at ASI for rally fans was the British Rally Heroes Display, which showed off half a dozen classics from the last 50 years of the sport from a UK perspective. Ford Escorts continue to be a...
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Posted
Jan 13 2012, 12:00 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 23 comment(s)
This weekend The International Racing Car show at the sprawling NEC complex in Birmingham becomes the focus of the racing and performance car world. It's where the manufacturers often choose to launch their new models: this year Nissan and JRM officially launched the GT-R NISMO GT3 at the show. The GT3 variant lacks none of the aggression of its now-redundant GT1 big brother – and the official launch was backed up by a JRM GT-R GT3 taking third position on the grid for today's Dubai...
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Posted
Dec 14 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Jonathan Moore
with 20 comment(s)
Here on Speedhunters we're constantly striving to bring you new things, new cars, new events. But sometimes it's good to look back and appreciate just how we've got to where we are. It is easy to dismiss old cars as, well old . Odd-looking. Not exciting. But as soon as you get up close to something like this 1922 Aston Martin I think it's clear just how special and relevant they are. An invention that is now over 120 years old, the motor car quickly evolved to the stage where there...
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Posted
Nov 25 2011, 01:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 17 comment(s)
What do you do when you have a fully-built and specced engine ready to go, but the rest of the car isn’t finished? Find another rolling shell to put it into, of course! This is Mike ‘Boxxer’ Bradley’s road-legal, 1980 Ford Escort Mk2 four-door, built for drifting, track days and general messing about. It might look tatty on the outside, but inside and underneath it’s incredibly well-specced. The engine in question is a 2.1-litre Cosworth YB, converted to normally-aspirated...
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Posted
Nov 24 2011, 08:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
All of these recent Ford stories have me searching YouTube for videos that really show just how incredible and capable the MKII Escort is. Moll's Gap is one of the most famous Irish rallying stages and is part of the Killarney Rally of the Lakes each year. The MKII Escort is still the car that brings people out to the stages in my opinion. This is what happens when you combine one of the built MKII Escorts of all time, put it in the hands of Colin McRae and let him loose on The Gap. Pure Magic.
-
Paddy McGrath
Colin McRae Stories on Speedhunters
More Videos on Speedhunters
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Posted
Nov 24 2011, 12:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 21 comment(s)
It's almost hard to believe that the humble MKII Escort has been around for thirty six years already. I don't think anyone could have had quite imagined the impact the car would have on the motoring world when it launched. Its simplicity has lended itself to help the Escort become one of the greatest rally cars of all time. It was successful on track too but its fame and popularity had a lot to do with the success and style of Messrs Vatanen, Mikkola, Waldegard, Clark & Co. It comes as...
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Posted
Nov 23 2011, 07:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 18 comment(s)
Once a year, my local Ford main dealer empties its showroom and forecourt of all its wares. The reason? To allow the Irish RSOC branch to takeover the premises with a host of quality Ford metal, both new and old. The show is free and open to public. It's more of a big friendly meet than a show as such, with a laid back atmosphere and plenty of cars present for everyone to drool over. The only issue I have with attending something like this is the hours I'm sure to waste afterwards searching...
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Posted
Nov 23 2011, 02:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 23 comment(s)
One of the - many - great things about working for Speedhunters is we can justify hours and hours of random internet browsing and YouTube videos as 'research'. For a change, my 'research' actually turned something up in the shape of this Ford Escort MKI which is currently being rebuilt in the UK. Billy Sutton (user driftescort on the Driftworks forums) recently unveiled the progress being made on his dream build. Just want to say a big thanks to Billy for letting me use his photos...
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Posted
Nov 17 2011, 12:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 25 comment(s)
Where some strive for that perfect die cast collection or others endeavour to build the most accurate RC cars, my own personal vice is of the paper and hardback variety. Any show or event I attend, if there's a stand selling books you can get your bottom dollar I'll be there drooling over what's on offer. I guess the reason why I pick up so many automotive related books is even though the internet is a great resource, you still can't beat the highly detailed information on offer out...
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Posted
Nov 17 2011, 12:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 5 comment(s)
If you've been on the site recently, you may have read our two part story on the Ford Heritage Collection, which in itself is arguably one of the greatest collections you could come across. As a life long Ford fan, it was a huge privilage for me to be allowed access to this secretive department of the Ford Motor Company. It's always an occasion for me when I get to see a super rare Ford but to be allowed unrestricted access to an entire workshop full of rare and milestone cars, I just can't...
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Posted
Nov 16 2011, 01:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 10 comment(s)
A lot of you requested some desktops from our recent Ford Heritage Collection stories - one person even wrote that they'd never forgive me - so I thought it best to not disappoint you. I've included four of my own personal favourites including the Ford GT, Lotus Cortina, an overview of the workshop and a close up of the bonnet of Hannu Mikkola's World Cup Rally winning Escort RS1600. I know some of you complained about the images being in black and white and I admit that it was a tough...
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Posted
Nov 15 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 22 comment(s)
My earliest motorsport memories all involve Fords. Sitting on top of a stranger's garden wall as a field of Escorts passed by at full tilt is something that leaves a lasting effect on you. Whether it was the MKI or MKII, the Sierra or Escort Cosworths, I always felt a strong emotional attachment to the Ford cars. It was something that came about in conversation as John gave me the grand tour of Ford's own Heritage collection. I can only speak from my own experiences, which have been biased...
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Posted
Nov 11 2011, 08:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 32 comment(s)
Back in September, I was lurking around the north of London for a few days after the always impressive Goodwood Revival. I love travelling to the UK as I never know what stories I'll come back to Ireland with. It is a proper motorsport country which some of my UK friends seem to forget sometimes but no matter where you travel to on her majesty's island, you're never too far from something of interest. As I worked away on stories from Goodwood, Hellaflush UK and Players Show, I got one...
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Posted
Oct 24 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Charles Kha
with 11 comment(s)
Speedhunters reader Marcel just sent us this short video that he shot near the Nurburgring. If you're a fan of Ford Escorts you'll appreciate Marcel's work!
- Charles Kha
Macamedia.tv
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Posted
Aug 20 2011, 03:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 10 comment(s)
This MKI Escort was one that had caught my eye previously at Autosport International some years ago and it was one that I've always wanted to take a closer look at. Faith finally allowed me the opportunity to inspect the car at this year's Ford Fair where it sat on the Meguiars' stand. It's rather fitting as the car is absolutely immaculate in every single nook and cranny. Powered by a Crossflow engine, I asked the Simon H at Classic Ford for a little bit more information: "In...
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Posted
Aug 20 2011, 12:01 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 14 comment(s)
One of the most requested cars for a spotlight from Ford Fair was this MKII Escort on split rims. Every time I seen it parked up, it was paired with the drop nose MKII Escort parked beside it in this image which I've included a snap or two at the end of this post. Under the bonnet lurked this two litre turbocharged YB Cosworth motor. It's a pretty obvious swap but it's obvious for a reason - it's a proven combination. The car was running on sixteen inch rims with 225/45 rubber on...
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Posted
Jul 26 2011, 10:00 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 34 comment(s)
I first caught sight of Paul McCarthy’s Zakspeed Escort replica a few years ago when, in as yet uncompleted form, it made an appearance at the NZCC Classic Car Weekend at the Ellerslie Intermarque Concours. Whilst on display, the car attracted a lot of attention – mainly from Escort enthusiasts who had already heard rumours of Paul’s project. One of the more preposterous of those in general circulation was that the car had been constructed around a complete, carbon-fibre shell!...
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Posted
May 25 2011, 06:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 3 comment(s)
Following our Classic Ford feature on this ultra special Broadspeed Ford Escort, I've updated the desktops section with the above image in both widescreen and standard formats. - Paddy McGrath
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Posted
May 24 2011, 05:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 23 comment(s)
This car is one that I honestly thought I'd never have the opportunity to photograph. Being a Ford kinda guy at heart, I was more than aware of what this car and just how rare it is. It's so much more than just any old Ford Escort. The first time I ever seen this car, it was nothing more than a bare shell just after being painted. At the time, I was unaware of just exactly what it was and forgot about it until I seen it together a couple of years later. From day one, long before I was working...
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Posted
May 24 2011, 02:00 PM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 19 comment(s)
It's strange. No matter how much drifting I experience and regardless of how much tyre smoke I inhale from third and fourth gear slides, I still rather the sight and sound of a MKII Escort on a tight rally stage. A couple of weeks back, I was standing on the roadside of a narrow back road, some twenty minutes from Carlow town. It was pretty early on a Sunday morning and already the sound of Millington Diamond engines could be heard echoing feintly around the hills of the surrounding countryside...
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