Dave Brodie Ford Escort 2150 BDA- known results - 1971

Brodie entered Modsports in 1971 when he was signed up to drive Richard Lloyd's newly aquired Lotus Elan. Backed by the Gold Seal motor company and livered in JPS-Lotus style black with gold piping the partnership won first time out on its debut at Thruxton on June 13th.
The car had previously taken Jeff Goodliff to the BARC Castrol hillclimb title whilst entered by British Vita Racing Team. A striking car then in bright yellow with wide front arches and was featured in CCC (Dec.1970).
A new 178bhp engine of 1975cc was supplied by Racing services and Chas Beattie set the car up for circuits with F3 suspension. Brodie provided the masterful driving gaining 6 outright wins during the 1971 season.
The car track tested by Motor Sport in Jan 1972.
The whereabouts of the car now remains a mystery.

Brodie returned to Modsports in mid- 1972 when again he was signed up to drive a Lotus Elan. This time a new build by Victor Raysbrooke Motors. VRM and John Pledger in particular had already built 2 modsport cars for Nick Marris but really pushed the boat out to build the fastest Elan. A racing Services 1600cc gave 170bhp. Brodie was chosen 'for no particular reason other than his style captured my imagination'. Like with the Gold Seal car Brode won first time out again at Thruxton. He recovered from damaging the car at Oulton Park by winning the next day at Mallory after an repair job overnight. A suspension issue denied him a start at his last Modsport race. The car continued to be raced by John Pearson and Gerry Marshall going onto Andrew Smith and Nicky Ellis.

Announced August 8th 1974 in Autosport and other papers the stunning Ford Capri mark 2 brought Dave Brodie back to the tracks a year after his horrific BTCC crash at Silverstone. Built by renown builder Chas Beattie the black beast looked a million dollars and caused more positive publicity for the new Supersaloon series that had effectively replaced the British Saloon car championship as the most exciting tintop racing. Power came from an Essex-block 3.4 litre V6 rated 330bhp and the car featured torsion bar suspension. The car made it into the CCC magazine's 'Big bangers are back' article ( October 1974 ) even though it wasnt one of the cars on the famous Jeff Bloxham group shot for the cover. 'Only the front passenger area and inner front wings are now in steel ,the rest being removable fibreglass panels' it reported. Under those huge arches were Iso Marlboro F1 16-17 X 13 at the rear and 10-11 inch BBS at the front. Driving duties to be shared with Jonathan Buncombe.
Sadly the car didnt live up to the publicity and expectation for one reason or other. It didnt really get going until 1975 and had a multitude of problems leading DNFs. Such as shame as it really looked the part and brought Dave back into special ( super ) saloons.
In 1976 the team cut their losses and the car was bought by MacMillan Publishing company for their car collection and raced by John Olding. Going on to Bernie Harris and last recorded finish 1985. This potentialy great car then slipped away into oblivion.