UK Special Saloon + Modsports Historical Database
Top 20 Ford Escorts 1970
As a new decade arrived it was the new Ford Escort that soon became the car to have replacing the ageing Ford Anglias. Escorts won 97 saloon car races or at least the `big` class in the 1970 season at club level. The car also launched the career of the likes of Dave Brodie ,Tony Sugden ,Colin Hawker ,Doug Niven who would all become stalwarts of special saloon racing through the next decade.
The list below documents the variety of Escorts in terms of success purely on that 1970 season. These are for just special saloon races not British Saloon car championship ones but includes those Brit Saloon cars ( Group 2 ) who did appear in special saloon races as often happened back then.
CAR : FORD ESCORT 2.1 'YKM 766J'aka'Run Baby Run'
DRIVER : DAVE BRODIE (b.1943) from Maidenhead
ENTRANT : FRANK WILLIAMS RACING
ENGINE : Twin-Cam bored to 2100cc ( 200 bhp )
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 32
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 20 outright plus 1 further class = 21
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 16 ( 5 jointly )
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : 4 ( 2 shared )
Thruxton ,Brands club ,Mallory full ( shared ), Brands GP ( shared ).
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC 'Hepolite' class winner
Atlantic Challenge class winner
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 'WGC 274G' upgraded to RS1600 - prepared by David Wood Engineering
DRIVER : JOHN BLOOMFIELD
ENTRANT : JOHN BLOOMFIELD CARS ( LONDON )
ENGINE : G2 Twin-Cam 1594cc (174bhp) to June 20th
BDA 1601cc debut June 28th
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 16
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 10 outright wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 10
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : 2 Crystal Palace , Mallory clubmens.
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular contested
nb- for sale May 1971 less engine by Geoff Nicklen
DAVE BRODIE - 21 Class Wins 1970
JOHN BLOOMFIELD - 10 Class Wins 1970
TONY SUGDEN - 11 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : TONY SUGDEN (b.1932) from Doncaster
ENTRANT : TONY SUGDEN RACING
ENGINE : Twin-Cam 1558cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 23
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 2 outright wins + 9 further class =11
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 4 ( 2 shared )
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC-N 'Troy Tires' class winner
DOUG NIVEN - 10 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.8 'XTW 386F' ex-Graham Birrell
DRIVER : DOUG NIVEN from Scotland
ENTRANT : WYLIE`S of GLASGOW
ENGINE : Twin-Cam bored to 1850cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 13
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 9 outright wins + 1 further class = 10
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 8 ( 1 shared )
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : Ingliston 'Hartley Whyte' winner
COLIN HAWKER -
8 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 3.0
DRIVER : COLIN HAWKER from Ilford
ENTRANT : TOLEMAN TRANSPORT
ENGINE : Ford Zodiac V6 2994cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 23
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 7 outright wins + 1 further class = 8
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 8 ( 2 shared )
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : Atlantic 3rd in class
DAVE MATTHEWS - 8 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 ( Group 5 ) ex-Frank Gardner ( Alan Mann ) ,Barry Pearson + 1.3 ( Group 2 )
DRIVER : DAVE MATTHEWS from Rotherham
ENTRANT : MELTON RACING
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc ( ETCC-spec )
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 13 + 2 in 1.3 G2 car
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 6 outright wins + 2 further class = 8 ( 1 outright was in the 1.3 car )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 7 (1 shared) + 1 in 1.3 car
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : Aintree , Cadwell Park full ,
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
DAVID COLEMAN - 6 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : DAVID COLEMAN
ENTRANT : DAVID COLEMAN
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1558cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 14 all at Snetterton ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 3 outright wins + 3 further class = 6
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 3
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
VINCE WOODMAN - 6 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT GT 1.3 ( G2 ) + 1.0
DRIVER : VINCE WOODMAN from Bristol
ENTRANT : VINCE WOODMAN MOTORS
ENGINE : Ford 1297cc (148bhp) + 1.0
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 5 in 1300cc ,2 in 1000cc
ACTUAL WINS 1970 : 3 outright wins + 3 further class = 6 ( 2 outright + 2 in 1.3 car )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 2
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : 1 Castle Combe 1300cc
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
NB : 2 outright wins in 1300cc car in races against 1300+ cars
STUART TURNER - 3 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.8
DRIVER : STURT TURNER from Manchester
ENTRANT : STUART TURNER
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1760cc?
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 8 ( 5 at Oulton Park )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 outright + 2 further class = 3
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC Hepolite Glacier
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.8
DRIVER : ANDY O`KEEFE of Farnborough ,Kent
ENTRANT : BARGAIN WALLPAPERS
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1760cc ( 170bhp) prepared by David Wood Engineering
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 22 ( 12 at Brands )
KNOWN WINS 1970 :1 outright + 1further class = 2 *
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
*not counting the class win at Snetterton when an extra class of 1300-1600cc was used.
- sold to Norman Hodgson for 1971
ANDY O`KEEFE - 2 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.8 / 2.0
DRIVER : JENNY BIRRELL
ENTRANT : WYLIE`S of GLASGOW
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 11 ( 8 at Ingliston )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 2 outright wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : Ingliston Hartley Whyte r-up
JENNY BIRRELL - 2 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 Group 2 spec ,built by Broadspeed. Ex-Chris Craft ,Jackie Stewart.
DRIVER : GRAHAM BIRRELL
ENTRANT : WYLIE`S of GLASGOW
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 3 ( all in Ingliston )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 2 outright wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : Ingliston Hartley Whyte.
uprated to 1.8 BDA for `71 G2 and advertised Sep 1971
GRAHAM BIRRELL- 2 Class Wins 1970
JOHN MORRIS - 2 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.9
DRIVER : JOHN MORRIS
ENTRANT : JOHN MORRIS
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1865cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 9 ( 7 at Oulton )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 2 outright wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC Hepolite Glacier
PAUL STEPHENSON - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : PAUL STEPHENSON from Market Weighton
ENTRANT : PAUL STEPHENSON
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 10 ( 5 at Oulton )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 outright win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : Nottm 'Troy Tires + Autos'
PHILIP 'PIP' DANBY - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : PIP DANBY (9) + CYD WILLIAMS (1)
ENTRANT : INTERTECH /LAWRENCETUNE
ENGINE : Ted Martin V8 2846cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 10 ( 5 at Thruxton )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 class win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BARC Osram
NB : car badly damaged at Crystal Palace . reapired and 3-litre Martin engine fitted for 1971.
BRIAN CUTTING - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 3.0
DRIVER : BRIAN CUTTING from Bournemouth
ENTRANT : BRIAN CUTTING
ENGINE : Ted Martin V8 2846cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 4 ( 3 at Castle Combe )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 outright win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : 1 Castle Combe
CHAMPIONSHIP : BARC Osram
NICK MAY - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 Group 2
DRIVER : NICK MAY (5) + WILLY KAY (2)
ENTRANT : WILLY KAY
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 7
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 outright win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC Hepolite
KEITH BOWMAKER - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.7
DRIVER : KEITH BOWMAKER
ENTRANT : PERDAL DEVELOPMENTS
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1760cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 6
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 class win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
TERRY DRURY - 1 Class Win 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 Group 2
DRIVER : TERRY DRURY
ENTRANT : TERRY DRURY
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 5
KNOWN WINS 1970 : 1 class win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 ( ex-Mike Young )
DRIVER : ARTHUR PREOU
ENTRANT : ARTHUR PREOU
ENGINE : Ford Cosworth FVA 1650cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 10
KNOWN WINS 1970 : none ( 3 x 2nd in class )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : BARC Osram ( 8 rounds )
ARTHUR PREOU - 0 Class Wins 1970
DEREK RIDLER - 0 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 Group 2 spec
DRIVER : DEREK RIDLER from Brighton
ENTRANT : VIP PETROLEUM
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc ( 184 bhp )
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 8
KNOWN WINS 1970 : none best finish 3rd
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
- footnote car sold to Simon Kirkby for 1971
PAT MANNION - 0 Class Wins 1970
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 Group 2 spec 'PJN 232G'
DRIVER : PAT MANNION
ENTRANT : REVOLUTION STEERING WHEELS
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1594cc Vegantune
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 6 ( 3 at Thruxton )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : none best 2nd in class x 3
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 / 2.1
DRIVER : ERIC CHAPPELL
ENTRANT : ERIC CHAPPELL
ENGINE : Ford twin-cam 1558cc = 2105cc
KNOWN STARTS 1970 : 7 ( 4 at Brands )
KNOWN WINS 1970 : none ,best 2nd in class x 3
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1970 : none
CHAMPIONSHIP : none in particular
ERIC CHAPPELL - 0 Class Wins 1970
and the best of the rest in 1970...
ROGER TAYLOR
( 1968 Redex winning car ,1820cc, badly rolled at Snetterton in June - 4 known races )
GLEN CAMPBELL ( 3.0 , 3 known races )
WILLIAM DREYER ( 3 known races )
CHRIS VENTER ( 3 known races )
BRIAN ROBINSON ( 1.6 Group 2-spec , 2 known races )
and 1 known races for : JOHN FITZPATRICK (G2) ,JOHN HINE (G2) ,KEN COFFEY (G2) ,ZEKIA REDJEP (G2) ,TONY ALGIERI (G2) ,PHIL DE BANKS ,SUSAN TUCKER-PEAKE ,KEVIN McDONALD ,RAY AUSTEN ,MARTIN HURST ( Rover V8 ) ,PETER WARREN ,BOB TORRIE ,TOM JEFFREY and in Ireland ROBERT WARD ( photo ).
Figures to be updated if more results become known
