UK Special Saloon + Modsports Historical Database
Ford Escorts 1971
posted in order of class wins :
DAVE BRODIE - 13 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT 2.1 'YKM 766J' aka'Run Baby Run'
DRIVER : DAVE BRODIE (b.1943) from Maidenhead
ENTRANT : RACING SERVICES
ENGINE : BDA bored to 2150cc ( 215 bhp )
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 22 ( + 2 DNS )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 13 in Escort ( 21 outright for the season including those in Lotus Elans and Lotus 62 )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 11
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 5 Mallory club
( shared ), Mallory full ( shared ), Brands G.P. ( shared ), Castle Combe , Crystal Palace.
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC Hepolite Glacer 2nd in class
NORMAN HODGSON - 13 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6 ( ex-Andy O`Keefe )
DRIVER : NORMAN HODGSON
ENTRANT : CROSBY MOTOR GARAGE
SPONSOR : HOWARD ARTMS HOTEL
ENGINE : Twin-Cam 1.6 with fuel-inj ( 175 bhp )
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 26
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 12 outright plus 1 further class win
( plus 1 more class win in the Janglia )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 11
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRSCC-N Northern Saloon class winner
( 8 of the class wins came at Croft )
CAR : FORD ESCORT GT 1.3 G2-spec ( ex-John Fitzpatrick Broadspeed car ) 'EVX 256H'
DRIVER : VINCE WOODMAN ( b.Bristol 6-8-36 )
ENTRANT : VWM
ENGINE : 1298 cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 7
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 4 outright plus 2 further class win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 3
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 1 Castle Combe ( shared )
CHAMPIONSHIP : non ( 4 of the 7 races at Castle Combe ) . In G2 finished 2nd in class ( 1300cc ) in British Saloon Car Championship in 1971 ,3 class wins
VINCE WOODMAN - 6 Class Wins 1971
BRIAN CUTTING - 5 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT V8
DRIVER : BRIAN CUTTING
( b.Bournem'th-04-01-35 )
ENTRANT :
ENGINE : Martin V8 2998cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 13
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 5 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 6
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular ( 9 of the 13 races were at Thruxton )
TONY SUGDEN - 4 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.9
DRIVER : TONY SUGDEN ( b.Doncaster-23-04-32 )
ENTRANT : Tony Sugden
ENGINE : twin-cam bored to 1906cc , 2010cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 10
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 2 outright + 2 further class
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 1 Cadwell
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular but was 4th in class BRSCC Hepolite Glacer
JOHN BLOOMFIELD - 4 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT RS1600 G2
DRIVER : JOHN BLOOMFIELD
ENTRANT : John Bloomfield
ENGINE : David Wood-prepared BDA 1790cc ( 238 bhp )
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 9 ( 5 at Brands Hatch )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 4 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 4
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : Brands-based ARCO championship
plus 4th in class in British Saloon Car Championship ,2 class wins
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : DAVID COLEMAN
ENTRANT :
ENGINE : Twin-Cam 1.6
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 14
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 4 outright plus 2 further class wins in Ford Anglia 1.6
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 4
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP :
DAVID COLEMAN - 4 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT t/c
DRIVER : DAVE MILLINGTON
ENTRANT : BROOK HIRE LIVERPOOL
ENGINE : Twin Cam
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 5
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 3 class wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
DAVE MILLINGTON - 3 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT RS1600
DRIVER : JENNY BIRRELL
ENTRANT : Wylie's
ENGINE : 1970cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 6 ( all at Ingliston )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 4 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 3
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : SMRC Hartley Whyte Championship ( Ingliston )
JENNY BIRRELL - 4 Class Wins 1971
STUART TURNER - 1 Class Win 1971
DOUG NIVEN - 4 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT BDA
DRIVER : DOUG NIVEN
ENTRANT : Team Forbes / Perdal
ENGINE : BDA 1850cc , 2090cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 18 ( 9 at Ingliston )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 3 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 7
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : SMRC Hartley Whyte ( Ingliston ) ,
BRSCC-N Northern Saloon Championship
BOB TORRIE - 3 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT RS1600
DRIVER : BOB TORRIE
ENTRANT : Bob Torrie
ENGINE : BDA 1680cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 12 ( 10 at Silverstone )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 3 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 3
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : BRDC Triplex ,2nd in class
GRAHAM BIRRELL - 2 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT RS1600 ( 2 team cars )
DRIVER : GRAHAM BIRRELL
ENTRANT : Wylie's
ENGINE : 1600cc + 1970cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 4
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 4 outright
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 1 Ingliston
CHAMPIONSHIP : SMRC Hartley Whyte Championship ( Ingliston ) .
If 1970 was dominated by the new influx of Escorts winning 97 races ( or at least big classes of races ) there was a drop for 1971 to 78 ,still a huge figure. One reason for the drop was that Mick Hill in his new Boss Capri won 31 races and set a new benchmark in special saloons. Escorts did start to win outside of the big class also with Vince Woodman + Teddy Savory in the 2 G2 VWM Escort 1.3 GTs winning 7 times between them. David Wragg became the first winner in a 1-litre Escort in that class.
The list below documents the variety of Escorts in terms of success purely on that 1971 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 FVA ( F2 rear gearbox )
DRIVER : NORMAN ABBOTT ( + JOHN EMMINS )
ENTRANT : Norman Abbott
ENGINE : Abbott FVA 2150cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 6 + 4
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 2 outright ( 1 win each driver )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 2
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : Brands Hatch club for Abbott ( Dec.5th ) 53.2
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
NORMAN ABBOTT/JOHN EMMINS - 1+1 Class Wins 1971
ROBIN GRAY - 1 Class Win 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT V8
DRIVER : ROBIN GRAY
ENTRANT : LAWRENCETUNE
ENGINE : Martin 2998cc V8
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 10
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 1 overall win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 2
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : BARC Osram
NOTE : 5x 2nd in class finishes. Gray is still racing today ,now in his black Pontiac Firebird in the CSCC Future Classics series.
COLIN HAWKER - 1 Class Win 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT V6
DRIVER : COLIN HAWKER
ENTRANT : TOLEMAN DELIVERY SERVICES
ENGINE : Ford V6
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 11
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 1 overall win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 :
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
NOTE : having raced a V6 Escort in 1970 Hawker returned with what Autosport described as a new car at Crystal Palace on June 18th.
Hawker chasing Bloomfield
DAVID WRAGG - 2 Class Wins 1971
TEDDY SAVORY - 1 Class Win 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT GT 1.3 G2
DRIVER : TEDDY SAVORY
ENTRANT : Vince Woodman Motors
ENGINE : 1.3
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 4
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 1 class win
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
NOTE : The VWM team's second car . Best finish in G2 was 3rd in class at Brands Hatch.
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.0
DRIVER : DAVID WRAGG
ENTRANT : DAVID WRAGG
ENGINE : Ford 1-litre
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 5
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 2 class wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : Northern Saloon Championship
MATTIE McNAMARA - 2 Class Wins 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT BDA
DRIVER : MATTIE McNAMARA
ENTRANT : AMOCO
ENGINE : BDA 1.8
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 4 ( 3 at Mondello Park )
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 2 outright wins
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular but races in Ireland. Described as a new car ,Autosport June 1971.
PHIL DE BANKS / BILL GRAHAM
- 1 Class Win 1971
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.6
DRIVER : PHIL DE BANKS + BILL GRAHAM
ENTRANT :
ENGINE : FVA twin Cam 1.6
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 3 + 3
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 1 overall win ( De Banks )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
NOTE : Sold by De Banks to Graham lmid/l ate August
CAR : FORD ESCORT t/c
DRIVER : JOHN KEARNEY
ENTRANT : Roche
ENGINE : Twin Cam 1.6
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 2
ACTUAL WINS 1971 : 1 outright ( Mondello )
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
JOHN KEARNEY - 1 Class Win 1971
KEITH BOWMAKER
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.8
DRIVER : KEITH BOWMAKER
ENTRANT : Auto Tune
ENGINE : 1762cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 7 ( all at Croft )
BEST FINISH IN 1971 : 2nd in class twice
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : Northern Saloon Championship
CAR : FORD ESCORT 1.3 GT ( Broadspeed ) G2
DRIVER : JOHN LITTLER
ENTRANT : Littler Brothers
ENGINE : 1.3
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 5
BEST FINISH IN 1971 : 2nd in class twice
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 1
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular .
NOTE : finished 5th in class in the British Saloon car championship
JOHN LITTLER
DENNIS NOTT
CAR : FORD ESCORT 'Jagscort' ,then BRM
DRIVER : DENNIS NOTT
ENTRANT :
ENGINE : Jaguar 3781cc , BRM 2999cc F1 V12
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 4
BEST FINISH IN 1971 : 2nd in class
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
ALAN TOBIAS
CAR : FORD ESCORT RS 1600
DRIVER : ALAN TOBIAS
ENTRANT : Perdal
ENGINE : 2040cc
KNOWN STARTS 1971 : 4
BEST FINISH IN 1971 : 4th in class
KNOWN FASTEST LAPS RECORDED : 0
LAP RECORDS HELD end of 1971 : 0
CHAMPIONSHIP : non in particular
NOTE : Tobias also owned the famous Janglia Anglia arouned the same time.
BEST OF THE REST...
The special saloon scene was again livened up by occasional visitors from the British Car Championship ( Group 2 ) in search of more track time. This was best illustrated by the now legendary Crystal Palace round of the BARC Osram Championship on September 11th captured by TV cameras and regarded as one of the best motor races of all time. Two G2 visitors diced wildly ( see photo ) with Martin Thomas ( Camaro ) hounded by Mike Crabtree ( Escort ) until the pressure told and Thomas spun and Crabtree took the flag. Except Crabtree had been adjudged to have jumped the start and lost the win to Gerry Marshall ( Viva ) who had huing on to the coat tails of the 2 up front.
ESCORTS APPEARING IN SPECIAL SALOON RACES 1971 ( not already featured above ) :
MIKE WESTON ( 1.6 ) 4 races at Brands Hatch , 2nd in class 3 times
NEIL HODGSON ( 1.6 ) 3 races at Ingliston , best finish 3rd in class
WILLY KAY ( BDA 1.8 G2-spec ) 3 races at Silverstone , 2nd in class 3 times
MIKE CRABTREE ( Willment G2-spec ) 2 races
DEREK HUNTLEY ( 1.6 ) 2 races
KEN COFFEY ( 1.8 G2-spec ) 2 races at Oulton Park ,1 class win
TERRY HARMER ( DJ Bond G2-spec ) 2 races at Brands Hatch
GLEN CAMPBELL ( V6 ) 2 races
PAUL SHRUBSHALL ( 1.6 Belmont Racing ) 2 races
ROD MANSFIELD ( 1.8 G2-spec ) 1 race
JOHN WINGFIELD ( 1670cc ) 1 race
PAUL STEPHENSON ( 1.6 ) 1 race
SIMON KIRKBY ( ex-Ridler ) 1 race
MIKE GORMAN ( 1670cc ) 1 race
SUSAN TUCKER-PEAKE ( 1297cc ) 1 race
PETER DALKIN ( in Doug Niven's car ) 1 race
JEFF CHURCHILL ( 1.3 ) 1 race
BRENDAN O'MAHONY ( 1.6 ) 1 race
JOHN WELCH ( Rallycross car ? ) 1 race
DIVA MAVROPOULOS ( Rally car ) 1 race
ROD SMITH ( Rally car ) 1 race
CHARLIE BRADLEY ( 1.8 ) 1 race
plus in entry lists :
JOHN ROBINSON ( 998cc )
ZEKIA REDJEP
RICHARD ELLICE ( 1.3 )
BRIAN PEACOCK ( 1.3 )
ROY STANDLEY ( 1.6 )
Source : entire season of 1971 Autopsort race reports ,so the above page is reflective of results rather than listing every Escort to race in entire season. List to be updated as more information becomes known.
Track tested by 'Motor' July 1971
Graham at Silverstone
