To me the glory days were the 80's.

Late Mk2 RS1800's, Quattro, Manta/Ascona 400, Group B,
T16 205, RS200, Delta S4, 6R4 etc

The drivers had character too, Juha Kankkunen was my own
fave.

Any memories?



Russ.

 

Yes, Mouton in a Quattro Sport on a night stage of the RAC (1984?) going up a hill in Wykeham (I think) across the valley from where we were stood... accelerated like a bullet with huge flames out of the back on every gear change...

Alen in a Lancia 037, could have been an S4, bedding in his brake pads on a road section on the RAC... sit in a line of traffic, when clear pull out and nail it hard up to silly speed and then stand on the brakes... repeat until bedded in!

The modern WRC cars are much faster over the same stages than the Group B cars with, in some cases less than half the power, but are much less entertaining to watch.

 

I used to service for a guy back then 79'to 80' odd, Scottish rally championship, we had various motors from home built mk2 escorts 2 litres to ex works mk1 bdg's and chevette 2.3 hs, some really good weekends and cars around, one fella had a Reliant Kitten powered by a 1300cc midget engine, huge power to weight ratio. I may have to get out the old 35mm pics out now to reminisce now.

 

Alen when interviewed was classic

Russ.

 

Hadn't realised Penti Airikkala had died.

Russ.

 

There are still plenty of Mk1 and 2 Escorts around especially in club level rallying; however, many are not running the original engines or suspension. Quite a few run the 2.0 Vauxhall lump, some F20C's out there too...

I was very sad to hear about Pentti Airikkala - he was by all accounts one of the real gentlemen of rallying - I remember his winning drive in the '89 RAC well in his Galant VR4 and his huge accident the following year whilst leading, I think...