Grand Prix drivers in Cortinas

[Screech]

I read somewhere recently that in the 70s Grand Prix drivers (and I assume others) used to do a series of support races in Mk3 Cortinas. Has anyone heard of this or can confirm this :confused: Links or pics would be great. (I've had a search on google, but found nothing.)

We're all so used to seeing pictures of the greats three-wheeling Mk1 Tinas it would be a hoot to see them in the lovely old coke-bottle model too.

Hope someone can help!

Cheers,
Screech.

[TimD]

It wasn't a series as such, more a large number of individual races used to promote Ford cars. The drivers could be from all parts of the sport, sometimes GP and World Sports car drivers, sometimes they would offer cars to well known lady racing drivers, or team managers. The Mk3 Cortinas were just one of the models which were raced. Mk1 Granada-shaped Consul GTs were often used, as were Capris and the inevitable Escort Mexicos.

Hair-raising stuff, very often!

[DaveM]

Screech - here is a fuzzy of Graham Hill enjoying himself at Oulton Park, passing Tony Dean's parked ex-works car. Jacky Ickx also drove a works Cortina in this race which was a support to the Gold Cup.

[DaveM]

Should have mentioned that of course this wasn't what you wanted to see Screech, but it was the nearest I could get - no pics of Mk3's, so a Mk2 plus a Mk1 and a GP driver!

[Peter Mallett]

The Mk3 was only homologated with a 3 litre in South Africa. Hence they were uncompetitive in 2 litre form. (The clargest UK engine size).

[Ted Walker]

There was a race with a team from the House of Lords as well, but they might have raced in Consul GTs(sweeney cars)

[Peter Mallett]

There's a thread dating back to January this year wherein there is a pic of Tom Pryce hustling an Escort Mexco through a corner. Andrew Kitson provided it and you can save yourself time *Unashamed plug alert* by going to my website and looking at the page about safety.

[Andrew Kitson]

Originally posted by TimD
It wasn't a series as such, more a large number of individual races used to promote Ford cars. The drivers could be from all parts of the sport, sometimes GP and World Sports car drivers, sometimes they would offer cars to well known lady racing drivers, or team managers. The Mk3 Cortinas were just one of the models which were raced. Mk1 Granada-shaped Consul GTs were often used, as were Capris and the inevitable Escort Mexicos.

These one-make races were often at Fordsport racedays, more often than not at Brands Hatch but also Mallory.
I don't recall a Mk3 race but have on video the Consul GT race from '71 at Brands which was for lady drivers.
There was an F1 team managers race in Mexicos also in '71 ( also on video from the BBC 100 Great Sporting Moments) with the likes of Colin Chapman, Frank Williams, Jack Brabham and John Surtees fighting it out at the front. There were some very rude pit signals on the pit boards from the F1 drivers to their team bosses!
The only Mk3 Cortinas I remember were driven in Britax prod saloons by Richard Vero and another by Noel Edmonds or possibly Stuart McCrudden. I think this was the Motorcraft / Willment sponsored car?
There is a photo on the cover of Autosport 16th August 1974. Yes the good old days when club racing featured on the front cover!

[Stephen Green]

I have a feeling that the Mexico's were the Brands Hatch 'race school' cars of the day?

[Andrew Kitson]

I think you're right Stephen. Later they used Mk2 Escorts having used Mk2 Cortinas before the Mexicos at Motor Racing Stables. When I did my Brands course in '82 it was with Fiat X1-9s. They didn't last long as many were written off as the handling was deemed too unforgiving for school pupils. Not by me I must add! They were replaced with XR3s.

[Stephen Green]

Indeed, I did my day in the XR3's!

[Rob29]

Best of this gendre was 'The race of Giants' in Macau,taking part were;
Prince Bira
Jack Brabham
Toulo de Graffenreid
Dan Gurney
Mike Hailwood
Hans Hermann
Phil Hill
Denny Hulme
Jacky Ickx
Innes Ireland
Stirling Moss
Roy Salvadori
Bobby Unser
Teddy Yip

[glyn parham]

I too am certain that Brands Hatch used Mk3 Cortinas for celebrity races at about the same time that they were also using the ultimate getaway car, yes the Granada as seen on the Sweeney. They might have had to use the Cortinas because the Granadas were getting written off very rapidly by such luminaries as Bernard Gallacher etc. Who can forget Anthony Marsh coming up with the most obvious line when he rolled that car, "Yes he has rolled it into a ball at Paddock"

[glyn parham]

I did my day in the Nigel Mansell BMW's, great fun

[The Fat One]

My first post here guys, so go easy on me! From memory, Brands had the "Shell Sport" Mexico's in the 70's driven by invited guests, and somewhere else had mk1 3 litre Capri's which were prepared by Superspeed conversions in Ilford,Essex (run by Mike or John Young). I believe the Capri's were all black with red pinstripes. The Mexico's were superceded by mk2 1600 sports. I was there as a spectator watching the special saloons/super saloons etc. My Fathers company used to have a small sponsorship deal with Colin Hawker who drove TDS Capri with a DFV and then the DFVW, a fastback Vw shell on a de Cadenet chassis with the same DFV in the back sponsored by the Toleman Group. The Good old days of Gerry Marshall, Nick Whiting, etc.
Back on topic, the most famous must be Jim Clark in a Lotus Corina in the 60's.
Tim

[Stephen Green]

Yup, I remember the Shell Sport Mexico's very well.

[Peter Mallett]

Welcome aboard large one.

[Stephen Green]

Oooops sorry, I forgot to say welcome! Welcome to Ten-Tenths The Fat One...

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes welcome aboard The Fat One! If you go back through our archives in this historic section - there are many photos posted of the old Supersaloon and 60s/70sclub racing days including the DFVW.
Try typing in 'Supersaloon' in search or go through the list of threads posted here over the past year?
Happy hunting!

[The Fat One]

Thank you all. Only managed to find one piccy of the DFVW, but I'll keep looking (It's good excecise!). Do any of you remember the Capri's though? I think they were for Mallory or Snetterton. From what I remember, they were on Minilites and had a spoiler similar to the RS3100, must have been GXL's. I also remember as a kid, having a Corgi mk3 Cortina 2 door with model of Graham Hill holding a crash helmet! did He ever race a mk3?

[The Fat One]

As an aside! does anyone have any footage/photos of the ultimate GP one make support races like the M1 Procars or the Jaguars from the early 80's?

[HiRich]

I have vague memories of a celebrity support race at the 76 British Grand Prix that certainly featured 'names'. i'm pretty sure they were all ex-racers and team managers (rather than normal celebs or the Lords & Taveners), Whether they were in Escorts, Cortinas, or something completely different I can't remember (I was just eleven, and it was my first race.

All I can really remember was someone (almost certainly Jack Brabham) getting bored with trailing around at the back. So on one lap he 'forgot' to head out into the woods, rejoining at Clearways slap bang in front of the leaders.

[Andrew Kitson]

There was another one, I think in '71 at Brands when the F1 stars plus other noted International drivers did a race in the new Ford Capri. Graham Hill gave the rest a head start, at least until they had gone around Paddock. I have never seen so many cars on the grass in one race, except at an Autograss track meeting!
Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams tried the same trick in a celeb race at Mallory - in Mexicos I think - and started as the rest were coming through Devils Elbow to start the second lap. Barrie eventually pulled into the pits and when interviewed explained he had to retire due to a sore foot (!) (?)

[Screech]

Thanks for your feedback, everyone.

I had heard of most of those races, though the Granadas were new on me... that must've been a sight to see!

I'll keep on looking for photos of the Mk3s: they've gotta be out there somewhere.

Any more memories of these races, please let us all know!

Cheers,
Screech.

[cirrus]

Quote: "the ultimate getaway car, yes the Granada as seen on the Sweeney"

Come now, as a Sweeney fan of many years standing, may I assert that the Mk2 Jag was the king of the failed getaway. If a villain tried to have it away on his toes in a Mk2 Jag, after a blag up west, you could be sure that.....

1. The car would hit a big pile of boxes in a goods yard

2. The passenger door would be ripped off by a passing Sweeney Granada

3. Said Jag would end its days rolling into a quarry, and exploding in a ball of flame.

Monday nights have been somewhat empty since 1976!