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Old 15 Feb 2008, 19:31 (Ref:2129785)   #42
ronalr8
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1
ronalr8 should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
I was pleasently surprised to see these postings relating to SuperSpeed Conversions as I was a fan of John, Mike and Chris Craft back in the good old days. I can remember the SuperSpeed showroom adjoining Youngs of Ilford (Ford dealers) in Ley Street in Ilford, Essex back in the 60's when they were producing their Anglia conversions. 1300cc engines in Anglia vans (yes vans) and 1650cc engines in Anglias. I saw them compete at the West Essex Car Club hillclimbs at Stapleford Abbotts airfield near Abridge, Essex. A few years later they were racing 1300 Anglia Supers in the British Saloon Car Champoinship with Mike and his elder brother John along with Chris Craft. Chris having campaign his SuperSpeed built 'orange box' Anglia previously.
After the Anglia's SuperSpeed went on to produce various engine conversions using the Escort, Capri and Cortina of which the Autocar magazine wrote glowing reports. I believe that Colin Hawker built his DFVW supersaloon on their premises as his transporter was always parked nearby. In the mid 70's Youngs became a Datsun dealer with SuperSpeed demoted to a side showroon and workshop still producing Escort conversions albeit on a much smaller and less publisied scale. At this time I was living in Wards Road adjoing the showroon and can remember see John in his pale blue Capri 3 (it sounded as though it was fitted with a V8) frequently as he lived close by in St Johns Road. Some while ago I heard that John was living in the USA and that Mike had links with a guy called Nigel Webb from Romford who was involved with Jaguar D Types. I don't think that there was any connection with the Connaught or laterly with the Mustang etc. I must point out that I only ever spoke to Mike and John briefly at Brands Hatch and that the above information is only my interpritation of events. I too would be interested in knowing more about these two talented guys and what they are up to today.
If anyone is interested I have magazine cuttings from Autocar of SuperSpeed Escort's and Cortina's which I am happy to copy for ths cost of postage.
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