[celes1]

Originally Posted by SPECR

Found some more history on the Escort when Andrew Grover raced her at Castle Combe.I have the programs for all of 79.Heres a picture of Andrew coming round Quarry at the May Bank Holiday meeting. And also a copy of the e-mail Pete Stowe sent me(Historian and Archives @Castle Combe).

Hi Peter

As discussed, I’ve attached the information I have on Andrew racing the Escort at Combe in 1979.
He was entered in the Special Saloon championship races at each of the five meetings that year, winning the final race on 27 August outright, and becoming Class B (1300 to 2500cc) Champion.
1979 was the only time he was entered in the Escort at Combe. His only other race entry at Combe was on 30 August 1976 in a 1293cc Mini in Special saloons.
Geoff Wood does not appear to have entered any races at Combe.

1979 entries
Castle Combe Special Saloons
Andrew Grover, Ford Escort, 1975cc

16-Apr-79, Special Saloon cars, #9, 2nd in class
7-May-79, Special Saloon cars over 1000cc, #14, 1st in class
28-May-79, Special Saloon cars, #7, DNS or retired
7-Jul-79, Special Saloon cars over 1000cc, #15, DNS or retired
27-Aug-79, Special Saloon cars over 1000cc, #8, 1st overall, 1st in class

1979 Special Saloon Championship Class B – 1st


We don’t have any photos of the Escort in the Circuit Archive.
The photo by John Gaisford that appeared in the 7th July programme was from the 7th May meeting.

Hope that helps.

Regards
Pete

Pete Stowe
Archivist & Historian to Castle Combe Circuit

Just a query. The entry you put in the email to Pete, you stated that he entered a race August 30th 1976 at Castle Combe. Was this Andrew Grover in a 1300 Mini for one race and could Phil Winter have raced that year in a 1300 Mini or Escort.

Was this 1300 a BDA Mini, as it was indicated the Hart Escort had a 1300 BDA fitted for one race and raced by Phil Winter in 1976 ?? its always possible cars were being borrowed or bought and sold between drivers and from what I have read here the 1840 Hart Escort got sold to Andrew Grover late 1977, early 1978.