Ford Escort RS1600i/RST Grp A/N

[KA]

Yes that one was a total mystery to me- the advert in Autosport (published mid/late 1987 from memory) is the only mention I can ever remember seeing of it.
The original ad has a phone number with an '0202' dialling code, which was the number for Richard Longman's workshop, and a Telex number for Hong Kong.

If the Macau car was built in November '86, this was after the last appearance by a Datapost car (last round of the '86 BTCC), so it must be one of the last Group A RS Turbos built.

Terry Drury carried on into 1987, and brought out a second car mid-season- but was this a new build, or an existing car bought by TDR?

Karl Jones also appeared in '87, but his Asquith/Duckhams car was the ex-Curnow Datapost car as I remember.

Anyone know the history of the two Drury cars?
The first was the blue/yellow Duckhams/Motor car for Mark Hales in 1986, which continued in '87 with Shell sponsorship on a modified version of the original blue/yellow paintjob- but by mid/late season I think Hales had a white car- Same car repainted, or a new one?
The second car debuted for Lionel Wiffen at Snetterton, and they ran two cars into the first half of '88.

[KA]

Originally Posted by chunterer

OT quickly, I wish we could find more of the images of the cars that competed in the Guia race in the early Group A years as illustrated in that fotop.net link.

OT, I think there was another site with a collection of 80's Macau pics (IIRC Jesper or someone found it in one of the various Group A threads- maybe the Corolla thread?) but I don't think it's online now- from memory it was a Japanese site and there were pics of the Rouse/Fu RS500 amongst others

[James280]

Hello, restoration on my RS1600i is well underway. I am trying to track down Dave Abby/Aby who originally built the car.

Does anybody have his details?

Thanks

James

[KA]

Originally Posted by KA

OT, I think there was another site with a collection of 80's Macau pics (IIRC Jesper or someone found it in one of the various Group A threads- maybe the Corolla thread?) but I don't think it's online now- from memory it was a Japanese site and there were pics of the Rouse/Fu RS500 amongst others

Another collection of Macau pics (from a series of Chinese-language reports of Macau) turned up another shot of the Longman/Adrian Fu RS Turbo. There's an entry list on the website, which lists the driver as Daniel Latour- a name that doesn't ring any bells with me at all...?

http://www.motofan.com.hk/motofan/im...p/set_14/4.jpg

It also seems to have appeared at Macau in 1987, with Kenwood sponsorship?
http://www.motofan.com.hk/motofan/im...b/set_32/5.jpg

[Racing RSi]

another brilliant find KA!!!! Didnt relise it was diamond white, like the standard road car.. got the 16" MH600's.. I will forward these pictures to Richard

[Buildtech]

Hey guys - I know I could be a bit late with this one, but I would like to contribute this photo of Mark Hales in the TDR RS1600T at Silverstone in 1987: hope it can be of interest to the thread.
Cheers.

[Racing RSi]

NICE ONE..
I have just found a race program where Mark is writing about why its hard to drive a RS Turbo in the BTCC.... and mentioning his rival Richard Longman in his Datapost Turbo..

Who now has his 44 car as he is setting it up back to full race spec, having just under gone a extensive restoration.

[1975DCS]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

NICE ONE..
I have just found a race program where Mark is writing about why its hard to drive a RS Turbo in the BTCC.... and mentioning his rival Richard Longman in his Datapost Turbo..

Who now has his 44 car as he is setting it up back to full race spec, having just under gone a extensive restoration.

Why did he say it is had to drive? I am curious! Is it because of the turbo lag in that era?

[Racing RSi]

Originally Posted by 1975DCS

Why did he say it is had to drive? I am curious! Is it because of the turbo lag in that era?

he writes saying the engine is very fradual, too much boose and it goes bang, no enough, poor quallies, getting the revs right to keep the power throughout a corner, and the temp in the car is very very hot! burnes his bum..lol as exhaust exit under drivers seat..
Richard has confirmed all that... but his car was a little more refined, so he says... which could be right as Richard did better than Mark in that period. (but Richard had Fords backing + Royal Mail) which was a huge budget.

[1975DCS]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

he writes saying the engine is very fradual, too much boose and it goes bang, no enough, poor quallies, getting the revs right to keep the power throughout a corner, and the temp in the car is very very hot! burnes his bum..lol as exhaust exit under drivers seat..
Richard has confirmed all that... but his car was a little more refined, so he says... which could be right as Richard did better than Mark in that period. (but Richard had Fords backing + Royal Mail) which was a huge budget.

Oh yeah, the 1.6 RS engines weren't exactly the best engines Ford made... Especially in that era with low compression engines and lag prone turbo's, so I can see his point...

[davyboy]

I remember when they first started using the Mark 1 RST in Irish Prod Saloons the CVH's were constantly letting go and rather bizarrely they were constantly shearing front stub axles and sending wheels into the scenery. I think they eventually solved the stub axle problem but the cars were definitely quite fragile. Just to contra that though, didn't Mike Smith win the Willhire 24 hours in one

[Racing RSi]

Yes Ford over come the weak front hub, by having a thicker dropped forge hub.which was machined with thicker wall sections, a 909 part number, all the 16i racers had them and S1's, I have a few new ones in stock, from when Richard L was clearing out his workshops. as for weak CVH... only if it was set up wrong, again Mr Longman had that sorted both 16i and Turbos towards the end
Think you are Right Mike Smith did win the 24 hours, but in group N format, group A much more aggressive (double the power potential)

[kartingdad]

I used to own an ex RED rs1600i, reg HMB 344X

It was allegedly the ex Louise Aitken Walker version and clearly had had a lot of work done to it.
I rallied it in the late 80's before selling it. I was talking to the chap that now owns it at the weekend and he has done a great deal of research and has proof that it is indeed the car that Malcolm Wilson used originally, HPU 73Y. He's traced the holder of the original logbook and is hoping to reunite car and paperwork.

[Racing RSi]

Yes I know who you are talking about, I think the paper work and car has been reunited, as I was involved in the process, in fact I was offered the sister car from the keeper of the paperwork. but price was an issue, as the asking price was more than I thought it was worth, bearing in mind its a massive restoration + big money to do it correctly. I would still do it if the was right, as it would make a super car, and more usable that the racers, ie use on the road

[kartingdad]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

Yes I know who you are talking about, I think the paper work and car has been reunited, as I was involved in the process, in fact I was offered the sister car from the keeper of the paperwork. but price was an issue, as the asking price was more than I thought it was worth, bearing in mind its a massive restoration + big money to do it correctly. I would still do it if the was right, as it would make a super car, and more usable that the racers, ie use on the road

Well it had not been done on Sunday so you may be slightly wrong!

Its been verified by photos etc. Eg it was the only car with an ally gearlever knob and there is a small cutout on the underside of the bonnet which 74y doesn't have.

I used to use it on the road occasionally, it was a hoot. I got rid of the fuel injection (it was pants) and ran it on 2x weber downdraughts. Went like stink.

[Racing RSi]

have to say the keeper of the documents, (MW if you know him) I think he took offence at my offer and since gone to ground, be about a year now, as I purchased the Datapost 44 car in stead, about a year ago was when I offered my thoughts to MW, so going on what you have said, he has obviously not taken my advise.
Would it be Steve your mate? I have pictures of this said car as it is now..
you took off the injection system.. I put it back on the Brooklyn car, just to keep originality, it was on 4 45 carbs before, but on the injection system its a beast... Chris Hodgetts was clocked at 140.3 on Hanger Straight.

[kartingdad]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

have to say the keeper of the documents, (MW if you know him) I think he took offence at my offer and since gone to ground, be about a year now, as I purchased the Datapost 44 car in stead, about a year ago was when I offered my thoughts to MW, so going on what you have said, he has obviously not taken my advise.
Would it be Steve your mate? I have pictures of this said car as it is now..
you took off the injection system.. I put it back on the Brooklyn car, just to keep originality, it was on 4 45 carbs before, but on the injection system its a beast... Chris Hodgetts was clocked at 140.3 on Hanger Straight.

I took off the fuel injection as it needed a lot of sorting. one injector was faulty and back in those days it was hard to sort. made it lots quicker on carbs. Had the head done by a close friend. It seemed a shame to put it back on the car, it was an object of art.

Piper supplied me with a range of cams FOC. we eventaully ran with a full race one, but the car ran like a shopping version it was so tractable.. Had 130 bhp at Harry Ratcliffes rollers

Had the viscous diff serviced at FF developments. With no power steering it needed arms like Popeye to get through tarmac single venue chicanes at places like Oulton and Aintree.

Was a regular class winning/top 5 car on 13" wheels. I used to run on 2nd hand Avon f3 tyres which were fragile but cheap or Michelins when funds allowed.

Good times.

[Racing RSi]

After 27 years, the Datapost race cars reunite

[KA]

That's a nice sight! All you need now is a Datapost transporter....

(at the risk of going massively off-topic, how did RL and the Datapost team travel to meetings- was it a full-on transporter, or a trailers behind Transit vans job? I'm sure I've seen a paddock shot somewhere which has what looks like a Transit Luton van in Datapost colours in the background behind the cars...)

[RemyRS1600i]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

After 27 years, the Datapost race cars reunite

What a fantastic sight mate!
Great!!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Racing RSi

After 27 years, the Datapost race cars reunite

Yes, great pic, well done on all your patience and effort in acquiring these lovely cars.

[MalcolmC]

I've just come across this page in a race programme for a Classic Race Meeting at Queenstown, NZ, 7 Oct 89. It might help fill a blank in the car's history.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/...rt-RS1600i.jpg

[Racing RSi]

yes, brilliant find, thats the car thats come back to the UK.. I met Graham while I was in NZ.... Trying to get the car back. Graham was the second keeper, the first was Chris Toms (who imported it into NZ from Richard L) and the third keeper in NZ was Malcome Lee.. Its been back in the UK for 4 years now.. only been on track once since the restoration, that was 10 10 10 at Brands when Alan Curnow drove it, first time since 1985.. that was a fantastic day..

[MalcolmC]

This add was in the Australian magazine, Auto Action, 2 May 1986.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/...ps061129aa.jpg

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by MalcolmC

This add was in the Australian magazine, Auto Action, 2 May 1986.
http://i1179.photobucket.com/albums/...ps061129aa.jpg

Good one, that advert is slightly misleading though....