Production Saloons from the 80's

[chunterer]

As gfm suggests it could it be another year, 1986, not 85? or a second car at all? Was positive that the winning OK Yah car was red when it won the 1985 Willhire 24?

Anyway, The Capri was pretty amazing prodsaloon when you think about it. Was overall or class competitive car right up until 1985, and one or two even appeared in '86 whilst RST's were being readied.

Mike Smith drove one at Thruxton for Marshall Asquith who I thinm prep'd his Escort. It's on the left of this shot next to Watt's Uno and Karl Jones' amazing Ritmo Abarth.

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by chunterer

As gfm suggests it could it be another year, 1986, not 85? or a second car at all? Was positive that the winning OK Yah car was red when it won the 1985 Willhire 24?

Anyway, The Capri was pretty amazing prodsaloon when you think about it. Was overall or class competitive car right up until 1985, and one or two even appeared in '86 whilst RST's were being readied.

Mike Smith drove one at Thruxton for Marshall Asquith who I thinm prep'd his Escort. It's on the left of this shot next to Watt's Uno and Karl Jones' amazing Ritmo Abarth.

The year is definitely 1986, Dad was still running the Dealer Team Opel Monza in '85 (White with Yellow front) and the Terson sponsorship was for '86. This Monza was Tony Lanfranchi's from the year before (White with Red front) and I'm fairly sure it was after Snetterton that Dad then concentrated on his Escort and sold the Terson Monza to Tony Strawson, where it went from there who knows, as I think Joe Ward's Monza was Dad's old car (White and Yellow) but I may be wrong.

The white Capri is Eric Cook's, I'll check the details of if Mike Smith was racing it, as he was in the Ilford Photos Escort RS Turbo for that year and was not run by Marshall Asquith Racing. Also, IIRC this Capri is what was Dad's Autoplan 2.8 Capri, which is what Skid's current Capri is painted to look like.

Off the top of my head all I can think of is that Eric had started racing the Fiat Strada (Dad built three of them) and Mike Smith's Escort had by this time been written off with Bob Sands' Escort at Mallory Park so maybe a deal was struck. Will dig a bit deeper!!

On the subject of Capris being competitive you could say a similar thing for the Opel Monza, think it cam out in '79 and was still competitive until '86, just not as many people raced them.

[VIVA GT]

[QUOTE=GBRM]... and Mike Smith's Escort had by this time been written off with Bob Sands' Escort at Mallory Park so maybe a deal was struck. Will dig a bit deeper!!
QUOTE]
I was spectating at Mallory that day, and it all happened in front of me. Seeing Gerry avoid the carnage (including incident vehicles on the track) when he came around on the next lap whilst waving his arm out of the window to warn those behind him was an awesome sight.
(I seem to remember that Bob Sands was involved in a lot of accidents...)

[chunterer]

GBRM!

Thanks, some good info to investigate there.

You're right about Smithy not driving an MA prep'd Escort, his was run by Abbott I think.

However at the soaking March Monroe round where the Ritmo Paddock shot was taken, I'm sure Mike did do a one off in a Capri, maybe it was another one, but it was definitely white. I hadn't realised he'd shunted the RST so as you say maybe a one off was arranged?

I thought Eric Cook rang a bell, didn't he pedal a Strada himself a couple of years previously? Jesse Crosse drove another one alongside Karl too?

Always liked the Monzas as well as Capris. I've got a side on view of the Tereson liveried Monza from same Thruxton round, i'll try and post it on here if it fits!

[Peter Mallett]

The Mike Smith RST was an Ilford sponsored car. I've got a few pics from the Thruxton round but they're about 2000 miles away! (Here endeth my input).

[GBRM]

VIVA GT

Yeah, that was a bit hairy and Dad originally got into a lot of trouble for that but there is no way he would ever do something like that on purpose and luckily he had a camera in the car (for Vintage G&T) and was able to use it as evidence that he hadn't seen the black flags being waved (they were black in those days and might be why we don;t have them any more) and the first he saw of the incident was when he appeared on the scene...it was pandamodium!!

Yes, Bob Sands had several huge accidents that season, he must've got through 4 or 5 cars!!

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Thanks, some good info to investigate there.

You're right about Smithy not driving an MA prep'd Escort, his was run by Abbott I think.

However at the soaking March Monroe round where the Ritmo Paddock shot was taken, I'm sure Mike did do a one off in a Capri, maybe it was another one, but it was definitely white. I hadn't realised he'd shunted the RST so as you say maybe a one off was arranged?

I thought Eric Cook rang a bell, didn't he pedal a Strada himself a couple of years previously? Jesse Crosse drove another one alongside Karl too?

Always liked the Monzas as well as Capris. I've got a side on view of the Tereson liveried Monza from same Thruxton round, i'll try and post it on here if it fits!

I can't remember who ran his now, probably Abbott or Hathaway or someone else good with boost lights!! In your picture next the Capri you can just see Barbara Cowells Terson sponsored Mk 2 Astra GTE too, so you can imagine the number of cars Dad/Marshall Asquith Racing were running/preparing!!

Smithy might have raced a Capri but I would be surprised if was Eric's car but I'll check, I still see Eric and occassionally his daughter, Dad's second wife. Eric did race a Strada that season, as mentioned above, Dad built three of them and I think Eric raced the Capri and Fiat in '85 and then just the Fiat in '86 but as I was only 10 then I'm trying to remember!!

I could tell you various stories of Dad driving the Monza on the road but just thinking of it now scares me!!

[chunterer]

I bet those road trips were an experience alright!

Thanks for pointing out the roofline in the shot belonging to the Astra - I spent hours trying but couldn't work out what it was!

Reckon that team must've run at least 2 cars in all of the classes at one point?!

Smith's Escort might have been run by bloke called Stuart Mcrudden, would that ring any bells with anyone?

There were 2 or 3 in 1985 (Smith, McLerney and an other) and then probably double that in 1986 (Smith, Sands, Gerry, Graham Hathaway etc..) and the cars were still capable of tackling the M3's when they appeared in '87 IIRC particuarly in Karl Jones hands.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by chunterer

...Smith's Escort might have been run by bloke called Stuart Mcrudden, would that ring any bells with anyone?

There were 2 or 3 in 1985 (Smith, McLerney and an other) and then probably double that in 1986 (Smith, Sands, Gerry, Graham Hathaway etc..) and the cars were still capable of tackling the M3's when they appeared in '87 IIRC particuarly in Karl Jones hands.

Chunterer, I think you're right about McCrudden. He was certainly involved with Smithy, and I'm sure was his 'Team Manager'. I don't think he would have been involved with the mechanical side of things though, and I don't think he employed mechanics himself. (McCrudden also ran the Ford Credit Fiesta Champoinshiop for FoMoCo in the 80's).

Also, ANYTHING was quick in Karl Jones' hands!

[KA]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Chunterer, I think you're right about McCrudden. He was certainly involved with Smithy, and I'm sure was his 'Team Manager'. I don't think he would have been involved with the mechanical side of things though, and I don't think he employed mechanics himself. (McCrudden also ran the Ford Credit Fiesta Champoinshiop for FoMoCo in the 80's).

Also, ANYTHING was quick in Karl Jones' hands!

Stuart McCrudden was definitely involved, but I think the technical stuff was done by Lionel Abbott- I think they'd both originally been involved with Smith and the Ilford Photo team in Fiestas a couple of years before. Abbott also drove the car from time to time when Smithy wasn't available, or in anything long-distance- didn't they win a Willhire sharing the RS Turbo?

[KA]

a quick search came up with a history of the Fiesta challenge which describes Smithy's 1984 Ilford Fiesta as owned by McCrudden, and prepared/developed by the Abbott brothers- presumably the same arrangement existed for the Escort?

http://uk.geocities.com/martin.essam...om/history.htm

[davyboy]

Stuart McCrudden now runs the Thoroughbred Grand Prix series as 'Stuart McCrudden Associates Ltd Event Management and PR'... what a mouthful that is.

www.historicformulaone.com

[chunterer]

I hadn't realised it was the same guy now running the old F1's even if the name's the same!

As VIVA GT explained, I also remember that Stuart M had something to do with Ford racing on the management side, so can we therefore assume that Ford had some kind of interest in Mike's efforts in Fiestas and then the Escort, maybe not overtly but for the PR benefits perhaps?

Off topic. Was Stuart also anything to do with Mike getting aquainted with Robb Gravett when the Sierra arrived and their latter Trackstar Grp A efforts?

Back on topic Mike shared his Escort and later Sierra with both Abbott's in longer distance races IIRC.

The variety of cars and drivers really made prodsaloon racing a huge success in this decade and as with Grp A only seemed to go downhill when the Sierra Cosworths/Escort and M3's started to dominate the early 90's.

[d-b]

hi there

Chunterer
gold/orange Capri (car 44) was actually orange & cream
it was raced by Charles Street (Q444RBD)


(sorry about the useless info)

db

[davyboy]

Originally Posted by chunterer

I hadn't realised it was the same guy now running the old F1's even if the name's the same!

As VIVA GT explained, I also remember that Stuart M had something to do with Ford racing on the management side, so can we therefore assume that Ford had some kind of interest in Mike's efforts in Fiestas and then the Escort, maybe not overtly but for the PR benefits perhaps?

Off topic. Was Stuart also anything to do with Mike getting aquainted with Robb Gravett when the Sierra arrived and their latter Trackstar Grp A efforts?

Back on topic Mike shared his Escort and later Sierra with both Abbott's in longer distance races IIRC.

The variety of cars and drivers really made prodsaloon racing a huge success in this decade and as with Grp A only seemed to go downhill when the Sierra Cosworths/Escort and M3's started to dominate the early 90's.

I worked for Ford in Essex during the early 1990s and I vaguely remember somebody there telling me that Mike Smith's dad was a big wig at the company - hence his affiliation with the brand during his racing career and the 'breaks' he got. I gather it didn't have much to do with his media/PR benefits.

[rallycrosscraig]

Mike's dad had some motorsport connections at Ford, when he was 17 he was already out in a 'works' rallycross escort 1300; I remember my dad moaning about how MS has wrecked the rear end of one his his mini's at the first corner at Lydden.

Hence not surprising he then went on to race XR2's, RS Turbo, Cosworth's. I remeber being there when they won the willhire in an RS Escort, quite an achievement for 2 drivers and a new car.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by rallycrosscraig

Mike's dad had some motorsport connections at Ford, when he was 17 he was already out in a 'works' rallycross escort 1300; I remember my dad moaning about how MS has wrecked the rear end of one his his mini's at the first corner at Lydden.

Hence not surprising he then went on to race XR2's, RS Turbo, Cosworth's. I remeber being there when they won the willhire in an RS Escort, quite an achievement for 2 drivers and a new car.

This all sounds familiar, I'm sure I now remember hearing that Smithy's dad worked for Ford, and that was how he got his breaks.
I also remember him winning the Willhire (well, his car, but I think Lionel Abbot would have had more to do with the result!) I remember him using his broadcasting experience at the end to explain how, although the (over) boost light had come on at the start of the race, they'd done nothing underhand, and that the result was genuine!

[GBRM]

As I'm rubbish and can't work out how to post pictures please follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page, I think it's a great picture of Dad with Mike Smith up his chuff!!

http://www.gregormarshall.co.uk/gallery.html

[COLIN STUBBS]

Brilliant! And Gregor if I can do it anyone can...believe me!!
Heres an all time favorite of mine...................................

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by COLIN STUBBS

Brilliant! And Gregor if I can do it anyone can...believe me!!
Heres an all time favorite of mine...................................

That's a great picture Colin and great you got it signed too, I have to trawl ebay to get signed things by Dad!!

I don;t really know what happened to all those Monzas, I know Tony L's red front was what Dad raced in the Tersoson colours (and then Tony Strawson) but as for Dad's yellow front one and John Cleland's blue front I'm not sure. Joe Ward bought one of them to race in Thundersaloons and that's how he ended up with Baby Bertha (another story!!) but you certainly never see any racing Monzas these days, a bit like Opel Commodores too for that matter!!

[d-b]

hi there

there used to be a white Monza in Slick 50 driven by Mark Duffett


db

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by GBRM

I don;t really know what happened to all those Monzas, you certainly never see any racing Monzas these days, a bit like Opel Commodores too for that matter!!

Yeah (reposting what was lost Sunday eve!) There was regularly about 3 or 4 between 83 to 86.

Gerry, Tony, John Cleland and Andrew Jeffrey were the main exponents.

Didn't Jeffrey have a massive shunt at an Oulton Uniroyal round in 84 or 85after a collision with John Clark's 635? Whoever's Monza it was got 'banana'd.'

Frank Cundell also drove one for a while in late 80's before his M3 campaign started IIRC too?

As for the Commodores, they lasted for quite a while as a half decent machine. Before my time but there was some out as late as 1983 in prodsaloons and the the last one I recall competing was in road saloons driven by Richard Waller I think it was?

[jonners]

Originally Posted by GBRM

I have to trawl ebay to get signed things by Dad!!

I asked Gerry to sign a brand new copy of his book "Competition Driving" that I'd just found on a bookstall at the Racing Car Show - Olympia - or maybe Earls Court - this was in front of a load of his pals in the bar...was given a severe ribbing and everyone thought it was a put up job...was hilarious and I loved every minute. That one won't turn up on ebay!!!

Back on topic - "Vintage G & T" - one of the best videos and now a real period piece - haven't watched it for a while but am going to have to dig it out again...

Probably not one of Bob Sands' favourites - I was watching at Paddock when he had that roll...that was another big one...

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yeah (reposting what was lost Sunday eve!) There was regularly about 3 or 4 between 83 to 86.

Gerry, Tony, John Cleland and Andrew Jeffrey were the main exponents.

Didn't Jeffrey have a massive shunt at an Oulton Uniroyal round in 84 or 85after a collision with John Clark's 635? Whoever's Monza it was got 'banana'd.'

It was a Dealer Team Opel effort, with Tony, John and Dad and the car Andrew Jeffrey drove was Dad's yellow fronted car, as Dad's license was on holiday. As an aside, tt was only at the end of the season that both Andrew and Tony admitted their licenses were on holiday too, Dad was not amused! that he'd missed a seaon of racing when they were all in the same boat!!

I remember Oulton Park, it was very wet and cold and I remember standing on a hill with Dad and his then wife when suddenly Squeaker launched himself into the side of the Monza in his BMW right in front of us!!

Someone had caught the moment of impact on camera, the BMW a couple of feet off the ground assaulting the driver's door of the Monza.

Dad had the photo framed and it read something like "A Welshamn attacking a Scotsman with an Englishman picking up the bill!". It was always on Dad's desk up until he passed away.

The car was buggered and I remember looking at it in the scruitineering bay afterwards, the front A pillar of the rollcage was wedged against the steering wheel, Andrew was very lucky not to have been hurt.

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by jonners

I asked Gerry to sign a brand new copy of his book "Competition Driving" that I'd just found on a bookstall at the Racing Car Show - Olympia - or maybe Earls Court - this was in front of a load of his pals in the bar...was given a severe ribbing and everyone thought it was a put up job...was hilarious and I loved every minute. That one won't turn up on ebay!!!

Back on topic - "Vintage G & T" - one of the best videos and now a real period piece - haven't watched it for a while but am going to have to dig it out again...

Probably not one of Bob Sands' favourites - I was watching at Paddock when he had that roll...that was another big one...

Dad could be funny about autographs in front of friends when not at a circuit but at the circuit he would've signed anything and not be embarassed. Hard to beleive but he was actually pretty shy and racing was his crutch so to speak!!

I occassionally watch Vintage G&T just for the drunken ramblings of Dad and Tony doing the commentry!! When Dad passed away I found about two hours of in-car footage that for whatever reason they didn't use on the final version, was a shame as there is some fantastic stuff.

I was at Paddock with one of my sisters and we both thought it was Dad at first, as he was right behind Bob at the start, I think it might have been Dad's first race in the Escort too!! Bob definitely had an expensive season that year!!