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Ford Escort MkI
Engine: Ford 4700cc V8
Configuration: front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Driver: Keith Bowmaker
Class: Special Saloons over 2500 and Super Saloons
Date taken: 1974, Chicane, Croft (top)
Date taken: 1976, Chicane, Croft (middle)
Date taken: 1976, main straight, Croft (lower)
Keith was one of the main competitors in the over 2500cc, Special Saloon class throughout the 70s. Previously, he had raced a lightweight Escort twin-cam with a 1760cc engine. This car was built by Auto-tune Racing, of Northumberland, in 1970, and gained 9 places and 4 fasted laps from 14. The car featured here sprouted and lost air intakes and aerodynamic devices from season to season as it was developed. It featured a Jaguar back suspension, which tucked in during hard cornering, and wheels that must have been the widest of any Escort racing at the time – necessitating special arches extensions to cover them. Keith was a regular at the top of the point's table for his class and in the outright table for championships. This car was written-off in 1977 when a brake failure sent it over the bank at Tower Bend, at the end of the start/finish straight. a new car was constructed over the winter using the 4700cc engine in a MkII Escort body.
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