DeBortolli Escort Mk2 RS2000
From RacecarID
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|RacingCategory=Group C Touring Cars | |RacingCategory=Group C Touring Cars | ||
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| − | + | 1976 "German" MK2 RS2000 Escort | |
| − | + | == 1976 == | |
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18271 arrived in Australia from Germany in March 1976, along with 24 other MK2 RS2000’s. You couldn’t buy an RS2000 in Australia then, why you couldn’t even get a 2L in the MK2 Escort yet. They weren’t available until 1977, and the Australian RS2000 was still a couple of years away (1979). Ford was a factory sponsor in the Australia Touring Car Championship (ATCC) and was running a range of cars – Falcon’s, Capri’s and Escort’s at the time with drivers such as Moffat, Bond, Holden and Hodgson. | 18271 arrived in Australia from Germany in March 1976, along with 24 other MK2 RS2000’s. You couldn’t buy an RS2000 in Australia then, why you couldn’t even get a 2L in the MK2 Escort yet. They weren’t available until 1977, and the Australian RS2000 was still a couple of years away (1979). Ford was a factory sponsor in the Australia Touring Car Championship (ATCC) and was running a range of cars – Falcon’s, Capri’s and Escort’s at the time with drivers such as Moffat, Bond, Holden and Hodgson. | ||
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Bruce had significant commitments in varying forms of Australian motorsport, so 18271’s first race was Bathurst 1976. The details of that event are as follows. | Bruce had significant commitments in varying forms of Australian motorsport, so 18271’s first race was Bathurst 1976. The details of that event are as follows. | ||
| − | + | == Bathurst 1976 == | |
| + | Date 3rd October 1976 | ||
Entrant De Bortoli Wines Pty Ltd | Entrant De Bortoli Wines Pty Ltd | ||
Drivers Bruce Hodgson & Dave Morrow | Drivers Bruce Hodgson & Dave Morrow | ||
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Bruce ran back from Hardie Ferodo Corner for a jack and spare, rather than risk being stuck part way around the circuit. The combination of the pit lane and trackside stops cost more than half an hour and the car was posted eighth at the finish.” | Bruce ran back from Hardie Ferodo Corner for a jack and spare, rather than risk being stuck part way around the circuit. The combination of the pit lane and trackside stops cost more than half an hour and the car was posted eighth at the finish.” | ||
| − | + | == 1977 == | |
As we moved to the next year of competition, the only race 18271 did was again Bathurst. | As we moved to the next year of competition, the only race 18271 did was again Bathurst. | ||
Bathurst 1977 Statistics Date 2nd October 1977 | Bathurst 1977 Statistics Date 2nd October 1977 | ||
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Nevertheless you can see the car in the Channel 7 footage of the day, and it ensured it’s place in history. | Nevertheless you can see the car in the Channel 7 footage of the day, and it ensured it’s place in history. | ||
| − | + | == 1978 == | |
Another year, and again the Escort was to run only one race, Bathurst. | Another year, and again the Escort was to run only one race, Bathurst. | ||
Bathurst 1978 Statistics Date 1st October 1978 | Bathurst 1978 Statistics Date 1st October 1978 | ||
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“One of the most striking looking cars in the event was the Bortolis Wines Escort of long-time Ford stalwarts Bruce Hodgson & David Morrow, both from New South Wales. They started from fifth place on the grid with a time of 2m 59.5s. Bruce quickly moved up into fourth place by lap nine, and took over third position when Chris Heyer pitted the Golf. “Hodo”, as he is affectionately known, pitted on the fifty-first lap to take on fuel and a change of disc pads while co-driver David Morrow strapped himself aboard. It appeared that brake problems continued, gradually dropping them down the field into seventh place by the one hundred lap mark, a position they held to the finish. Indeed, a very impressive run.” | “One of the most striking looking cars in the event was the Bortolis Wines Escort of long-time Ford stalwarts Bruce Hodgson & David Morrow, both from New South Wales. They started from fifth place on the grid with a time of 2m 59.5s. Bruce quickly moved up into fourth place by lap nine, and took over third position when Chris Heyer pitted the Golf. “Hodo”, as he is affectionately known, pitted on the fifty-first lap to take on fuel and a change of disc pads while co-driver David Morrow strapped himself aboard. It appeared that brake problems continued, gradually dropping them down the field into seventh place by the one hundred lap mark, a position they held to the finish. Indeed, a very impressive run.” | ||
| − | + | == 1979 == | |
After Bathurst 1978, Bruce had decided it was time to part company with 18271. In late 1978 another long time Escort stalwart, Graham Mein decided to purchase the car from Bruce. Graham was in Ballina on the northern NSW coast and at the time of sale agreed to meet Bruce half way in north-western NSW to pick up the car. | After Bathurst 1978, Bruce had decided it was time to part company with 18271. In late 1978 another long time Escort stalwart, Graham Mein decided to purchase the car from Bruce. Graham was in Ballina on the northern NSW coast and at the time of sale agreed to meet Bruce half way in north-western NSW to pick up the car. | ||
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At race end, the luckless Mein/Russell Escort was still running, but with insufficient laps to qualify as a finisher. | At race end, the luckless Mein/Russell Escort was still running, but with insufficient laps to qualify as a finisher. | ||
| − | + | == 1980 == | |
1980 had seen some major changes in the rules for Group C. One of the most obvious was the allowance of the small cars to run 10” rims (up from the previous 8”). The A9X Torana had started the flared guards revolution, and with the allowed increased rim width, many cars of the day went to the wider rim/flared guard package. Graham was no exception, and 18271 now sported 13x10” Simmons with A9X Torana type flared guards. It was repainted in a more straight white with some red and blue strips running along the bottom of the car only, and for the first time after 4 years did not run De Bortoli wines sponsorship. | 1980 had seen some major changes in the rules for Group C. One of the most obvious was the allowance of the small cars to run 10” rims (up from the previous 8”). The A9X Torana had started the flared guards revolution, and with the allowed increased rim width, many cars of the day went to the wider rim/flared guard package. Graham was no exception, and 18271 now sported 13x10” Simmons with A9X Torana type flared guards. It was repainted in a more straight white with some red and blue strips running along the bottom of the car only, and for the first time after 4 years did not run De Bortoli wines sponsorship. | ||
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Roll on 1981. | Roll on 1981. | ||
| − | + | == 1981 == | |
Graham continued to run the car at the ATCC events and other series such as the XXX 300 to varying success.As Bathurst came around the little team from Ballina were feeling confident of another good run at Bathurst, but unfortunately their run ended around lap 31. | Graham continued to run the car at the ATCC events and other series such as the XXX 300 to varying success.As Bathurst came around the little team from Ballina were feeling confident of another good run at Bathurst, but unfortunately their run ended around lap 31. | ||
Bathurst 1981 Statistics Date 4th October 1981 | Bathurst 1981 Statistics Date 4th October 1981 | ||
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| − | + | == 1982 == | |
In 1982, CAMS re-arranged the classes within Group C, with the result that the 2L class was amalgamated with the up to 3L class. Consequently we lost a lot of the smaller cars that year, as they were obviously not competitive against 3L Capri’s and the like. 18271 sat out the whole year. | In 1982, CAMS re-arranged the classes within Group C, with the result that the 2L class was amalgamated with the up to 3L class. Consequently we lost a lot of the smaller cars that year, as they were obviously not competitive against 3L Capri’s and the like. 18271 sat out the whole year. | ||
| − | + | == 1983 == | |
Graham bought the car out only 3 times this year, twice to Surfers Paradise and once to Lakeside for ATCC and Endurance Championship races. | Graham bought the car out only 3 times this year, twice to Surfers Paradise and once to Lakeside for ATCC and Endurance Championship races. | ||
At the end of 1983, Graham was tossing up what to do with the car. Group C only had another year to run before Australia went to the new international Group A category in 1985. He decided to sell the car and another local, Garry McGrath from Casino bought the car. Gary had had a string of small Fords and he wasted no time in running the car. | At the end of 1983, Graham was tossing up what to do with the car. Group C only had another year to run before Australia went to the new international Group A category in 1985. He decided to sell the car and another local, Garry McGrath from Casino bought the car. Gary had had a string of small Fords and he wasted no time in running the car. | ||
| − | + | == 1984 == | |
Garry took the car out 6 times through the year. After 8 years of competition 18271 was coming up for retirement. It’s interesting to note that it’s last race was a 3 hour endurance at Surfer’s paradise, where it came first in class. A fitting end to a glorious career. | Garry took the car out 6 times through the year. After 8 years of competition 18271 was coming up for retirement. It’s interesting to note that it’s last race was a 3 hour endurance at Surfer’s paradise, where it came first in class. A fitting end to a glorious career. | ||
| − | + | == Life After Group C == | |
Like many Group C car owners of the day, Gary pondered what to do with the car next. It would require extensive changes to get it to Group A spec, and it would be hopeless as a sports sedan. Many cars were wrecked for their competition parts, many were just turned back into road cars (after all it was an Improved Production category) and a lot of others were pushed quietly into corners of workshops and garages all around the country. | Like many Group C car owners of the day, Gary pondered what to do with the car next. It would require extensive changes to get it to Group A spec, and it would be hopeless as a sports sedan. Many cars were wrecked for their competition parts, many were just turned back into road cars (after all it was an Improved Production category) and a lot of others were pushed quietly into corners of workshops and garages all around the country. | ||
