GRAHAM ROBSON AND GUESTS

Part 1: Graham Robson talks to Rod Grainger, Paddy Hopkirk, Gavin Thompson, Patrick Walker, Brian Culcheth, and Bill Meade at the 40th anniversary of The Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally held at Dagenham Motors showroom, Alperton, Wembley, London 20/4/2010.



Part 2: With Tony Mason, Paul Easter, Bill Barnett, Alan Grainge, Mike Scarlett and Alan Zafer.

The Daily Mirror World Cup Rally 40 – The World’s Toughest Rally in Retrospect by Graham Robson.
Continuing for six weeks, and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event, attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland.
Despite the tremendous amounts of money spent choosing and developing new cars, completing months-long route surveys, and analysing every detail of diets, oxygen provision, and the number of crew members, out of an entry of more than 100 cars, only 23 cars made it to the finish.
It was then, and remains now, the toughest rally of all time. More info.

FORD RALLY CHAMPION!

A new month, and a new blog header, this time featuring the great photo of the rally-winning Ford Escort, (driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm), as featured on the cover of our forthcoming book The Daily Mirror 1970 World Cup Rally 40.

Lasting six weeks and covering 16,000 miles from London to Mexico City via some of the most varying, tortuous and difficult terrain on three continents, the 1970 World Cup Rally was a unique high-speed event. Attracting many serious works teams such as Ford and British Leyland, it was, and remains, the toughest rally of all time.

This 40th anniversary book is due this month (March 2010). Follow our RSS feed

SIMPLY FORD AT BEAULIEU

Simply Ford - Sunday, 2nd May 2010
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

The first Beaulieu ‘Simply Ford’ event takes place on Sunday 2nd May and promises to be a great day out for all Ford enthusiasts. All Ford owners are invited to come to Beaulieu in their vehicle and become part of the event. Any model is welcome, from the new Focus RS to the old MK 1 or 2 Escort RS or even a Model T!

All Ford owners taking part have an opportunity to enter the Pride of Ownership competition with the winner receiving a £100 cash prize and a Beaulieu trophy. The winner will be one of twenty vehicles chosen by the judging panel to go on display in the Main Arena and take part in a cavalcade.

For entrants arriving on the day in their Ford and joining the event on the Beaulieu Parkland, individual prices are adult £10 and child £5. To book in advance or for more information about group or club entry and concession prices telephone 01590 612888. All other entries will be via Beaulieu main reception at normal admission prices.

Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu/simplyford for more information.

VICTORY FOR DODD ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Picture courtesy of www.cmwi.net: Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery heading to victory in the wet conditions on today's Rallye Sunseeker.
Defending champions Marcus Dodd and Andrew Bargery got the defence of their title underway in the best possible fashion with a sensational seventh victory on Rallye Sunseeker held in Bournemouth at the weekend.

Driving the Hyundai Accent WRC the pair emerged 33.7 seconds ahead of the Peugeot Cosworth of Andrew Burton and co driver Robin Kellard, with former ANCRO champion Steve Perez and co driver Paul Spooner claiming third place a further 13 seconds back on the opening round of the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship.

Dodd, from nearby Poole, overcame the disappointment of retiring on last year's event, and also the drenched Dorset forests this year, to run out a clear winner and apart from a couple of moments during the day his only problem was an errant warning light on the last stage.

Burton, who decided not to register for ANCRO points, brought his crowd-pleasing Peugeot Cosworth home in runner-up spot after Perez, the 2004 national champion, suffered a last stage spin which meant the Chesterfield driver had to settle for third place in his Ford Focus WRC07.
Towcester's Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield had a trouble-free run to fourth place in their Subaru WRC, with Paul Bird, from Penrith, and co driver Kirsty Riddick in their Ford Focus WRC08 putting in a brave drive to finish fifth following the death of his mother last week.

Yorkshiremen Jonny Milner and Ian Windress brought their Toyota Corolla WRC home in sixth after a misfire slowed the former double British champion earlier on. Next up was Anthony Willmington, Dave Weston Jnr and Jonny Greer, but none of them were registered for points leaving Co Durham driver Stephen Petch and co driver John Richardson to claim sixth place ANCRO points following their tenth place finish in the Hyundai Accent WRC.

In the Viking Motorsport Ford Escort Challenge, Richard Lane and co driver Frank Richer took the spoils and the Nissan Micra pairing of Ian Barrett and co driver Gavin Wright claimed victory in the 1400cc Cup.
Marcus Dodd: "It's been a very difficult rally and the stages have been as wet as I've ever known them but to win this event for the seventh time is fantastic. One mile from the end of the last stage the water temperature shot through the roof but it was not a problem in the end and to claim victory on my local event is a great start to the year."
The next event takes place on 23rd/24th April with the Pirelli Tour of Cumbria which is based in Carlisle.

Source: www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

STARS SET TO SHINE ON RALLYE SUNSEEKER

Six-times Rallye Sunseeker winner Marcus Dodd and co driver Andrew Bargery in their Hyundai Accent WRC.
The eagerly anticipated battle for the 2010 MSA Gravel Rally Championship gets underway next weekend when crews from all over the UK as well as further afield converge on the South coast resorts of Bournemouth and Poole for the annual ANCRO season opener as the 25th annual Rallye Sunseeker roars into life.

And with the best entry assembled in recent years, fans on the South Coast's premier motorsport event will be revelling in the atmosphere amidst the Dorset forests.

Six-times event winner and very much the local hero Marcus Dodd from nearby Poole along with co driver Andrew Bargery from just down the coast at Hove, will be looking to win back the crown they relinquished to Isle of Wight Subaru driver Will Nicholls and co driver Nick Broom last year, and given that Nicholls and Broom are not returning to defend their title, the Hyundai Accent WRC pairing will start the event as one of the favourites.

Whereas Dodd is the reigning Pirelli MSA Gravel Rally Champion having landed the crown five times in total and the last three times in succession, he faces stiff opposition as heading the challenge will be four former champions who are making a welcome return to the fold.

Twice Rallye Sunseeker winner Roger Duckworth and co driver Mark Broomfield took the Championship honours in 1998 and the driver who lives near Silverstone is back for another crack at the title in his venerable Subaru whereas 2004 ANCRO winner and VK boss Steve Perez from Chesterfield along with co driver Paul Spooner has the ex Marcus Gronholm Ford Focus WRC07 at his disposal and is fresh from winning last weekend's Wyedean Rally. 2005 Champion Paul Bird is back with a vengeance in his works-specification Ford Focus WRC08 and the flamboyant chicken farmer from Penrith has won his last three events in a row along with co driver Kirsty Riddick but like Perez, has never sampled Sunseeker glory. The other winner of the national title to take to the start line is Ulsterman Kenny McKinstry who won the series in 1999 and the Subaru WRC driver will be looking to repeat his win on Rallye Sunseeker of 2002, this time with co driver Harvey Bell on the notes.

The rivalry between Perez and Bird is legendary in Rallye Sunseeker history, but they, as well as Dodd, Duckworth and McKinstry, will be having to look to their rear view mirrors as there are a host of top names expected to be in the mix come Saturday afternoon.

Double British Champion Jonny Milner is reunited with his trusty Toyota Corolla WRC and co driver Ian Windress so could be the dark horse whilst Irish marauders Richard Cathcart/Martin Brady (Subaru WRC) and Jonny Greer (Mitsubishi Evo 9) could spring a surprise. County Durham driver Stephen Petch teams up with John Richardson in their Hyundai Accent WRC and don't rule out local aces Anthony Willmington/Andrew White (Mitsubishi Evo 6) and Scotsman Dave Weston Jnr and Ieuan Thomas in their latest version Subaru. Scandinavian drivers Daniel Sigurdarson and Johannes Gunnarson add to the international ambience in their respective Mitsubishis as part of the shakedown for the upcoming Mitsubishi Ralliart Evolution Challenge.

With the traditional Friday evening Winter Gardens and Seafront stage not included this year, the event gets underway with a pompous ceremonial start at Poole Quayside at 18.15 on Friday, before the event proper starts on Saturday morning with the traditional loops around the forests and stately homes of Ringwood and Wareham before the winners' champagne is uncorked in Bournemouth town centre around 17.30.

More details, including entry lists, spectator information and maps etc on the event can be found at www.rallyesunseeker.co.uk and information on the 2010 MSA National Gravel Rally Championship is listed at www.msagravelrallychampionship.co.uk.

STOP! DON’T BUY A CAPRI WITHOUT BUYING THIS BOOK FIRST!

Ford Capri (All models (except RS) 1969 to 1987 – The Essential Buyer's Guide
(Your Marque expert: Mark Paxton)

When launched, the Ford Capri was revolutionary. It was a car that set the European market alight, allowing even a buyer on a modest budget an intoxicating whiff of the exotic whilst keeping running costs at affordable levels. That status eroded over time, and the Capri sat in the classic car doldrums for many years, its true worth unrecognised. That situation has thankfully changed, and Capri values are rising rapidly, so care has to be taken to make sure you end up with the best one possible for your money.

Ford Capri – The essential Buyer's Guide takes the potential purchaser through a short initial examination to weed out the obviously defective followed by a more comprehensive step by step look at the body and mechanical parts, where the clear, jargon-free text accompanied by over 100 photographs sheds light on even the darkest corners of the Capri’s construction.

A unique points marking system ensures that nothing is overlooked, and an accurate final picture of the car’s condition can be viewed in relation to the asking price.

The 64-page paperback book is available now from bookshops or from www.velocebooks.com.

FORD DAY

On this day in history (1903) The Ford Motor Company was founded. Here's a selection of some Ford related books from Veloce.



Visit www.veloce.co.uk to see our full range of Ford publications.

AUTO HEADLINES

VW in driving seat over Porsche merger

Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech has signalled that the volume carmaker is in the driving seat of its proposed merger with Porsche.

The move came as Germany’s financial watchdog launched another market manipulation probe against Porsche.

Mr Piech said it had been decided that the headquarters of the combined company – which he proposed to be named Auto Union after the carmaker created through the merger of several brands during the Great Depression – would be in Wolfsburg, where Volkswagen is based.

He has also indicated that he favoured Martin Winterkorn, chief executive of Volkswagen, as head of the new group, spurring fresh doubts about the future of Porsche’s management team.

Mr Piech said it was unlikely that Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche’s chief executive, would be happy to stay on in a more ‘lowly’ role.

Porsche declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Bafin, the regulator, launched its second investigation in seven months after a German press report alleged that Porsche had informed Lower Saxony, Volkswagen’s second largest stakeholder, in February 2008 about its intentions to lift its stake in the volume manufacturer to 75 per cent. (Financial Times: May 13).

GM shares sink to new low

Shares in struggling vehicle manufacturer General Motors sunk to their lowest level in more than 70 years amid increasingly loud signals that the company is heading for bankruptcy protection within the next three weeks.

Shares fell by 20 per cent after senior GM executives sold stock worth $315,000 to leave shares trading at $1.15.

The White House has given GM until June 1 to restructure and win more financial aid. If the company fails to cut its debts and costs by the deadline, it will be forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

GM’s shareholders are in a lose-lose situation, according to analysts, because their investments would be all but wiped out regardless of whether the company goes bust. (The Times/Financial Times: May 13).

Ford shares tumble on new issue move

Shares in Ford have fallen almost 18 per cent after the carmaker announced plans to issue 300 million common shares to fund healthcare for retired workers.

The new shares will be sold at a price of $4.75 each. The existing shares closed down $1.07 at $5.01.

The share issue is set to raise $1.4 billion (£914m). Ford must make a $1.2bn cash payment to its Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association by December 31.

It will be the first public share offering at Ford since the carmaker became a publicly traded company in 1956.

Chief executive Alan Mulally said selling the stock was ‘another key step in our plan to transform Ford into an exciting, viable enterprise poised to return to profitability’. (BBC.co.uk: May 13).

Three bidders line-up for Saab

Fiat, Chinese manufacturer Geely and an unnamed German bank are reportedly the three bidders most likely to buy Saab, according to a General Motors’ source.

A Swedish newspaper also suggested that GM boss Fritz Henderson had already dismissed Geely’s bid for Saab for fear of Chinese-market competition for the luxury Buick brand, which is owned by GM.

Neither Saab nor GM would officially confirm the list of bidders.

Geely has officially denied any plans to bid for Saab, although representatives of Geely have reportedly visited Saab’s Trollhattan headquarters. (AM-Online: May 13).

A TRUE PROFESSIONAL - THE FORD CAPRI AT FORTY

The Ford car designed for the young at heart is refusing to grow old gracefully as the Ford Capri celebrates it 40th anniversary.



Although production ended in 1986, Capri lives on within many owners' clubs who will be celebrating the anniversary with events planned from Scotland to the South West. Fans are getting together at Castle Combe, Wiltshire (6 June), Grampian Transport Museum, Alford, Aberdeenshire (30 August), Ace Café in London (5 September) and Brooklands Museum, Surrey (26 September).

Launched in January 1969 and marketed as "the car you always promised yourself", the Ford Capri was unashamedly aimed at a style-conscious generation. In just 18 years the European answer to the Ford Mustang sold nearly two million units and achieved iconic status with its target audience.

From the outset the Capri was about choice, with a range boasting 26 derivatives. A mixture of engines - 1.3-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre four-cylinder units and a 3-litre V6 - catered for all tastes, while optional custom packs allowed a degree of personal customising that broke new ground in the industry. For the serious drivers there was the Cologne-built RS2600 and the short-lived Halewood-built 124mph RS3100.

A global oil crisis failed to slow the Capri's progress and in 1974 the Mk II was launched. Smoother design lines and simplified option packs ensured the Capri appealed to a wider market.

Star status was assured with regular Capri appearances in TV shows such as Minder and The Professionals.

From 1978, the Mk III saw a tidying up of the Capri body and several special editions such as the Calypso and Laser. In 1981 Dunton's newly-formed Special Vehicle Engineering department unveiled their first project, the 160bhp Capri 2.8 injection. The limited edition Capri 280, also known as the Brooklands Capri, signalled the end of the Capri era and the last car left the line in December 1986.

While the Capri is not the biggest seller in Ford history it is evident from the devoted fan base that it is certainly one of the most fondly remembered.
Source:Ford Motor Company

Coming soon! Ford Capri – The Essential Buyer’s Guide
By Mark Paxton.
When launched, the Ford Capri was revolutionary. It was a car that set the European market alight, allowing even a buyer on a modest budget an intoxicating whiff of the exotic whilst keeping running costs at affordable levels. That status eroded over time, and the Capri sat in the classic car doldrums for many years, its true worth unrecognised. That situation has thankfully changed, and Capri values are rising rapidly, so care has to be taken to make sure you end up with the best one possible for your money. This guide takes the potential purchaser through a short initial examination to weed out the obviously defective followed by a more comprehensive step by step look at the body and mechanical parts, where the clear, jargon-free text accompanied by over 100 photographs sheds light on even the darkest corners of the Capri’s construction. A unique points marking system ensures that nothing is overlooked, and an accurate final picture of the car’s condition can be viewed in relation to the asking price.
Click here for more info about the book.

100 TIPS TO TRANSFORM YOUR RALLY CAR!

-PRESS RELEASE-

How to Build a Successful Low-Cost Rally Car, a new book by motoring journalist Philip Young aims to provide simple, cost-effective and reliable tips to guarantee reaching the finishing line and more importantly, get results!

This book concentrates on preparing a car for the many forms of road-based rallies, including Historic Rallying, from weekend club events to the Classic Marathon, with useful preparation for long distance events like the Peking to Paris, road-rallies for modern cars, and the “Budget Adventure” events like the Mongol Rally and Plymouth to Dakar.

Published by Veloce at £16.99 containing 150 colour pictures; It concentrates on tips for reliability...items like waterproofing, ensuring the exhaust doesn’t fall off, the radiator doesn’t vibrate lose, engine mountings and the like are regular setbacks on all manner of events and this book gets back to basics, packed with workshop photographs. There is also an event guide, useful contacts, and chapters on personal preparation including staying healthy, coping with borders, and seeking sponsorship.

Philip Young is a former Fleet Street journalist who once helped to run the Daily Mail News Desk...he has written for The Observer, The Times, and The Guardian as well as the Daily Mail, edited two motoring magazines, and twice was awarded the Guild of Motoring Writer’s Motoring Journalist of the Year Award.

Generally credited with having kick-started the historic-rally movement with events like the Pirelli Classic Marathon, Monte Carlo Challenge and Peking to Paris, Philip Young has organised 65 major events and has seen how the same problems crop up time and time again that could have been prevented with some simple modifications in the garage before the start. He co-founded the Historic Rally Car Register in 1982, and more recently started up Endurance Rallying in Britain, events restricted to 1400cc cars with standard engines, such as the Lombard Rally.

Philip Young commented: "Hopefully the book goes some way to debunk the myth that rally preparation is about high cost and high technology - some of the modifications in the book are ordinary household items, from silicone bathroom sealer to wire coat hangers that cost zippo, but transform reliablility."


The 96-page book is available now from bookshops or from www.veloce.co.uk.

If you are driving a road-based rally, this book will help you get a result … don’t even fill in the entry form without it!

TWO BRAND NEW RALLY BOOKS FROM VELOCE!

-PRESS RELEASE-

Two brand new Rally books from Veloce!

Ford Escort RS Cosworth & World Rally Car (ISBN 978-1-84584-181-2)
Fiat 131 Abarth (ISBN 978-1-84584-182-9)

Available now (UK & USA)
Each just £14.99 UK / $29.95 USA

-Full, detailed career history
-Complete story of concept, design and development
-Unrivalled coverage of people and influences behind the cars
-Step-by-step account of technical evolution
-Description of cars: why, how and when evolved
-Details of principal people involved
-Packed with pictures
-Comparison with rivals
-Complete listing of important successes and ‘works’ models

DESCRIPTION
Individual Rally Giants books focus on the cars and personalities that stand out from the crowd in the long and exciting history of rallying. The books tell the story of cars and people that have left a big impression in the record books, and the minds of rally enthusiasts the world over.

Great value for money, these books are packed with pictures, facts and feats from the annals of International rallying. Collect the whole series!

BOOK OF THE MONTH IN AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC CAR

Ford Escort RS Cosworth & World Rally Car by Graham Robson is awarded Book of the Month in the January edition of Australian Classic Car Magazine!

In his ‘Rally Giants’ series, Graham Robson aims to describe the shift in motor sport from reliability trials to the modern idea of road rallying. Today’s rally vehicles are engineered and driven with a focus on speed and strength first, and reliability second. They are high performance machines - with road-going homologation specials built pretty much as an afterthought to comply with regulations - not existing road cars tuned to stay the distance. Events are composed of a series of shorter intense races on closed road special stages instead of one long distance to endure over public roads.

Robson’s series approaches these changes through the development and competition histories of milestone vehicles, like the Ford Escort RS Cosworth in this book. By the late 1980s, Ford Motorsport (FM) was faced with the erosion of Ford’s competition status since the 1970s, an era dominated by the successes of the Escort Mk1 and 2. The RS200 had been too little, too late to stop the slide against Audi, Toyota, Subaru and Mitsubishi, Fiat, Peugeot and Lancia. The Sierra had looked promising but was too bulky and heavy to continue as it was.

It was critical that the new Cosworth succeed. Not only had Ford been the only British make consistently at the top level of world motor spot but it had also consistently made its technology and developments available to private buyers. This fact brings Robson to point out why new rally and race cars are important at all. The release of their homologation models affects car buyers’ expectations and thus, other manufacturers. Customers learn quickly what is possible from one year to the next, and expect to be able to buy it.

For example, once 4 wheel drive was accepted in rally cars after the Audi Quattro’s precedent, it was adopted for the Sierra Cosworth and refined in the lighter, nimbler RS to create the rallying breakthrough Ford needed. Car showrooms consequently began to reflect these changes.

Stuart Turner, director of FM at the outset of the project, and his team had all agreed that their next rally car had to be based on an existing mainstream model. “Why don’t we see if we can take the platform and running gear from a Sierra Cosworth 4x4, shorten it, then see if an Escort body will fit on it?” This line of development was more or less followed. The RS was 4½ years in the making, under four different directors, but it was worth it. In 1993, its first year, it won five World Championship rallies.

Readers will gain insight into Ford’s engineering methods and enjoy reading about the Ford Motorsport design team’s dynamics – the members really did work together. As one person’s idea was pursued, problems naturally emerged which other members would solve. Later chapters in the book explain the need to develop a World Rally Car, and the changes required to turn the Cosworth into that car.

Photo buffs will relish the colour images in the ‘Rally Years’ section taken on location across Europe, Africa and Asia - wherever the RS was competing. Personally, I liked reading the collection of biographies of engineers, rally drivers and other influential people in the Cosworth’s development. Among many team drivers taking the RS Cosworth to victory, Carlos Sainz was a standout, driving during 1996, a top year for the RS. An early driver worth getting to know was Francois Delacourt, and dashing, talented Ari Vatanen is regarded as a true enthusiast’s hero.

Click HERE for more info about the book!

NEW FORD FOCUS RS

In the 40-year story of Ford RS, the marque has been applied sparingly, merited by only the most high-performance Ford machines of the time.

Six years have passed since the last Ford RS – the Mk1 Focus RS – finished its strictly limited production run. Now the famous badge has returned for its league of devoted fans and a new generation of performance car enthusiasts.

This new Focus RS is the product of Ford Team RS, headed by Jost Capito, a committed car enthusiast and racer. Alongside Capito is a small team of dedicated performance car and motorsport engineering specialists, led by Chief Programme Engineer, John Wheeler, whose own expertise stretches over 20 years of Ford performance and motorsport vehicles.

Team RS works hand-in-hand with Ford of Europe experts from across the engineering spectrum to create Ford’s performance road car range. More than 100 engineers have been involved in Focus RS and every one understood the weight of expectation that greets a new Ford RS model.

The 2009 production start for Focus RS has marked the 10th anniversary of Ford Focus and 40 years of Ford RS. More info:www.fordmedia.eu
Source:newspress

Fans of the Ford RS badge and its famous history will find interesting reading in these great books available from Veloce:

Rallye Sport Fords – The inside story by Mike Moreton.
The inside story of how Rallye Sport Fords were created by Ford in the 70s and 80s, enabling works’ and private teams to be fully competitive in national and international rallies and races, to win many championships, and, for RS cars to be bought by over 100,000 enthusiast customers. With over 100 photos and illustrations, many previously unpublished this previously untold story is brought vividly to life. Click here for more info.


Ford Escort RS Cosworth & World Rally Car (Rally Giants Series) by Graham Robson.
The Escort RS Cosworth, which began rallying in 1993, was one of the most ingenious designs of all time, and eventually became Ford's most successful model since the legendary Escorts of the 1970s. The combination of Cosworth power, four-wheel-drive transmission, and an effective aerodynamic package made it a Rally Giant in all conditions, and, until the all-new Focus WRC was launched in 1999, this generation of Escorts was the most effective rally car that Ford had ever produced. Click here for more info.

JACK SEARS' FORD GALAXIE AT RAC CLUB

The RAC club managed to borrow Jack's famous Ford Galaxie and display it in the clubs rotunda on the day of his talk (25/11/08). They had to remove the revolving doors to the clubhouse to do it and the car barely had half an inch each side to spare as it came through. Click here for more pictures.



*Video of the talk coming very soon on Youtube.





Veloce Publishing is proud to bring you Gentleman Jack – The Official Biography of Jack Sears By Graham Gauld.

Jack Sears was one of the principal organisers of the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon. This is THE official biography of a fascinating entrepreneur, sportsman and gentleman. Packed with facts straight from the man himself and illustrated with over 150 unique photos this is a must have piece of motoring history.



click here for more info about the book.

FORD ESCORT RS COSWORTH PICS ON FLICKR.COM

Just uploaded some great action shots taken from Ford Escort RS Cosworth & World Rally Car. Be sure to take a look at the Veloce flickr photostream as it's the place where we share some of the fantastic and rare photographs we see here in production!

NEW FORD FOCUS RS

Even though the new Ford Focus RS isn't available untill early next year, Ford's UK dealer network has been inundated with orders. So far, 1000 customer orders have been placed, 40% of which are said to be making a specific request for the unique Electric Green shade that was was previewed at the British International Motor Show in London in July. Other popular requests amongst performance car enthusiasts are Frozen White and Electric Blue.

The new model marks the latest chapter in the Rallye Sport badge story, which has played such an important role in Ford's rich motorsport heritage and dates back to the iconic Ford Escort RS1600 in 1970.

Find out more about the history of RS in the Veloce book Rallye Sport Fords – The inside story by Mike Moreton. The inside story of how Rallye Sport Fords were created by Ford in the 70s and 80s, enabling works’ and private teams to be fully competitive in national and international rallies and races, to win many championships, and, for RS cars to be bought by over 100,000 enthusiast customers. With over 100 photos and illustrations, many previously unpublished this previously untold story is brought vividly to life.



click here for more info about the book

Goodwood Revival

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the re-opening of the 1948 Motor Show, Goodwood has announced the recreation of this classic motoring event, as held immediately after WW2 at Earls Court.
The Goodwood Earls Court Motor Show exhibition area will take its inspiration from the celebrated London Motor Shows, with an original Art Deco look reminiscent of the glory days of exhibitions of the past. This spacious new area will give the expected 115,000 Goodwood Revival visitors an insight into how motoring of the future might look from a pre-1966 perspective, with a display of 'futuristic' 21st century cars.
Car manufacturers confirmed to be exhibiting at this show in September will include Maserati, Jaguar, BMW, Ford and Rolls-Royce.

All of the British cars of 1948 can be found in the Veloce book:

The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895-1975
By David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin



Description

The most comprehensive record of British cars in a single volume. Covers nearly 700 manufacturers and some 3700 models.
Synopsis

The British car Bible. Revised and updated reprint of a long out of print classic - the famous "Culshaw & Horrobin". Catalogues all of the cars built in Britain from the dawn of the industry to 1975. Many of these vehicles are now prized and collectible veteran, vintage and classic cars.

The most comprehensive account of British cars ever published in one volume, this book presents a huge amount of information - historical as well as technical - in a way which will serve the needs of the dedicated enthusiast, automotive historian and the general reader.

Nearly 700 manufacturers and some 3700 individual models are covered - including technical specification for most cars. A wide selection of photographs feature all of the major marques and many of the minor ones

click here for more info

An array of automotive attractions

Rallye Sport Fords – The inside story,
originally uploaded by Veloce Publishing.

Countless interesting and rare images we see here in production at Veloce Publishing regularly uploaded on flickr.com. Click image or go to Veloce's flickr photostream

Rallye Sport Heritage

Since 1970, the RS (Rallye Sport) badge has identified Ford's highest-performing road cars.

The Rallye Sport name has been applied to 21 models, which often proved their worth by winning in motorsport as well as in the market-place. Along with the "ST" badge, the "RS" designation has never been applied lightly, with each and every RS model and derivative offering a special blend of performance, roadholding, vehicle safety, refinement - and great value for money.



Many Rallye Sport Fords have used wind-tunnel testing to evolve innovative aerodynamic features, such as the rear aerofoils fitted to Sierra and Escort RS Cosworths. All have pushed the boundaries of technology, and have provided exceptional stability and handling.



The Ford RS brand has gained tremendous respect over the years and the new-generation Focus RS upholds the tradition of the high-performance Ford engineered for the true enthusiast.



Here is the complete list of Rallye Sport Models:







The all-new Focus RS!





New from Veloce Publishing!

Rallye Sport Fords – The inside story

By Mike Moreton






Features



• Why Ford decided to produce high performance cars.

• Why Ford created the AVO facility to build Rallye Sport cars.

• How Ford RS cars were conceived and approved for production.

• Insight into the management processes of a multi-national corporation.

• Who was behind the creation of successful Rallye Sport Cars.

• What had to be done to be sure of making rally/race winners.

• Inside story of creation and manufacture of RS200 Rally Car.

• Inside story of creation and production of World Champion Sierra RS500.

• Why did thousands of enthusiastic customers buy Rallye Sport cars.

• What was it like having a career in the Motor Industry.

Description



The inside story of how Rallye Sport Fords were created by Ford in the 70s and 80s, enabling works’ and private teams to be fully competitive in national and international rallies and races, to win many championships, and, for RS cars to be bought by over 100,000 enthusiast customers. With over 100 photos and illustrations, many previously unpublished this previously untold story is brought vividly to life.



click here for more info



source headlineauto.co.uk

40 Years of Ford Escort

Ford Motor Company is a major sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed which started in 1993. Ford will again be supporting this prestigious event to be held over the weekend of 11-13 July 2008.
The Festival of Speed is Europe's premier historic motor sporting event – a combination of hillclimb, rally stage, garden party, and motor show, all in the grounds of Goodwood House, in West Sussex.
Since the 1950s Ford has always been prominent in racing and rallying, often with specially-developed cars such as the Escort RS1600 and RS1800, the RS200 and the Sierra RS500 Cosworth. It was in January 1968, Ford launched the all-new Escort family saloon. 40 years on, we can look back enjoy the rise of the Escort as a victorious race and rally winner. Escorts won the European and British Touring Car Championships in the 1970s, and were twice World Rally Champions, in 1979 and 1981. Escorts won the Monte Carlo rally, the East African Safari and the London-Mexico World Cup rally, and they triumphed on the British RAC rally on eight consecutive occasions (1972 – 1979).

Fans of motorsport, Ford Escort and the history behind the car should check out this new book!
FORD ESCORT RS1800
By Graham Robson
Published by Veloce Publishing



Features
- Full detailed history of the Escort’s rally career
- Complete story of concept, design and development
- Unrivalled coverage of people and influences behind the cars
- Step-by-step account of technical evolution
- Description of cars: why, how and when evolved
- Details of principal people involved
- Packed with pictures
- Comparison with rivals
- Complete listing of important successes and ‘works’ Escorts

Description
The Ford Escort MkII was a worthy successor to the original MkI. It became Ford’s most successful rally car and the cars are still winning historic events today. It brought new standards to the sport, inspiring many others to copy it. Contains full details of every ‘works’ Escort MkII that went rallying, plus driver and personality profiles, and detailed car evolution.

Click here for more info

ALSO NEW FROM VELOCE! Rallye Sport Fords – The inside story By Mike Moreton