andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

[david_white]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Great pics, although the front spoiler's starting to look a bit 'wavy'

Arches look awesome there too

[angliaant]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

fantastic pics. car looks excellent, thanks

[PaulAlex]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

The wheels obviously look great, but I'm also really loving the exposed fixings on the aches - they have transformed the car

[zip]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Some piccies perhaps?

That is nice!!!!!!!

[Retromotorsport]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Well it was a day of do we or don't we's ... with bright skys and then black clouds, we decided to go with slicks for qualifiying, and decided andy should go for the 3 safe laps to qualifiy before trying anything like a quick lap. You need 3 laps to get a place on the grid for Race 1. At Lydden we dont have the oppotunity to change wheels halfway through as there is no pit lane, so changing means a safe slow dash through the paddock, and if you meet someone pushing a car or a crowd of people you may not get out before the end of session.

So qualifiying was a dicey affair, loads of cars sliding, a few spinners, and Andy was having trouble getting any power down, with the rear twitching up the hill to the top hairpin.
Andy bought the car back to the pits undamaged, which is always a worry at lydden as there isnt any run-offs on some of the faster corners, a bit of gravel then a tyres infront of big earth bank, very un-forgiving.
Andy said its very greasey out there, and he just kept it on the black stuff and went for the safe times.

So... tyre choice for race 1 ... if it stays bright and carries on drying then slicks, if we get some more rain then wets will be the way.

We watched the Class A,B and C cars running on the track, we are out immediatly after them, halfway through the race the heavens opened, cars sliding all over the place, to Rod Birleys credit he was flashing his lights and waving his Hands at Race Control to get them to Red Flag the race, hes a seasond campainer, with over 450 wins to his name, and he could see what would happen, and he was right, multiple spins and 2 damaged cars.. all the time this was going on we where rushing back to the car to get the wets on.

Andy headed off to the collecting area, with the rain dieing out, but the track was soaked, as the headed off on the warm up lap, we all concerened, the cars sliding at walking pace, Andys weaving to get some heat in the tyres and the back looks as if its stepping out along with the front washing out..
The start.... and andy's going backwards, cars passing left and right ... on his way up the hill he didnt stop weaving the back end till he turned in to take the corner, coming out of it and it looked like Roger Clarke was out there, full broadside slides, left and right .. like the cars on ice. Cars passing Andy still we just hoped he would stay on track till the end to get some points, a car he normally laps even lapped him.. Go Gemma !!!

Andy came back in and i was expecting the gloves to be thrown, the air to turn blue and basicly all the toys thrown out the pram... but, he didnt, infact he was quite calm,

"well that was embarassing "

The rally style wets we had where taken off the car and at one point one started rolling away .. we all looked, was anyone going to save it before it disappeared, no one moved for a while

Slicks back on and we had time to laugh about Race 1 .. and listen to the micky taking from the others, At least he wasnt last, and theres another race to come ......

So race 2, Andy lines up second from last in 15 spot. 4 Escorts infront of him, 2 apparently over 200bhp wide arched pinto powered cars, a BDA powered Mk1 and another x-flow....
The start and Andys off to a flyer, round Chessons and hes gone past 3 cars ... over the start line and hes taken 6 cars, 6 cars in the first lap!! he continues through the field taking places safely, no risks, just doing a sensible drive through the field. The BDA powered mk1 had understeered off into the Devils Elbow, impacting the tyre wall with the front panel and wing, no chassis damage, just panels. Andy's on the back of the leading Escort, Alex Ribbens Blue Mk2, the Pugs and Minis out front, Andy passes Alex Ribbens Escort and pulls away, only to make a slight mistake at Chessons and get it sideways, Alex slips infront, no worries, Andys done him once, he'll do it again, and he did, coming out from Devils Elbow Andy's under the spoiler on Alex's Escort and dosnt let the Pintos grunt pull the mk2 away ... turn in for the hairpin and Andy's tighter, straightens the car and powers away, the speed too much for Alex's car and he runs wide, hitting the grass and getting very bumpy and sideways... well held.
Andy sets off in chase of the class leading Pug, Richard Brent, who has tyre trouble, as the tracks dying hes wets, just the rears, slicks on the front, are going off, he said later that he had a couple of warnings halfway through, so backed off from chasing the mini's of Bill richard and Gerald Dale, Richards brother Phil Brent, in the second Pug was working as rear gunner for Richard, and stayed behind his brother as Andy closed.. alas, the chequered flag came out, and Andy took a 5th overall and 3rd in class. Started 15 and finished 5th .. well done Andy

Andys race one lap time ... 1:03.488
race 2 ........................... 48.005

Andys still second in class and 5th overall, with 2 rounds left.

Thanks to jezz (toymex) and shaun (S&P)for popping in to say good luck

[Pushrod King]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

AH-HEM! Gary you say "Andy's on the back of the leading Escort, Alex Ribbens Blue Mk2". Was I not there then?

[angliaant]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

nice one everyone
well done

[Retromotorsport]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

AH-HEM! Gary you say "Andy's on the back of the leading Escort, Alex Ribbens Blue Mk2". Was I not there then?

Alex was infront of Andy, so he was leading ...

i wasnt sure if they had got up to you or passed you at that point .. sorry

[Pushrod King]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Alex was infront of Andy, so he was leading ...

i wasnt sure if they had got up to you or passed you at that point .. sorry

I'll let you off,just don't do it again

[andypipe]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Well the season is over and i finnished 8th overall and 2nd in class. I have decided to take next year out to help dave white and develop his car and mine. I will be doing a couple of races and carry out some mods like repositioning the dry sump tank and a few other little things. Thanks to all who helped and supported the little yellow escort.

The wheel fetish is still carrying on. Got them off e-bay for not a lot of money.

[david_white]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

I'm gonna paint those wheels all black while you're not looking

[dobuy]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

Lovely car Andy

[angliaant]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

very nice indeed andy
rears need to be black aswell though
whered your lights go?

if you needs a hand you've got me number

[david_white]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

As the car won't be used for a full season next year we plan on doing the odd trackday with it and to get a few passenger rides for turbosporters meant moving the dry sump tank (into my sierra engine bay to be precise ).

I spent a couple of hours removing the extinguisher, oil tank and pipes and as you can see it now leaves space for a passenger seat to go back in Should save a bit of weight in the long term too.

All we need to do now is make or modify a tank that will fit in the engine bay, but as I'll be busy fitting Andy's old one in the sierra I'll leave sourcing a new one to him...

[Phil01825]

Re: andypipe's - MK1 Escort - xflow

I'm gonna paint those wheels all black while you're not looking

Leave 'em alone.

Andy are they 9x15s. Do you know the offset?