Spec-R BARN FIND!Rare Geoff Woods Mk1 Hart Escort Special Saloon

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by morninggents

If it is John Robinson that may answer the question of who last built/rebuilt the Hart BDA engine.
I always thought that John Robinson (from Northampton if it's the JR that I'm thinking of) was more a chassis man than an engine man but I suppose that he was probably both!

John Robinson built and raced a 1300cc BDA Escort in the early 1970s and it used a space frame which he also built, but more in the Clubman's/ Mallock style. It may well be that the JR Escort predated Geoff Wood's car - I shall look out some old results sheets.

Did he build the spaceframe Mk2 ‘RS2000’ that Walter Robinson raced later in the 70s (and which was for sale a few years ago), plus Nick Whiting’s spaceframe car?

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Did he build the spaceframe Mk2 ‘RS2000’ that Walter Robinson raced later in the 70s (and which was for sale a few years ago), plus Nick Whiting’s spaceframe car?

I have a feeling Walter Robertson's Escort was the ex-Whiting car, Mike, and it could well have been a Robinson space frame. Charlie may know!

[celes1]

John Robinson built and raced a 1300cc BDA Escort in the early 1970s and it used a space frame which he also built, but more in the Clubman's/ Mallock style. It may well be that the JR Escort predated Geoff Wood's car - I shall look out some old results sheets.[/QUOTE]

I believe John Robinson prepared and possibly raced a couple of space framed sports cars in the late 1960's early 1970's, a Turner and a Lotus Elan, both using Ford engines. He was an excellent engine builder, so it would have made sense for one of the Escorts engine builds to be done by him, it didn't come cheap having your own brand name cast in the alloy rocker cover. Even Hart didn't do this.

[SPECR]

I spoke to John Robinson this summer and we spoke about his engines,mainly 1300 BDA,s.Also Nick Whitings spaceframed escort, which he said he built.
I will go through my notes from the conversation i had with john and get back to you all

Ref side impact protection that was mentioned previous,here are pics showing the 3" foamed filled sides.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by SPECR

I spoke to John Robinson this summer and we spoke about his engines,mainly 1300 BDA,s.Also Nick Whitings spaceframed escort, which he said he built.
I will go through my notes from the conversation i had with john and get back to you all

Ref side impact protection that was mentioned previous,here are pics showing the 3" foamed filled sides.

Ok, I guess you're going to replace the foam?

Is it possible to get period foam products? (Well, I guess with no App K to worry about that won't matter.)

Personally I think I would prefer a steel girder and trade the weight against a lower centre of gravity if possible. Hardly added lightness though if one does that.

[GWOOD1170]

Originally Posted by grantp

Ok, I guess you're going to replace the foam?

Is it possible to get period foam products? (Well, I guess with no App K to worry about that won't matter.)

Personally I think I would prefer a steel girder and trade the weight against a lower centre of gravity if possible. Hardly added lightness though if one does that.

You can still buy the two part expanding foam to replace the old. Im more concerned about the condition of the spaceframe under the alloy sheeting and especially behind the pods, if waters been in then the outer frame tubes could be shot and thats major problem / work. Ps the safety aspect of the design doesnt bother my sister, she'll drive it 😉

[SPECR]

I was kindly sent in these two pics of the Escort.
The rear end shot is the best one we,ve received to date showing the rear spoiler.(As more pics come in,they will become invaluable in the restoration and getting her back to the way she was.)
We noticed slight damage/repair to rear spoiler n/s.so this would indicate and also going by records we have to-date that this pic was taken after the 75 GP support race at silverstone.
It was at this meeting that the escort spun off due to a sudden downpour whilst still on dry tyres and out of the race due to damage to n/s rear bodywork etc.
Escort was being driven at the time by Jeff Frizwell (as geoff wood was feeling unwell)who was also driving for Lotus in the GP.
Graham wood (son of Geoff wood) will put me right if ive forgotten anything there.

[GWOOD1170]

Originally Posted by SPECR

I was kindly sent in these two pics of the Escort.
The rear end shot is the best one we,ve received to date showing the rear spoiler.(As more pics come in,they will become invaluable in the restoration and getting her back to the way she was.)
We noticed slight damage/repair to rear spoiler n/s.so this would indicate and also going by records we have to-date that this pic was taken after the 75 GP support race at silverstone.
It was at this meeting that the escort spun off due to a sudden downpour whilst still on dry tyres and out of the race due to damage to n/s rear bodywork etc.
Escort was being driven at the time by Jeff Frizwell (as geoff wood was feeling unwell)who was also driving for Lotus in the GP.
Graham wood (son of Geoff wood) will put me right if ive forgotten anything there.

Thanks, it was Jim Crawford in the f1 drive who did take the escort for a buzz but Geoff Friswell who drove it in the wet "crash" at the Grand Prix meeting that year. It may be worth doing a check on the chassis "straightness" when it's down as dad did mention there could be handling issues....maybe caused by the shunt ? I know you'll sort it Spec-R !

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by SPECR

I was kindly sent in these two pics of the Escort.
The rear end shot is the best one we,ve received to date showing the rear spoiler.(As more pics come in,they will become invaluable in the restoration and getting her back to the way she was.)

Which circuit is this? Buildings look a bit Mallory Park but paddock surface looks too good!

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by morninggents

If it is John Robinson that may answer the question of who last built/rebuilt the Hart BDA engine.
I always thought that John Robinson (from Northampton if it's the JR that I'm thinking of) was more a chassis man than an engine man but I suppose that he was probably both!

John Robinson built and raced a 1300cc BDA Escort in the early 1970s and it used a space frame which he also built, but more in the Clubman's/ Mallock style. It may well be that the JR Escort predated Geoff Wood's car - I shall look out some old results sheets.

Earliest date I have for John Robinson's Escort is 9th September 1973 on the Silverstone club circuit so it does look as if JR did pre-date Geoff with a space frame chassied Escort, though maybe not as sophisticated as Geoff's car.

[celes1]

Originally Posted by morninggents

Which circuit is this? Buildings look a bit Mallory Park but paddock surface looks too good!

Could it be 1970's Brands, before they put up new paddock buildings. Mallory was mainly earth and hogging early 70's, until the NSCC came into some cash flow.

[morninggents]

I'm not sure if Geoff ever raced at Brands - maybe Graham could confirm. None of the results I have show Geoff being number 10.

Could be Oulton Park.

[Dan Rear]

Originally Posted by morninggents

I have a feeling Walter Robertson's Escort was the ex-Whiting car, Mike, and it could well have been a Robinson space frame. Charlie may know!

This item has popped up on FB recently. Apparently Robinson built 3 mk2 Escorts in the late 70s. One to Nick Whiting with a 3.4 GA, one to Walter Robertson with a BMW M12, and the 3rd into Europe somewhere.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

This item has popped up on FB recently. Apparently Robinson built 3 mk2 Escorts in the late 70s. One to Nick Whiting with a 3.4 GA, one to Walter Robertson with a BMW M12, and the 3rd into Europe somewhere.

Thanks Dan. The one I remember being for sale was originally fitted with a BMW F2 engine, so that’s the Robertson car. Had a pinto fitted when advertised- not so interesting but a lot cheaper!

[Dan Rear]

That M12 went into my mate Kim Mather's F2 March for 1979 Aurora as I recall, Mike

[celes1]

Originally Posted by morninggents

I'm not sure if Geoff ever raced at Brands - maybe Graham could confirm. None of the results I have show Geoff being number 10.

Could be Oulton Park.

It could be Oulton as it one of the few circuits that had Fir trees near the buildings, as Mallory did top end of Paddock and Clubhouse area. Brands did have trees at the bottom of the Paddock and on outer perimeter, but not near bays.

[GWOOD1170]

That will be here then....silverstone

[morninggents]

What a great photo. Geoff's Escort looks a lot more 'planted' than Hazlewood's Jag.

[Mike Bell]

It is a great pic. Shows what could be achieved with a purpose built spaceframe and ‘silhouette’ body. What an era that was!

[GregUK]

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

This item has popped up on FB recently. Apparently Robinson built 3 mk2 Escorts in the late 70s. One to Nick Whiting with a 3.4 GA, one to Walter Robertson with a BMW M12, and the 3rd into Europe somewhere.

Nick Whiting - most certainly. It was with an RS2000 front end by 1978. Defo had a 3.4 GA.

Walter Robertson also ran a Robindon Escort in 1978. I'd have to check in my attic to guess at the donkey.

[celes1]

Pete at Spec-R, how do you intend to finish coat the space-framed chassis once it's all been aligned and prepared.

[Alan Brown]

Originally Posted by morninggents

If it is John Robinson that may answer the question of who last built/rebuilt the Hart BDA engine.
I always thought that John Robinson (from Northampton if it's the JR that I'm thinking of) was more a chassis man than an engine man but I suppose that he was probably both!

John Robinson built and raced a 1300cc BDA Escort in the early 1970s and it used a space frame which he also built, but more in the Clubman's/ Mallock style. It may well be that the JR Escort predated Geoff Wood's car - I shall look out some old results sheets.

In the famed October 1974 issue of CCC John Robinson’s Escort 1.3 BDA is described (spaceframe with a glassfibre body, claimed to be under 10 cwt, the engine giving 185 bhp at 10 250 rpm). The car was sold to Jamaica.
In 1970-72 he had raced a lightweight Escort, first with a 1300 twin cam and then a 1300 BDA; this was probably not the same car.

In later years John Robinson was involved in the build of George Potter's 7-litr Esprit Chevy and of course the Magnum F3 cars of the 1980s.

[celes1]

I remember racing with a Charles Challenger and John Churchill who both had space framed monsters. Both of these cars would pull over 160mph down Lavant at Goodwood in National Sprints and because they were V8's, would have weighed a lot more than Geoff Wood's space framed Escort, but they still achieved FTD's.

I believe once this Ex Geoff Wood Escort is properly restored, aligned and set up, it will be a force to be reckoned with and possibly with the right driver will be unbeatable.

[andy97]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Thanks Dan. The one I remember being for sale was originally fitted with a BMW F2 engine, so that’s the Robertson car. Had a pinto fitted when advertised- not so interesting but a lot cheaper!

It's still for sale on RCD, Mike:

https://www.racecarsdirect.com/Adver...thunder-saloon

Getting cheaper all the time.

Good car for the Wendy Wools CSCC Special Saloons and Modsports Series!

[Alan Brown]

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

This item has popped up on FB recently. Apparently Robinson built 3 mk2 Escorts in the late 70s. One to Nick Whiting with a 3.4 GA, one to Walter Robertson with a BMW M12, and the 3rd into Europe somewhere.

Thanks Dan for that. In Autosport early 1978 there was an advert for a Robinson Escort 2.0 BDG, brand new, lhd, sister car to Nick Whiting’s and Walter Robertson’s, £8500 from a London phone number.

Another Autosport advert (March 1981) was for a Lightweight Escort II RS2000, built by John Robinson in 1979 (like Nick Whiting’s) BDG 2.0, hill climbs and sprints in 1980, £7500, Paddock Motors, Huddersfield. Several months earlier what has to be the same car was advertised by Tony Baines from Huddersfield for £9500.

My query: Was this the lhd car or a fourth one?