Unique Rallycross Cars

[silver bullet]

The 89 GP thread got me thinking, some great cars were mentioned but how many unique rallycross cars have there been, only one ever raced.
I know the old colway class had a few Citroen GSA, Yugo 45 & MG Montego to name a few.
In the modifieds Richard Watts had some sucess with his Lada Samara but was it unique?
The most unique that I can think of was Eddy Guffens 5.0 ltr Holden Commodore
Can anybody think of any more.

[MiniMadness]

How about the previously mentioned Arild Martinsen's BMW 4x4 or his Lotus Sunbeam (don't know if this was 4x4 or not ?)

Plus there was -

John Welch - Xtrac Astra
Terry Briggs - Mazda 323 4x4
Erling Jensen - Rover Vitesse

Or even more recently there's been Chris Evans Nissan Micra and Dave Brown's Mazda RX-7 (enough said)

[tony griffiths]

Chris Beadsmoore ... and photos of a Lotus 47 autocrosscar .......

[Barrie]

Martinsens's Lotus Sunbeam had the same set up as the Escort xtrac's, the BMW is one of my all time favourite rallycross cars though it only seemed to work at Brands Hatch. As for unique cars a guy called Colin Slaughter used to run a Mitsubishi Colt back in the early 80's before anyone had heard of Mitsubishi, also anoyone who has the 81 yearbook would clarify this, my uncles team mate Bill Riddle was halfway through building a rallycross Ferrari GTO, a falling out with the BRDA prevented him from racing it in rallycross, bloody shame.

[Nordic]

Martinsen ran a Lotus Esprit as well in 85 I think it was 2 wheel drive, Piet Dam's BMW 320i was pretty potent as a I recall that was a beast.

Not a popular choice of car the TR7, but at least one rallyX, the drivers nane escapes me.

[Barrie]

There were a few TR7, TR8 drivers if I remember rightly, Richard Painton, Warwick Barnes, and of course John Sampson.

[silver bullet]

Originally Posted by MiniMadness

John Welch - Xtrac Astra
Terry Briggs - Mazda 323 4x4
Erling Jensen - Rover Vitesse

Or even more recently there's been Chris Evans Nissan Micra and Dave Brown's Mazda RX-7 (enough said)

There have been quite a few astra rallycross cars, fair enough the Xtrac version was unique.
I was once at a meeting were there were 3 Mazda 323 4x4's.
I thought about Chris Evans car, but I thought there was bound to be a few in the ERA 1400 cup??

Originally Posted by Barrie

As for unique cars a guy called Colin Slaughter used to run a Mitsubishi Colt back in the early 80's before anyone had heard of Mitsubishi,

I'd forgotten about that.
Was Joss Sterkens Mondeo the only one?

[Barrie]

Think the Mondeo was unique to rallycross, thank god. I'm sure I recall a Mustang racing at Snetterton when I was a kid, possibly driven by Chris Murrells, Chunder may remember.

[winnie]

Steve Mundy raced a TR8 as well. What about Tony Procter with his GAA engined Capri, John Sampson with the V8 Rover 200 and Brian Betteridge with his Lotus Esprit.

[vaughan jones]

the mustang was driven by adrian oliver, also dick adams raced a mini car kit,looked like a van,it might have been a status??? this was early 80,s???

[206180]

Originally Posted by Barrie

There were a few TR7, TR8 drivers if I remember rightly, Richard Painton, Warwick Barnes, and of course John Sampson.

There was also John Backhams's Janspeed twin turbo version, ran manual and auto boxes, quickest car off the line in its day but first corner came and it went t**s up! On the V8 front an MGB GT sponsored by Pop Rivets but drivers name evades me, mists of time and all that.

Originally Posted by Barrie

As for unique cars a guy called Colin Slaughter used to run a Mitsubishi Colt back in the early 80's before anyone had heard of Mitsubishi.

Before the Mitsubushi he also ran a Skoda Coupe RS130 and at a very wet Lydden Euro round got the Mitsubushi in the A final.

The Jan de Rooy brothers Dafs were unique,Andy Bentza's Lancia Stratos and Dimi Mauvropolis's Lotus Espirit.

[M.Lowe]

Who was the guy that had the Blue Chevrolet 2 speed thingy at a GP once went like feck?

Here's a few unique cars

[HrRACING]

The ex-Dresser Lotus?

[MiniMadness]

Thanks Barrie for the update on Martinensen's Lotus Sunbeam. I also remember the Mitsubishi but I couldn't remember the drivers name. Interesting story about the Ferrari GTO. Shame that never run.

Winnie I too can remember Brian Betterridge in a Lotus Esprit. How about Dennis Marcel but I can't remember the make of car but I know it was a bit different.

[ppj690]

What about a 4wd, turbo charged VW Beetle with Subaru cylinder heads, does that count?

[Peter Mallett]

Many years ago there was the 4x4 Capri.

Anybody got more pics of these cars?

[Nordic]

Was the Capri driven by Tony Proctor? I am pretty sure he had one.

There was an MR2 Mk1 around for a while as well.

[Peter Mallett]

No it was a factory car built in the early 70's. In fact (and I stand to be corrected) it was Ford who came up with the original idea of Rallycross as a means of promoting its vehicles in the winter.

The Capri was a development car and I think it was originally driven by Roger Clarke.

However all this is from my very poor memory because my books are about 1500 miles away at the moment.

[Nordic]

Did'nt remember that one, but it got me looking for my program for the Embassy RallyX meeting at Lydden in 73.

No Capri is listed there, nor is Clark, however John Taylor & Rod Chapman both had Escorts, Franz Wurz was driving a VW, Blomquist had a Saab 96 as did his team mate Per Ekland, other entries of note, Gollop had a Mini, John Welch drove an Escort, and Bart Lybrechts had a Marina!.

Back to the original subject, Georges Smet from Belgium was listed as driving a Ferrari, no model is listed, but in 73 I guess it would have been a dino.

I thought the orgin of rallycross was the RAC rally being cancelled due to foot & Mouth or an oil crisis, the BBC then had a hole in its schedule, alot of prep'ed rally cars and no where to run them. Either way the first meeting ever, I am told was at Lydden in 1966.

[Peter Mallett]

You could be correct there. As I said I'm a long way from my books and the one that contains the info is Either Jeremy Walton's Capri or Ford in Motorsport by Robson. I'm home for a long weekend next week so I'll try to look the reference up.

[bucko]

i remember looking at these cars when i was a kid any one got any more pics ...great

[chunder]

The MBG was driven by Pete Robertson I think and was supercharged!
Another car I remember is the Talbot that Dagfinn Larsen drove in 86, I have no idea how it worked or what it had under the bonnet! But it went like hell!
A few other cars I remember are the DAF's of the de Rooys, Martinsens Sunbeam, the Matra Murena of wasnt it Francois Monten!!
Erm, more recently some of the French cars have been imaginative like 4WD M3 beemers and Renaults. re bodied 205T16's and stuff.
DIdnt one guy there drive a Alpine A310 turbo 4wd, no idea who it was
I rememebr a guy in France drove a Beemer 635CSI aswell that howled like a banshee!!
I am sure there must be ore weird ones out there!

[DCS]

How about Tommy's Audi S2 with IMSA engine? Kenneth's ZX? Jos Sterken's Fiesta? Will's 309 and 306? You won't find those in WRC!

[MiniMadness]

The MR2 was driven by Tony Bell. There was also another version driven by Paul Easterbrook which had a Toyota Celica engine. Shame about the green & pink colour scheme though.

[tony griffiths]

Roger Clarke, works car and think there was one other !