The Blue Oval

[Peter Mallett]

I've been reminded of the impact, or at least influence, that this symbol has had in our sport. Touring cars, Formula 1, Le Mans, you name it. This symbol has not only been there, it's bought the tee shirt and even had the "trots" to prove it. So why is it ignored by so many of us.

Alfa, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche to name four, will always be considered the "elite" and yet this mass producer gave people (and still does, me included) the opportunity to race a competitive car at any level.

Hats off to them is what I say. How about you?

[SL]

True, they went and brought the Le Mans race wins when old man Ferrari said NO. Funded the V8 that kept F1 alive for many years. Stuck a 3.0 engine into the harmless Capri and challenged BMW. Plus all the saloon and rally cars, F Ford, Escorts, Mondoe's and Sierra's.

Perhaps it is the Company Repmobile image they need to rid themselves of. Unfortunatly those sales are probably what subsidise the racing

SL

[Muzza]

In the meantime, General Motors keepis its usual chickening out, half-half-half-ass approach with regards to motorsport...

Just pick up one decade (1960s, 1990s, whatever) and compare Ford's and GM's exploits.

[marcus]

its the complete opposite here in Oz , General Motors Holden and whopping the sad little blue ovals butt


but yes Ford have been wonderfull in their approach to motorsport and I hope they continue for a very long time, i guess most people see them as the "generic" manufacturer because they have been there for a long time and dont really have the prestige of BMW, or Audi and Merc , they are after all the luxury market , where as ford (and im talking in road car terms i guess) are the everyday persons affordable cars , and i guess this translates over to racing as well, everybody wants a Ferarri or whatever so people tend to favour these luxury or exotic manufacturers while ford go about their business and get the job done with no fuss at all.

my hat goes of to them because they have been a mainstay of the sport for many years and many more years to come i hope

[mickj]

sl I dont think ford "brought" the lemans wins. I think they were won on sheer HARD WORK

[JGM]

Perhaps people like Ford don't get as much credit as BMW or Porsche because they have a long standing tradition of going racing primarily with their cheque book.It must be really tough writing out those big,long cheques.Where are the badge-engineered BMWs, Porsches, Hondas & Ferraris. These are the real racers and they get the respect they're due.

[DNQ]

I am a super Ford fan...I've got to watch out, today I went to the shop with a Ford T-Shirt and Cap on without realising it

I echo what has already been said here - consistantly, they've poured the dollars into motor racing, whether it be Formula 1, Sports Cars, Touring Cars, Single Seaters, NASCAR's or Rallying.

[WarrenS]

Originally posted by JGM
Perhaps people like Ford don't get as much credit as BMW or Porsche because they have a long standing tradition of going racing primarily with their cheque book.It must be really tough writing out those big,long cheques.Where are the badge-engineered BMWs, Porsches, Hondas & Ferraris. These are the real racers and they get the respect they're due.

These Marques have done quite a bit of check book racing themselves. For example, remember the Can-Am Porsches and the F-1 McLaren-Hondas? Speed costs money, some manufacturers call it R&D, others are more up-front about it. They all want to win.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by JGM
Perhaps people like Ford don't get as much credit as BMW or Porsche because they have a long standing tradition of going racing primarily with their cheque book.It must be really tough writing out those big,long cheques.Where are the badge-engineered BMWs, Porsches, Hondas & Ferraris. These are the real racers and they get the respect they're due.

With the greatest respect to Porsche BMW et al, I'd like to consider your thought and ask if this is any way reflected by the "homologation" version of the BMW 3.0 CSL or the Porsche 959?

I think it is perhaps a little the other way, in that Ford has tried to compete with the best by using its base vehicles rather than developing specials, unless it really felt it needed to do so. The GT 40 is one and the Group 2 Capri is another. Both came in response to another manufacturer calling an expensive tune.

[Nivola]

Just think if we had no Ford there would not be the same feel for motorsport. what would Lotus of been? what would Tyrell have been. Would Jim Clark be a person in our thoughts? would Jackie Stewart be three time world champ?

Would we have massproduction? Would We have Formula 1?

It is very hard to think what this world would be like with out The Mighty Blue Oval. The greatest single brand of car.

[simon drabble]

as someone who races a "pretty" Italian car, Alfa, I must say I get bored of seeing Lotus Cortina rear lights! so I guess I reluctantly take my hat off to them as well! Just wish they could make good looking cars as well as quick ones!

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by simon drabble
as someone who races a "pretty" Italian car, Alfa, I must say I get bored of seeing Lotus Cortina rear lights! so I guess I reluctantly take my hat off to them as well! Just wish they could make good looking cars as well as quick ones!

I can see your point Simon. BTW. Nice website.

[simon drabble]

thanks, I hope to get photo's of the new car up shortly, essentially it looks the same but with a yellow nose! I had its second outing on Saturday and was once again trying in vane to keep up with the Lotus Cortina's! Is your car now sorted?

[Peter Mallett]

I believe it is sorted but I haven't spoken to Ken C since Mallory. A good reminder. I'll call him today.

Red and Yellow? Why not red and white?

[simon drabble]

good question! I inhereted the livery, I think it was a period GTA colour scheme. It actually looks better than it sounds and the yellow is only on the front of the nose!

[DAVID PATERSON]

This weekend there is a historic club race meeting at Queensland Raceway and I was just looking through the entry list this morning and thinking how odd it was that there are just 2 Fords in a field of 28 Historic Touring cars. No Mustangs, no Falcons, no Escorts and no Cortinas. Just a 105E Anglia and a Mk 1 3.0 V6 Capri. Quite unusual.

[zefarelly]

I have to say, as pretty as some Alfas are, the MK1 Cortina is equally pretty, I know Im biased, theyre my favourite car, but the rear end in particular is unforgetably styled.

Ford have made racing accessible for hundreds of people, I'm far from wealthy, but a humble Cortina GT has given me the basis of a car to make a start in competative racing.

and that is something I never thought I'd be able to do.

[Peter Mallett]

Zefarelly,

Where are you racing and uin which championship?

[zefarelly]

Peter

Im not racing yet, just bought a car, and am (slowly) rebuilding it and gathering bits.

the plan is to enter the HRSR series, being realistic it'll be 2004 before I race, finance permitting.

I help out with Les Goble sometimes, have learnt a lot from them . . . . . .one day I'll get there.

Joe

[Peter Mallett]

Good luck.

Les used to race in the CTCRC Historics Championship.

[zefarelly]

thanks

I think its the Julius Thurgood historic saloons this year, it keeps changing all the time! he runs Appendix k

they where at Silverstone last weekend, settling in after some serious mods, and a few probs over the winter.

[simon drabble]

I raced against Les at that meeting and compete against him in the Top Hat series. I think he is up at Donington on Monday.
He is a very quick driver in a very quick car. I hope you are not building yrs to his spec, I dont want to follow behind another L-Cortina!!!

[zefarelly]

Simon

no, I have learnt from their set up, and swapped a few bits but 've only got a GT, I couldnt afford a lotus . . . . .theyre not cheap.

plus I need to learn some race craft, being a track virgin!

I figure I can build a GT engine, for a fraction of the cost of a lotus, which would get me round in a reasonable time, whilst learning the ropes so to speak.

If i can stay close enough to Les top be able to see his back lights Ill be more than happy

If I win the lottery, Ill think about upgrading to a lotus!

Simon, what are you racing?

[simon drabble]

I race Alfa Giulia Sprint GT with a Jim Evans 2 litre engine (its the only chance I have of staying up with the Lotus Cortina's!! Although I have a 1600 engine for it as well as some meetings (like Silverstone Historic Festival last year) insist on running correct size engine. Last years car is on my website, swd-historicracing.co.uk
The HRSR is a great series with a good varied grid from the Mustangs at the front with mk2 Jag's and L-Cortina's and GTA's and then some extra ordinary quick Anglia's and Giulia's and then the Imps and some others with Mini's of varying stages of development spread across the field!
So do you crew for Les at the moment at the meetings?

[zefarelly]

my Dad lives opposite Adrian, Les's mechanic, I got to know Adrian when I turned up at my Dads on a 59 Lambretta, and saw the lotus outside, my fave car, (Adrian used to work for Lambretta in his youth)

Ive been and helped out a few times, just watching and learning mainly, then picked up a 2 door GT for £400, a 2nd hand cage for £50 . . .and so on.

I just thought, why not build it as a race car, then see about actually racing it. its a bare shell on its side at the moment

I dont think running a modified MK1 as an everyday car is the most sensible past time either, but what the hell!

I guess the usual restrictions apply, time and money.