Quote:
Originally Posted by KA
Something interesting from a Motoring News race report in 1985. I think the big multi-car accident at Thruxton early in the season has been mentioned earlier in the thread- At least 3 of the Escorts were caught up in that, the Brooklyn cars of Hodgetts and Morris, and Patrick Watts' Julian May-run North Essex Motorsport car.
The main point, which is something I've had nagging at the back of my mind for a while, and which seems to be confirmed by this race report, is the apparent identity of the car Hodgetts used at the next race.
'Championship leader Chris Hodgetts' car was still being rebuilt following its involvement in the Thruxton debacle 'and we opted to build a completely new car in time for the Donington race (on July 14)'. Consequently, Chris borrowed mechanic Tim Hill's Group A rally car for the weekend, practicing the Brooklyn Motorsport/ECS machine complete with tax disc, aerial and number plates! 'It says a lot for the team when I can borrow a mechanic's car and race that' smiled Chris. 'It might be better if the circuit was cut up a little, I think it's probably better suited to the rough. Still, in the circumstances, it's not bad is it?' The unsuspecting rally vehicle was flung around in 1m47.94' (MN, 12/6/85)
A pic in the report of Richard Belcher, Hodgetts and Alan Curnow does show the front number plate on the car, though it's not clear enough to read. Does anyone have a pic of the Tim Hill Brooklyn rallycar?
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A fairly random find on the net while looking for rally pics- a collection of Mk3 Escort rally photos, which includes a couple of shots of Tim Hill's Brooklyn rallycar- Is this the car that Chris Hodgetts borrowed for a 1985 Silverstone BTCC round while a replacement for his car totalled in the Thruxton shunt was being built?
http://oldrallyphotos.webs.com/apps/...otoid=19651028
http://oldrallyphotos.webs.com/apps/...otoid=22235219
Compare with this pic from a contemporary race report (middle car of the three)