OLD SKOOL FORD DRAG CHALLENGE
It wasn’t just the sun that turned up the heat at the Classic Ford Show, the OSFDC racers had winning on their minds on the strip, too.
Raucous round 3 from the Classic Ford Show at sizzling Santa Pod.
I t’s the Classic Ford Show and Round Three of the OSFDC. With a whopping 27 entrants including three newbies, the scene was set for a weekend of Personal Bests but not without a trail of broken halfshafts, loose gearboxes, a snapped camshaft and enough (tyre) smoke reminiscent of a 1970’s working men’s club on a packed Saturday night!
After having missed Round One, Neil Tallett was keen to get in some good runs as early as possible in his 2.1 Ashton Pinto’d Capri Laser. Sporting twin 45 Webers this street legal, daily-driven Ford pushed Neil into second place for this round and a quarter-mile time of 14.50 seconds earning him some much-needed points. Neil is always accompanied at each round by his Dad, Roger who is his chief burnout instigator!
Third place for this round went to 21-year-old Jordan Peters in his budget, 1.6 CVH-powered Mk1 Fiesta. With a four-speed ’box and some Yoko A538s (a popular choice for the road-going 13 inch Ford wheels) this was Jordan’s first run of the season after the demise of his clutch in last years’ competition.
His first run was a little shaky and the car was stuck in third gear but with a little tinkering from fellow Fiesta racer, Chris Todd, the gear linkage was tightened and he ran a respectable 16.23 seconds and even drove it home to Hampshire — no trailer queen here!
Showing that Fiestas really are the new Escort and a favourite for the next generation of classic Ford owners, 20-year-old Kieran Jenkins made his debut on the Santa Pod strip in his stunning, Cosmos Blue Mk1 L. Propelled by a brand-new Vulcan 1300 Crossflow on Omex throttle bodies and a four-speed ’box Kieran was flying along the quarter-mile and after a virgin run of 15.7 seconds he ended the day with a 15.17 at 92 mph and a new addiction to speed!
First place for this round went to Glenn Jefferson who continues his race for the title of OSFDC 2016 champion in his Zetec-engined Mk1 Escort.
With four rounds to go it’s still all to play for. On the weekend of the Euro ’16 finals we return to Santa Pod for the Retro Show and a sport which requires more than just one ball!