Richo’s labour of love is back on track – Steve Richards
This weekend will see Steve Richards reunited with his consuming passion – a 1971 Ford Escort.
Two years after it fell foul of a wet hill climb, the rare WRC replica is race-ready once more and will be show-cased at the Speed on Tweed event in Murwillumbah from today.
“That car holds a pretty special place in my heart; just ask my wife!” said Richo, who is more usually seen hitting the tracks in Ford’s Castrol FPR Falcon. “I’ve put in quite a few hours in the shed and I’m pretty excited to get it out and competing again!”
The car in question is a 1971 Ford Escort WRC replica. “They were, and still are, the most successful rally car,” continued Richo. “It’s something a bit different; not many people would have seen that car running in the flesh so I hope it’s a popular attraction.”
Speed on Tweed is one of the most prestigious dates on the motorsport social calendar but there is a competitive element. Each of the 180 entries has several timed drives of the 1.5km Murwillumbah Sprint Circuit over the course of the weekend, with the aim to consistently improve.
“For me it really is just about running my car and wandering around looking at some incredibly successful cars,” said Richo. “There is a bit of a competitive element but for me it’s not really at all about breaking records; I just want to enjoy my car.”
This is the first time Richo has participated in the Speed on Tweed event, but he is a keen enthusiast. “It’s an event for people who love old, historic cars,” he said. “Great names like Sir Jack Brabham and Frank Gardner took part because it’s an historic event in Australia and it’s known all over the world.”
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