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XR3
RS1600i
RS S1Turbo West Cork 85 Circuit of Ireland 85 Welsh 85 Scottish 85 Ulster Rally 85 Rothmans Manx 85 RAC 85
European RS1600i's Rallye Principe de Asturias 83 Rallye Sanremo 83 Rallye Antibes 83 |
24th Arnold Clark Scottish Rally 11/14 June 1983 - Glasgow - ECR24 Coeff2 71 Starters, 33 Finishers, 50 Special Stages
7 Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short, Gp A Ford Escort RS1600i, HPU 73Y 20 Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan, Gp A Ford Escort RS1600i, HPU 74Y
Autosport June 16, '83 p12 FORD - Extra care had been taken to prepare the twin RS1600i's for Malcolm Wilson and Louise Aitken. Although there had been little change to the cars since the Welsh, MCD team boss. Dave Campion had done everything to ensure that the fragile gearboxes were as strong as possible. Slightly higher suspension had been fitted as well to improve ground clearance.
Motoring News Wed Jun 22 '83 p9 FORD - Two Ford Escort RS1600i cars were entered by Ford for Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short and Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan. Prepared by MCD services, the cars have been dogged by gearbox weakness for the entire season, however, careful building of the units by MCD was the team with “fingers crossed” for Scotland.
Autosport June 16, '83 p12 Malcolm Wilson had already suffered an off. On only the second stage, he slid over the edge of a bank into a log. Thankfully this stopped him close enough to the track for spectators to assist with only the loss of 3mins. …one stage later [than Knapdale, SS5] it was the turn of Malcolm Wilson's RS1600i to join the queue for the early bath through - yes, you've guessed it - transmission failure. Yet another gearbox failure, despite the most careful attention from Dave Campion. ... the other Scottish driver, Louise Aitken had awful troubles. Alternator failure at Connel Airfield saw her spend anxious minutes at the roadside, but when a lead from the distributor to the coil broke later in the day, there was a real risk of the Scots lass going over time and out of the event.
Louise Aitken was now back in the groove, driving "like a dingbat" as co-driver Ellen Morgan described it. Having been last at one point, after the electrical problems on Sunday, she had clawed her way into the top 20 by Dumfries.
In the higher class [GpA 13-16], Louise Aitkens charge through the field continued, and by Glasgow she was lying second in the class behind fellow scot, Andrew Wood …. ... and on the next stage [Kirk O'Muir, SS46] Louise Aitken's challenge was over too. The gearbox failed on the start line and the MCD team could only pack up after another frustrating event.
Motoring News Wed Jun 22 '83 p9 It was another disappointing showing from Ford however when both Escort RS1600is of Malcolm Wilson and Louise Aitken retired from the now customary gearbox failure.
Malcolm Wilson slid off on Succoth breaking a front suspension joint and deranging the rear suspension. He drove through the following test slowly and had it all rectified at the following service. Then three stages further (Inverliever) he was parked up with broken transmission.
Aitken, too, was having problems when a broken alternator wire took 20 minutes to locate and remedy by fitting a new unit. The consequent road time loss placed her well down the running order meaning she faced even rougher stages than her male adversaries.
There were just five stages left remaining in the 1983 Scottish when news came through that Louise Aitken had retired on the start line of Kirk O’Muir (SS46). Sure enough it was a broken gearbox to blame, with the car stranded there was no hope of repair.
The problem that has followed Ford all year has struck again, for a team which has drawn such prestige in the past, this really was turning into a pathetic effort. Ford must remedy the problem it is having with its front drive Escorts’ gearboxes now before pathetic turns to laughable.
Rally Sport Jul '83 p44 7 Malcolm Wilson / Phil Short, Group A Ford Escort RS1600i (MCD Services / Ford / Shell Oils / Lucas / Pirelli). Another unhappy event, starting with off on SS2, bending track control arm and forcing crew to tackle SS3 with front wheels pointing different ways. New close ratio gearbox failed SS6.
20 Louise Aitken / Ellen Morgan, Group A Ford Escort RS1600i (MCD Services / Ford Motor Company / Shell Oils / Lucas / Pirelli). Rear puncture SS4; changing alternator forced her to run late (rougher stages), but electrical problems persisted. Reached Glasgow 28th, 11 seconds behind Jackson (35). New steering rack after ss32. Started aggressive comeback: 18th at Dumfries; 16th at Glasgow, but gearbox failed as she went for second off the line of SS46 rolled back over startline into retirement.
Results
Reference World Rallying 6 Autosport June 16, '83 p12 Rally Sport Jul '83 p44 Motoring News Wed Jun 22 '83 p9
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