Looks like a 2022 classic meet, but this was 1977!
Croft Circuit, Dalton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire Summer 1977
21st century survivor?
This Land Rover, registered in April 1966, survived through to 2008 before its tax ran out. By that time, it would have been a bona fide classic, so does it still survive somewhere?
Keeping clean
The W114/115 range was the first with a centre console, and used ribbed tail-lamps from 1974. What would become a Merc feature was introduced to keep the lights cleaner.
Smokin’!
Introduced in the summer of 1975, Ford sold 2003 JPS Capris. The stan-dard engine was the 1.6, but 2.0- and 3.0-litre GTs could also be specified.
Air-smoothed Escort
The polyurethane ‘droop snoot’ on the RS2000 improved aerodynamics and reduced front end lift by 25 per cent. The boot spoiler, meanwhile, was said to diminish it by 60 per cent.
Webelieve this is Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire, although we’re not certain.
The a Leeds-registered Land Rover, Kendal-registered Ford Escort and a Mini racer sponsored by Lancashire haulers M Woodhouse Transport do all suggest a northern venue. The photo was taken in another Queen’s Jubilee year; 1977 was her silver anniversary.
We imagine this was a club event, judging by the variety of vehicles. As well as the Minis, there are several single-seaters and, on the right, what looks like a pre-war tourer but is probably a more modern special. The three-branch manifold suggests it’s packing a V6…
Our Leeds Land Rover is a 1966 Series IIA, but look what’s behind it. The yellow Escort is an almost-new RS2000, registered in January 1977. Fitted with a tow ball, it may have brought the adjacent Mini, but it’d be good fun around the circuit itself.
The beige Mercedes-Benz saloon would have been a competent tow car, especially if in W114 six-cylinder form, but again, we’re distracted by what’s beyond. After the white
Peugeot 504 estate is a Ford Capri MKII JPS edition with gold pinstripe mimicking the John Player Special Team Lotus F1 racers.
There’s a Jaguar XJ6 MkI adjacent, as well as a Morris Marina MkII estate in
