Brian Crosbie MK1 Escort History

[j keast]

I am trying to trace the history of the Brian Crosbie Mk1 Escort Twin Cam before he owned the car.
I have all the History from his owner ship onwards.

[Rod Grimwood]

Not completely sure but think he got it from Stan Baird who got it from Dave Simpson

[Rod Grimwood]

Not completely sure but think he got it from Stan Baird who got it from Dave Simpson
photos top Crosbie, middle Baird and bottom display Simpson. Same number plate.

[GD66]

Nice sleuthing work, Rodders. This car's history has come up before, it was thought to have been for John Ward but after his Catalina Park crash Simpson got it with Dave Norrish assisting in the allocation. Never picked up the number plate before though !

[Grant Sprague]

You might have to dig a bit harder guys, Stan,s car was Gary,s [Mount cook airlines twin cam]

[GD66]

In that case I believe the car went straight from Simpson to Crosbie. Gary used to punch above his weight in that Mount Cook car, recall some lurid motoring in it...

[j keast]

thanks I have a photo some where of Brian Crosbie in the car painted blue / white No 100 at a 1/4 mile sprint in
Gore early 70s

[Jac Mac]

That would be in the late Kevin Thompsons threads, he used southspeed as his name on this site.

thanks I have a photo some where of Brian Crosbie in the car painted blue / white No 100 at a 1/4 mile sprint in
Gore early 70s

[bob homewood]

Yes from Dave Simpson to Crosbie ,That Escort was as said to have been for John Ward ,but via Bill Norrish ended up with David Simpson ,Bill of course had a previous sucesfull involvement with Dave when he won the Salon car championship in the Lotus Anglia

[Rod Grimwood]

Yea that's it Bob. Bill Norrish was a bloody nice guy, helped Steve and Rod Millen out to start as well, he had SuperTune and also San Pacer beach buggies. Bob, was it Bill who had the 'Rootes Group Speed Equipment or was that through Griffith Speed a offshoot of Griffith Motors.

Grant, where did Gary's car go after Stan, it was a neat car.

[Grant Sprague]

Rod & GD66.... yep i saw it go from a bog standard lotus twin cam escort to a good enough race car ..... Jim,s & the others were more hot rods with trick stuff ... Gary was under funded .. although Mt Cook came on board.....Gary never complained just drove like a champion on the day ... Rod I am not sure where it got to, Craig & I talked about its where abouts as he was very keen to get it as well

[kiwi285]

Here is a photos of the car in David Simpson's ownership taken at Pukekohe in January 1969.

[Grant Sprague]

I do remember Dave driving this with out all the advertising I was up with the big boys from Timaru it was a wills 6 hr or B&H ..I could not believe how good it sounded & went ....seemed fast in those days & it was ......Great photo Mike Thanks

[GD66]

Yes, it appeared nude at the first Bay Park meeting as well but flew.

[bob homewood]

Rod ....Griffiths were the Rootes group people ,Steve was working at Supertune for Bill when I came back from the South Island I nearly went and worked for Bill at that time .

[kiwi285]

Here are a couple of photos taken at Baypark when the Mk I's were new and just seemed incredibly quick. They really sounded the beans for such small cars.
You will have to excuse the focus.

Not sure who the drivers are but sure someone will ID them.

August 1968


October 1968

[j keast]

Thanks for all the help owner ship from Dave Simpson to its end all adds up.
Was the car imported built up as a race car or done in NZ and by who.
I brought the car as a semi rolling car from Henry Hammond

[GD66]

My recollection is the car was a road car modified thoughtfully in Auckland. This Steve Twist shot depicts Simpson chasing Rod Coppins over Rothmans with the car still in pure white : this would be late '67, early '68. Note the rego...

[Jac Mac]

[color="#0000FF"]Had Henry purchased it back from David Sharp after he had used it as a club rally car then John?[/color]

Thanks for all the help owner ship from Dave Simpson to its end all adds up.
Was the car imported built up as a race car or done in NZ and by who.
I brought the car as a semi rolling car from Henry Hammond

[j keast]

hello jac
No i sold the car as a roller to Dave Sharp then brought it back again later i built it into a rally car.