Winter Sun & Track
Posted: 17th December 2012 | Author: @AdrianFRST | Photography: @AdrianFRST
Escort WRC on Track
When we heard that the Track Division of the West Of Scotland RSOC were coming down to Oulton Park with the Fiesta Evo in tow (literally) we knew we had to be there. A full feature of that car is to follow, but for now here’s what we found at The Park on a glorious sun-kissed Winter Saturday in December.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 100.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/11
- Shutter Speed
- 1/60 sec
- ISO
- 100
Fiesta Evo In The Garage
This is why we came. Attracting more interest than any other car there, The Evo powered Mk3 is a serious bit of kit. Initially running R888 cut slicks John was able to switch to full slicks in the afternoon as the track dried out.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 70.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2.8
- Shutter Speed
- 1/160 sec
- ISO
- 100
John (JPA)'s Focus RS
As if the above wasn’t enough, John also has this Mk1 Focus RS. With a fully caged up interior and 350bhp under the hood it’s not exactly standard either.
Despite being more suitable for road use, the Focus also made the journey down behind a Transit. Running a garage means plentiful access to such useful vehicles.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- Focal Length
- 50.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2
- Shutter Speed
- 1/800 sec
- ISO
- 100
Dalsy's Fiesta
Dalsy’s ST170 powered Fiesta sports the rare RS accessory bumpers and looked great sat in the morning sun.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 145.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2.8
- Shutter Speed
- 1/250 sec
- ISO
- 100
Dalsy On Track
It’s no slouch around the track either…
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 85.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/7.1
- Shutter Speed
- 1/80 sec
- ISO
- 100
Madmac's Escort WRC
Andy “Madmac”s Escort Cosworth with the full WRC kit was dripping with parts that indicated business. From the full slicks and fuel cell to the burn marks around the exhaust it was pretty clear this was going to be used in anger.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- Focal Length
- 50.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2
- Shutter Speed
- 1/2000 sec
- ISO
- 100
Focus RS
Another Focus RS, this time appearing nearer to standard, although those bonnet vents hint that something special may lay beneath.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 150.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2.8
- Shutter Speed
- 1/200 sec
- ISO
- 100
Stock Hatch XR2
Looking a bit worse for wear was this Mk2 XR2 stock hatch racer. For track action on a budget there’s not much that comes close though.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- Focal Length
- 50.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2
- Shutter Speed
- 1/125 sec
- ISO
- 100
Stock Hatch XR2 On Track
As demonstrated by its driver a short while later.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 100.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/11
- Shutter Speed
- 1/60 sec
- ISO
- 100
Lotus Cortina
Many people who owned a Lotus Cortina as beautiful as this would keep it locked away in a dry, warm garage rather than subject it to an Engish Winter.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- Focal Length
- 50.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2
- Shutter Speed
- 1/500 sec
- ISO
- 100
Lotus Cortina On Track
Thankfully there are those that still use the cars just how they were intended to be.
The ‘tina looked great round the track, the back end getting a little skittish on the corners, although the modern “Stig-tint” helmets spoil the illusion of this being anything other than a recent photograph.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 95.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/11
- Shutter Speed
- 1/60 sec
- ISO
- 100
McCaff's 205
Not an RS and not even a Ford, but still present and welcome. The 205 GTI is perhaps the greatest hot hatch ever made, but it’s still possible to improve on it and the D6C/L variant of the XU9 will certainly do that.
If you don’t speak Pug, that’s the 16v Mi16 version of the 1.9 all-alloy engine. 160bhp as standard and the potential for a fair bit more.
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM
- Focal Length
- 50.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/2
- Shutter Speed
- 1/1250 sec
- ISO
- 100
McCaff's 205 On Track
Roll cage - check, buckets - check, bonnet and boot pins - check, plastic windows - check, Irn-Bru respray - check!
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 70.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/8
- Shutter Speed
- 1/60 sec
- ISO
- 100
Fiesta Evo On Track
We’ll finish with the Fiesta Evo in action. The sheer speed of the car coupled with my lack of skill shooting at slow shutter speeds made it difficult to snap, most frames resulted in a blurred mess but one or two came out as passable.
There’ll be more of this car soon with the forthcoming full feature. Stay tuned!
Image Info
- Camera
- Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens
- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
- Focal Length
- 80.0 mm
- Aperture
- f/10
- Shutter Speed
- 1/60 sec
- ISO
- 100