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.....The trouble was, his double championship-winning car looked light. It was based on an ex-Hepolite rolling shell that had been used briefly by Trevor Hopkins. The entire rear end had been cut off and replaced with a glass fibre replica. The lost strength was then regained by a steel space frame structure linked to the roll cage and suspension. Vulnerable bits of bodywork were plated with metal.
When Rippy and his mechanics, led by Lea Valley tuning ace, Nick Mason, discovered that they were over the minimum weight limit, they figured out a way of removing a few kilos should they have to build another Fiesta some sunny day.
That day came when Keith decided to go up a class and meet the big boys head-on. The resultant 2-litre Fiesta (that's the new one) came out dead on the small car class limit imposed by the Europeans: 650 kilos. So now all they have to do is change everything over when there's time during the hectic season. That will give them a 650 kilo 1600 car for the small class and a 2-litre 735 kilo car for the big class.
How did they get the new car down to 650 kilos when it looks just like the old one? The chief difference is that we used a duralumin frame,' says Keith. 'Most of the big boys have gone over from steel now for the obvious reason. Dural is just as strong . . . but it costs three times as much.'
But when you consider that an Audi Quattro is rated at £100 000, and its ultra-light, super tough, sumpguard alone costs £3000 - about the price of a competitive clubman's Mini - it's the only way to go at the top.
The difference between the 1600 and the 2-litre is fantastic,' says Keith, 'especially as the 2-litre lump is at present in the lighter car, which is legal for British events.' The 1600 gives a reliable 210bhp at 8000rpm.....
Captions -
Bottom-Left - Centre-lock Ford wheels are vital to give the right inset. . . and the Avon tyres are a bargain. These deeply-treaded ones were used in the soaking Rallycross GP.
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